1 For the leader. A psalm of David: I
waited patiently for ADONAI, till he turned toward me and heard my cry.
2 He brought me up from the roaring
pit, up from the muddy ooze, and set my feet on a rock, making my footing
firm.
3 He put a new song in my mouth, a song
of praise to our God. Many will look on in awe and put their trust in ADONAI.
4 How blessed the man who trusts in
ADONAI and does not look to the arrogant or to those who rely on things that
are false.
5 How much you have done, ADONAI my
God! Your wonders and your thoughts toward us -none can compare with you! I
would proclaim them, I would speak about them; but there's too much to tell!
6 Sacrifices and grain offerings you
don't want; burnt offerings and sin offerings you don't demand. Instead, you
have given me open ears;
7 so then I said, "Here I am! I'm
coming! In the scroll of a book it is written about me.
8 Doing your will, my God, is my joy;
your Torah is in my inmost being.
9 I have proclaimed what is right in
the great assembly; I did not restrain my lips, ADONAI, as you know.
10 I did not hide your righteousness in
my heart but declared your faithfulness and salvation; I did not conceal your
grace and truth from the great assembly."
11 ADONAI, don't withhold your mercy
from me. Let your grace and truth preserve me always.
12 For numberless evils surround me; my
iniquities engulf me - I can't even see; there are more of them than hairs on
my head, so that my courage fails me.
13 Be pleased, ADONAI, to rescue me!
ADONAI, hurry and help me!
14 May those who seek to sweep me away
be disgraced and humiliated together. May those who take pleasure in doing me
harm be turned back and put to confusion.
15 May those who jeer at me, "Aha!
Aha!" be aghast because of their shame.
16 But may all those who seek you be
glad and take joy in you. May those who love your salvation say always, "ADONAI
is great and glorious!"
17 But I am poor and needy; may Adonai
think of me. You are my helper and rescuer; my God, don't delay!
