Study Desk

I am a companion of all who fear you and heed your precepts.

I am yours. Save me, for I have sought your precepts.

I am very much afflicted; O Yahweh, revive me according to your word.

My flesh trembles for fear of you, and I am afraid of your judgments.

I am your servant; give me understanding, that I may know your statutes.

I am small and despised, yet I do not forget your precepts.

I am rejoicing over your word, like one who finds great spoil.

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

I praise you, because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works, and my soul knows it well.

If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand. I awaken, and I am still with you.

Attend to my cry, for I am brought very low. Deliver me from my pursuers, for they are stronger than I.

And in your loyal love destroy my enemies, and exterminate all the adversaries of my soul, for I am your servant.

I will praise Yahweh while I live; I will sing praises to my God while I am still alive.

Advice and sound judgment are mine; I am understanding, strength is mine.

Who will say "I have made my heart clean; I am pure from my sin"?

so is a man who deceives his neighbor, but says "Am I not joking?"

Certainly I am more stupid than a man, and the understanding of humankind is not for me.

Sometimes a man is all alone with no companion; he also has neither son nor brother. Yet there is no end to all his toil, and his eye is not satisfied with wealth. He laments, "For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?" This also is vanity—it is an unhappy business!

I am black but beautiful, O maidens of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon.

Do not gaze at me because I am black, because the sun has stared at me. The sons of my mother were angry with me; they made me keeper of the vineyards, but my own "vineyard" I did not keep.