Read the Bible

¹ In you, O Lord, I have taken shelter!
Never let me be humiliated!
Vindicate me by rescuing me!
² Listen to me!
Quickly deliver me!
Be my protector and refuge,
a stronghold where I can be safe!
³ For you are my high ridge and my stronghold;
for the sake of your own reputation you lead me and guide me.
⁴ You will free me from the net they hid for me,
for you are my place of refuge.
⁵ Into your hand I entrust my life;
you will rescue me, O Lord, the faithful God.
⁶ I hate those who serve worthless idols,
but I trust in the Lord.
⁷ I will be happy and rejoice in your faithfulness,
because you notice my pain
and you are aware of how distressed I am.
⁸ You do not deliver me over to the power of the enemy;
you enable me to stand in a wide open place.
⁹ Have mercy on me, for I am in distress!
My eyes grow dim from suffering.
I have lost my strength.
¹⁰ For my life nears its end in pain;
my years draw to a close as I groan.
My strength fails me because of my sin,
and my bones become brittle.
¹¹ Because of all my enemies, people disdain me;
my neighbors are appalled by my suffering—
those who know me are horrified by my condition;
those who see me in the street run away from me.
¹² I am forgotten, like a dead man no one thinks about;
I am regarded as worthless, like a broken jar.
¹³ For I hear what so many are saying,
the terrifying news that comes from every direction.
When they plot together against me,
they figure out how they can take my life.
¹⁴ But I trust in you, O Lord!
I declare, "You are my God!"
¹⁵ You determine my destiny!
Rescue me from the power of my enemies and those who chase me.
¹⁶ Smile on your servant!
Deliver me because of your faithfulness!
¹⁷ O Lord, do not let me be humiliated,
for I call out to you!
May evil men be humiliated!
May they go wailing to the grave!
¹⁸ May lying lips be silenced—
lips that speak defiantly against the innocent
with arrogance and contempt!
¹⁹ How great is your favor,
which you store up for your loyal followers!
In plain sight of everyone you bestow it on those who take shelter in you.
²⁰ You hide them with you, where they are safe from the attacks of men;
you conceal them in a shelter, where they are safe from slanderous attacks.
²¹ The Lord deserves praise
for he demonstrated his amazing faithfulness to me when I was besieged by enemies.
²² I jumped to conclusions and said,
"I am cut off from your presence!"
But you heard my plea for mercy when I cried out to you for help.
²³ Love the Lord, all you faithful followers of his!
The Lord protects those who have integrity,
but he pays back in full the one who acts arrogantly.
²⁴ Be strong and confident,
all you who wait on the Lord!