<p class="poetry">But I will not remove<n id="1" /> my loyal love from him,p> <p class="poetry">nor be unfaithful to my promise.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">You turn back<n id="1" /> his sword from the adversary,<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">and have not sustained him in battle.<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">Then they say, &#8220;The <sc>Lordsc> does not see this;p> <p class="poetry">the God of Jacob does not take notice of it.&#8221;<n id="1" />p>

<p class="poetry">He does not deal with us as our sins deserve;<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">he does not repay us as our misdeeds deserve.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">He made it dark;<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">they did not disobey his orders.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">Have you not rejected us, O God?p> <p class="poetry">O God, you do not go into battle with our armies.p>

<p class="poetry">He loved to curse<n id="1" /> others, so those curses have come upon him.<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">He had no desire to bless anyone, so he has experienced no blessings.<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">The dead do not praise the <sc>Lordsc>,p> <p class="poetry">nor do any of those who descend into the silence of death.<n id="1" />p>

<p class="poetry">Look! Israel&#8217;s protector<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">does not sleep or slumber!p>

<p class="poetry">He established them so they would endure;<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">he issued a decree that will not be revoked.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">He despises a reprobate,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">but honors the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s loyal followers.<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">He makes firm commitments and does not renege on his promise.<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">But I<n id="1" /> am a worm,<n id="2" /> not a man;<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">people insult me and despise me.<n id="4" />p>

<p class="poetry">The one whose deeds are blamelessp> <p class="poetry">and whose motives are pure,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">who does not lie,<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">or make promises with no intention of keeping them.<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">For they do not understand the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s actions,p> <p class="poetry">or the way he carries out justice.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">The <sc>Lordsc><n id="2" /> will permanently demolish them.<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">So now<n id="1" /> my heart<n id="2" /> will sing to you and not be silent;p> <p class="poetry">O <sc>Lordsc> my God, I will always<n id="3" /> give thanks to you.p>

<p class="poetry">The <sc>Lordsc> rescues his servants;<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">all who take shelter in him escape punishment.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">I can see the evildoers! They have fallen!<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">They have been knocked down and are unable to get up!<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">I was once young, now I am old.p> <p class="poetry">I have never seen a godly man abandoned,p> <p class="poetry">or his children<n id="1" /> forced to search for food.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">Have you not rejected us, O God?p> <p class="poetry">O God, you do not go into battle with our armies.p>

<p class="poetry">Their insults are painful<n id="1" /> and make me lose heart;<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">I look<n id="3" /> for sympathy, but receive none,<n id="4" />p> <p class="poetry">for comforters, but find none.p>