Read the Bible

¹ You, Lord God, bless everyone
    who cares for the poor,
    and you rescue those people
    in times of trouble.
² 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.
³ You always heal them
and restore their strength
    when they are sick.
⁴ I prayed, "Have pity, Lord!
Heal me,
    though I have sinned
    against you."

⁵ My vicious enemies ask me,
    "When will you die
    and be forgotten?"
⁶ When visitors come,
all they ever bring
    are worthless words,
    and when they leave,
    they spread gossip.

⁷ My enemies whisper about me.
    They think the worst,
⁸     and they say,
"You have some fatal disease!
    You'll never get well."
⁹ 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 You, the Lord God of Israel,
will be praised forever!
    Amen and amen.