⁴ They pour out arrogant^(G) words;
    all the evildoers are full of boasting.^(H)
5 They crush your people,^(I) Lord;
    they oppress your inheritance.^(J)
6 They slay the widow^(K) and the foreigner;
    they murder the fatherless.^(L)
7 They say, “The Lord does not see;^(M)
    the God of Jacob^(N) takes no notice.”

⁸ Take notice, you senseless ones^(O) among the people;
    you fools, when will you become wise?
⁹ Does he who fashioned the ear not hear?
    Does he who formed the eye not see?^(P)
10 Does he who disciplines^(Q) nations not punish?
    Does he who teaches^(R) mankind lack knowledge?
¹¹ The Lord knows all human plans;^(S)
    he knows that they are futile.^(T)

¹² Blessed is the one you discipline,^(U) Lord,
    the one you teach^(V) from your law;
¹³ you grant them relief from days of trouble,^(W)
    till a pit^(X) is dug for the wicked.
¹⁴ For the Lord will not reject his people;^(Y)
    he will never forsake his inheritance.
¹⁵ Judgment will again be founded on righteousness,^(Z)
    and all the upright in heart^(AA) will follow it.

¹⁶ Who will rise up^(AB) for me against the wicked?
    Who will take a stand for me against evildoers?^(AC)
17 Unless the Lord had given me help,^(AD)
    I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death.^(AE)
18 When I said, “My foot is slipping,^(AF)”
    your unfailing love, Lord, supported me.
¹⁹ When anxiety^(AG) was great within me,
    your consolation^(AH) brought me joy.

²⁰ Can a corrupt throne^(AI) be allied with you—
    a throne that brings on misery by its decrees?^(AJ)
21 The wicked band together^(AK) against the righteous
    and condemn the innocent^(AL) to death.^(AM)
22 But the Lord has become my fortress,
    and my God the rock^(AN) in whom I take refuge.^(AO)
23 He will repay^(AP) them for their sins
    and destroy^(AQ) them for their wickedness;
    the Lord our God will destroy them.

¹⁰ Alas, my mother, that you gave me birth,^(A)
    a man with whom the whole land strives and contends!^(B)
I have neither lent^(C) nor borrowed,
    yet everyone curses^(D) me.

“Surely I will deliver you^(E) for a good purpose;
    surely I will make your enemies plead^(F) with you
    in times of disaster and times of distress.

¹² “Can a man break iron—
    iron from the north^(G)—or bronze?

¹³ “Your wealth^(H) and your treasures
    I will give as plunder,^(I) without charge,^(J)
because of all your sins
    throughout your country.^(K)
14 I will enslave you to your enemies
    in^[a] a land you do not know,^(L)
for my anger will kindle a fire^(M)
    that will burn against you.”

¹⁵ Lord, you understand;
    remember me and care for me.
    Avenge me on my persecutors.^(N)
You are long-suffering^(O)—do not take me away;
    think of how I suffer reproach for your sake.^(P)
16 When your words came, I ate^(Q) them;
    they were my joy and my heart’s delight,^(R)
for I bear your name,^(S)
    Lord God Almighty.
¹⁷ I never sat^(T) in the company of revelers,
    never made merry with them;
I sat alone because your hand^(U) was on me
    and you had filled me with indignation.
¹⁸ Why is my pain unending
    and my wound grievous and incurable?^(V)
You are to me like a deceptive brook,
    like a spring that fails.^(W)

“If you repent, I will restore you
    that you may serve^(X) me;
if you utter worthy, not worthless, words,
    you will be my spokesman.^(Y)
Let this people turn to you,
    but you must not turn to them.
²⁰ I will make you a wall^(Z) to this people,
    a fortified wall of bronze;
they will fight against you
    but will not overcome^(AA) you,
for I am with you
    to rescue and save you,”^(AB)
declares the Lord.
²¹ “I will save^(AC) you from the hands of the wicked^(AD)
    and deliver^(AE) you from the grasp of the cruel.”^(AF)