A Prayer for Help and Praise for Its Answer

281 To you, Yahweh, I call.
My rock, don’t be deaf to me;
lest, if you are silent to me,
I would become like those who go down into the pit. 2 Hear the voice of my petitions, when I cry to you,
when I lift up my hands toward your Most Holy Place. 3 Don’t draw me away with the wicked,
with the workers of iniquity who speak peace with their neighbors,
but mischief is in their hearts. 4 Give them according to their work, and according to the wickedness of their doings.
Give them according to the operation of their hands.
Bring back on them what they deserve. 5 Because they don’t respect the works of Yahweh,
nor the operation of his hands,
he will break them down and not build them up.

6 Blessed be Yahweh,
because he has heard the voice of my petitions. 7 Yahweh is my strength and my shield.
My heart has trusted in him, and I am helped.
Therefore my heart greatly rejoices.
With my song I will thank him. 8 Yahweh is their strength.
He is a stronghold of salvation to his anointed. 9 Save your people,
and bless your inheritance.
Be their shepherd also,
and bear them up forever.