1
In thee, O LORD, have I waited; let me never be ashamed; deliver me in thy righteousness.
2
Incline thine ear unto me; deliver me speedily; be thou my strong rock, for a house of defence to save me.
3 For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name’s sake thou shalt lead me and guide me. 4 Thou shalt pull me out of the net that they have laid in secret for me; for thou art my strength. 5 Into thy hand shall I commit my spirit; thou shalt ransom me, O LORD God of truth.
6 I have hated those that regard lying vanities; but I wait in the LORD. 7 I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy, for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities 8 and hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy; thou hast set my feet in a wide place.
9 Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in trouble: my eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly. 10 For my life is spent with grief and my years with sighing: my strength fails because of my iniquity, and my bones are consumed.
11 I was a reproach among all my enemies, but especially among my neighbours, and a fear to my acquaintances: those that see me without flee from me. 12 I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I have become like a lost vessel. 13 For I have heard the slander of many; fear was on every side; while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life.
14 But I trusted in thee, O LORD; I said, Thou art my God. 15 My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of my enemies and from those that persecute me. 16 Make thy face to shine upon thy slave; save me for thy mercies’ sake. 17 Let me not be ashamed, O LORD, for I have called upon thee; let the wicked be ashamed, and let them be cut off for Sheol. 18 Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.
19 Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for those that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for those that wait in thee before the sons of men! 20 Thou shalt keep them in the secret place of thy face from the pride of man; thou shalt keep them in the tabernacle protected from the strife of tongues.
21 Blessed be the LORD, for he has shown me his marvellous mercy in a strong city. 22 For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes; nevertheless thou hast heard the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee.
23 O love the LORD, all ye his merciful ones, for the LORD preserves the faithful and plentifully rewards the proud doer. 24 Be of good courage and strengthen your hearts, all ye that wait in the LORD.