12. I am devastatedbecause they pay me back with evil instead of good.
13. But when they were sick, I wore sackcloth.I humbled myself with fasting.When my prayer returned unanswered,
14. I walked around as if I were mourning for my friend or my brother.I was bent over as if I were mourning for my mother.
15. Yet, when I stumbled,they rejoiced and gathered together.They gathered together against me.Unknown attackers tore me apart without stopping.
16. With crude and abusive mockers,they grit their teeth at me.
17. O Lord, how long will you look on?Rescue me from their attacks.Rescue my precious life from the lions.
18. I will give you thanks in a large gathering.I will praise you in a crowd ⌊of worshipers⌋.
19. Do not let my treacherous enemies gloat over me.Do not let those who hate me for no reason wink ⌊at me⌋.
20. They do not talk about peace.Instead, they scheme against the peaceful people in the land.
21. They open their big mouths and say about me,“Aha! Aha! Our own eyes have seen it.”
22. You have seen it, O Lord.Do not remain silent.O Lord, do not be so far away from me.
23. Wake up, and rise to my defense.Plead my case, O my God and my Lord.
24. Judge me by your righteousness, O Lord my God.Do not let them gloat over me
25. or think, “Aha, just what we wanted!”Do not let them say, “We have swallowed him up.”
26. Let those who gloat over my downfallbe thoroughly put to shame and confused.Let those who promote themselves at my expensebe clothed with shame and disgrace.
27. Let those who are happy when I am declared innocentjoyfully sing and rejoice.Let them continually say, “The Lord is great.He is happy when his servant has peace.”