A Prayer for Protection against Oppressors

171 Hear a just cause , O Lord , give heed to my cry ; Give ear to my prayer , which is not from deceitful lips . 2 Let my judgment come forth from Your presence ; Let Your eyes look with equity . 3 You have tried my heart ; You have visited me by night ; You have tested me and You find nothing ; I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress . 4 As for the deeds of men , by the word of Your lips I have kept from the paths of the violent . 5 My steps have held fast to Your paths . My feet have not slipped . 6 I have called upon You, for You will answer me, O God ; Incline Your ear to me, hear my speech . 7 Wondrously show Your lovingkindness , O Savior of those who take refuge at Your right hand From those who rise up against them.

8 Keep me as the apple of the eye ; Hide me in the shadow of Your wings 9 From the wicked who despoil me, My deadly enemies who surround me. 10 They have closed their unfeeling heart, With their mouth they speak proudly . 11 They have now surrounded us in our steps ; They set their eyes to cast us down to the ground . 12 He is like a lion that is eager to tear , And as a young lion lurking in hiding places . 13 Arise , O Lord , confront him, bring him low ; Deliver my soul from the wicked with Your sword , 14 From men with Your hand , O Lord , From men of the world , whose portion is in this life , And whose belly You fill with Your treasure ; They are satisfied with children , And leave their abundance to their babes . 15 As for me, I shall behold Your face in righteousness ; I will be satisfied with Your likeness when I awake .

A Prayer for Rescue from Enemies

351 Contend , O Lord , with those who contend with me; Fight against those who fight against me. 2 Take hold of buckler and shield And rise up for my help . 3 Draw also the spear and the battle-axe to meet those who pursue me; Say to my soul , "I am your salvation ." 4 Let those be ashamed and dishonored who seek my life ; Let those be turned back and humiliated who devise evil against me. 5 Let them be like chaff before the wind , With the angel of the Lord driving them on. 6 Let their way be dark and slippery , With the angel of the Lord pursuing them. 7 For without cause they hid their net for me; Without cause they dug a pit for my soul . 8 Let destruction come upon him unawares e , And let the net which he hid catch himself; Into that very destruction let him fall . 9 And my soul shall rejoice in the Lord ; It shall exult in His salvation . 10 All my bones will say , "Lord , who is like You, Who delivers the afflicted from him who is too strong for him, And the afflicted and the needy from him who robs him?"

11 Malicious witnesses rise up; They ask me of things that I do not know . 12 They repay me evil for good , To the bereavement of my soul . 13 But as for me, when they were sick , my clothing was sackcloth ; I humbled my soul with fasting , And my prayer kept returning to my bosom . 14 I went about as though it were my friend or brother ; I bowed down mourning , as one who sorrows for a mother . 15 But at my stumbling they rejoiced and gathered themselves together; The smiters whom I did not know gathered together against me, They slandered me without ceasing . 16 Like godless jesters at a feast , They gnashed at me with their teeth .

17 Lord , how long will You look on? Rescue my soul from their ravages , My only life from the lions . 18 I will give You thanks in the great congregation ; I will praise You among a mighty throng . 19 Do not let those who are wrongfully my enemies rejoice over me; Nor let those who hate me without cause wink maliciously e . 20 For they do not speak peace , But they devise deceitful words against those who are quiet in the land . 21 They opened their mouth wide against me; They said , " Aha , aha , our eyes have seen it!" 22 You have seen it, O Lord , do not keep silent ; O Lord , do not be far from me. 23 Stir up Yourself, and awake to my right And to my cause , my God and my Lord . 24 Judge me, O Lord my God , according to Your righteousness , And do not let them rejoice over me. 25 Do not let them say in their heart , " Aha , our desire !" Do not let them say , "We have swallowed him up!" 26 Let those be ashamed and humiliated altogether who rejoice at my distress ; Let those be clothed with shame and dishonor who magnify themselves over me. 27 Let them shout for joy and rejoice , who favor my vindication ; And let them say continually , "The Lord be magnified , Who delights in the prosperity of His servant ." 28 And my tongue shall declare Your righteousness And Your praise all day long.

A Prayer for Protection from Enemies

541 Save me, O God , by Your name , And vindicate me by Your power . 2 Hear my prayer , O God ; Give ear to the words of my mouth . 3 For strangers have risen against me And violent men have sought my life ; They have not set God before them. Selah .

4 Behold , God is my helper ; The Lord is the sustainer of my soul . 5 He will recompense the evil to my foes ; Destroy them in Your faithfulness . 6 Willingly I will sacrifice to You; I will give thanks to Your name , O Lord , for it is good . 7 For He has delivered me from all trouble , And my eye has looked with satisfaction upon my enemies .

God Satisfies the Thirsting Soul

631 O God , You are my God ; I shall seek You earnestly ; My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, In a dry and weary land where there is no water . 2 Thus I have seen You in the sanctuary , To see Your power and Your glory .

3 Because Your lovingkindness is better than life , My lips will praise You. 4 So I will bless You as long as I live ; I will lift up my hands in Your name . 5 My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness , And my mouth offers praises with joyful lips . 6 When I remember You on my bed , I meditate on You in the night watches ,

7 For You have been my help , And in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy . 8 My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me. 9 But those who seek my life to destroy it, Will go into the depths of the earth . 10 They will be delivered over to the power of the sword ; They will be a prey for foxes . 11 But the king will rejoice in God ; Everyone who swears by Him will glory , For the mouths of those who speak lies will be stopped .