Study Desk

I have gone from men's minds and memory like a dead man; I am like a broken vessel.

And as for me, I said in my fear, I am cut off from before your eyes; but you gave ear to the voice of my prayer, when my cry went up to you.

Take up your spear and keep back my attackers; say to my soul, I am your salvation.

I have been young, and now am old, but I have not seen the good man without help, or his children looking for bread.

For your arrows have gone into my flesh, and I am crushed under the weight of your hand.

I am troubled, I am made low; I go weeping all the day.

I am feeble and crushed down; I gave a cry like a lion because of the grief in my heart.

Lord, give me knowledge of my end, and of the measure of my days, so that I may see how feeble I am.

And now, Lord, what am I waiting for? my hope is in you.

No longer let your hand be hard on me; I am wasted by the blows of your hand.

For unnumbered evils are round about me; my sins have overtaken me, so that I am bent down with their weight; they are more than the hairs of my head, my strength is gone because of them.

Though I am poor and in need, the Lord has me in mind; you are my help and my saviour; let there be no waiting, O my God.

My downfall is ever before me, and I am covered with the shame of my face;

Be at peace in the knowledge that I am God: I will be lifted up among the nations, I will be honoured through all the earth.

Give ear, O my people, to my words; O Israel, I will be a witness against you; I am God, even your God.

Am I to take the flesh of the ox for my food, or the blood of goats for my drink?

For I am conscious of my error; my sin is ever before me.

But I am like a branching olive-tree in the house of God; I have put my faith in his mercy for ever and ever.

I am troubled because of the voice of the cruel ones, because of the loud cry of the evil-doers; for they put a weight of evil on me, and they are cruel in their hate for me.

Fear and shaking have come over me, with deep fear I am covered.