Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee that I have yet to speak on God's behalf.
3
I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
4
For truly my words shall not be false: he that is perfect in knowledge is with thee.
5
Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom.
6
He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth right to the poor.
7
He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings are they on the throne; yea, he doth establish them for ever, and they are exalted.
8
And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction;
9
Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded.
10
He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity.
11
If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.
12
But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.
13
But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he bindeth them.
14
They die in youth, and their life is among the unclean.
15
He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth their ears in oppression.
16
Even so would he have removed thee out of the strait into a broad place, where there is no straitness; and that which should be set on thy table should be full of fatness.
17
But thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold on thee.
18
Because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee.
19
Will he esteem thy riches? no, not gold, nor all the forces of strength.
20
Desire not the night, when people are cut off in their place.
21
Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.
22
Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him?
23
Who hath enjoined him his way? or who can say, Thou hast wrought iniquity?
24
Remember that thou magnify his work, which men behold.
25
Every man may see it; man may behold it afar off.
26
Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out.
27
For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof:
28
Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly.
29
Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle?
30
Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it, and covereth the bottom of the sea.
31
For by them judgeth he the people; he giveth meat in abundance.
32
With clouds he covereth the light; and commandeth it not to shine by the cloud that cometh betwixt.
33
The noise thereof sheweth concerning it, the cattle also concerning the vapour.
1 [To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil, A Psalm of David.] Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication.
2 Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise;
3 Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me.
4 My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.
5 Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.
6 And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest.
7 Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah.
8 I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.
9 Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
10 Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it.
11 Wickedness is in the midst thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streets.
12 For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him:
13 But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance.
14 We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.
15 Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.
16 As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.
17 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.
18 He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me.
19 God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.
20 He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant.
21 The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.
22 Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
23 But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.
