This is a prayer of the prophet Habakkuk:

When David had gone a little beyond the top of the hill, he was suddenly met by Ziba, the servant of Mephibosheth, who had with him a couple of donkeys loaded with two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred bunches of raisins, a hundred bunches of fresh fruit, and a leather bag full of wine.

"Where is Mephibosheth, the grandson of your master Saul?" the king asked him. "He is staying in Jerusalem," Ziba answered, "because he is convinced that the Israelites will now restore to him the kingdom of his grandfather Saul."

When King David arrived at Bahurim, one of Saul's relatives, Shimei son of Gera, came out to meet him, cursing him as he came.

Shimei cursed him and said, "Get out! Get out! Murderer! Criminal!

Abishai, whose mother was Zeruiah, said to the king, "Your Majesty, why do you let this dog curse you? Let me go over there and cut off his head!"

And David said to Abishai and to all his officials, "My own son is trying to kill me; so why should you be surprised at this Benjaminite? The LORD told him to curse; so leave him alone and let him do it.

So David and his men continued along the road. Shimei kept up with them, walking on the hillside; he was cursing and throwing stones and dirt at them as he went.

Absalom and all the Israelites with him entered Jerusalem, and Ahithophel was with them.

"What has happened to your loyalty to your friend David?" Absalom asked him. "Why didn't you go with him?"

After all, whom should I serve, if not my master's son? As I served your father, so now I will serve you."

Ahithophel answered, "Go and have intercourse with your father's concubines whom he left behind to take care of the palace. Then everyone in Israel will know that your father regards you as his enemy, and your followers will be greatly encouraged."

Any advice that Ahithophel gave in those days was accepted as though it were the very word of God; both David and Absalom followed it.

Look at me, O LORD my God, and answer me. Restore my strength; don't let me die.

I rely on your constant love; I will be glad, because you will rescue me.

O LORD, you give me light; you dispel my darkness.

I cried to you for help, O LORD my God, and you healed me;

So I will not be silent; I will sing praise to you. LORD, you are my God; I will give you thanks forever.

Then I will go to your altar, O God; you are the source of my happiness. I will play my harp and sing praise to you, O God, my God.

He will say to me, 'You are my father and my God; you are my protector and savior.'

The men who went with me, however, made our people afraid. But I faithfully obeyed the LORD my God.

"I hear the people of Israel say in grief, ' LORD, we were like an untamed animal, but you taught us to obey. Bring us back; we are ready to return to you, the LORD our God.

I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed the sins of my people. I said, "Lord God, you are great, and we honor you. You are faithful to your covenant and show constant love to those who love you and do what you command.

Lord, hear us. Lord, forgive us. Lord, listen to us, and act! In order that everyone will know that you are God, do not delay! This city and these people are yours."

I went on praying, confessing my sins and the sins of my people Israel and pleading with the LORD my God to restore his holy Temple.

You will escape through this valley that divides the mountain in two. You will flee as your ancestors did when the earthquake struck in the time of King Uzziah of Judah. The LORD my God will come, bringing all the angels with him.

I trust in the LORD for safety. How foolish of you to say to me, "Fly away like a bird to the mountains,

The LORD is my protector; he is my strong fortress. My God is my protection, and with him I am safe. He protects me like a shield; he defends me and keeps me safe.

in you, my God, I trust. Save me from the shame of defeat; don't let my enemies gloat over me!

Declare me innocent, O LORD, because I do what is right and trust you completely.

I come to you, LORD, for protection; never let me be defeated. You are a righteous God; save me, I pray!

The wicked will have to suffer, but those who trust in the LORD are protected by his constant love.

Don't put your trust in human leaders; no human being can save you.

Happy are those who have the God of Jacob to help them and who depend on the LORD their God,

All of you that honor the LORD and obey the words of his servant, the path you walk may be dark indeed, but trust in the LORD, rely on your God.

Through him you believe in God, who raised him from death and gave him glory; and so your faith and hope are fixed on God.

Come, LORD! Save me, my God! You punish all my enemies and leave them powerless to harm me.

Reveal your wonderful love and save me; at your side I am safe from my enemies.

from the attacks of the wicked. Deadly enemies surround me;

I am always in your care; save me from my enemies, from those who persecute me.

Oppose those who oppose me, LORD, and fight those who fight against me!

Lift up your spear and war ax against those who pursue me. Promise that you will save me.

Then I said, " LORD, you understand. Remember me and help me. Let me have revenge on those who persecute me. Do not be so patient with them that they succeed in killing me. Remember that it is for your sake that I am insulted.

But you, LORD, are on my side, strong and mighty, and those who persecute me will fail. They will be disgraced forever, because they cannot succeed. Their disgrace will never be forgotten.

So then, those who suffer because it is God's will for them, should by their good actions trust themselves completely to their Creator, who always keeps his promise.