Study Desk

I believed when I said, "I am greatly afflicted."

O LORD, I surely am Your slave, I am Your slave, the son of Your female slave, You have unfastened my restraints.

I am a stranger on the earth; Do not hide Your commandments from me.

I am a companion to all those who fear You, And to those who keep Your precepts.

I am Yours, save me; For I have sought Your precepts.

I am exceedingly afflicted; Revive me, LORD, according to Your word.

My flesh trembles from the fear of You, And I am afraid of Your judgments.

I am Your servant; give me understanding, So that I may know Your testimonies.

I am small and despised, Yet I do not forget Your precepts.

I am for peace, but when I speak, They are for war.

I will give thanks to You, because I am awesomely and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.

Were I to count them, they would outnumber the sand. When I awake, I am still with You.

And in Your faithfulness, destroy my enemies, And eliminate all those who attack my soul, For I am Your servant.

"Advice is mine and sound wisdom; I am understanding, power is mine.

Who can say, "I have cleansed my heart, I am pure from my sin"?

I am certainly more stupid than any man, And I do not have the understanding of a man;

which I am still seeking but have not found. I have found one man among a thousand, but I have not found a woman among all these.

"I am black and beautiful, You daughters of Jerusalem, Like the tents of Kedar, Like the curtains of Solomon.

"Do not stare at me because I am dark, For the sun has tanned me. My mother's sons were angry with me; They made me caretaker of the vineyards, But I have not taken care of my own vineyard.

"I am the rose of Sharon, The lily of the valleys."