12. Everything was going well with me. But he broke me into pieces like a clay pot. He grabbed me by the neck and crushed me. He has taken aim at me.
13. He shoots his arrows at me from all sides. Without pity, he stabs me in the kidneys. He spills my insides on the ground.
14. He smashes through me as if I were a wall. He rushes at me like a fighting man.
15. "I've sewed black cloth over my skin. All I can do is sit here in the dust.
16. My face is red from crying. I have deep circles under my eyes.
17. But I haven't harmed anyone. My prayers to God are pure.
18. "Earth, please don't cover up my blood! May God always hear my cry for help!
19. Even now my witness is in heaven. The one who speaks up for me is there.
20. My go-between is my friend as I pour out my tears to God.
21. He makes his appeal to God to help me as a man begs someone to help his friend.