I wish someone would keep God from punishing me. Then his terror wouldn’t frighten me anymore.

愿他把杖离开我，不使惊惶威吓我。

愿他使他的杖离开我，不使他的威严恐吓我，

愿他使他的杖离开我，不使他的威严恐吓我，

若能拿开祂责打我的刑杖，使我不再受祂的惊吓，

愿他使他的刑杖离开我，愿他可畏的威严不惊吓我，

願他把杖離開我，不使驚惶威嚇我。

願他使他的杖離開我，不使他的威嚴恐嚇我，

願他使他的杖離開我，不使他的威嚴恐嚇我，

若能拿開祂責打我的刑杖，使我不再受祂的驚嚇，

願他使他的刑杖離開我，願他可畏的威嚴不驚嚇我，

願他使他的刑杖離開我，不使我懼怕他的心來使我驚惶；

願其杖離我、其威烈不復怖我、

如主不加譴責、使我驚懼、

若天主不復加譴責於我、不再使我驚懼、

someone to remove God’s rod from me, so that his terror would frighten me no more.

Let him take his rod away from me, and let not dread of him terrify me.

The mediator could make God stop beating me, and I would no longer live in terror of his punishment.

Let him take his rod away from me so his terror will no longer frighten me.

Let Him remove His rod from me, And let not the dread of Him terrify me.

Let Him take His rod away from me, And do not let dread of Him terrify me.

Let him take his rod away from me, And let not his terror make me afraid:

Let Him take His rod away from me so His terror will no longer frighten me.

Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me:

who would take his rod away from me so that his terror would not make me afraid.

Let him take his rod away from me. Let his terror not make me afraid;

Please stop beating me. I’m about to die from the blows of your hand.

Wouldn’t his glory terrify you? Wouldn’t the fear of him fall on you?

You don’t have to be afraid of me. My hand won’t be too heavy on you.

If only we knew the power of your anger! It’s as great as the respect we should have for you.

“ God, I won’t hide from you. Here are the only two things I want.Stop treating me this way. And stop making me so afraid.Then send for me, and I’ll answer. Or let me speak, and you reply.

I was afraid God would destroy me. His glory terrifies me. So I’d never do things like that.

“ How I long for the times when things were better! That’s when God watched over me.The light of his lamp shone on me. I walked through darkness by his light.Those were the best days of my life. That’s when God’s friendship blessed my house.The Mighty One was still with me. My children were all around me.The path in front of me was like sweet cream. It was as if the rock poured out olive oil for me.“ In those days I went to the city gate. I took my seat as a member of the council.Young people who saw me stepped to one side. Old people stood up as I approached.The leaders stopped speaking. They covered their mouths with their hands.The voices of the nobles became quiet. Their tongues stuck to the roofs of their mouths.Everyone who heard me said good things about me. Those who saw me honored me.That’s because I saved poor people who cried out for help. I saved helpless children whose fathers had died.Those who were dying gave me their blessing. I made the hearts of widows sing.I put on a godly life as if it were my clothes. Fairness was my robe and my turban.I was like eyes for those who were blind. I was like feet for those who couldn’t walk.I was like a father to needy people. I stood up for strangers in court.Sinners are like animals that have powerful teeth. But I took from their mouths the people they had caught.“ I thought,‘ I’ll die in my own house. The days of my life will be as many as the grains of sand.My roots will reach down to the water. The dew will lie all night on my branches.I will remain healthy and strong. My bow will stay as good as new in my hand.’“ People wanted to hear what I had to say. They waited silently for the advice I gave them.After I had spoken, they didn’t speak anymore. My words fell gently on their ears.They waited for me just as they would wait for rain showers. They drank my words just as they would drink the spring rain.When I smiled at them, they could hardly believe it. The light of my face lifted their spirits.I chose the way they should go. I sat as their chief. I lived as a king lives among his troops. I was like someone who comforts those who are sad.

“ When I hear the thunder, my heart pounds. It beats faster inside me.

That’s why I’m so terrified. When I think about all of this, I’m afraid of him.