17 All this has come upon us, though we have not forgotten you, and we have not been false to your covenant. – “We are not to blame, we are perfect, or least good” This is, I doubt, a statement of truth, rather it is one of excuse!
18 Our heart has not turned back, nor have our steps departed from your way; – “Listen to me God,” – even though I’m not sure that this is accurate!
19 yet you have broken us in the place of jackals and covered us with the shadow of death. – “You’ve been unfair to us, God.” How often do people say this to their Creator and Sustainer?
20 If we had forgotten the name of our God or spread out our hands to a foreign god, 21 would not God discover this? For he knows the secrets of the heart. – Now there is a True Truth insight!
22 Yet for your sake we are killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered. – This was the cry of a hurting heart. Is the true God in control? Remember that He sent His own Son to die for us in our place as rebellious sinners.
23 Awake! Why are you sleeping, O Lord? Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever!
24 Why do you hide your face? Why do you forget our affliction and oppression?
25 For our soul is bowed down to the dust; our belly clings to the ground.
26 Rise up; come to our help! Redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love! – I don’t read any hint of acknowledgement of personal or societal responsibility but at least, at last, the author is beginning to turn to the Source of real help!
Proverbs 28: 13…. “Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy”
Prayer: Merciful God, our maker and our judge, we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed: we have not loved you with our whole heart, we have not loved our neighbours as ourselves: we repent, and are sorry for all our sins.
As I read it! 