¹⁸ People stalked us at every step,
    so we could not walk in our streets.
Our end was near, our days were numbered,
    for our end had come.^(A)

¹⁹ Our pursuers were swifter
    than eagles^(B) in the sky;
they chased us^(C) over the mountains
    and lay in wait for us in the desert.^(D)

²⁰ The Lord’s anointed,^(E) our very life breath,
    was caught in their traps.^(F)
We thought that under his shadow^(G)
    we would live among the nations.