The LORD looked down from heaven on the children of men, to see if there were any who did understand, who did seek after God.

For all his ordinances were before me. I did not put away his statutes from me.

They cried, but there was none to save; even to the LORD, but he did not answer them.

I acknowledged my sin to you. I did not hide my iniquity. I said, I will confess my transgressions to the LORD, and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah.

But in my adversity, they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together. The attackers gathered themselves together against me, and I did not know it. They tore at me, and did not cease.

I was mute. I did not open my mouth, because you did it.

Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you have prepared for me. You have not required burnt offering and sin offering.

We have heard with our ears, God; our fathers have told us, what work you did in their days, in the days of old.

For they did not get the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them; but your right hand, and your arm, and the light of your face, because you were favorable to them.

"Behold, this is the man who did not make God his strength, but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness."

Those who hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head. Those who want to cut me off, being my enemies wrongfully, are mighty. I have to restore what I did not take away.

In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord. My hand was stretched out in the night, and did not get tired. My soul refused to be comforted.

and might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation that did not make their hearts loyal, whose spirit was not steadfast with God.

They did not keep God's covenant, and refused to walk by his Law.

He did marvelous things in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.

because they did not believe in God, and did not trust in his salvation.

They did not turn from their cravings. Their food was yet in their mouths,

For all this they still sinned, and did not believe in his wondrous works.

But he, being merciful, forgave iniquity, and did not destroy them. Yes, many times he turned his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.

They did not remember his hand, nor the day when he redeemed them from the adversary;

He made a path for his anger. He did not spare their soul from death, but gave their life over to the pestilence,

Yet they tempted and rebelled against the Most High God, and did not keep his testimonies;

Moreover he rejected the tent of Joseph, and did not choose the tribe of Ephraim,

He appointed it in Joseph for a testimony, when he went out over the land of Egypt, I heard a language that I did not know.

But my people did not listen to my voice. Israel desired none of me.

Do to them as you did to Midian, as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the river Kishon;

He sent darkness, and made it dark. They did not rebel against his words.

Our fathers did not understand your wonders in Egypt. They did not remember the multitude of your loving kindnesses, but were rebellious at the sea, even at the Sea of Suf.

They soon forgot his works. They did not wait for his counsel,

Yes, they despised the pleasant land. They did not believe his word,

but murmured in their tents, and did not listen to the LORD's voice.

They did not destroy the peoples, as the LORD commanded them,

because he did not remember to show kindness, but persecuted the poor and needy man, the broken in heart, to kill them.

Yes, he loved cursing, and it came to him. He did not delight in blessing, and it was far from him.

They had almost wiped me from the earth, but I did not forsake your precepts.