Psalms

¹ Harass these hecklers, God, punch these bullies in the nose.

² stand up for me!

³ at the people who are out to get me. Reassure me; let me hear you say, "I'll save you."

⁴ make them look foolish. Frustrate all those who are plotting my downfall.

⁵ with God's angel working the bellows.

⁶ with God's angel on their tails.

⁷ for no good reason they dug a ditch to stop me.

⁸ catch them in the very trap they set, the disaster they planned for me.

⁹ celebrating God's great work,

¹⁰ there's no one like you. You put the down-and-out on their feet and protect the unprotected from bullies!"

¹¹ they stand up and badger me.

¹² leaving my soul empty.

¹³ instead of eating, I prayed.

¹⁴ like I'd lost my best friend, my brother. I paced, distraught as a motherless child, hunched and heavyhearted.

¹⁵ they threw a party! All the nameless riffraff of the town came chanting insults about me.

¹⁶ they destroyed my reputation.

¹⁷ to stand there doing nothing? Save me from their brutalities; everything I've got is being thrown to the lions.

¹⁸ when everyone gathers for worship; When the people turn out in force I will say my Hallelujahs.

¹⁹ have a party at my expense, Those who hate me for no reason, winking and rolling their eyes.

²⁰ from that crowd; They spend all their time cooking up gossip against those who mind their own business.

²¹ in ugly grins, Mocking, "Ha-ha, ha-ha, thought you'd get away with it? We've caught you hands down!"

²² You're not going to let them Get by with it, are you? Not going to walk off without doing something, are you?

²³ My God, my Lord—my life is on the line.

²⁴ but don't make me pay for their good time.

²⁵ "Ha-ha, we got what we wanted." Don't let them say, "We've chewed him up and spit him out."

²⁶ at my expense Be made to look ridiculous. Make them wear donkey's ears; Pin them with the donkey's tail, who made themselves so high and mighty!

²⁷ the best for me, Let them have the last word—a glad shout!— and say, over and over and over, "God is great—everything works together for good for his servant."

²⁸ I'll shout Hallelujah all day, every day.