I cried out to him for help and praised him with my tongue.

When I cried out for help, you answered me. You made me bold and energized me.

ק (Qof) I have called on your name, O Lord, from the deepest pit.

If I summoned him, and he answered me, I would not believe that he would be listening to my voice –

If I cry to corruption, ‘You are my father,’ and to the worm, ‘My Mother,’ or ‘My sister,’

I summon my servant, but he does not respond, even though I implore him with my own mouth.

In my distress I cried out to the Lord. The Lord answered me and put me in a wide open place.

ק (Qof) I cried out with all my heart, “Answer me, O Lord! I will observe your statutes.”

A song of ascents. In my distress I cried out to the Lord and he answered me.

However, because I called but you refused to listen, because I stretched out my hand but no one paid attention,

Even now you say to me, ‘You are my father! You have been my faithful companion ever since I was young.

When Israel was a young man, I loved him like a son, and I summoned my son out of Egypt.

“See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah,

I have given orders to my chosen soldiers; I have summoned the warriors through whom I will vent my anger, my boasting, arrogant ones.

Egypt is totally incapable of helping. For this reason I call her ‘Proud one who is silenced.’”

So I began to shepherd the flock destined for slaughter, the most afflicted of all the flock. Then I took two staffs, calling one “Pleasantness” and the other “Binders,” and I tended the flock.

Then he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But Eli said, “I didn’t call you. Go back and lie down.” So he went back and lay down.

Now, this is what the Lord says, the one who created you, O Jacob, and formed you, O Israel: “Don’t be afraid, for I will protect you. I call you by name, you are mine.

ק (Qof) I called for my lovers, but they had deceived me. My priests and my elders perished in the city. Truly they had searched for food to keep themselves alive.

and said, “I called out to the Lord from my distress, and he answered me; from the belly of Sheol I cried out for help, and you heard my prayer.