I have seen a wicked, violent man
well-rooted like a flourishing native tree.

He wore cursing like his coat—
let it enter his body like water
and go into his bones like oil.

However, you will die like men
and fall like any other ruler.”

Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb,
and all their tribal leaders like Zebah and Zalmunna,

Make them like tumbleweed, my God,
like straw before the wind.

Lord, there is no one like You among the gods,
and there are no works like Yours.

For in Your sight a thousand years
are like yesterday that passes by,
like a few hours of the night.

The righteous thrive like a palm tree
and grow like a cedar tree in Lebanon.

For my days vanish like smoke,
and my bones burn like a furnace.

I am like a desert owl,
like an owl among the ruins.

My days are like a lengthening shadow,
and I wither away like grass.

They will perish, but You will endure;
all of them will wear out like clothing.
You will change them like a garment,
and they will pass away.

As for man, his days are like grass—
he blooms like a flower of the field;

Let it be like a robe he wraps around himself,
like a belt he always wears.

I fade away like a lengthening shadow;
I am shaken off like a locust.

The mountains skipped like rams,
the hills, like lambs.

Mountains, that you skipped like rams?
Hills, like lambs?

They surrounded me like bees;
they were extinguished like a fire among thorns;
in the name of Yahweh I destroyed them.

Like a servant’s eyes on his master’s hand,
like a servant girl’s eyes on her mistress’s hand,
so our eyes are on the Lord our God
until He shows us favor.

Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
within your house,
your sons, like young olive trees
around your table.

Instead, I have calmed and quieted myself
like a little weaned child with its mother;
I am like a little child.

Man is like a breath;
his days are like a passing shadow.

Then our sons will be like plants
nurtured in their youth,
our daughters, like corner pillars
that are carved in the palace style.

He spreads snow like wool;
He scatters frost like ashes;

The wicked are not like this;
instead, they are like chaff that the wind blows away.