11 Ruthless witnesses(A) come forward;
    they question me on things I know nothing about.
12 They repay me evil for good(B)
    and leave me like one bereaved.
13 Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth(C)
    and humbled myself with fasting.(D)
When my prayers returned to me unanswered,
14     I went about mourning(E)
    as though for my friend or brother.
I bowed my head in grief
    as though weeping for my mother.
15 But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee;(F)
    assailants gathered against me without my knowledge.
    They slandered(G) me without ceasing.
16 Like the ungodly they maliciously mocked;[a](H)
    they gnashed their teeth(I) at me.

17 How long,(J) Lord, will you look on?
    Rescue me from their ravages,
    my precious life(K) from these lions.(L)
18 I will give you thanks in the great assembly;(M)
    among the throngs(N) I will praise you.(O)
19 Do not let those gloat over me
    who are my enemies(P) without cause;
do not let those who hate me without reason(Q)
    maliciously wink the eye.(R)
20 They do not speak peaceably,
    but devise false accusations(S)
    against those who live quietly in the land.

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 35:16 Septuagint; Hebrew may mean Like an ungodly circle of mockers,

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