77 I cry out loud to God—
    out loud to God so that he can hear me!
² During the day when I’m in trouble I look for my Lord.
    At night my hands are still outstretched and don’t grow numb;
        my whole being^[a] refuses to be comforted.
³ I remember God and I moan.
    I complain, and my spirit grows tired. Selah

⁸ But I would seek God,
        put my case to God,
⁹     who does great things beyond comprehension,
    wonderful things without number;
¹⁰     who provides rain over the earth’s surface,
    sends water to the open country,
¹¹     exalts the lowly,
        raises mourners to victory;
¹²     who frustrates the schemes of the clever
        so that their hands achieve no success,
¹³     trapping the wise in their cleverness
            so that the plans of the devious don’t succeed.
¹⁴ They encounter darkness during the day,
    and at noon they fumble about as at night.
¹⁵ Yet he rescues the orphan^[a] from the sword of their mouth,
    the needy from the grip of the strong;
¹⁶         so the poor have hope
        and violence shuts its mouth.

¹⁷ Look, happy is the person whom God corrects;
    so don’t reject the Almighty’s instruction.
¹⁸ He injures, but he binds up;
    he strikes, but his hands heal.
¹⁹ From six adversities he will deliver you;
    from seven harm won’t touch you.
²⁰ In famine he will ransom you from death;
    in war, from the power of the sword.
²¹ You will be hidden from the tongue’s sting,
    and you won’t fear destruction when it comes.
²² You will laugh at destruction and hunger;
    you won’t be afraid of wild beasts;
²³         for you will make an agreement with the stones of the field;
        and the beasts of the field will be at peace with you.
²⁴ You will know that your tent is secure.
    You will examine your home and miss nothing.
²⁵ You will know that you’ll have many children.
    Your offspring will be like the grass of the earth.
²⁶ You will come to your grave in old age
    as bundles of grain stacked up at harvesttime.
²⁷ Look, we’ve searched this out, and so it is;
    listen and find out for yourself.

those who want to love life
    and see good days
should keep their tongue from evil speaking
    and their lips from speaking lies.
¹¹ They should shun evil and do good;
    seek peace and chase after it.
¹² The Lord’s eyes are on the righteous
    and his ears are open to their prayers.
But the Lord cannot tolerate those who do evil.^[a]