Jehovah looked down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there were any that did understand, That did seek after God.

There were they in great fear; For God is in the generation of the righteous.

Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! When Jehovah bringeth back the captivity of his people, Then shall Jacob rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.

He is like a lion that is greedy of his prey, And as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.

The cords of Sheol were round about me; The snares of death came upon me.

Then the earth shook and trembled; The foundations also of the mountains quaked And were shaken, because he was wroth.

There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, And fire out of his mouth devoured: Coals were kindled by it.

Then the channels of waters appeared, And the foundations of the world were laid bare, At thy rebuke, O Jehovah, At the blast of the breath of thy nostrils.

He delivered me from my strong enemy, And from them that hated me; for they were too mighty for me.

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

They cried unto thee, and were delivered: They trusted in thee, and were not put to shame.

By the word of Jehovah were the heavens made, And all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.

They looked unto him, and were radiant; And their faces shall never be confounded.

But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I afflicted my soul with fasting; And my prayer returned into mine own bosom.

Hear my prayer, O Jehovah, and give ear unto my cry; Hold not thy peace at my tears: For I am a stranger with thee, A sojourner, as all my fathers were.

The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved: He uttered his voice, the earth melted.

They saw it, then were they amazed; They were dismayed, they hasted away.

If I were hungry, I would not tell thee; For the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.

God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there were any that did understand, That did seek after God.

There were they in great fear, where no fear was; For God hath scattered the bones of him that encampeth against thee: Thou hast put them to shame, because of God hath rejected them.

Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! When God bringeth back the captivity of his people, Then shall Jacob rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.

He hath redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me; For they were many that strove with me.

He hath put forth his hands against such as were at peace with him: He hath profaned his covenant.

His mouth was smooth as butter, But his heart was war: His words were softer than oil, Yet were they drawn swords.

Let them melt away as water that runneth apace: When he aimeth his arrows, let them be as though they were cut off.

But as for me, my feet were almost gone; My steps had well nigh slipped.

The waters saw thee, O God; The waters saw thee, they were afraid: The depths also trembled.

Thy way was in the sea, And thy paths in the great waters, And thy footsteps were not known.

So they did eat, and were well filled; And he gave them their own desire.

They were not estranged from that which they desired, Their food was yet in their mouths,

For their heart was not right with him, Neither were they faithful in his covenant.

And he remembered that they were but flesh, A wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.

But turned back, and dealt treacherously like their fathers: They were turned aside like a deceitful bow.

The mountains were covered with the shadow of it, And the boughs thereof were like cedars of God.

I removed his shoulder from the burden: His hands were freed from the basket.

Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.

When they were but a few men in number, Yea, very few, and sojourners in it.

Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt; They remembered not the multitude of thy lovingkindnesses, But were rebellious at the sea, even at the Red Sea.

Because they were rebellious against his spirit, And he spake unadvisedly with his lips.

Thus were they defiled with their works, And played the harlot in their doings.

Their enemies also oppressed them, And they were brought into subjection under their hand.

Many times did he deliver them; But they were rebellious in their counsel, And were brought low in their iniquity.

Oh that my ways were established To observe thy statutes!

When Jehovah brought back those that returned to Zion, We were like unto them that dream.

Thine eyes did see mine unformed substance; And in thy book they were all written, Even the days that were ordained for me , When as yet there was none of them.

Let them praise the name of Jehovah; For he commanded, and they were created.