⁴ They have an easy time until they die,^[a]
and their bodies are well fed.^[b](E)
5 They are not in trouble like others;
they are not afflicted like most people.^(F)
6 Therefore, pride is their necklace,
and violence covers them like a garment.^(G)
7 Their eyes bulge out from fatness;
the imaginations of their hearts run wild.^(H)
8 They mock, and they speak maliciously;
they arrogantly threaten oppression.^(I)
9 They set their mouths against heaven,
and their tongues strut across the earth.^(J)
10 Therefore his people turn to them^[c]
and drink in their overflowing words.^[d](K)
11 The wicked say, “How can God know?
Does the Most High know everything?” ^(L)
12 Look at them—the wicked!
They are always at ease,
and they increase their wealth.^(M)

¹³ Did I purify my heart
and wash my hands in innocence for nothing?^(N)
14 For I am afflicted all day long
and punished every morning.^(O)
15 If I had decided to say these things aloud,
I would have betrayed your people.^[e](P)
16 When I tried to understand all this,
it seemed hopeless^[f](Q)
17 until I entered God’s sanctuary.
Then I understood their destiny.^(R)
18 Indeed, you put them in slippery places;
you make them fall into ruin.^(S)
19 How suddenly they become a desolation!
They come to an end, swept away by terrors.^(T)
20 Like one waking from a dream,
Lord, when arising, you will despise their image.^(U)

²¹ When I became embittered
and my innermost being^[g] was wounded,^(V)
22 I was stupid and didn’t understand;
I was an unthinking animal toward you.^(W)
23 Yet I am always with you;
you hold my right hand.^(X)
24 You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will take me up in glory.^[h](Y)
25 Who do I have in heaven but you?
And I desire nothing on earth but you.^(Z)
26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength^[i] of my heart,
my portion forever.^(AA)
27 Those far from you will certainly perish;
you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.^(AB)
28 But as for me, God’s presence is my good.
I have made the Lord God my refuge,
so I can tell about all you do.^(AC)

²⁶ A wise king separates out the wicked^(A)
and drives the threshing wheel^(B) over them.

²⁷ The Lord’s lamp sheds light on a person’s life,^[a]
searching the innermost parts.^[b](C)

⁵ “Daughter Chaldea,
sit in silence^(F) and go into darkness.
For you will no longer be called mistress of kingdoms.
⁶ I was angry with my people;
I profaned my possession,
and I handed them over to you.
You showed them no mercy;
you made your yoke very heavy on the elderly.
⁷ You said, ‘I will be the queen forever.’
You did not take these things to heart
or think about their outcome.

⁸ “So now hear this, lover of luxury,
who sits securely,^(G)
who says to herself,
‘I am, and there is no one else.
I will never be a widow
or know the loss of children.’^(H)
9 These two things will happen to you
suddenly, in one day:
loss of children and widowhood.
They will happen to you in their entirety,
in spite of your many sorceries^(I)
and the potency of your spells.
¹⁰ You were secure in your wickedness;
you said, ‘No one sees me.’^(J)
Your wisdom and knowledge
led you astray.
You said to yourself,
‘I am, and there is no one else.’
¹¹ But disaster will happen to you;
you will not know how to avert it.
And it will fall on you,
but you will be unable to ward it off.^[b]
Devastation will happen to you suddenly
and unexpectedly.^(K)

¹² So take your stand with your spells
and your many sorceries,
which you have wearied yourself with from your youth.
Perhaps you will be able to succeed;
perhaps you will inspire terror!
¹³ You are worn out with your many consultations.
So let the astrologers stand and save you—
those who observe the stars,^(L)
those who predict monthly
what will happen to you.
¹⁴ Look, they are like stubble;^(M)
fire burns them.^(N)
They cannot rescue themselves
from the power of the flame.
This is not a coal for warming themselves,
or a fire to sit beside!
¹⁵ This is what they are to you—
those who have wearied you
and have traded with you from your youth—
each wanders on his own way;
no one can save you.