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)

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Footnotes

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

11 False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not.

12 They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul.

13 But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom.

14 I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother.

15 But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: yea, the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; they did tear me, and ceased not:

16 With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth.

17 Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions.

18 I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people.

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