Prayer for Mercy in Time of Trouble.
To the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments, set [possibly] an octave below. A Psalm of David.
1 O Lord, do not rebuke or punish me in Your anger,
Nor discipline me in Your wrath.
2 Have mercy on me and be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am weak (faint, frail);
Heal me, O Lord, for my bones are dismayed and anguished.
3 My soul [as well as my body] is greatly dismayed.
But as for You, O Lord—how long [until You act on my behalf]?
4 Return, O Lord, rescue my soul;
Save me because of Your [unfailing] steadfast love and mercy.
5 For in death there is no mention of You;
In Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead) who will praise You and give You thanks?
6 I am weary with my groaning;
Every night I soak my bed with tears,
I drench my couch with my weeping.
7 My eye grows dim with grief;
It grows old because of all my enemies.
8 Depart from me, all you who do evil,
For the Lord has heard the voice of my weeping. [Matt 7:23; Luke 13:27]
9 The Lord has heard my supplication [my plea for grace];
The Lord receives my prayer.
10 Let all my enemies be ashamed and greatly horrified;
Let them turn back, let them suddenly be ashamed [of what they have done].