&#8220;This is what King Sennacherib of Assyria says: &#8216;Why are you so confident that you remain in Jerusalem while it is under siege?<n id="1" />

<p class="bodytext">&#8220;And now what are we able to say after this, our God? For we have forsaken your commandments

The king responded,<n id="1" /> &#8220;What is it you are seeking?&#8221; Then I quickly prayed to the God of heaven

<p class="poetry">What is my strength, that I should wait?<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">and what is my end,<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">that I should prolong my life?p>

<p class="poetry">If he snatches away,<n id="1" /> who can turn him back?<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">Who dares to say to him, &#8216;What are you doing?&#8217;p>

<p class="poetry">I will say to God, &#8216;Do not condemn<n id="1" /> me;p> <p class="poetry">tell me<n id="2" /> why you are contending<n id="3" /> with me.&#8217;p>

<t /><p class="poetry">&#8220;But<n id="1" /> if I speak, my pain is not relieved,<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">and if I refrain from speakingp> <p class="poetry">&#8211; how<n id="3" /> much of it goes away?p>

<p class="poetry">If you say, &#8216;How we will pursue him,p> <p class="poetry">since the root of the trouble is found in him!&#8217;<n id="1" />p>

<p class="poetry">Who is the Almighty, that<n id="1" /> we should serve him?p> <p class="poetry">What would we gainp> <p class="poetry">if we were to pray<n id="2" /> to him?&#8217;<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">He spreads out the northern skies<n id="1" /> over empty space;<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">he suspends the earth on nothing.<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">For what hope does the godless have when he is cut off,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">when God takes away his life?<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">then what will I do when God confronts me in judgment;<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">when he intervenes,<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">how will I respond to him?p>

<p class="poetry">On what<n id="1" /> were its bases<n id="2" /> set,p> <p class="poetry">or who laid its cornerstone &#8211;p>

<p class="poetry">You men,<n id="1" /> how long will you try to turn my honor into shame?<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">How long<n id="3" /> will you love what is worthless<n id="4" />p> <p class="poetry">and search for what is deceptive?<n id="5" /> (Selah)p>

<p class="poetry">Of what importance is the human race,<n id="1" /> that you should notice<n id="2" /> them?p> <p class="poetry">Of what importance is mankind,<n id="3" /> that you should pay attention to them,<n id="4" />p>

<p class="poetry">Why does the wicked man reject God?<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">He says to himself,<n id="2" /> &#8220;You<n id="3" /> will not hold me accountable.&#8221;<n id="4" />p>

<t /><p class="psasuper">For the music director; a psalm of David.p> <p class="poetry">O <sc>Lordsc>, the king rejoices in the strength you give;<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">he takes great delight in the deliverance you provide.<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">&#8220;What<n id="1" /> profit is there in taking my life,<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">in my descending into the Pit?<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">Can the dust of the grave<n id="4" /> praise you?p> <p class="poetry">Can it declare your loyalty?<n id="5" />p>

<p class="poetry">How precious<n id="1" /> is your loyal love, O God!p> <p class="poetry">The human race finds shelter under your wings.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">God says this to the evildoer:<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;How can you declare my commands,p> <p class="poetry">and talk about my covenant?<n id="2" />p>