Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

⁹ Lord, have mercy. I am in misery.
    My eyes are weak from so much crying.
    My whole being is tired from grief.
¹⁰ My life is ending in sadness.
    My years are spent in crying.
My troubles are using up my strength.
    My bones are getting weaker.
¹¹ Because of all my troubles, my enemies hate me.
    Even my neighbors look down on me.
When my friends see me,
    they are afraid and run.
¹² I am like a piece of a broken pot.
    I am forgotten as if I were dead.
¹³ I have heard many insults.
    Terror is all around me.
They make plans against me.
    They want to kill me.

¹⁴ Lord, I trust you.
    I have said, “You are my God.”
¹⁵ My life is in your hands.
    Save me from my enemies’ grasp.
    Save me from those who are chasing me.
¹⁶ Show your kindness to me, your servant.
    Save me because of your love.

¹³ “Be quiet and let me speak.
    Then let things happen to me as they will.
¹⁴ I will put myself in danger
    and take my life in my own hands.
¹⁵ He will kill me. I have no hope.^[a]
    But I still will defend my ways to his face.
¹⁶ This might really save me,
    because a wicked man would not be brave enough to come before him.
¹⁷ Listen carefully to what I say.
    Let your ears hear what I say.
¹⁸ See now, I have prepared my case.
    I know I will be proved right.
¹⁹ No one can blame me for doing wrong.
    If someone can, I will be quiet and die.