Be merciful to me, O God, because of your constant love. Because of your great mercy wipe away my sins!

Turn to me and have mercy on me as you do on all those who love you.

Look at me, O LORD my God, and answer me. Restore my strength; don't let me die.

See how many enemies I have; see how much they hate me.

Look at my suffering, and save me, because I have not neglected your law.

Listen to my cry for help, for I am sunk in despair. Save me from my enemies; they are too strong for me.

"O God, our God, how great you are! How terrifying, how powerful! You faithfully keep your covenant promises. From the time when Assyrian kings oppressed us, even till now, how much we have suffered! Our kings, our leaders, our priests and prophets, our ancestors, and all our people have suffered. Remember how much we have suffered!

Her uncleanness was easily seen, but she showed no concern for her fate. Her downfall was terrible; no one can comfort her. Her enemies have won, and she cries to the LORD for mercy.

Her people groan as they look for something to eat; They exchange their treasures for food to keep themselves alive. "Look at me, LORD," the city cries; "see me in my misery."

you kept me from the grave. I was on my way to the depths below, but you restored my life.

because you have rescued me from death and kept me from defeat. And so I walk in the presence of God, in the light that shines on the living.

How great is your constant love for me! You have saved me from the grave itself.

they couldn't stand the sight of food and were close to death.

The danger of death was all around me; the horrors of the grave closed in on me; I was filled with fear and anxiety.

Then I called to the LORD, "I beg you, LORD, save me!"

I thought that in the prime of life I was going to the world of the dead, Never to live out my life.

The Jews have rules about ritual washing, and for this purpose six stone water jars were there, each one large enough to hold between twenty and thirty gallons.