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I say to the LORD, You are my God; give ear to the voice of my pleas for mercy, O LORD!
O LORD, my Lord, the strength of my salvation, you have covered my head in the day of battle.¹

Rest assured. In dire situations, with confidence call to God! He hears you. He is your strength. Guard me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from violent men, who have planned to trip up my feet. The arrogant have hidden a trap for me, and with cords they have spread a net; beside the way they have set snares for me. Selah² Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked; do not further their evil plot, or they will be exalted. Selah³

Re-focus. God provides your protection. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.⁴ Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me. The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.⁵

Recall the goodness of God. He is faithful. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!⁶ I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands. I stretch out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land.⁷ O LORD, I call upon you; hasten to me! Give ear to my voice when I call to you!
Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips! Do not let my heart incline to any evil, to busy myself with wicked deeds in company with men who work iniquity, and let me not eat of their delicacies!⁸ Yet my prayer is continually against their evil deeds. Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I pass by safely.⁹

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.¹⁰ Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledges his name.¹¹ I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and will execute justice for the needy. Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name; the upright shall dwell in your presence.¹² The righteous who walk in his integrity—blessed are his children after him!¹³

Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you will everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.¹⁴