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A Prayer for Mercy in Troubled Times

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. Upon the ·sheminith [L eighth; C a reference to an eight-stringed instrument or possibly the manner of singing]. A psalm of David.

Lord, don’t ·correct [rebuke; reprove] me when you are angry;
    don’t ·punish [discipline] me when you are ·very angry [enraged].
Lord, ·have mercy on [be gracious to] me because I ·am weak [languish; faint].
    Heal me, Lord, because my bones ·ache [are in agony].
I ·am very upset [ache; am in agony].
    Lord, how long will it be?

Lord, return and save me;
    ·save [rescue; T deliver] me because of your ·kindness [loyalty; covenant love].
Dead people don’t remember you;
    those in ·the grave [or the underworld; L Sheol] don’t praise you.

I am ·tired [weary] ·of crying to you [L because of my moaning].
    Every night ·my bed is wet [L I flood my pillow] with tears;
    my bed is soaked from my crying.
My eyes are weak ·from so much crying [L because of my grief];
    they are weak ·from crying about [L because of] my enemies.

Get away from me, all you who do evil,
    because the Lord has heard my ·crying [supplication].
The Lord has heard my cry for help;
    the Lord will ·answer [accept] my prayer.
10 All my enemies will be ashamed and ·troubled [in agony; vv. 2–3].
    They will turn and suddenly leave in shame.

Prayer for Mercy in Time of Trouble.

To the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments, set [possibly] an octave below. A Psalm of David.

O Lord, do not rebuke or punish me in Your anger,
Nor discipline me in Your wrath.

Have mercy on me and be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am weak (faint, frail);
Heal me, O Lord, for my bones are dismayed and anguished.

My soul [as well as my body] is greatly dismayed.
But as for You, O Lord—how long [until You act on my behalf]?


Return, O Lord, rescue my soul;
Save me because of Your [unfailing] steadfast love and mercy.

For in death there is no mention of You;
In Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead) who will praise You and give You thanks?


I am weary with my groaning;
Every night I soak my bed with tears,
I drench my couch with my weeping.

My eye grows dim with grief;
It grows old because of all my enemies.


Depart from me, all you who do evil,
For the Lord has heard the voice of my weeping.(A)

The Lord has heard my supplication [my plea for grace];
The Lord receives my prayer.
10 
Let all my enemies be ashamed and greatly horrified;
Let them turn back, let them suddenly be ashamed [of what they have done].