Hear My Prayer
Study note
David asks God to hear his prayer and answer in faithfulness. He asks God not to bring him into judgment, for no one alive is righteous before God. His enemy has crushed him into darkness. His spirit is overwhelmed. He spreads out his hands to God like a parched land longing for rain.
1 LORD, hear my prayer. Because you are faithful and right, listen to my cry for help and answer me. Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness.
2 Please do not put me, your servant, on trial, because no living person is perfect in your eyes. And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.
3 My enemy has chased me down and crushed me flat to the ground. He has forced me to sit in the dark like someone who died long ago. For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead.
4 My spirit is fading inside me. My heart is filled with dread. Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate.
5 I think back to the old days and remember everything you have done. I go over and over the works of your hands. I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.
6 I stretch out my hands toward you. My soul is as thirsty for you as dry, cracked ground is thirsty for rain. I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.
Answer Me Quickly
Study note
David asks God to answer quickly because his spirit fails. Let me hear of your faithful love in the morning. Teach me to do your will and lead me on level ground. For your name's sake, Lord, preserve my life and bring my soul out of trouble.
7 Answer me quickly, LORD — my strength is giving out! Do not hide your face from me, or I will be like someone sinking into the grave. Hear me speedily, O LORD: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.
8 In the morning, let me hear about your loyal love, because I trust in you. Show me which way to go, because I look to you for everything. Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.
9 Rescue me from my enemies, LORD. I run to you for cover. Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me.
10 Teach me to do what pleases you, because you are my God. Let your kind Spirit lead me along a smooth and steady path. Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.
11 For the honor of your name, LORD, keep me alive. Because you are good and right, bring me safely out of trouble. Quicken me, O LORD, for thy name's sake: for thy righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble.
12 Because of your loyal love, silence my enemies. Destroy everyone who makes my life miserable, because I belong to you. And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant.