43
(A continuation of psalm 42) 
 1 God, declare that I ◄am innocent/have not done things that are wrong►. 
Defend me when ◄ungodly people/people who do not worship you► say things against me, 
rescue me from people who deceive and say things about me that are not true. 
 2 You are God, the one who protects me; 
◄why have you abandoned me?/it seems that you have abandoned me!► [RHQ] 
It does not seem right that [RHQ] I am forced to mourn/cry constantly 
because my enemies are cruel to me. 
 3 Shine your light on me and speak your truth to me; 
and let them guide me, 
and take me back to Zion, your sacred hill at Jerusalem, 
and to your temple, where you live. 
 4 When you do that, I will go to your altar, 
to worship you, my God, who causes me to be extremely joyful. 
There I will praise you, the God whom I worship, while I play my harp. 
 5 So ◄why am I sad and discouraged?/I should not be sad and discouraged!► [RHQ] 
I confidently expect God to bless me, 
and I will praise him again, 
my God, the one who saves me.