What it Cost

7 O Jehovah, Thou hast beguiled me,

And I let myself be beguiled;

Too strong for me art Thou,

And Thou hast won the victory.

All the day long am I ridiculed,

Every one mocketh at me.

8 Every word that I utter is laughed at;

"Wronged" and "despoiled" must I cry.

For to me is the word of Jehovah

An endless reproach and derision.

9 When I vow to put it out my mind

And to speak in His name no more,

It doth burn in my heart like a fire

Shut up within my bones;

I am weary of enduring,

and I can bear it no more.

10 For I hear their many whispers–

A terror on every side–

"Denounce him." "Yes, we will denounce him."

"All ye his familiar friends,

Keep a narrow watch for his stumbling,

Perchance he will be beguiled,

And we shall prevail against him,

And take our vengeance upon him."