16. because of the voices of thosewho make fun of me and bad-mouth me,because of the enemy who is out for revenge.
17. All this has come upon us,but we haven’t forgotten youor broken your covenant.
18. Our hearts haven’t turned away,neither have our steps strayed from your way.
19. But you’ve crushed us in the place where jackals live,covering us with deepest darkness.
20. If we had forgotten the name of our Godor spread out our hands to some strange deity,
21. wouldn’t God have discovered it?After all, God knows every secret of the heart.
22. No, God, it’s because of you that we are getting killed every day—it’s because of you that we are considered sheep ready for slaughter.
23. Wake up! Why are you sleeping, Lord?Get up! Don’t reject us forever!
24. Why are you hiding your face,forgetting our suffering and oppression?
25. Look: we’re going down to the dust;our stomachs are flat on the ground!
26. Stand up! Help us!Save us for the sake of your faithful love.