8. Each time I speak, I have to cry out and shout,“Violence and destruction!”The word of the Lord has made me the object of insultsand contempt all day long.
9. I think to myself, “I can forget the Lordand no longer speak his name.”But ⌊his word⌋ is inside me like a burning fire shut up in my bones.I wear myself out holding it in, but I can’t do it any longer.
10. I have heard many ⌊people⌋ whispering,“Terror is everywhere!Report him! Let’s report him!”All my closest friends are waiting to see me stumble.They say, “Maybe he will be tricked.Then we can overpower him and take revenge on him.”
11. But the Lord is on my side like a terrifying warrior.That is why those who persecute me will stumble. They can’t win.They will be very ashamed that they can’t succeed.Their eternal shame will not be forgotten.
12. But the Lord of Armies examines the righteous.He sees their motives and thoughts.I want to see you take revenge on them,because I’ve brought my case to you.
13. Sing to the Lord! Praise the Lord!He has rescued the lives of needy peoplefrom the power of wicked people.
14. Cursed is the day that I was born,the day that my mother gave birth to me.May it not be blessed.
15. Cursed is the man who made my father very happy with the newsthat he had just become the father of a baby boy.
16. May that man be like the citiesthat the Lord destroyed without pity.May he hear a cry of alarm in the morningand a battle cry at noon.