Study Desk

I was a youth, but I am now old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread.

I am bowed down; I am bent over greatly. All the day I go about mourning.

I am faint and crushed greatly; I groan because of the roaring of my heart.

But as for me, like the deaf I cannot hear, and I am like the mute who cannot open his mouth.

And so I am like a man who hears not, and in whose mouth there are no retorts.

For I am ready to stumble, and my pain is before me continually.

For my iniquity I confess; I am anxious because of my sin.

"Let me know, O Yahweh, my end, and what is the measure of my days. Let me know how transient I am."

I am mute. I do not open my mouth, for you, yourself, have done it.

Hear my prayer, O Yahweh, and listen to my cry for help; do not be deaf to my tears. For I am an alien with you, a sojourner like all my ancestors.

Look away from me that I may be cheerful, before I depart and I am no more.

For evils without number have encompassed me. My iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to see. They are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart fails me.

But I am poor and needy. Let my Lord consider me. You are my help and my deliverer. O my God, do not delay.

Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth.

"Hear, O my people, and I will speak, O Israel, and I will testify against you. I am God, your God.

But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God. I trust the loyal love of God forever and ever.

Attend to me and answer me. I am restless in my lamenting and I groan,

I am weary with my calling out; my throat is parched. My eyes are exhausted in my waiting for my God.

and do not hide your face from your servant. Because I am in trouble, answer me quickly.

Reproach has broken my heart and I am sick. And I hoped for sympathy, but there was none, and for comforters, but I found none.