1-3. Open your ears, God, to my prayer;don’t pretend you don’t hear me knocking.Come close and whisper your answer.I really need you.I shudder at the mean voice,quail before the evil eye,As they pile on the guilt,stockpile angry slander.
12-14. This isn’t the neighborhood bullymocking me—I could take that.This isn’t a foreign devil spittinginvective—I could tune that out.It’s you! We grew up together!You! My best friend!Those long hours of leisure as we walkedarm in arm, God a third party to our conversation.
15. Haul my betrayers off alive to hell—let themexperience the horror, let themfeel every desolate detail of a damned life.
16-19. I call to God;God will help me.At dusk, dawn, and noon I sighdeep sighs—he hears, he rescues.My life is well and whole, securein the middle of dangerEven while thousandsare lined up against me.God hears it all, and from his judge’s benchputs them in their place.But, set in their ways, they won’t change;they pay him no mind.