9. My Lord, you heard my groaning. You can hear my sighs.
10. My heart is pounding. My strength is gone, and I am going blind.
11. Because of my sickness, my friends and neighbors will not visit me; my family will not come near me.
12. My enemies say bad things about me. They are spreading lies and rumors. They talk about me all the time.
13. But I am like a deaf man and cannot hear. I am like someone who cannot speak.
14. I am like those who cannot hear what people are saying about them. I cannot answer to prove my enemies wrong.
15. Lord, you must defend me. Lord my God, you must speak for me.
16. That’s why I prayed, “Don’t let my enemies smile at my pain. Full of pride, they will laugh if I stumble and fall.”
17. I know I am guilty of doing wrong. I cannot forget my pain.
18. Lord, I told you about the evil I have done. I am sorry for my sin.
19. But my enemies are alive and healthy, and they have told many lies.
20. I did nothing but good, and they paid me back with evil. I try to do what is right, but that only makes them turn against me.
21. Lord, don’t leave me. My God, stay close to me.