Lord, you hear the desires of those who are hurting. You cheer them up and give them hope. You listen to their cries.

耶和华啊，谦卑人的心愿，你早已知道。你必预备他们的心，也必侧耳听他们的祈求，

耶和华啊，困苦人的心愿你早已听见；你必坚固他们的心，也必侧耳听他们的祈求，

耶和华啊，困苦人的心愿你早已听见；你必坚固他们的心，也必侧耳听他们的祈求，

耶和华啊，你知道困苦人的愿望，你必垂听他们的呼求，安慰他们。

耶和华啊！困苦人的心愿你已经听见，你必坚固他们的心，也必留心听他们的呼求；

耶和华啊，你垂听了卑微人的愿望！你使他们的心坚定；你侧耳倾听，

耶和華啊，謙卑人的心願，你早已知道。你必預備他們的心，也必側耳聽他們的祈求，

耶和華啊，困苦人的心願你早已聽見；你必堅固他們的心，也必側耳聽他們的祈求，

耶和華啊，困苦人的心願你早已聽見；你必堅固他們的心，也必側耳聽他們的祈求，

耶和華啊，你知道困苦人的願望，你必垂聽他們的呼求，安慰他們。

耶和華啊！困苦人的心願你已經聽見，你必堅固他們的心，也必留心聽他們的呼求；

永恆主啊，困苦人的心願你早已聽見；他們心中的悲歎你必側耳以聽，

耶和華啊，你垂聽了卑微人的願望！你使他們的心堅定；你側耳傾聽，

耶和華歟、謙卑者之祈、爾已聞之、必堅厥志、傾耳聽之、

貧者上祈、耶和華傾耳垂聽、而堅其志兮、

主歟、窮苦人所求者、主常垂聽、堅固其心、側耳聽其祈禱、

主已垂聽兮。謙者之音。必賜慰藉兮。堅固其心。

You, Lord, hear the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry,

O Lord, you hear the desire of the afflicted; you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear

Lord, you know the hopes of the helpless. Surely you will hear their cries and comfort them.

LORD, you have heard the desire of the humble; you will strengthen their hearts. You will listen carefully,

Lord, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will strengthen their heart, You will make Your ear attentive

Lord, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will prepare their heart; You will cause Your ear to hear,

Jehovah, thou hast heard the desire of the meek: Thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear;

Lord, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will strengthen their hearts. You will listen carefully,

LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:

LORD, you have heard the request of the oppressed; you make them feel secure because you listen to their prayer.

Yahweh, you have heard the desire of the humble. You will prepare their heart. You will cause your ear to hear,

Lord, you are the God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Israel. Keep these desires and thoughts in the hearts of your people forever. Keep their hearts faithful to you.

He satisfies the needs of those who have respect for him. He hears their cry and saves them.

Even before they call out to me, I will answer them. While they are still speaking, I will hear them.

“ But the tax collector stood farther away than the Pharisee. He would not even look up to heaven. He brought his hand to his heart and prayed. He said,‘ God, have mercy on me. I am a sinner.’“ I tell you, the tax collector went home accepted by God. But not the Pharisee. All those who lift themselves up will be made humble. And those who make themselves humble will be lifted up.”

My dear brothers and sisters, don’t let anyone fool you.Every good and perfect gift is from God. This kind of gift comes down from the Father who created the heavenly lights. These lights create shadows that move. But the Father does not change like these shadows.

Find your delight in the Lord. Then he will give you everything your heart really wants.

The Lord’s eyes look on godly people, and he blesses them. His ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord doesn’t bless those who do evil.”( Psalm 34:12–16)

But God will never forget needy people. The hope of those who are hurting will never die.

The Lord says,“ Your heart was tender. You made yourself humble in my sight. You heard what I spoke against this place and its people. So you made yourself humble. You tore your royal robes and wept. And I have heard you,” announces the Lord.

The God who pays back murderers remembers. He doesn’t forget the cries of those who are hurting.

When Manasseh was in trouble, he asked the Lord his God to help him. He made himself very humble in the sight of the God of his people.Manasseh prayed to him. When he did, the Lord felt sorry for him. He answered his prayer. The Lord brought Manasseh back to Jerusalem and his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord is God.

