⁷ The path of the righteous is level;^(A)
    you, the Upright One,^(B) make the way of the righteous smooth.^(C)
8 Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws,^[a](D)
    we wait^(E) for you;
your name^(F) and renown
    are the desire of our hearts.
⁹ My soul yearns for you in the night;^(G)
    in the morning my spirit longs^(H) for you.
When your judgments^(I) come upon the earth,
    the people of the world learn righteousness.^(J)

¹² Lord, you establish peace^(A) for us;
    all that we have accomplished you have done^(B) for us.

¹⁶ Lord, they came to you in their distress;^(A)
    when you disciplined^(B) them,
    they could barely whisper^(C) a prayer.^[a]
17 As a pregnant woman about to give birth^(D)
    writhes and cries out in her pain,
    so were we in your presence, Lord.
¹⁸ We were with child, we writhed in labor,
    but we gave birth^(E) to wind.
We have not brought salvation^(F) to the earth,
    and the people of the world have not come to life.^(G)

¹⁹ But your dead^(H) will live, Lord;
    their bodies will rise—
let those who dwell in the dust^(I)
    wake up and shout for joy—
your dew^(J) is like the dew of the morning;
    the earth will give birth to her dead.^(K)

¹² But you, Lord, sit enthroned forever;^(A)
    your renown endures^(B) through all generations.^(C)
13 You will arise^(D) and have compassion^(E) on Zion,
    for it is time^(F) to show favor^(G) to her;
    the appointed time^(H) has come.
¹⁴ For her stones are dear to your servants;
    her very dust moves them to pity.
¹⁵ The nations will fear^(I) the name of the Lord,
    all the kings^(J) of the earth will revere your glory.
¹⁶ For the Lord will rebuild Zion^(K)
    and appear in his glory.^(L)
17 He will respond to the prayer^(M) of the destitute;
    he will not despise their plea.

¹⁸ Let this be written^(N) for a future generation,
    that a people not yet created^(O) may praise the Lord:
¹⁹ “The Lord looked down^(P) from his sanctuary on high,
    from heaven he viewed the earth,
²⁰ to hear the groans of the prisoners^(Q)
    and release those condemned to death.”
²¹ So the name of the Lord will be declared^(R) in Zion
    and his praise^(S) in Jerusalem
²² when the peoples and the kingdoms
    assemble to worship^(T) the Lord.