An Appeal to God as Witness

18 “O earth, do not cover my blood,

nor let there be a secret place for my cry.

19  Even now my witness is in heaven;

my advocate is on high.

20  My intercessor is my friend

as my eyes pour out tears to God;

21  and he contends with God on behalf of man

as a man pleads for his friend.

22  For the years that lie ahead are few,

and then I will go on the way of no return.

17  My spirit is broken,

my days have faded out,

the grave awaits me.

2  Surely mockery is with me;

my eyes must dwell on their hostility.

3  Make then my pledge with you.

Who else will put up security for me?

4  Because you have closed their minds to understanding,

therefore you will not exalt them.

5  If a man denounces his friends for personal gain,

the eyes of his children will fail.

6  He has made me a byword to people,

I am the one in whose face they spit.

7  My eyes have grown dim with grief;

my whole frame is but a shadow.

8  Upright men are appalled at this;

the innocent man is troubled with the godless.

9  But the righteous man holds to his way,

and the one with clean hands grows stronger.