Hear my prayer, O Lord! Listen to my cry for help! Do not ignore my sobbing! For I am dependent on you, like one residing outside his native land; I am at your mercy, just as all my ancestors were.

I am oppressed and needy! May the Lord pay attention to me! You are my helper and my deliverer! O my God, do not delay!

You, O Lord God, the invincible warrior, the God of Israel, rouse yourself and punish all the nations! Have no mercy on any treacherous evildoers! (Selah)

I am oppressed and needy! O God, hurry to me! You are my helper and my deliverer! O Lord, do not delay!

Even when I am old and gray, O God, do not abandon me, until I tell the next generation about your strength, and those coming after me about your power.

I will listen to what God the Lord says. For he will make peace with his people, his faithful followers. Yet they must not return to their foolish ways.

Do not ignore me in my time of trouble! Listen to me! When I call out to you, quickly answer me!

Do not let me have evil desires, or participate in sinful activities with men who behave wickedly. I will not eat their delicacies.

May the godly strike me in love and correct me! May my head not refuse choice oil! Indeed, my prayer is a witness against their evil deeds.

Answer me quickly, Lord! My strength is fading. Do not reject me, or I will join those descending into the grave.

Remove falsehood and lies far from me; do not give me poverty or riches, feed me with my allotted portion of bread,

When you make a vow to God, do not delay in paying it. For God takes no pleasure in fools: Pay what you vow!

Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these days?” for it is not wise to ask that.

It is best to take hold of one warning without letting go of the other warning; for the one who fears God will follow both warnings.

Also, do not pay attention to everything that people say; otherwise, you might even hear your servant cursing you.

If the anger of the ruler flares up against you, do not resign from your position, for a calm response can undo great offenses.

Do not stare at me because I am dark, for the sun has burned my skin. My brothers were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards. Alas, my own vineyard I could not keep!

Don’t be so happy, all you Philistines, just because the club that beat you has been broken! For a viper will grow out of the serpent’s root, and its fruit will be a darting adder.

“Bring a plan, make a decision! Provide some shade in the middle of the day! Hide the fugitives! Do not betray the one who tries to escape!

So I say: “Don’t look at me! I am weeping bitterly. Don’t try to console me concerning the destruction of my defenseless people.”