Jehovah looked down from the heavens upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek 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 turneth again the captivity of his people, Jacob shall be glad, Israel shall rejoice.

And the beds of the waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were uncovered at thy rebuke, 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 mightier than I.

For all his ordinances were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me;

I pursued mine enemies, and overtook them; and I turned not again till they were consumed.

I crushed them, and they were not able to rise: they fell under my feet.

They cried unto thee, and were delivered; they confided in thee, and were not confounded.

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 enlightened, and their faces were not confounded.

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

The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved; he uttered his voice, the earth melted.

They saw, so they marvelled; they were troubled, they fled in consternation:

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

God looked down from the heavens upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God.

There were they in great fear, where no fear was; for God scattereth the bones of him that encampeth against thee. Thou hast put them to shame, for God hath despised them.

Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! When God turneth again the captivity of his people, Jacob shall be glad, Israel shall rejoice.

He hath redeemed my soul in peace from the battle against me: for there were many about me.

Smooth were the milky words of his mouth, but his heart was war; his words were softer than oil, yet are they drawn swords.

God maketh the solitary into families; those that were bound he bringeth out into prosperity: but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.

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 trembled, yea, the depths were troubled:

And they did eat, and were well filled; for that they lusted after, he brought to them.

They were not alienated from their lust, their meat was yet in their mouths,

For their heart was not firm toward him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant.

And he remembered that they were flesh, a breath that passeth away and cometh not again.

And he led them safely, so that they were without fear; and the sea covered their enemies.

The fire consumed their young men, and their maidens were not praised in nuptial song;

The mountains were covered with its shadow, and the branches thereof were like cedars of God;

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

Who were destroyed at Endor; they became as dung for the ground.

Before the mountains were brought forth, and thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from eternity to eternity thou art God.

Zion heard, and rejoiced; and the daughters of Judah were glad, because of thy judgments, O Jehovah.

When they were a few men in number, of small account, and strangers in it.

And they served their idols; and they were a snare unto them:

And they were defiled with their works, and went a-whoring in their doings.

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

Often did he deliver them; but as for them they provoked him by their counsel, and they were brought low by their iniquity.

Oh that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!

{A Song of degrees.} When Jehovah turned the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.

My bones were not hidden from thee when I was made in secret, curiously wrought in the lower parts of the earth.

Thine eyes did see my unformed substance, and in thy book all my members were written; during many days were they fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

Let them praise the name of Jehovah, for he it is that commanded, and they were created: