My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? I have cried desperately for help, but still it does not come.

As a deer longs for a stream of cool water, so I long for you, O God.

Beautiful words fill my mind, as I compose this song for the king. Like the pen of a good writer my tongue is ready with a poem.

King David and the leaders of the Levites chose the following Levite clans to lead the worship services: Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun. They were to proclaim God's messages, accompanied by the music of harps and cymbals. This is the list of persons chosen to lead the worship, with the type of service that each group performed:

The six sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah. Under the direction of their father they proclaimed God's message, accompanied by the music of harps, and sang praise and thanks to the LORD.

God gave to Heman, the king's prophet, these fourteen sons and also three daughters, as he had promised, in order to give power to Heman.

LORD, don't be angry and rebuke me! Don't punish me in your anger!

God, be merciful to us and bless us; look on us with kindness,

God is known in Judah; his name is honored in Israel.

The Sovereign LORD gives me strength. He makes me sure-footed as a deer and keeps me safe on the mountains.

The LORD is righteous and loves good deeds; those who do them will live in his presence.

The LORD will bless them and save them; God will declare them innocent.

You will help me, because I do what is right; you will keep me in your presence forever.

"They will say that only through me are victory and strength to be found; but all who hate me will suffer disgrace.

When he is king, the people of Judah will be safe, and the people of Israel will live in peace. He will be called 'The LORD Our Salvation.'

But God has brought you into union with Christ Jesus, and God has made Christ to be our wisdom. By him we are put right with God; we become God's holy people and are set free.

Here we are, then, speaking for Christ, as though God himself were making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ's behalf: let God change you from enemies into his friends!

Christ was without sin, but for our sake God made him share our sin in order that in union with him we might share the righteousness of God.

When I was in trouble, they attacked me, but the LORD protected me.

He helped me out of danger; he saved me because he was pleased with me.

You have not let my enemies capture me; you have given me freedom to go where I wish.

I waited patiently for the LORD's help; then he listened to me and heard my cry.

He taught me to sing a new song, a song of praise to our God. Many who see this will take warning and will put their trust in the LORD.

The LORD protects the helpless; when I was in danger, he saved me.

I am your servant, LORD; I serve you just as my mother did. You have saved me from death.

The LORD has saved me from lions and bears; he will save me from this Philistine." "All right," Saul answered. "Go, and the LORD be with you."

That same night Saul sent some men to watch David's house and kill him the next morning. Michal, David's wife, warned him, "If you don't get away tonight, tomorrow you will be dead."

She let him down from a window, and he ran away and escaped.

Saul and his men were on one side of the hill, separated from David and his men, who were on the other side. They were hurrying to get away from Saul and his men, who were closing in on them and were about to capture them.

So Saul stopped pursuing David and went to fight the Philistines. That is why that place is called Separation Hill.

God brought you out of trouble, and let you enjoy security; your table was piled high with food.

We want to remind you, friends, of the trouble we had in the province of Asia. The burdens laid upon us were so great and so heavy that we gave up all hope of staying alive.

From such terrible dangers of death he saved us, and will save us; and we have placed our hope in him that he will save us again,

Be merciful to me, O God, because I am under attack; my enemies persecute me all the time.

Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful, because I come to you for safety. In the shadow of your wings I find protection until the raging storms are over.

You are my God, so be merciful to me; I pray to you all day long.

You are good to us and forgiving, full of constant love for all who pray to you.

I know that your judgments are righteous, LORD, and that you punished me because you are faithful.

Have mercy on me, and I will live because I take pleasure in your law.

Don't put me, your servant, on trial; no one is innocent in your sight.

The LORD then passed in front of him and called out, "I, the LORD, am a God who is full of compassion and pity, who is not easily angered and who shows great love and faithfulness.

I keep my promise for thousands of generations and forgive evil and sin; but I will not fail to punish children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generation for the sins of their parents."