³ My enemies turn back;
    they stumble and perish before you.
⁴ For you have upheld my right^(F) and my cause,^(G)
    sitting enthroned^(H) as the righteous judge.^(I)
5 You have rebuked the nations^(J) and destroyed the wicked;
    you have blotted out their name^(K) for ever and ever.
⁶ Endless ruin has overtaken my enemies,
    you have uprooted their cities;^(L)
    even the memory of them^(M) has perished.

⁷ The Lord reigns forever;^(N)
    he has established his throne^(O) for judgment.
⁸ He rules the world in righteousness^(P)
    and judges the peoples with equity.^(Q)
9 The Lord is a refuge^(R) for the oppressed,^(S)
    a stronghold in times of trouble.^(T)
10 Those who know your name^(U) trust in you,
    for you, Lord, have never forsaken^(V) those who seek you.^(W)

¹¹ Sing the praises^(X) of the Lord, enthroned in Zion;^(Y)
    proclaim among the nations^(Z) what he has done.^(AA)
12 For he who avenges blood^(AB) remembers;
    he does not ignore the cries of the afflicted.^(AC)

¹³ Lord, see how my enemies^(AD) persecute me!
    Have mercy^(AE) and lift me up from the gates of death,^(AF)
14 that I may declare your praises^(AG)
    in the gates of Daughter Zion,^(AH)
    and there rejoice in your salvation.^(AI)

¹⁵ The nations have fallen into the pit they have dug;^(AJ)
    their feet are caught in the net they have hidden.^(AK)
16 The Lord is known by his acts of justice;
    the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands.^[c](AL)
17 The wicked go down to the realm of the dead,^(AM)
    all the nations that forget God.^(AN)
18 But God will never forget the needy;
    the hope^(AO) of the afflicted^(AP) will never perish.

¹⁹ Arise,^(AQ) Lord, do not let mortals triumph;^(AR)
    let the nations be judged^(AS) in your presence.
²⁰ Strike them with terror,^(AT) Lord;
    let the nations know they are only mortal.^(AU)

² “Are all these words to go unanswered?^(B)
    Is this talker to be vindicated?^(C)
3 Will your idle talk^(D) reduce others to silence?
    Will no one rebuke you when you mock?^(E)
4 You say to God, ‘My beliefs are flawless^(F)
    and I am pure^(G) in your sight.’
⁵ Oh, how I wish that God would speak,^(H)
    that he would open his lips against you
⁶ and disclose to you the secrets of wisdom,^(I)
    for true wisdom has two sides.
    Know this: God has even forgotten some of your sin.^(J)

⁷ “Can you fathom^(K) the mysteries of God?
    Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?
⁸ They are higher^(L) than the heavens^(M) above—what can you do?
    They are deeper than the depths below^(N)—what can you know?^(O)
9 Their measure^(P) is longer than the earth
    and wider than the sea.^(Q)

¹⁰ “If he comes along and confines you in prison
    and convenes a court, who can oppose him?^(R)
11 Surely he recognizes deceivers;
    and when he sees evil, does he not take note?^(S)
12 But the witless can no more become wise
    than a wild donkey’s colt^(T) can be born human.^[a](U)

¹³ “Yet if you devote your heart^(V) to him
    and stretch out your hands^(W) to him,^(X)
14 if you put away^(Y) the sin that is in your hand
    and allow no evil^(Z) to dwell in your tent,^(AA)
15 then, free of fault, you will lift up your face;^(AB)
    you will stand firm^(AC) and without fear.^(AD)
16 You will surely forget your trouble,^(AE)
    recalling it only as waters gone by.^(AF)
17 Life will be brighter than noonday,^(AG)
    and darkness will become like morning.^(AH)
18 You will be secure, because there is hope;
    you will look about you and take your rest^(AI) in safety.^(AJ)
19 You will lie down, with no one to make you afraid,^(AK)
    and many will court your favor.^(AL)
20 But the eyes of the wicked will fail,^(AM)
    and escape will elude them;^(AN)
    their hope will become a dying gasp.”^(AO)

² “Doubtless you are the only people who matter,
    and wisdom will die with you!^(AP)
3 But I have a mind as well as you;
    I am not inferior to you.
    Who does not know all these things?^(AQ)

⁴ “I have become a laughingstock^(AR) to my friends,^(AS)
    though I called on God and he answered^(AT)—
    a mere laughingstock, though righteous and blameless!^(AU)
5 Those who are at ease have contempt^(AV) for misfortune
    as the fate of those whose feet are slipping.^(AW)
6 The tents of marauders are undisturbed,^(AX)
    and those who provoke God are secure^(AY)—
    those God has in his hand.^[b]

⁷ “But ask the animals, and they will teach you,^(AZ)
    or the birds in the sky,^(BA) and they will tell you;^(BB)
8 or speak to the earth, and it will teach you,
    or let the fish in the sea inform you.
⁹ Which of all these does not know^(BC)
    that the hand of the Lord has done this?^(BD)
10 In his hand is the life^(BE) of every creature
    and the breath of all mankind.^(BF)
11 Does not the ear test words
    as the tongue tastes food?^(BG)
12 Is not wisdom found among the aged?^(BH)
    Does not long life bring understanding?^(BI)

¹³ “To God belong wisdom^(BJ) and power;^(BK)
    counsel and understanding are his.^(BL)
14 What he tears down^(BM) cannot be rebuilt;^(BN)
    those he imprisons cannot be released.^(BO)
15 If he holds back the waters,^(BP) there is drought;^(BQ)
    if he lets them loose, they devastate the land.^(BR)
16 To him belong strength and insight;^(BS)
    both deceived and deceiver are his.^(BT)
17 He leads rulers away stripped^(BU)
    and makes fools of judges.^(BV)
18 He takes off the shackles^(BW) put on by kings
    and ties a loincloth^[c] around their waist.^(BX)
19 He leads priests away stripped^(BY)
    and overthrows officials long established.^(BZ)
20 He silences the lips of trusted advisers
    and takes away the discernment of elders.^(CA)
21 He pours contempt on nobles^(CB)
    and disarms the mighty.^(CC)
22 He reveals the deep things of darkness^(CD)
    and brings utter darkness^(CE) into the light.^(CF)
23 He makes nations great, and destroys them;^(CG)
    he enlarges nations,^(CH) and disperses them.^(CI)
24 He deprives the leaders of the earth of their reason;^(CJ)
    he makes them wander in a trackless waste.^(CK)
25 They grope in darkness with no light;^(CL)
    he makes them stagger like drunkards.^(CM)