A Psalm of David, which he sang to the Lord because of the words of Cush the Benjamite. O Lord my God, in You have I trusted: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me,

lest at any time [the enemy] seize my soul as a lion, while there is none to ransom, nor to save.

from the face of the ungodly that have afflicted me; my enemies have compassed about my soul.

They have now cast me out and compassed me round about. They have set their eyes [so as] to bow them down to the ground.

Arise, O Lord, prevent them, and cast them down; deliver my soul from the ungodly; [draw] Your sword,

Let them that seek my soul be ashamed and confounded; let them that devise evils against me be turned back and put to shame.

For strangers have risen up against me, and mighty men have sought my life; they have not set God before them. Pause.

Attend to my supplication, for I am brought very low; deliver me from them that persecute me; for they are stronger than I.

Let the enemy persecute my soul, and take it; and let him trample my life on the ground, and lay my glory in the dust. Pause.

And Abner said yet again to Asahel, Stand away from me, lest I strike you to the ground! And how should I lift up my face to Joab?

And Joab said to the man who reported it to him, Behold, did you indeed see him? Why then did you not strike him there to the ground? And I would have given you ten [pieces] of silver, and a belt.

I have been forgotten as a dead man out of mind; I have become as a broken vessel.

For I heard the slander of many that dwelt round about; when they were gathered together against me, they took counsel to take my life.

I have been reckoned with them that go down to the pit; I became as a man without help;

They laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, and in the shadow of death.

And the Lord spoke to me, saying, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: and they say, Our bones have become dry, our hope has perished, we are quite spent.