19-23 And I said to God:

God, listen to me!
    Just listen to what my enemies are saying.
Should I get paid evil for good?
    That’s what they’re doing. They’ve made plans to kill me!
Remember all the times I stood up for them before you,
    speaking up for them,
    trying to soften your anger?
But enough! Let their children starve!
    Let them be massacred in battle!
Let their wives be childless and widowed,
    their friends die and their proud young men be killed.
Let cries of panic sound from their homes
    as you surprise them with war parties!
They’re all set to lynch me.
    The noose is practically around my neck!
But you know all this, God.
    You know they’re determined to kill me.
Don’t whitewash their crimes,
    don’t overlook a single sin!
Round the bunch of them up before you.
    Strike while the iron of your anger is hot!”

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20 Should good be repaid with evil?(A)
    Yet they have dug a pit(B) for me.
Remember that I stood(C) before you
    and spoke in their behalf(D)
    to turn your wrath away from them.
21 So give their children over to famine;(E)
    hand them over to the power of the sword.(F)
Let their wives be made childless and widows;(G)
    let their men be put to death,
    their young men(H) slain by the sword in battle.
22 Let a cry(I) be heard from their houses
    when you suddenly bring invaders against them,
for they have dug a pit(J) to capture me
    and have hidden snares(K) for my feet.

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