The Lord also will be a refuge and a stronghold for the oppressed, A refuge in times of trouble;
And those who know Your name [who have experienced Your precious mercy] will put their confident trust in You, For You, O Lord, have not abandoned those who seek You.
As for me, I said in my alarm, “I am cut off from Your eyes.” Nevertheless You heard the voice of my supplications (specific requests) When I cried to You [for help].
Be strong and let your hearts take courage, All you who wait for and confidently expect the Lord.
Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become restless and disturbed within me? Hope in God and wait expectantly for Him, for I shall again praise Him For the help of His presence.
The Lord opens the eyes of the blind; The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; The Lord loves the righteous [the upright in heart].
Encourage the exhausted, and make staggering knees firm.
Say to those with an anxious and panic-stricken heart, “Be strong, fear not! Indeed, your God will come with vengeance [for the ungodly]; The retribution of God will come, But He will save you.”
Who is among you who fears the Lord, Who obeys the voice of His Servant, Yet who walks in darkness and has no light? Let him trust and be confident in the name of the Lord and let him rely on his God.
For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
Then you will call on Me and you will come and pray to Me, and I will hear [your voice] and I will listen to you.
Then [with a deep longing] you will seek Me and require Me [as a vital necessity] and [you will] find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.
So then, strengthen hands that are weak and knees that tremble.
Cut through and make smooth, straight paths for your feet [that are safe and go in the right direction], so that the leg which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather may be healed.