Now therefore, O kings, show discernment;
Take warning, O judges of the earth.

“Because of the devastation of the afflicted, because of the groaning of the needy,
Now I will arise,” says the Lord; “I will set him in the safety for which he longs.”

They have now surrounded us in our steps;
They set their eyes to cast us down to the ground.

Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed;
He will answer him from His holy heaven
With the saving strength of His right hand.

And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me,
And I will offer in His tent sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.

Now as for me, I said in my prosperity,
“I will never be moved.”

I have been young and now I am old,
Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken
Or his descendants begging bread.

“And now, Lord, for what do I wait?
My hope is in You.

“Now consider this, you who forget God,
Or I will tear you in pieces, and there will be none to deliver.

And now all its carved work
They smash with hatchet and hammers.

O God of hosts, turn again now, we beseech You;
Look down from heaven and see, and take care of this vine,

Why should the nations say,
“Where, now, is their God?”

Before I was afflicted I went astray,
But now I keep Your word.

For the sake of my brothers and my friends,
I will now say, “May peace be within you.”

A Song of Ascents, of David.
“Had it not been the Lord who was on our side,”
Let Israel now say,

A Song of Ascents.
“Many times they have persecuted me from my youth up,”
Let Israel now say,