₇LORD, you have deceived me,

and I was deceived.

You are stronger than I am,

and you have overpowered me.

Everyone jeers at me;

they mock me all day long.

₈Whenever I speak, I have to cry out

and shout, “Violence! Destruction!”

LORD, I am ridiculed and scorned all the time

because I proclaim your message.

₉But when I say, “I will forget the LORD

and no longer speak in his name,”

then your message is like a fire

burning deep within me.

I try my best to hold it in,

but can no longer keep it back.

₁₀I hear everybody whispering,

“Terror is everywhere!

So let's report him to the authorities!”

Even my close friends wait for my downfall.

“Perhaps he can be tricked,” they say;

“then we can catch him and get revenge.”

₁₁But you, LORD, are on my side, strong and mighty,

and those who persecute me will fail.

They will be disgraced for ever,

because they cannot succeed.

Their disgrace will never be forgotten.

₁₂But, Almighty LORD, you test people justly;

you know what is in their hearts and minds.

So let me see you take revenge on my enemies,

for I have placed my cause in your hands.

₁₃Sing to the LORD!

Praise the LORD!

He rescues the oppressed from the power of evil people.

₇It is for your sake that I have been insulted

and that I am covered with shame.

₈I am like a stranger to my relatives,

like a foreigner to my family.

₉My devotion to your Temple burns in me like a fire;

the insults which are hurled at you fall on me.

₁₀I humble myself by fasting,

and people insult me;

₁₁I dress myself in clothes of mourning,

and they laugh at me.

₁₂They talk about me in the streets,

and drunkards make up songs about me.

₁₃But as for me, I will pray to you, LORD;

answer me, God, at a time you choose.

Answer me because of your great love,

because you keep your promise to save.

₁₄Save me from sinking in the mud;

keep me safe from my enemies,

safe from the deep water.

₁₅Don't let the flood come over me;

don't let me drown in the depths

or sink into the grave.

₁₆Answer me, LORD, in the goodness of your constant love;

in your great compassion turn to me!

₁₇Don't hide yourself from your servant;

I am in great trouble — answer me now!

₁₈Come to me and save me;

rescue me from my enemies.