1<> In thee, O LORD, have I waited; let me never be ashamed; deliver me in thy righteousness. 2Incline thine ear unto me; deliver me speedily; be thou my strong rock, for a house of defence to save me. 3For thou [art] my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake thou shalt lead me and guide me. 4Thou shalt pull me out of the net that they have laid in secret for me; for thou [art] my strength. 5Into thy hand shall I commit my spirit; thou shalt ransom me, O LORD God of truth. 6I have hated those that regard lying vanities; but I wait in the LORD. 7I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy, for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities 8and hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy; thou hast set my feet in a wide place. 9Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in trouble: my eye is consumed with grief, [yea], my soul and my belly. 10For my life is spent with grief and my years with sighing: my strength fails because of my iniquity, and my bones are consumed. 11I was a reproach among all my enemies, but especially among my neighbours, and a fear to my acquaintances: those that see me without flee from me. 12I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I have become like a lost vessel. 13For I have heard the slander of many; fear [was] on every side; while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life. 14But I trusted in thee, O LORD; I said, Thou [art] my God. 15My times [are] in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of my enemies and from those that persecute me. 16Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; save me for thy mercies' sake. 17Let me not be ashamed, O LORD, for I have called upon thee; let the wicked be ashamed, [and] let them be cut off for Sheol. 18Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous. 19[Oh] how great [is] thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for those that fear thee; [which] thou hast wrought for those that wait in thee before the sons of men! 20Thou shalt keep them in the secret place of thy face from the pride of man; thou shalt keep them in the tabernacle [protected] from the strife of tongues. 21Blessed [be] the LORD, for he has shown me his marvellous mercy in a strong city. 22For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes; nevertheless thou hast heard the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee. 23O love the LORD, all ye his merciful ones, [for] the LORD preserves the faithful and plentifully rewards the proud doer. 24Be of good courage and strengthen your hearts, all ye that wait in the LORD.: