King James Bible
"Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer."
David urgently appeals to God as the source and defender of his righteousness—the one who vindicates him when falsely accused. This opening cry establishes both the psalm's desperate tone and David's confidence that God is personally invested in his moral standing. David recalls past deliverance, using the metaphor of enlargement to describe how God freed him from constricting troubles. This remembrance of God's faithfulness serves as the basis for his current petition, grounding hope in historical experience. The psalmist concludes with a double plea for divine compassion and attentive response. By linking mercy with being heard, David acknowledges his dependence on God's gracious character rather than any personal merit.