¹⁸ Why is my pain unending
    and my wound grievous and incurable?^(A)
You are to me like a deceptive brook,
    like a spring that fails.^(B)

¹⁸ You who are my Comforter^[a] in sorrow,
    my heart is faint^(A) within me.

¹³ A happy heart makes the face cheerful,^(A)
    but heartache crushes the spirit.^(B)

⁵ Her foes have become her masters;
    her enemies are at ease.
The Lord has brought her grief^(A)
    because of her many sins.^(B)
Her children have gone into exile,^(C)
    captive before the foe.^(D)

¹⁷ All their days they eat in darkness,
    with great frustration, affliction and anger.

⁴ Look and see, there is no one at my right hand;
    no one is concerned for me.
I have no refuge;^(A)
    no one cares^(B) for my life.

⁵ I cry to you, Lord;
    I say, “You are my refuge,^(C)
    my portion^(D) in the land of the living.”^(E)

⁶ Listen to my cry,^(F)
    for I am in desperate need;^(G)
rescue me^(H) from those who pursue me,
    for they are too strong^(I) for me.
⁷ Set me free from my prison,^(J)
    that I may praise your name.^(K)
Then the righteous will gather about me
    because of your goodness to me.^(L)