God Sustains His Servant.

For the choir director. A Psalm of David.

1 I waited patiently for the LORD;
          And He inclined to me and heard my cry.

2 He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay,
          And He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm.

3 He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God;
          Many will see and fear
          And will trust in the LORD.

4 How blessed is the man who has made the LORD his trust,
          And has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood.

5 Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders which You have done,
          And Your thoughts toward us;
          There is none to compare with You.
          If I would declare and speak of them,
          They would be too numerous to count.

6 Sacrifice and meal offering You have not desired;
          My ears You have opened;
          Burnt offering and sin offering You have not required.

7 Then I said, “Behold, I come;
          In the scroll of the book it is written of me.

8 I delight to do Your will, O my God;
          Your Law is within my heart.”

9 I have proclaimed glad tidings of righteousness in the great congregation;
          Behold, I will not restrain my lips,
          O LORD, You know.

10 I have not hidden Your righteousness within my heart;
          I have spoken of Your faithfulness and Your salvation;
          I have not concealed Your lovingkindness and Your truth from the great congregation.

11 You, O LORD, will not withhold Your compassion from me;
          Your lovingkindness and Your truth will continually preserve me.

12 For evils beyond number have surrounded me;
          My iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to see;
          They are more numerous than the hairs of my head,
          And my heart has failed me.

13 Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me;
          Make haste, O LORD, to help me.

14 Let those be ashamed and humiliated together
          Who seek my life to destroy it;
          Let those be turned back and dishonored
          Who delight in my hurt.

15 Let those be appalled because of their shame
          Who say to me, “Aha, aha!”

16 Let all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You;
          Let those who love Your salvation say continually,
          “The LORD be magnified!”

17 Since I am afflicted and needy,
          Let the Lord be mindful of me.
          You are my help and my deliverer;
          Do not delay, O my God.