17  I cried to him with my mouth,

and high praise was on¹ my tongue.²

18  If I had ^scherished iniquity in my heart,

^tthe Lord would not have listened.

19  But truly ^uGod has listened;

he has attended to the voice of my prayer.

20  Blessed be God,

because he has not rejected my prayer

or removed his steadfast love from me!

21  I thank you that ^cyou have answered me

^uand have become my salvation.

1  I ^ylove the Lord, because he has ^zheard

my voice and my pleas for mercy.

2  Because he ^ainclined his ear to me,

therefore I will call on him as long as I live.

2  Incline your ear to me;

rescue me speedily!

Be ^sa rock of ^trefuge for me,

a strong fortress to save me!