Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

⁴ You listened to me from your throne like a good judge,
    and you decided that I was right.
⁵ You told the nations how wrong they were.
    You destroyed those evil people.
    You erased their names from our memory forever and ever.
⁶ The enemy is finished!
    You destroyed their cities.
    There is nothing left to remind us of them.

⁷ The Lord set up his throne to bring justice,
    and he will rule forever.
⁸ He judges everyone on earth fairly.
    He judges all nations honestly.
⁹ Many people are suffering—
    crushed by the weight of their troubles.
But the Lord is a refuge for them,
    a safe place they can run to.

¹⁰ Lord, those who know your name
    come to you for protection.
And when they come,
    you do not leave them without help.

¹¹ Sing praises to the Lord, who sits as King in Zion.^[c]
    Tell the nations about the great things he has done.
¹² He punishes murderers
    and remembers those who are in need.
When suffering people cry for help,
    he does not ignore them.

¹³ I said this prayer: “Lord, be kind to me.
    See how my enemies are hurting me.
    Save me from the ‘gates of death.’
¹⁴ Then, at the gates of Jerusalem,^[d] I can sing praises to you.
    I will be so happy because you saved me.”

² “I have heard all these things before.
    You men give me trouble, not comfort.
³ Your long speeches never end!
    Why do you continue arguing?
⁴ I also could say the same things you say,
    if you had my troubles.
I could say wise things against you
    and shake my head at you.
⁵ But I would say things to encourage you
    and give you hope.

⁶ “Nothing I say makes my pain go away.
    But keeping quiet does not help either.
⁷ God, you surely took away my strength.
    You destroyed my whole family.
⁸ You have made me thin and weak,
    and people think that means I am guilty.

⁹ “God attacks me;
    he is angry with me and tears my body apart.
He grinds his teeth against me.
    My enemy looks at me with hate.
¹⁰ People have crowded around me.
    They make fun of me and slap my face.
¹¹ God has given me to evil people.
    He let the wicked hurt me.
¹² I was enjoying a quiet, peaceful life,
    but then God crushed me.
Yes, he took me by the neck
    and broke me into pieces.
He has made me his target.
¹³     With his archers all around me,
he shoots arrows into my kidneys.
    He shows no mercy
    and spills my gall^[a] on the ground.
¹⁴ Again and again he attacks me.
    He runs at me like a soldier in battle.

¹⁵ “I am very sad, so I wear this sackcloth.
    I sit here in dust and ashes, feeling defeated.
¹⁶ My face is red from crying.
    There are dark rings around my eyes.
¹⁷ I was never cruel to anyone,
    and my prayers are pure.

¹⁸ “Earth, don’t hide the wrong things that were done to me.^[b]
    Don’t let my begging for fairness be stopped.
¹⁹ Even now there is someone in heaven who will speak for me.
    There is someone above who will testify for me.
²⁰ My friend speaks for me,
    while my eyes pour out tears to God.
²¹ He speaks to God for me,
    like someone^[c] presenting an argument for a friend.