Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am in distress;(A)
    my eyes grow weak with sorrow,(B)
    my soul and body(C) with grief.
10 My life is consumed by anguish(D)
    and my years by groaning;(E)
my strength fails(F) because of my affliction,[a](G)
    and my bones grow weak.(H)
11 Because of all my enemies,(I)
    I am the utter contempt(J) of my neighbors(K)
and an object of dread to my closest friends—
    those who see me on the street flee from me.
12 I am forgotten as though I were dead;(L)
    I have become like broken pottery.
13 For I hear many whispering,(M)
    “Terror on every side!”(N)
They conspire against me(O)
    and plot to take my life.(P)

14 But I trust(Q) in you, Lord;
    I say, “You are my God.”
15 My times(R) are in your hands;
    deliver me from the hands of my enemies,
    from those who pursue me.
16 Let your face shine(S) on your servant;
    save me in your unfailing love.(T)

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 31:10 Or guilt

Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am in trouble: mine 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 faileth because of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed.

11 I was a reproach among all mine enemies, but especially among my neighbours, and a fear to mine acquaintance: they that did see me without fled from me.

12 I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken 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 mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.

16 Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies' sake.

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13 “Keep silent(A) and let me speak;(B)
    then let come to me what may.(C)
14 Why do I put myself in jeopardy
    and take my life in my hands?(D)
15 Though he slay me, yet will I hope(E) in him;(F)
    I will surely[a] defend my ways to his face.(G)
16 Indeed, this will turn out for my deliverance,(H)
    for no godless(I) person would dare come before him!(J)
17 Listen carefully to what I say;(K)
    let my words ring in your ears.
18 Now that I have prepared my case,(L)
    I know I will be vindicated.(M)
19 Can anyone bring charges against me?(N)
    If so, I will be silent(O) and die.(P)

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Footnotes

  1. Job 13:15 Or He will surely slay me; I have no hope — / yet I will

13 Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what will.

14 Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in mine hand?

15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.

16 He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him.

17 Hear diligently my speech, and my declaration with your ears.

18 Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be justified.

19 Who is he that will plead with me? for now, if I hold my tongue, I shall give up the ghost.

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21 For to me, to live is Christ(A) and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart(B) and be with Christ,(C) which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.

Life Worthy of the Gospel

27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy(D) of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm(E) in the one Spirit,[a] striving together(F) as one for the faith of the gospel 28 without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. 29 For it has been granted to you(G) on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer(H) for him, 30 since you are going through the same struggle(I) you saw(J) I had, and now hear(K) that I still have.

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Footnotes

  1. Philippians 1:27 Or in one spirit

21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

22 But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.

23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

24 Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.

25 And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith;

26 That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again.

27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

28 And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.

29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

30 Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.

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