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.

Do you rulers ever give a just decision? Do you judge everyone fairly?

The people of Gaza found out that Samson was there, so they surrounded the place and waited for him all night long at the city gate. They were quiet all night, thinking to themselves, "We'll wait until daybreak, and then we'll kill him."

But Samson stayed in bed only until midnight. Then he got up and took hold of the city gate and pulled it up---doors, posts, lock, and all. He put them on his shoulders and carried them far off to the top of the hill overlooking Hebron.

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."

Then she took the household idol, laid it on the bed, put a pillow made of goats' hair at its head, and put a cover over it.

But Saul sent them back to see David for themselves. He ordered them, "Carry him here in his bed, and I will kill him."

Saul asked Michal, "Why have you tricked me like this and let my enemy escape?" She answered, "He said he would kill me if I didn't help him escape."

Saul was told that David was in Naioth in Ramah,

When Saul heard of this, he sent more messengers, and they also began to dance and shout. He sent messengers the third time, and the same thing happened to them.

As he was going there, the spirit of God took control of him also, and he danced and shouted all the way to Naioth.

When I was in Damascus, the governor under King Aretas placed guards at the city gates to arrest me.

But I was let down in a basket through an opening in the wall and escaped from him.

O LORD, my God, I come to you for protection; rescue me and save me from all who pursue me,

or else like a lion they will carry me off where no one can save me, and there they will tear me to pieces.

and saves me from my foes. O LORD, you give me victory over my enemies and protect me from violent people.

My God, rescue me from wicked people, from the power of cruel and evil people.

Because of your love for me, kill my enemies and destroy all my oppressors, for I am your servant.

(SEE 1:73)

so that we might be holy and righteous before him all the days of our life.

But the Lord stayed with me and gave me strength, so that I was able to proclaim the full message for all the Gentiles to hear; and I was rescued from being sentenced to death.

And the Lord will rescue me from all evil and take me safely into his heavenly Kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever! Amen.

"But now I will come," says the LORD, "because the needy are oppressed and the persecuted groan in pain. I will give them the security they long for."

God says, "I will save those who love me and will protect those who acknowledge me as LORD.

Then you will be safe; you will be as secure as if in a strong fortress. You will have food to eat and water to drink.