³ “They make ready their tongue
    like a bow, to shoot lies;^(G)
it is not by truth
    that they triumph^[b] in the land.
They go from one sin to another;
    they do not acknowledge^(H) me,”
declares the Lord.
⁴ “Beware of your friends;^(I)
    do not trust anyone in your clan.^(J)
For every one of them is a deceiver,^[c](K)
    and every friend a slanderer.^(L)
5 Friend deceives friend,^(M)
    and no one speaks the truth.^(N)
They have taught their tongues to lie;^(O)
    they weary themselves with sinning.
⁶ You^[d] live in the midst of deception;^(P)
    in their deceit they refuse to acknowledge me,”
declares the Lord.

¹⁵ Lord, you understand;
    remember me and care for me.
    Avenge me on my persecutors.^(A)
You are long-suffering^(B)—do not take me away;
    think of how I suffer reproach for your sake.^(C)
16 When your words came, I ate^(D) them;
    they were my joy and my heart’s delight,^(E)
for I bear your name,^(F)
    Lord God Almighty.
¹⁷ I never sat^(G) in the company of revelers,
    never made merry with them;
I sat alone because your hand^(H) was on me
    and you had filled me with indignation.
¹⁸ Why is my pain unending
    and my wound grievous and incurable?^(I)
You are to me like a deceptive brook,
    like a spring that fails.^(J)

“If you repent, I will restore you
    that you may serve^(K) me;
if you utter worthy, not worthless, words,
    you will be my spokesman.^(L)
Let this people turn to you,
    but you must not turn to them.
²⁰ I will make you a wall^(M) to this people,
    a fortified wall of bronze;
they will fight against you
    but will not overcome^(N) you,
for I am with you
    to rescue and save you,”^(O)
declares the Lord.
²¹ “I will save^(P) you from the hands of the wicked^(Q)
    and deliver^(R) you from the grasp of the cruel.”^(S)