7 What misery is mine!
I am like one who gathers summer fruit
    at the gleaning of the vineyard;
there is no cluster of grapes to eat,
    none of the early figs^(A) that I crave.
² The faithful have been swept from the land;^(B)
    not one^(C) upright person remains.
Everyone lies in wait^(D) to shed blood;^(E)
    they hunt each other^(F) with nets.^(G)
3 Both hands are skilled in doing evil;^(H)
    the ruler demands gifts,
the judge accepts bribes,^(I)
    the powerful dictate what they desire—
    they all conspire together.
⁴ The best of them is like a brier,^(J)
    the most upright worse than a thorn^(K) hedge.
The day God visits you has come,
    the day your watchmen sound the alarm.
    Now is the time of your confusion.^(L)
5 Do not trust a neighbor;
    put no confidence in a friend.^(M)
Even with the woman who lies in your embrace
    guard the words of your lips.
⁶ For a son dishonors his father,
    a daughter rises up against her mother,^(N)
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—
    a man’s enemies are the members of his own household.^(O)

⁸ Do not gloat over me,^(S) my enemy!
    Though I have fallen, I will rise.^(T)
Though I sit in darkness,
    the Lord will be my light.^(U)
9 Because I have sinned against him,
    I will bear the Lord’s wrath,^(V)
until he pleads my case^(W)
    and upholds my cause.
He will bring me out into the light;^(X)
    I will see his righteousness.^(Y)
10 Then my enemy will see it
    and will be covered with shame,^(Z)
she who said to me,
    “Where is the Lord your God?”^(AA)
My eyes will see her downfall;^(AB)
    even now she will be trampled^(AC) underfoot
    like mire in the streets.

¹⁴ Shepherd^(AH) your people with your staff,^(AI)
    the flock of your inheritance,
which lives by itself in a forest,
    in fertile pasturelands.^[a](AJ)
Let them feed in Bashan^(AK) and Gilead^(AL)
    as in days long ago.^(AM)

² The Lord is a jealous^(D) and avenging God;
    the Lord takes vengeance^(E) and is filled with wrath.
The Lord takes vengeance on his foes
    and vents his wrath against his enemies.^(F)
3 The Lord is slow to anger^(G) but great in power;
    the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished.^(H)
His way is in the whirlwind^(I) and the storm,^(J)
    and clouds^(K) are the dust of his feet.
⁴ He rebukes^(L) the sea and dries it up;^(M)
    he makes all the rivers run dry.
Bashan and Carmel^(N) wither
    and the blossoms of Lebanon fade.
⁵ The mountains quake^(O) before him
    and the hills melt away.^(P)
The earth trembles^(Q) at his presence,
    the world and all who live in it.^(R)
6 Who can withstand^(S) his indignation?
    Who can endure^(T) his fierce anger?^(U)
His wrath is poured out like fire;^(V)
    the rocks are shattered^(W) before him.

¹ If the Lord had not been on our side—
    let Israel say^(A)—
² if the Lord had not been on our side
    when people attacked us,
³ they would have swallowed us alive
    when their anger flared against us;
⁴ the flood^(B) would have engulfed us,
    the torrent^(C) would have swept over us,
⁵ the raging waters
    would have swept us away.

¹ Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion,^(A)
    which cannot be shaken^(B) but endures forever.
² As the mountains surround Jerusalem,^(C)
    so the Lord surrounds^(D) his people
    both now and forevermore.

¹ When the Lord restored^(A) the fortunes of^[a] Zion,
    we were like those who dreamed.^[b]
2 Our mouths were filled with laughter,^(B)
    our tongues with songs of joy.^(C)
Then it was said among the nations,
    “The Lord has done great things^(D) for them.”
³ The Lord has done great things^(E) for us,
    and we are filled with joy.^(F)

¹ Unless the Lord builds^(A) the house,
    the builders labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches^(B) over the city,
    the guards stand watch in vain.
² In vain you rise early
    and stay up late,
toiling for food^(C) to eat—
    for he grants sleep^(D) to^[a] those he loves.^(E)

¹ Blessed are all who fear the Lord,^(A)
    who walk in obedience to him.^(B)
2 You will eat the fruit of your labor;^(C)
    blessings and prosperity^(D) will be yours.
³ Your wife will be like a fruitful vine^(E)
    within your house;
your children^(F) will be like olive shoots^(G)
    around your table.
⁴ Yes, this will be the blessing^(H)
    for the man who fears the Lord.^(I)