¹³ The Lord looks down from heaven;
    he sees all humankind.^(B)
14 From where he sits enthroned he watches
    all the inhabitants of the earth—
¹⁵ he who fashions the hearts of them all
    and observes all their deeds.^(C)
16 A king is not saved by his great army;
    a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.^(D)
17 The war horse is a vain hope for victory,
    and by its great might it cannot save.^(E)

¹⁸ Truly the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him,
    on those who hope in his steadfast love,^(F)
19 to deliver their soul from death
    and to keep them alive in famine.^(G)

²⁰ Our soul waits for the Lord;
    he is our help and shield.
²¹ Our heart is glad in him
    because we trust in his holy name.^(H)
22 Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us,
    even as we hope in you.

² “Listen carefully to my words,
    and let this be your consolation.
³ Bear with me, and I will speak;
    then after I have spoken, mock on.^(A)
4 As for me, is my complaint addressed to mortals?
    Why should I not be impatient?^(B)
5 Look at me and be appalled,
    and lay your hand upon your mouth.^(C)
6 When I think of it I am dismayed,
    and shuddering seizes my flesh.
⁷ Why do the wicked live on,
    reach old age, and grow mighty in power?^(D)
8 Their children are established in their presence
    and their offspring before their eyes.^(E)
9 Their houses are safe from fear,
    and no rod of God is upon them.^(F)
10 Their bull breeds without fail;
    their cow calves and never miscarries.^(G)
11 They send out their little ones like a flock,
    and their children dance around.
¹² They sing to the tambourine and the lyre
    and rejoice to the sound of the pipe.^(H)
13 They spend their days in prosperity,
    and in peace they go down to Sheol.^(I)
14 They say to God, ‘Leave us alone!
    We do not desire to know your ways.^(J)
15 What is the Almighty,^[a] that we should serve him?
    And what profit do we get if we pray to him?’^(K)
16 Is not their prosperity indeed their own achievement?^[b]
    The plans of the wicked are repugnant to me.^(L)