Psalm 35 (Cont'd.)

PSALMIST PRAYS:

Ruthless witnesses come forward;
   they question me on things I know nothing about.
They repay me evil for good
   and leave my soul forlorn.

PSALMIST DORIS PRAYS:

Mean spirited people cast aspersions my way;
   they say things to do me harm.
They are full of fear and dislike
   and leave my spirit heavy in heart.

PSALMIST PRAYS:

Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth
  and humbled myself with fasting.
When my prayers returned to me unanswered,
I went about mourning
  as though for my friend or brother
I bowed my head in grief
  as though weeping for my mother.

PSALMIST DORIS PRAYS:

Yet when they were in need, I found a way
  to lessen their burden.
When my prayers fell on deaf ears,
 I was anxious and heavy of heart,
  depressed because I didn't know what to do.
I sat in silence alone with my grief
  I wept tears of hurt that you would turn from me.


PSALMIST PRAYS:

But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee;
 attackers gathered against me when I was unaware.
They slandered me without ceasing.
Like the ungodly they maliciously mocked
  they gnashed their teeth at me.
O Lord how  long will you look on?
  Rescue my life from these ravages,
  my precious life from these lions.
I will give you thanks in the great asembly;
  among throngs of people I will praise you.


PSALMIST DORIS PRAYS:

I fell and they stood over me smiling;
 sinful people made a circle around me.
They called me names unending.
These were people spoiled of life
  souls that lost their love
  they knew no shame
  their teeth clicked unending and their
  tongues heavy with noise smacked their lips.
They enjoyed my distress.

O My God how long will you stand by?
  Lift me up out of this treacherous
  stream of lies -
  Save me from the roar of the ungodly.
I will forever prostrate myself at your feet
  and sing your praises to the multitudes.