“My people, remember now
What Balak king of Moab counseled
And what Balaam son of Beor answered him,
And from Shittim to Gilgal,
So that you might know the righteous acts of the Lord.”

“Hear, O My people, and I will speak;
O Israel, I will testify against you;
I am God, your God.

“Hear, O My people, and I will admonish you;
O Israel, if you would listen to Me!

What

Thus says the Lord,
“What injustice did your fathers find in Me,
That they went far from Me
And walked after emptiness and became empty?

Wherein

“Yet you have not called on Me, O Jacob;
But you have become weary of Me, O Israel.

Testify

Against You, You only, I have sinned

And done what is evil in Your sight,
So that You are justified when You speak
And blameless when You judge.

May it never be! Rather, let God be found true, though every man be found a liar, as it is written,

“That You may be justified in Your words,
And prevail when You

are judged.”

General references

Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen?