 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
God Knows My Heart's I am worn out with grief; every night my bed is damp from my weeping; my
pillow is soaked with tears. Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am in trouble; my eyes are tired from so
much crying; I am completely worn out. I am exhausted by sorrow, and weeping
has shortened my life. I am weak from all my troubles; even my bones are
wasting away. All my enemies, and especially my neighbors treat me with
contempt; those who know me are afraid of me; when they see me in the street,
they run away. Everyone has forgotten me, as though I were dead; I am like
something thrown away. Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer! In despair and far from home I
call to you! Take me to a safe refuge, for you are my protector, my strong
defense against my enemies. Let me live in your sanctuary all my life; let me
find safety under your wings. O Lord, our Lord, your greatness is seen in all the world! Your praise
reaches up to the heavens; it is sung by children and babies. (The angels ask God:) What is man, that you think of him; mere man, that you care for him? And you know how troubled I am; you have kept a record of my tears.
Aren't they listed in your book? You created every part of me; you put me together in my mother's womb. I
praise you because you are to be feared; all you do is strange and wonderful.
I know it with all my heart. When my bones were being formed, carefully put
together in my mother's womb, when I was growing there in secret, you knew
that I was there - you saw me before I was born. The days allotted to me had
all been recorded in your book, before any of them ever began. O God, how
difficult I find your thoughts; how many of them there are! If I counted them,
they would be more than the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you. Before I was born, the Lord chose me and appointed me to be his servant. He
made my words as sharp as a sword. Acknowledge that the Lord is God. He made us, and we belong to him; we are
his people, we are his flock. I cry aloud to God; I cry aloud, and he hears me. In times of trouble I
pray to the Lord; all night long I lift my hands in prayer, but I cannot find
comfort. When I think of God, I sigh; when I meditate, I feel discouraged. He
keeps me awake all night; I am so worried that I cannot speak. I think of days
gone by and remember years of long ago. I spend the night in deep thought; I
meditate, and this is what I ask myself: "Will the Lord always reject us?
Will he never again be pleased with us? Has he stopped loving us? Does his
promise no longer stand? Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has anger taken the
place of his compassion?" Do not be afraid - I am with you! I am your God - let nothing terrify you!
I will make you strong and help you; I will protect you and save you. See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever
before me. The Lord is close to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in
spirit. Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping
carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with
him. I depend on God alone; I put my hope in him. He alone protects and saves
me; he is my defender and I shall never be defeated. My salvation and honor
depend on God; he is my strong protector; he is my shelter. Trust in God at
all times, my people. Tell him all your troubles for he is our refuge. Praise God in his Temple! "Comfort my people," says our God. "Comfort them!" |
