9. But if I say, ‘I will not mention his wordor speak any more in his name,’his word is in my heart like a fire,a fire shut up in my bones.I am weary of holding it in;indeed, I cannot.
10. I hear many whispering,‘Terror on every side!Denounce him! Let’s denounce him!’All my friendsare waiting for me to slip, saying,‘Perhaps he will be deceived;then we will prevail over himand take our revenge on him.’
11. But the Lord is with me like a mighty warrior;so my persecutors will stumble and not prevail.They will fail and be thoroughly disgraced;their dishonour will never be forgotten.
12. Lord Almighty, you who examine the righteousand probe the heart and mind,let me see your vengeance on them,for to you I have committed my cause.
13. Sing to the Lord!Give praise to the Lord!He rescues the life of the needyfrom the hands of the wicked.
14. Cursed be the day I was born!May the day my mother bore me not be blessed!
15. Cursed be the man who brought my father the news,who made him very glad, saying,‘A child is born to you – a son!’
16. May that man be like the townsthe Lord overthrew without pity.May he hear wailing in the morning,a battle cry at noon.
17. For he did not kill me in the womb,with my mother as my grave,her womb enlarged for ever.
18. Why did I ever come out of the wombto see trouble and sorrowand to end my days in shame?