Listen to my prayer, O LORD, and hear my cry for help!

I call to the LORD for help; I plead with him.

Hear me! Save me now! Be my refuge to protect me; my defense to save me.

Now, LORD, hear us and look at what is happening to us. Listen to all the things that Sennacherib is saying to insult you, the living God.

Listen to us, O God; look at us and see the trouble we are in and the suffering of the city that bears your name. We are praying to you because you are merciful, not because we have done right.

But you do see; you take notice of trouble and suffering and are always ready to help. The helpless commit themselves to you; you have always helped the needy.

The helpless call to him, and he answers; he saves them from all their troubles.

I am weak and poor, O Lord, but you have not forgotten me. You are my savior and my God--- hurry to my aid!

He rescues the poor who call to him, and those who are needy and neglected.

He rescues them from oppression and violence; their lives are precious to him.

He will hear his forsaken people and listen to their prayer.

Free me from their insults and scorn, because I have kept your laws.

LORD, I know that you defend the cause of the poor and the rights of the needy.

I myself created the whole universe! I am pleased with those who are humble and repentant, who fear me and obey me.

"Happy are those who know they are spiritually poor; the Kingdom of heaven belongs to them!

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has chosen me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed

Those Christians who are poor must be glad when God lifts them up,

and the rich Christians must be glad when God brings them down. For the rich will pass away like the flower of a wild plant.

Listen, my dear friends! God chose the poor people of this world to be rich in faith and to possess the kingdom which he promised to those who love him.