1 A psalm of David. O Lord, hear my prayer. Pay attention to my plea for help. Because of your faithfulness and justice, answer me. 2 Do not sit in judgment on your servant, for no one alive is innocent before you. 3 Certainly my enemies chase me. They smash me into the ground. They force me to live in dark regions, like those who have been dead for ages. 4 My strength leaves me; I am absolutely shocked. 5 I recall the old days. I meditate on all you have done;I reflect on your accomplishments.

4 ב (Bet) He has made my mortal skin waste away; he has broken my bones. 5 He has besieged and surrounded me with bitter hardship. 6 He has made me reside in deepest darkness like those who died long ago. 7 ג (Gimel) He has walled me in so that I cannot get out; he has weighted me down with heavy prison chains. 8 Also, when I cry out desperately for help, he has shut out my prayer.