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¹My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far away when I groan for help?

²Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer. Every night I lift my voice, but I find no relief.

³Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.

⁴Our ancestors trusted in you, and you rescued them.

⁵They cried out to you and were saved. They trusted in you and were never disgraced.

⁶But I am a worm and not a man. I am scorned and despised by all!

⁷Everyone who sees me mocks me. They sneer and shake their heads, saying,

⁸“Is this the one who relies on the LORD? Then let the LORD save him! If the LORD loves him so much, let the LORD rescue him!”

⁹Yet you brought me safely from my mother’s womb and led me to trust you at my mother’s breast.

¹⁰I was thrust into your arms at my birth. You have been my God from the moment I was born.

¹¹Do not stay so far from me, for trouble is near, and no one else can help me.

¹²My enemies surround me like a herd of bulls; fierce bulls of Bashan have hemmed me in!

¹³Like lions they open their jaws against me, roaring and tearing into their prey.

¹⁴My life is poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax, melting within me.

¹⁵My strength has dried up like sunbaked clay. My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You have laid me in the dust and left me for dead.

¹⁶My enemies surround me like a pack of dogs; an evil gang closes in on me. They have pierced my hands and feet.

¹⁷I can count all my bones. My enemies stare at me and gloat.

¹⁸They divide my garments among themselves and throw dice for my clothing.

¹⁹O LORD, do not stay far away! You are my strength; come quickly to my aid!

²⁰Save me from the sword; spare my precious life from these dogs.

²¹Snatch me from the lion’s jaws and from the horns of these wild oxen.

²²I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters. I will praise you among your assembled people.

²³Praise the LORD, all you who fear him! Honor him, all you descendants of Jacob! Show him reverence, all you descendants of Israel!

²⁴For he has not ignored or belittled the suffering of the needy. He has not turned his back on them, but has listened to their cries for help.

²⁵I will praise you in the great assembly. I will fulfill my vows in the presence of those who worship you.

²⁶The poor will eat and be satisfied. All who seek the LORD will praise him. Their hearts will rejoice with everlasting joy.

²⁷The whole earth will acknowledge the LORD and return to him. All the families of the nations will bow down before him.

²⁸For royal power belongs to the LORD. He rules all the nations.

²⁹Let the rich of the earth feast and worship. Bow before him, all who are mortal, all whose lives will end as dust.

³⁰Our children will also serve him. Future generations will hear about the wonders of the Lord.

³¹His righteous acts will be told to those not yet born. They will hear about everything he has done.

¹The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need.

²He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams.

³He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.

⁴Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.

⁵You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings.

⁶Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever.

¹The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him.

²For he laid the earth’s foundation on the seas and built it on the ocean depths.

³Who may climb the mountain of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place?

⁴Only those whose hands and hearts are pure, who do not worship idols and never tell lies.

⁵They will receive the LORD’s blessing and have a right relationship with God their savior.

⁶Such people may seek you and worship in your presence, O God of Jacob. Interlude

⁷Open up, ancient gates! Open up, ancient doors, and let the King of glory enter.

⁸Who is the King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty; the LORD, invincible in battle.

⁹Open up, ancient gates! Open up, ancient doors, and let the King of glory enter.

¹⁰Who is the King of glory? The LORD of Heaven’s Armies — he is the King of glory. Interlude

¹O LORD, I give my life to you.

²I trust in you, my God! Do not let me be disgraced, or let my enemies rejoice in my defeat.

³No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced, but disgrace comes to those who try to deceive others.

⁴Show me the right path, O LORD; point out the road for me to follow.

⁵Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you.

⁶Remember, O LORD, your compassion and unfailing love, which you have shown from long ages past.

⁷Do not remember the rebellious sins of my youth. Remember me in the light of your unfailing love, for you are merciful, O LORD.

⁸The LORD is good and does what is right; he shows the proper path to those who go astray.

⁹He leads the humble in doing right, teaching them his way.

¹⁰The LORD leads with unfailing love and faithfulness all who keep his covenant and obey his demands.

¹¹For the honor of your name, O LORD, forgive my many, many sins.

¹²Who are those who fear the LORD? He will show them the path they should choose.

¹³They will live in prosperity, and their children will inherit the land.

¹⁴The LORD is a friend to those who fear him. He teaches them his covenant.

¹⁵My eyes are always on the LORD, for he rescues me from the traps of my enemies.

¹⁶Turn to me and have mercy, for I am alone and in deep distress.

¹⁷My problems go from bad to worse. Oh, save me from them all!

¹⁸Feel my pain and see my trouble. Forgive all my sins.

¹⁹See how many enemies I have and how viciously they hate me!

²⁰Protect me! Rescue my life from them! Do not let me be disgraced, for in you I take refuge.

²¹May integrity and honesty protect me, for I put my hope in you.

²²O God, ransom Israel from all its troubles.

¹Declare me innocent, O LORD, for I have acted with integrity; I have trusted in the LORD without wavering.

²Put me on trial, LORD, and cross-examine me. Test my motives and my heart.

³For I am always aware of your unfailing love, and I have lived according to your truth.

⁴I do not spend time with liars or go along with hypocrites.

⁵I hate the gatherings of those who do evil, and I refuse to join in with the wicked.

⁶I wash my hands to declare my innocence. I come to your altar, O LORD,

⁷singing a song of thanksgiving and telling of all your wonders.

⁸I love your sanctuary, LORD, the place where your glorious presence dwells.

⁹Don’t let me suffer the fate of sinners. Don’t condemn me along with murderers.

¹⁰Their hands are dirty with evil schemes, and they constantly take bribes.

¹¹But I am not like that; I live with integrity. So redeem me and show me mercy.

¹²Now I stand on solid ground, and I will publicly praise the LORD.

¹The LORD is my light and my salvation — so why should I be afraid? The LORD is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?

²When evil people come to devour me, when my enemies and foes attack me, they will stumble and fall.

³Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will not be afraid. Even if I am attacked, I will remain confident.

⁴The one thing I ask of the LORD — the thing I seek most — is to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, delighting in the LORD’s perfections and meditating in his Temple.

⁵For he will conceal me there when troubles come; he will hide me in his sanctuary. He will place me out of reach on a high rock.

⁶Then I will hold my head high above my enemies who surround me. At his sanctuary I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy, singing and praising the LORD with music.

⁷Hear me as I pray, O LORD. Be merciful and answer me!

⁸My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “LORD, I am coming.”

⁹Do not turn your back on me. Do not reject your servant in anger. You have always been my helper. Don’t leave me now; don’t abandon me, O God of my salvation!

¹⁰Even if my father and mother abandon me, the LORD will hold me close.

¹¹Teach me how to live, O LORD. Lead me along the right path, for my enemies are waiting for me.

¹²Do not let me fall into their hands. For they accuse me of things I’ve never done; with every breath they threaten me with violence.

¹³Yet I am confident I will see the LORD’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living.

¹⁴Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.