11The LORD knows that people's thoughts are pointless. 12O LORD, blessed is the person whom you discipline and instruct from your teachings. 13You give him peace and quiet from times of trouble while a pit is dug to trap wicked people. 14The LORD will never desert his people or abandon those who belong to him. 15The decisions of judges will again become fair, and everyone whose motives are decent will pursue justice. 16Who will stand up for me against evildoers? Who will stand by my side against troublemakers? 17If the LORD had not come to help me, my soul would have quickly fallen silent [in death]. 18When I said, "My feet are slipping," your mercy, O LORD, continued to hold me up. 19When I worried about many things, your assuring words soothed my soul. 20Are wicked rulers who use the law to do unlawful things able to be your partners? 21They join forces to take the lives of righteous people. They condemn innocent people to death. 22The LORD has become my stronghold. My God has become my rock of refuge. 23He has turned their own wickedness against them. He will destroy them because of their sins. The LORD our God will destroy them.
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