9God assails me and tears me in his anger

and gnashes his teeth at me;

my opponent fastens on me his piercing eyes.

10Men open their mouths to jeer at me;

they strike my cheek in scorn

and unite together against me.

11God has turned me over to evil men

and thrown me into the clutches of the wicked.

12All was well with me, but he shattered me;

he seized me by the neck and crushed me.

He has made me his target;

13his archers surround me.

Without pity, he pierces my kidneys

and spills my gall on the ground.

14Again and again he bursts upon me;

he rushes at me like a warrior.

15“I have sewed sackcloth over my skin

and buried my brow in the dust.

16My face is red with weeping,

deep shadows ring my eyes;

17yet my hands have been free of violence

and my prayer is pure.

18“O earth, do not cover my blood;

may my cry never be laid to rest!

19Even now my witness is in heaven;

my advocate is on high.

20My intercessor is my friend^a

as my eyes pour out tears to God;

21on behalf of a man he pleads with God

as a man pleads for his friend.

22“Only a few years will pass

before I go on the journey of no return.