¹ These are the final words of David: "The oracle of David son of Jesse, the oracle of the man raised up as the ruler chosen by the God of Jacob, Israel's beloved singer of songs: ² The Lord's spirit spoke through me; his word was on my tongue. ³ The God of Israel spoke, the protector of Israel spoke to me. The one who rules fairly among men, the one who rules in the fear of God, ⁴ is like the light of morning when the sun comes up, a morning in which there are no clouds. He is like the brightness after rain that produces grass from the earth. ⁵ My dynasty is approved by God, for he has made a perpetual covenant with me, arranged in all its particulars and secured. He always delivers me, and brings all I desire to fruition. ⁶ But evil people are like thorns -- all of them are tossed away, for they cannot be held in the hand. ⁷ The one who touches them must use an iron instrument or the wooden shaft of a spear. They are completely burned up right where they lie!"