1 Be merciful to me, O God,

because I am under attack;

my enemies persecute me all the time.

2 All day long my opponents attack me.

There are so many who fight against me.

3 When I am afraid, O Lord Almighty,

I put my trust in you.

4 I trust in God and am not afraid;

I praise him for what he has promised.

What can a mere human being do to me?

5 My enemies make trouble for me all day long;

they are always thinking up some way to hurt me!

6 They gather in hiding places

and watch everything I do,

hoping to kill me.

7 Punish* them, O God, for their evil;

defeat those people in your anger!

8 You know how troubled I am;

you have kept a record of my tears.

Aren't they listed in your book?

9 The day I call to you,

my enemies will be turned back.

I know this: God* is on my side—

10 the Lord, whose promises I praise.

11 In him I trust, and I will not be afraid.

What can a mere human being do to me?

12 O God, I will offer you what I have promised;

I will give you my offering of thanksgiving,

13 because you have rescued me from death

and kept me from defeat.

And so I walk in the presence of God,

in the light that shines on the living.