¹⁷ How long,^(A) Lord, will you look on?
    Rescue me from their ravages,
    my precious life^(B) from these lions.^(C)
18 I will give you thanks in the great assembly;^(D)
    among the throngs^(E) I will praise you.^(F)
19 Do not let those gloat over me
    who are my enemies^(G) without cause;
do not let those who hate me without reason^(H)
    maliciously wink the eye.^(I)
20 They do not speak peaceably,
    but devise false accusations^(J)
    against those who live quietly in the land.
²¹ They sneer^(K) at me and say, “Aha! Aha!^(L)
    With our own eyes we have seen it.”

²² Lord, you have seen^(M) this; do not be silent.
    Do not be far^(N) from me, Lord.
²³ Awake,^(O) and rise^(P) to my defense!
    Contend^(Q) for me, my God and Lord.
²⁴ Vindicate me in your righteousness, Lord my God;
    do not let them gloat^(R) over me.
²⁵ Do not let them think, “Aha,^(S) just what we wanted!”
    or say, “We have swallowed him up.”^(T)

²⁶ May all who gloat^(U) over my distress^(V)
    be put to shame^(W) and confusion;
may all who exalt themselves over me^(X)
    be clothed with shame and disgrace.
²⁷ May those who delight in my vindication^(Y)
    shout for joy^(Z) and gladness;
may they always say, “The Lord be exalted,
    who delights^(AA) in the well-being of his servant.”^(AB)

²⁸ My tongue will proclaim your righteousness,^(AC)
    your praises all day long.^(AD)

¹⁹ Better to live in a desert
    than with a quarrelsome and nagging wife.^(A)

²⁰ The wise store up choice food and olive oil,
    but fools gulp theirs down.