¹¹ Malicious witnesses rise up;
    they ask me about things I do not know.
¹² They repay me evil for good;
    my soul is forlorn.
¹³ But as for me, when they were sick,
    I wore sackcloth;
    I afflicted myself with fasting.
I prayed with head bowed^[a] on my bosom,
¹⁴     as though I grieved for a friend or a brother;
I went about as one who laments for a mother,
    bowed down and in mourning.

¹⁵ But at my stumbling they gathered in glee,
    they gathered together against me;
ruffians whom I did not know
    tore at me without ceasing;
¹⁶ they impiously mocked more and more,^[b]
    gnashing at me with their teeth.

¹⁷ How long, O Lord, will you look on?
    Rescue me from their ravages,
    my life from the lions!
¹⁸ Then I will thank you in the great congregation;
    in the mighty throng I will praise you.

¹⁹ Do not let my treacherous enemies rejoice over me,
    or those who hate me without cause wink the eye.
²⁰ For they do not speak peace,
    but they conceive deceitful words
    against those who are quiet in the land.
²¹ They open wide their mouths against me;
    they say, ‘Aha, Aha,
    our eyes have seen it.’

²² You have seen, O Lord; do not be silent!
    O Lord, do not be far from me!
²³ Wake up! Bestir yourself for my defence,
    for my cause, my God and my Lord!
²⁴ Vindicate me, O Lord, my God,
    according to your righteousness,
    and do not let them rejoice over me.
²⁵ Do not let them say to themselves,
    ‘Aha, we have our heart’s desire.’
Do not let them say, ‘We have swallowed you^[c] up.’

²⁶ Let all those who rejoice at my calamity
    be put to shame and confusion;
let those who exalt themselves against me
    be clothed with shame and dishonour.

²⁷ Let those who desire my vindication
    shout for joy and be glad,
    and say evermore,
‘Great is the Lord,
    who delights in the welfare of his servant.’
²⁸ Then my tongue shall tell of your righteousness
    and of your praise all day long.