“Shall one who hates justice [and is an enemy of right] govern?
And will you condemn Him who is just and mighty?

“God who says to a king, ‘You are worthless and vile,’
Or to princes and nobles, ‘You are wicked and evil’?

“When He keeps quiet, who then can condemn?
When He hides His face [withdrawing His favor and help], who then can behold Him [and make supplication to Him],
Whether it be a nation or a man by himself?—

“Men of understanding will tell me,
Indeed, every wise man who hears me [will agree],

“Your wickedness affects only a man such as you,
And your righteousness affects only a son of man [but it cannot affect God, who is sovereign].

“But no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker,
Who gives songs [of rejoicing] in the night,

Who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth
And makes us wiser than the birds of the heavens?’

“For truly my words are not false;
He who is perfect in knowledge is with you.

“They die in youth,
And their life ends among the cult prostitutes.

“Behold, God is exalted in His power;
Who is a ruler or a teacher like Him?

“Who has appointed God His way,
And who can say [to Him], ‘You have done wrong’?

“God seals (brings to a standstill, stops) [by severe weather] the hand of every man,
That all men [whom He has made] may know His work [that is, His sovereign power and their subjection to it].

“Do you know about the layers of thick clouds [and how they are balanced and poised in the heavens],
The wonderful works of Him who is perfect in knowledge,

“Men therefore fear Him;
He does not regard nor respect any who are wise in heart [in their own understanding and conceit].”

“Who is this that darkens counsel [questioning my authority and wisdom]
By words without knowledge?

“Who determined the measurements [of the earth], if you know?
Or who stretched the [measuring] line on it?

“On what were its foundations fastened?
Or who laid its cornerstone,

“Or who enclosed the sea with doors
When it burst forth and went out of the womb;

“Who has prepared a channel for the torrents of rain and for the flood,
Or a path for the thunderbolt,

“Has the rain a father?
Or who has begotten the drops of dew?

“Out of whose womb has come the ice?
And the frost of heaven, who has given it birth?

“Who has put wisdom in the innermost being [of man, or in the layers of clouds]
Or given understanding to the mind [of man, or to the heavenly display]?

“Who can count the clouds by [earthly] wisdom,
Or pour out the water jars of the heavens,

“Who provides prey for the raven
When its young cry to God
And wander about without food?

“Who sent out the wild donkey free [from dependence on man]?
And who has loosed the bonds of the wild donkey [to survive in the wild],

“Will you have faith and depend on him to return your grain
And gather it from your threshing floor?

“Have you [Job] made him leap like a locust?
The majesty of his snorting [nostrils] is terrible.

“Will the faultfinder contend with the Almighty?
Let him who disputes with God answer it.”

“Pour out the overflowings of your wrath,
And look at everyone who is proud and make him low.

Look at everyone who is proud, and humble him,
And [if you are so able] tread down the wicked where they stand.

“He is the first [in magnitude and power] of the works of God;
[Only] He who made him can bring near His sword [to master him].

“No one is so fierce [and foolhardy] that he dares to stir up Leviathan;
Who then is he who can stand before Me [or dares to contend with Me, the beast’s creator]?

“Who has first given to Me that I should repay him?
Whatever is under the whole heaven is Mine. [Who can have a claim against Me who made the unmastered beast?]

“Who can penetrate or strip off his outer armor?
Who can come to his jaws with a double bridle?

“Who can open the doors (jaws) of his face?
Around his [open jaws and] teeth there is terror.

“He looks on everything that is high [without terror];
He is monarch over all the sons of pride. [And now, Job, who are you who does not dare to disturb the beast, yet who dares resist Me, the beast’s creator? Everything under the heavens is Mine; therefore, who can have a claim against God?]”

“[You said to me] ‘Who is this that darkens and obscures counsel [by words] without knowledge?’
Therefore [I now see] I have [rashly] uttered that which I did not understand,
Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.

Then all his brothers and sisters and all who had known him before came to him, and they ate bread with him in his house; and they consoled him and comforted him over all the [distressing] adversities that the Lord had brought on him. And each one gave him a piece of money, and each a ring of gold.

Blessed [fortunate, prosperous, and favored by God] is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked [following their advice and example],
Nor stand in the path of sinners,
Nor sit [down to rest] in the seat of scoffers (ridiculers).

Therefore the wicked will not stand [unpunished] in the judgment,
Nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

He who sits [enthroned] in the heavens laughs [at their rebellion];
The [Sovereign] Lord scoffs at them [and in supreme contempt He mocks them].

Kiss (pay respect to) the Son, so that He does not become angry, and you perish in the way,
For His wrath may soon be kindled and set aflame.
How blessed [fortunate, prosperous, and favored by God] are all those who take refuge in Him!

O Lord, how my enemies have increased!
Many are rising up against me.

I will not be intimidated or afraid of the ten thousands
Who have set themselves against me all around.

But know that the Lord has set apart for Himself [and dealt wonderfully with] the godly man [the one of honorable character and moral courage—the one who does right].
The Lord hears and responds when I call to Him.

For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness;
No evil [person] dwells with You.

You destroy those who tell lies;
The Lord detests and rejects the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.

But let all who take refuge and put their trust in You rejoice,
Let them ever sing for joy;
Because You cover and shelter them,
Let those who love Your name be joyful and exult in You.