The Lord looks with favor on those who are godly. His ears are open to their cry.

God helped the people of Judah. He helped them agree with one another. So they did what the king and his officials had ordered. They did what the Lord told them to do.

He will answer the prayer of those who don’t have anything. He won’t say no to their cry for help.

In the same way, I’m speaking to you who are younger. Follow the lead of those who are older. All of you, put on a spirit free of pride toward one another. Put it on as if it were your clothes. Do this because Scripture says,“ God opposes those who are proud. But he gives grace to those who are humble.”( Proverbs 3:34)

People make plans in their hearts. But the Lord puts the correct answer on their tongues.

Be humble in front of the Lord. And he will lift you up.

So Peter was kept in prison. But the church prayed hard to God for him.It was the night before Herod was going to bring him to trial. Peter was sleeping between two soldiers. Two chains held him there. Lookouts stood guard at the entrance.Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared. A light shone in the prison cell. The angel struck Peter on his side. Peter woke up.“ Quick!” the angel said.“ Get up!” The chains fell off Peter’s wrists.Then the angel said to him,“ Put on your clothes and sandals.” Peter did so.“ Put on your coat,” the angel told him.“ Follow me.”Peter followed him out of the prison. But he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening. He thought he was seeing a vision.They passed the first and second guards. Then they came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself. They went through it. They walked the length of one street. Suddenly the angel left Peter.Then Peter realized what had happened. He said,“ Now I know for sure that the Lord has sent his angel. He set me free from Herod’s power. He saved me from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.”When Peter understood what had happened, he went to Mary’s house. Mary was the mother of John Mark. Many people had gathered in her home. They were praying there.Peter knocked at the outer entrance. A servant named Rhoda came to answer the door.She recognized Peter’s voice. She was so excited that she ran back without opening the door.“ Peter is at the door!” she exclaimed.“ You’re out of your mind,” they said to her. But she kept telling them it was true. So they said,“ It must be his angel.”Peter kept on knocking. When they opened the door and saw him, they were amazed.Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet. He explained how the Lord had brought him out of prison.“ Tell James and the other brothers and sisters about this,” he said. Then he went to another place.In the morning the soldiers were bewildered. They couldn’t figure out what had happened to Peter.So Herod had them look everywhere for Peter. But they didn’t find him. Then Herod questioned the guards closely. He ordered that they be put to death. Then Herod went from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there.

Through him and through faith in him we can approach God. We can come to him freely. We can come without fear.

They aren’t afraid when bad news comes. They stand firm because they trust in the Lord.Their hearts are secure. They aren’t afraid. In the end they will see their enemies destroyed.

What sinners are afraid of will catch up with them. But those who do right will get what they want.

But God continues to give us more grace. That’s why Scripture says,“ God opposes those who are proud. But he gives grace to those who are humble.”( Proverbs 3:34)

“ Blessed are those who are spiritually needy. The kingdom of heaven belongs to them.

Hezekiah and all the people were filled with joy. That’s because everything had been done so quickly. God had provided for his people in a wonderful way.

Through Christ we both come to the Father by the power of one Holy Spirit.

The believers heard this. Then they raised their voices together in prayer to God.“ Lord and King,” they said,“ you made the heavens, the earth and the sea. You made everything in them.Long ago you spoke by the Holy Spirit. You spoke through the mouth of our father David, who served you. You said,“‘ Why are the nations angry? Why do the people make useless plans?The kings of the earth rise up. The rulers of the earth gather together against the Lord and against his anointed king.’( Psalm 2:1, 2)In fact, Herod and Pontius Pilate met with the Gentiles in this city. They also met with the people of Israel. All of them made plans against your holy servant Jesus. He is the one you anointed.They did what your power and purpose had already decided should happen.Now, Lord, consider the bad things they say they are going to do. Help us to be very bold when we speak your word.Stretch out your hand to heal. Do signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit. They were bold when they spoke God’s word.

In the same way, the Holy Spirit helps us when we are weak. We don’t know what we should pray for. But the Spirit himself prays for us. He prays through groans too deep for words.

The Lord hates the sacrifice of sinful people. But the prayers of honest people please him.