Read the Bible

¹ I come to you, Lord, for protection;
    never let me be defeated.
You are a righteous God;
    save me, I pray!
² Hear me! Save me now!
Be my refuge to protect me;
    my defense to save me.

³ You are my refuge and defense;
    guide me and lead me as you have promised.
⁴ Keep me safe from the trap that has been set for me;
    shelter me from danger.
^5 (a)I place myself in your care.
You will save me, Lord;
    you are a faithful God.

⁶ You hate those who worship false gods,
    but I trust in you.
⁷ I will be glad and rejoice
    because of your constant love.
You see my suffering;
    you know my trouble.
⁸ You have not let my enemies capture me;
    you have given me freedom to go where I wish.

⁹ Be merciful to me, Lord,
    for I am in trouble;
my eyes are tired from so much crying;
    I am completely worn out.
¹⁰ I am exhausted by sorrow,
    and weeping has shortened my life.
I am weak from all my troubles;^[b]
    even my bones are wasting away.

¹¹ All my enemies, and especially my neighbors,
    treat me with contempt.
Those who know me are afraid of me;
    when they see me in the street, they run away.
¹² Everyone has forgotten me, as though I were dead;
    I am like something thrown away.
¹³ I hear many enemies whispering;
    terror is all around me.
They are making plans against me,
    plotting to kill me.

¹⁴ But my trust is in you, O Lord;
    you are my God.
¹⁵ I am always in your care;
    save me from my enemies,
    from those who persecute me.
¹⁶ Look on your servant with kindness;
    save me in your constant love.
¹⁷ I call to you, Lord;
    don't let me be disgraced.
May the wicked be disgraced;
    may they go silently down to the world of the dead.
¹⁸ Silence those liars—
    all the proud and arrogant
    who speak with contempt about the righteous.

¹⁹ How wonderful are the good things
    you keep for those who honor you!
Everyone knows how good you are,
    how securely you protect those who trust you.
²⁰ You hide them in the safety of your presence
    from the plots of others;
in a safe shelter you hide them
    from the insults of their enemies.

²¹ Praise the Lord!
How wonderfully he showed his love for me
    when I was surrounded and attacked!
²² I was afraid and thought
    that he had driven me out of his presence.
But he heard my cry,
    when I called to him for help.

²³ Love the Lord, all his faithful people.
The Lord protects the faithful,
    but punishes the proud as they deserve.
²⁴ Be strong, be courageous,
    all you that hope in the Lord.