¹⁵⁷ Great is the number of those who are against me; but I have not been turned away from your unchanging word.

⁵¹ The men of pride have made great sport of me; but I have not been turned from your law.

⁵⁸ For this cause, my dear brothers, be strong in purpose and unmoved, ever giving yourselves to the work of the Lord, because you are certain that your work is not without effect in the Lord.

²³ Only that the Holy Spirit makes clear to me in every town that prison and pains are waiting for me.

²⁴ But I put no value on my life, if only at the end of it I may see the work complete which was given to me by the Lord Jesus, to be a witness of the good news of the grace of God.

²⁷ For, truly, in this town, against your holy servant, Jesus, who was marked out by you as Christ, Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, came together,

⁴⁷ And while he was still talking, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a band armed with swords and sticks, from the chief priests and those in authority over the people.

⁹ Then they will be cruel to you, and will put you to death: and you will be hated by all nations because of my name.

⁴ His light will not be put out, and he will not be crushed, till he has given the knowledge of the true God to the earth, and the sea-lands will be waiting for his teaching.

¹¹⁰ Sinners have put a net to take me; but I was true to your orders.

¹⁰ All the nations have come round me; but in the name of the Lord I will have them cut down.

¹¹ They are round me, yes, they are all about me; but in the name of the Lord I will have them cut down.

¹² They are round me like bees; but they are put out like a fire among thorns; for in the name of the Lord I will have them cut down.

² My haters are ever ready to put an end to me; great numbers are lifting themselves up against me.

¹⁷ All this has come on us, but still we have kept you in our memory; and we have not been false to your word.

¹⁹ See how those who are against me are increased, for bitter is their hate of me.

¹⁶ Dogs have come round me: I am shut in by the band of evil-doers; they made wounds in my hands and feet.

¹² A great herd of oxen is round me: I am shut in by the strong oxen of Bashan.

¹ <Shiggaion of David; a song which he made to the Lord, about the words of Cush the Benjamite.> O Lord my God, I put my faith in you; take me out of the hands of him who is cruel to me, and make me free;

¹ <A Psalm. Of David. When he went in flight from Absalom his son.> Lord, how greatly are they increased who make attacks on me! in great numbers they come against me.

² Unnumbered are those who say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. (Selah.)

¹¹ My feet have gone in his steps; I have kept in his way, without turning to one side or to the other.

⁹ Still the upright keeps on his way, and he who has clean hands gets new strength.