16. before the vindictive enemywho ridicules and insults me.
17. All this has happened to us, even though we have not rejected youor violated your covenant with us.
18. We have not been unfaithful,nor have we disobeyed your commands.
19. Yet you have battered us, leaving us a heap of ruins overrun by wild dogs;you have covered us with darkness.
20. If we had rejected our God,and spread out our hands in prayer to another god,
21. would not God discover it,for he knows one’s thoughts?
22. Yet because of you we are killed all day long;we are treated like sheep at the slaughtering block.
23. Rouse yourself! Why do you sleep, O Lord?Wake up! Do not reject us forever!