For You, O Lord, bless the righteous man [the one who is in right standing with You];
You surround him with favor as with a shield.

For in death there is no mention of You;
In Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead) who will praise You and give You thanks?

O Lord my God, in You I take refuge;
Save me and rescue me from all those who pursue me,

If I have done evil to him who was at peace with me,
Or without cause robbed him who was my enemy,

Oh, let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous [those in right standing with You];
For the righteous God tries the hearts and minds.

My shield and my defense depend on God,
Who saves the upright in heart.

God is a righteous judge,
And a God who is indignant every day.

And those who know Your name [who have experienced Your precious mercy] will put their confident trust in You,
For You, O Lord, have not abandoned those who seek You.

Sing praises to the Lord, who dwells in Zion;
Declare among the peoples His [great and wondrous] deeds.

For He who avenges blood [unjustly shed] remembers them (His people);
He does not forget the cry of the afflicted and abused.

Have mercy on me and be gracious to me, O Lord;
See how I am afflicted by those who hate me,
You who lift me up from the gates of death,

To vindicate and obtain justice for the fatherless and the oppressed,
So that man who is of the earth will no longer terrify them.

The Lord tests the righteous and the wicked,
And His soul hates the [malevolent] one who loves violence.

Who have said, “With our tongue we will prevail;
Our lips are our own; who is lord and master over us?”

The Lord has looked down from heaven upon the children of men
To see if there are any who understand (act wisely),
Who [truly] seek after God, [longing for His wisdom and guidance].

Have all the workers of wickedness and injustice no knowledge,
Who eat up my people as they eat bread,
And do not call upon the Lord?

O Lord, who may lodge [as a guest] in Your tent?
Who may dwell [continually] on Your holy hill?

He who walks with integrity and strength of character, and works righteousness,
And speaks and holds truth in his heart.

He does not slander with his tongue,
Nor does evil to his neighbor,
Nor takes up a reproach against his friend;

In his eyes an evil person is despised,
But he honors those who fear the Lord [and obediently worship Him with awe-inspired reverence and submissive wonder].
He keeps his word even to his own disadvantage and does not change it [for his own benefit];

He does not put out his money at interest [to a fellow Israelite],
And does not take a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things will never be shaken.

As for the saints (godly people) who are in the land,
They are the majestic and the noble and the excellent ones in whom is all my delight.

The sorrows [pain and suffering] of those who have chosen another god will be multiplied [because of their idolatry];
I will not pour out their drink offerings of blood,
Nor will I take their names upon my lips.

I will bless the Lord who has counseled me;
Indeed, my heart (mind) instructs me in the night.

My steps have held closely to Your paths;
My feet have not staggered.

Wondrously show Your [marvelous and amazing] lovingkindness,
O Savior of those who take refuge at Your right hand
From those who rise up against them.

From the wicked who despoil and deal violently with me,
My deadly enemies who surround me.

The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and the One who rescues me;
My God, my rock and strength in whom I trust and take refuge;
My shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower—my stronghold.

I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised;
And I am saved from my enemies.

He rescued me from my strong enemy,
And from those who hated me, for they were too strong for me.

As for God, His way is blameless.
The word of the Lord is tested [it is perfect, it is faultless];
He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.

For who is God, but the Lord?
Or who is a rock, except our God,

The God who encircles me with strength
And makes my way blameless?

For You have encircled me with strength for the battle;
You have subdued under me those who rose up against me.

You have also made my enemies turn their backs to me [in defeat],
And I silenced and destroyed those who hated me.

The God who avenges me,
And subdues peoples (nations) under me.

He rescues me from my enemies;
Yes, You lift me up above those who rise up against me;
You deliver me from the man of violence.

Who can understand his errors or omissions? Acquit me of hidden (unconscious, unintended) faults.

Your hand will reach out and defeat all your enemies;
Your right hand will reach those who hate you.

But You are holy,
O You who are enthroned in [the holy place where] the praises of Israel [are offered].

All who see me laugh at me and mock me;
They [insultingly] open their lips, they shake their head, saying,

Yet You are He who pulled me out of the womb;
You made me trust when on my mother’s breasts.

You who fear the Lord [with awe-inspired reverence], praise Him!
All you descendants of Jacob, honor Him.
Fear Him [with submissive wonder], all you descendants of Israel.

My praise will be of You in the great assembly.
I will pay my vows [made in the time of trouble] before those who [reverently] fear Him.

The afflicted will eat and be satisfied;
Those who [diligently] seek Him and require Him [as their greatest need] will praise the Lord.
May your hearts live forever!

All the prosperous of the earth will eat and worship;
All those who go down to the dust (the dead) will bow before Him,
Even he who cannot keep his soul alive.

The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness of it,
The world, and those who dwell in it.

Who may ascend onto the mountain of the Lord?
And who may stand in His holy place?

He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
Who has not lifted up his soul to what is false,
Nor has sworn [oaths] deceitfully.

This is the generation (description) of those who diligently seek Him and require Him as their greatest need,
Who seek Your face, even [as did] Jacob. Selah.

Who is the King of glory?
The Lord strong and mighty,
The Lord mighty in battle.

Who is [He then] this King of glory?
The Lord of hosts,
He is the King of glory [who rules over all creation with His heavenly armies]. Selah.