A song of ascents. ²  O Lord, for David’s sake remember all his strenuous effort, ³ 

Moreover, ¹  the Lord says to the people of Zion, ²  “Your injuries are incurable; your wounds are severe. ³ 

For he is not predisposed to afflict ¹  or to grieve people. ² 

Rejoice in hope, endure in suffering, persist in prayer.

Therefore the Lord who rules over all says, ¹  “I will now purify them in the fires of affliction ²  and test them. The wickedness of my dear people ³  has left me no choice. What else can I do? ⁴ 

But he has no root in himself and does not endure; ¹  when ²  trouble or persecution comes because of the word, immediately he falls away.

For in those days there will be suffering ¹  unlike anything that has happened ²  from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, or ever will happen.

I have certainly seen the suffering ¹  of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their groaning, and I have come down to rescue them. ²  Now ³  come, I will send you to Egypt.’ ⁴ 

‘I know the distress you are suffering ¹  and your poverty (but you are rich). I also know ²  the slander against you ³  by those who call themselves Jews and really are not, but are a synagogue ⁴  of Satan.

The godless at heart ¹  nourish anger, ²  they do not cry out even when he binds them.

Because of my condition, ¹  even my friends and acquaintances keep their distance; ²  my neighbors stand far away. ³ 

They did not remember what he had done, ¹  how he delivered them from the enemy, ² 

For you will extend your great loyal love to me, ¹  and will deliver my life ²  from the depths of Sheol. ³ 

lest they drink and forget what is decreed, and remove ¹  from all the poor ²  their legal rights. ³ 

Surely, he ate in darkness every day of his life, ¹  and he suffered greatly with sickness and anger.

Then ¹  he said to her, “Because you said this, you may go. The demon has left your daughter.”

There will be ¹  affliction and distress on everyone ²  who does evil, on the Jew first and also the Greek, ³ 

Not ¹  only this, but we also rejoice in sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,

for which I suffer hardship to the point of imprisonment ¹  as a criminal, but God’s message ²  is not imprisoned! ³ 

At times you were publicly exposed to abuse and afflictions, and at other times you came to share with others who were treated in that way.