¹² Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,^(A)
    the people he chose^(B) for his inheritance.^(C)
13 From heaven the Lord looks down^(D)
    and sees all mankind;^(E)
14 from his dwelling place^(F) he watches
    all who live on earth—
¹⁵ he who forms^(G) the hearts of all,
    who considers everything they do.^(H)

¹⁶ No king is saved by the size of his army;^(I)
    no warrior escapes by his great strength.
¹⁷ A horse^(J) is a vain hope for deliverance;
    despite all its great strength it cannot save.
¹⁸ But the eyes^(K) of the Lord are on those who fear him,
    on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,^(L)
19 to deliver them from death^(M)
    and keep them alive in famine.^(N)

²⁰ We wait^(O) in hope for the Lord;
    he is our help and our shield.
²¹ In him our hearts rejoice,^(P)
    for we trust in his holy name.^(Q)
22 May your unfailing love^(R) be with us, Lord,
    even as we put our hope in you.

² “Listen carefully to my words;^(A)
    let this be the consolation you give me.^(B)
3 Bear with me while I speak,
    and after I have spoken, mock on.^(C)

⁴ “Is my complaint^(D) directed to a human being?
    Why should I not be impatient?^(E)
5 Look at me and be appalled;
    clap your hand over your mouth.^(F)
6 When I think about this, I am terrified;^(G)
    trembling seizes my body.^(H)
7 Why do the wicked live on,
    growing old and increasing in power?^(I)
8 They see their children established around them,
    their offspring before their eyes.^(J)
9 Their homes are safe and free from fear;^(K)
    the rod of God is not on them.^(L)
10 Their bulls never fail to breed;
    their cows calve and do not miscarry.^(M)
11 They send forth their children as a flock;^(N)
    their little ones dance about.
¹² They sing to the music of timbrel and lyre;^(O)
    they make merry to the sound of the pipe.^(P)
13 They spend their years in prosperity^(Q)
    and go down to the grave^(R) in peace.^[a](S)
14 Yet they say to God, ‘Leave us alone!^(T)
    We have no desire to know your ways.^(U)
15 Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him?
    What would we gain by praying to him?’^(V)
16 But their prosperity is not in their own hands,
    so I stand aloof from the plans of the wicked.^(W)