¹ Give ear, O my people, to my teaching;
    incline your ears to the words of my mouth.^(A)
2 I will open my mouth in a parable;
    I will utter dark sayings from of old,^(B)

³⁴ When he killed them, they searched for him;
    they repented and sought God earnestly.^(A)
35 They remembered that God was their rock,
    the Most High God their redeemer.^(B)
36 But they flattered him with their mouths;
    they lied to him with their tongues.^(C)
37 Their heart was not steadfast toward him;
    they were not true to his covenant.
³⁸ Yet he, being compassionate,
    forgave their iniquity
    and did not destroy them;
often he restrained his anger
    and did not stir up all his wrath.^(D)