if I have rewarded those who did me good with evil, if I have plundered my enemy without justification,

because all his judgments were always before me, and I did not cast off his statutes.

I pursued my enemies and overtook them; I did not turn around until they were utterly defeated.

They cried out for deliverance, but there was no one to deliver; they cried out to the LORD, but he did not answer them.

You rescued me from conflict with the people; you made me head of the nations. People who did not know me will serve me.

LORD, you brought me from death; you kept me alive so that I did not descend into the Pit.

My sin I acknowledged to you; my iniquity I did not hide. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD." And you forgave the guilt of my sin! Interlude

But when I stumbled, they rejoiced and gathered together. They gathered together against me attackers whom I did not know. They tore me apart and would not stop.

In the great congregation I have proclaimed the righteous good news. Behold, I did not seal my lips, LORD, as you know.

God, we heard it with our ears; our ancestors told us about what you did in their day a long time ago.

It was not with their sword that they inherited the land, nor did their own arm deliver them. But it was by your power, your strength, and by the light of your face; because you were pleased with them.

However, you cast us off and made us ashamed! You did not even march with our armies!

All this came upon us, yet we did not forsake you, and we have not dealt falsely with your covenant;

These things you did, and I kept silent, because you assumed that I was like you. But now I am going to rebuke you, and I will set forth my case before your very own eyes."

Therefore I will praise you forever because of what you did; I will proclaim that your name is good in the midst of your faithful ones. To the Director: Upon . A Davidic instruction.

Aren't you the one, God, who has cast us off? Didn't you refuse, God, to accompany our armies?

Come and listen, all of you who fear God, and I will tell you what he did for me.

Blessed be God, who did not turn away my prayers nor his gracious love from me. To the Director of music: Accompanied by stringed instruments. A Psalm. A song.

Those who hate me without cause are more than the hairs of my head. My persecutors are mighty, and they want to destroy me. Must I be forced to return what I did not steal?

Then, I was too stupid and didn't realize I was acting like a wild animal with you.

When I was in distress, I sought the Lord; my hands were raised at night and they did not grow weary. I refused to be comforted.

They did not keep God's covenant, and refused to live by his Law.

because they didn't believe in God and didn't trust in his deliverance.

In spite of all of this, they kept on sinning and didn't believe in his marvelous deeds.

But he, being merciful, forgave their iniquity and didn't destroy them; He restrained his anger and didn't vent all his wrath.

They did not remember his power the day he delivered them from their adversary,

He blazed a path for his anger; he did not stop short from killing them, but handed them over to pestilence.

But they tested the Most High God by rebelling against him, and they did not obey his statutes.

He rejected the clan of Joseph; and the tribe of Ephraim he did not choose.

Why did you break down its walls so that those who pass by pluck its fruits?

a decree that he prescribed for Joseph when he went throughout the land of Egypt, speaking a language I did not recognize.

Yet my people didn't obey my voice; Israel didn't submit to me.

Deal with them as you did to Midian, Sisera, and Jabin at the Kishon Brook.

Indeed, about Zion it will be said: "More than one person was born in it," and "The Most High himself did it."

Moreover, you have turned back the edge of his sword and did not support him in battle.

He did not allow anyone to oppress them, or any kings to reprove them.

He sent darkness, and it became dark. Did they not rebel against his words?

But they quickly forgot his deeds and did not wait for his counsel.

They rejected the desirable land, and they didn't trust his promise.

They murmured in their tents, and didn't listen to the voice of the LORD.

Therefore, they became unclean because of what they did; they have acted like whores by their evil deeds.

God, you have rejected us, have you not, since you did not march out with our army, God?

For he didn't think to extend gracious love; he harassed to death the poor, the needy, and the broken hearted.

I hurried and did not procrastinate to keep your commands.

Though the arrogant nearly destroyed me on earth, I did not abandon your precepts.

Blessed be the LORD, who did not give us as prey to their teeth.