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1O Lord , hear my prayer!
Pay attention to my plea for help!
Because of your faithfulness and justice, answer me!
2Do not sit in judgment on your servant,[#tn Heb “do not enter into judgment with.”]
for no one alive is innocent before you.
3Certainly my enemies chase me.[#tn Or “for.”; #tn Heb “an enemy.” The singular is used in a representative sense to describe a typical member of the larger group of enemies (note the plural “enemies” in vv. 9, 12).]
They smash me into the ground.
They force me to live in dark regions,
like those who have been dead for ages.
4My strength leaves me;[#tn Heb “my spirit grows faint.”]
I am absolutely shocked.
5I recall the old days;[#tn Or “ancient times”; Heb “days from before.”]
I meditate on all you have done;
I reflect on your accomplishments.
6I spread my hands out to you in prayer;[#tn The words “in prayer” are supplied in the translation to clarify that the psalmist is referring to a posture of prayer.]
my soul thirsts for you in a parched land.
7Answer me quickly, Lord !
My strength is fading.
Do not reject me,
or I will join those descending into the grave.
8May I hear about your loyal love in the morning,[#tn Heb “cause me to hear in the morning your loyal love.” Here “loyal love” probably stands metonymically for an oracle of assurance promising God’s intervention as an expression of his loyal love.sn The morning is sometimes viewed as the time of divine intervention (see Pss 30:5; 59:16; 90:14).]
for I trust in you.
Show me the way I should go,
because I long for you.
9Rescue me from my enemies, O Lord !
I run to you for protection.
10Teach me to do what pleases you,[#tn Or “your will.” See Ps 40:8.]
for you are my God.
May your kind presence
lead me into a level land.
11O Lord , for the sake of your reputation, revive me![#tn Heb “name,” which here stands metonymically for God’s reputation.; #tn The imperfect verbal forms in vv. 11-12a are understood as expressing the psalmist’s desire. Note the petitionary tone of vv. 7-10a.]
Because of your justice, rescue me from trouble!
12As a demonstration of your loyal love, destroy my enemies![#tn Heb “in [or “by”] your faithfulness.”]
Annihilate all who threaten my life,
for I am your servant.