Sons of men! till when is my glory for shame? Ye love a vain thing, ye seek a lie. Selah.

At the hearing of the ear they hearken to me, Sons of a stranger feign obedience to me,

They are more desirable than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; and sweeter than honey, Even liquid honey of the comb.

For Thou puttest before him blessings of goodness, Thou settest on his head a crown of fine gold.

I have not sat with vain men, And with dissemblers I enter not.

Only, in an image doth each walk habitually, Only, in vain, they are disquieted, He heapeth up and knoweth not who gathereth them.

Give to us help from adversity, And vain is the deliverance of man.

Trust not in oppression, And in robbery become not vain, Wealth -- when it increaseth -- set not the heart.

Say to God, 'How fearful are Thy works, By the abundance of Thy strength, Thine enemies feign obedience to Thee.

Only -- a vain thing! I have purified my heart, And I wash in innocency my hands,

He destroyeth with hail their vine, And their sycamores with frost,

A vine out of Egypt Thou dost bring, Thou dost cast out nations, and plantest it.

God of Hosts, turn back, we beseech Thee, Look from heaven, and see, and inspect this vine,

Those hating Jehovah feign obedience to Him, But their time is -- to the age.

Remember, I pray Thee, what is life-time? Wherefore in vain hast Thou created All the sons of men?

And He smiteth their vine and their fig, And shivereth the trees of their border.

Give to us help from adversity, And vain is the salvation of man.

Therefore I have loved Thy commands Above gold -- even fine gold.

A Song of the Ascents, by Solomon. If Jehovah doth not build the house, In vain have its builders laboured at it, If Jehovah doth not watch a city, In vain hath a watchman waked.

Vain for you who are rising early, Who delay sitting, eating the bread of griefs, So He giveth to His beloved one sleep.

Thy wife is as a fruitful vine in the sides of thy house, Thy sons as olive plants around thy table.