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(A psalm by David for the music leader.)

A Prayer for Help

I patiently waited, Lord,
    for you to hear my prayer.
You listened and pulled me
from a lonely pit
    full of mud and mire.
You let me stand on a rock
    with my feet firm,
and you gave me a new song,
    a song of praise to you.
Many will see this,
and they will honor and trust
    you, the Lord God.

You bless all of those
    who trust you, Lord,
and refuse to worship idols
    or follow false gods.
You, Lord God, have done
    many wonderful things,
and you have planned
    marvelous things for us.
No one is like you!
I would never be able to tell
    all you have done.

(A) Sacrifices and offerings
    are not what please you;
gifts and payment for sin
    are not what you demand.
But you made me willing
    to listen and obey.
And so, I said, “I am here
    to do what is written
about me in the book,
    where it says,
‘I enjoy pleasing you.
    Your Law is in my heart.’ ”

When your people worshiped,
you know I told them,
    “Our Lord always helps!”
10 When all your people met,
    I did not keep silent.
I said, “Our Lord is kind.
He is faithful and caring,
    and he saves us.”

11 You, Lord, never fail
    to have pity on me;
your love and faithfulness
    always keep me secure.

12 I have more troubles
    than I can count.
My sins are all around me,
    and I can't find my way.
My sins outnumber
the hairs on my head,
    and I feel weak.
13 Please show that you care
and come to my rescue.
    Hurry and help me!

14 Disgrace and confuse
    all who want me dead;
turn away and disgrace
    all who want to hurt me.
15 Embarrass and shame
everyone who says,
    “Just look at you now!”

16 Our Lord, let your worshipers
    rejoice and be glad.
They love you for saving them,
so let them always say,
    “The Lord is wonderful!”

17 I am poor and needy,
but, Lord God,
    you care about me,
and you come to my rescue.
    Please hurry and help.

(A psalm by David for the music leader.)

A Prayer in Time of Sickness

You, Lord God, bless everyone
    who cares for the poor,
and you rescue those people
    in times of trouble.
You protect them
    and keep them alive.
You make them happy here
    in this land,
and you don't hand them over
    to their enemies.
You always heal them
and restore their strength
    when they are sick.
I prayed, “Have pity, Lord!
Heal me, though I have sinned
    against you.”

My vicious enemies ask me,
“When will you die
    and be forgotten?”
When visitors come,
all they ever bring
    are worthless words,
and when they leave,
    they spread gossip.

My enemies whisper about me.
They think the worst,
    and they say,
“You have some fatal disease!
    You'll never get well.”
(B) My most trusted friend
has turned against me,
    though he ate at my table.

10 Have pity, Lord! Heal me,
    so I can pay them back.
11 Then my enemies
    won't defeat me,
and I will know
    that you really care.
12 You have helped me
    because I am innocent,
and you will always
    be close to my side.

13 (C) You, the Lord God of Israel,
will be praised forever!
    Amen and amen.

BOOK II

(Psalms 42–72)

(A special psalm by the clan of Korah and for the music leader.)

Longing for God

As a deer gets thirsty
    for streams of water,
I truly am thirsty
    for you, my God.
In my heart, I am thirsty
for you, the living God.
    When will I see your face?
Day and night my tears
    are my only food,
as everyone keeps asking,
    “Where is your God?”

Sorrow floods my heart,
    when I remember
leading the worshipers
    to your house.[a]
I can still hear them shout
    their joyful praises.
Why am I discouraged?
Why am I restless?
    I should trust you, Lord.
I will praise you again
because you help me,
    and you are my God.

I am deeply discouraged,
    and so I think about you
here where the Jordan begins
at Mount Hermon
    and at Mount Mizar.[b]
Your vicious waves
    have swept over me
like an angry ocean
    or a roaring waterfall.

Every day, you are kind,
    and at night
you give me a song
as my prayer to you,
    the God of my life.

You are my mighty rock.[c]
    Why have you forgotten me?
Why must enemies mistreat me
    and make me sad?
10 Even my bones are in pain,
    while all day long
my enemies sneer and ask,
    “Where is your God?”

11 Why am I discouraged?
Why am I restless?
    I trust you, Lord!
And I will praise you again
because you help me,
    and you are my God.

Footnotes

  1. 42.4 leading … house: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
  2. 42.6 Mount Mizar: The location is not known.
  3. 42.9 mighty rock: See the note at 18.2.

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