A Psalm of Solomon: For help.

1 When my soul slumbered and fell away from God, then had I well nigh slipped in the heaviness of sleep:

2 When I was far from God, within a little had my soul been poured out unto death, yea I had been hard unto the gates of hell in the company of the sinner.

3 What time my soul was departed from God, the God of Israel, if God had not helped me through His mercy that abideth for ever.

4 He pricked me as a man pricketh his horse, that I might watch unto Him. He that is my saviour and helper at all times preserved me.

5 I will praise Thee, O God, because Thou didst help me unto salvation, and didst not reckon me with the sinners for destruction.

6 Withdraw not Thy mercy from me, O God, and take not the remembrance of Thee from my heart until I die.

7 Keep me, O God, from abominable sin, and from every wicked woman that layeth a snare for the simple;

8 And let not the beauty of an ungodly woman beguile me, nor aught that consisteth in sinful vanity.

9 Establish Thou the works of my hands in Thy word, and preserve my goings in the remembrance of Thee.

10 My tongue and my lips do Thou guard about with the words of truth; anger and senseless wrath put Thou far from me.

11 Murmuring and faintheartedness in the time of affliction remove Thou far from me, when for my sin Thou dost chasten me to the end I may be restored.

12 But with goodwill and cheerfulness uphold Thou my soul; when Thou strengthenest my soul, I shall be satisfied with that Thou givest me.

13 For if Thou strengthenest not, who can abide chastisement in poverty?

14 Seeing that a soul is rebuked by the corruption thereof; Thou dost prove a man in his flesh and in the affliction of poverty:

15 The righteous man, if he continue steadfast, shall therein find mercy of God.