But decisions will again be made in righteousness; and they will be kept by all whose hearts are true.

They are banded together against the soul of the upright, to give decisions against those who have done no wrong.

For forty years I was angry with this generation, and said, They are a people whose hearts are turned away from me, for they have no knowledge of my ways;

And I made an oath in my wrath, that they might not come into my place of rest.

Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among those who gave honour to his name; they made prayers to the Lord, and he gave answers to them.

His voice came to them from the pillar of cloud; they kept his witness, and the law which he gave them.

If they keep his agreement, and have his laws in mind to do them.

At the voice of your word they went in flight; at the sound of your thunder they went away in fear;

You made a limit over which they might not go, so that the earth would never again be covered by them.

You sent the springs into the valleys; they are flowing between the hills.

They give drink to every beast of the field; the mountain asses come to them for water.

The sun comes up, and they come together, and go back to their secret places to take their rest.

They take what you give them; they are full of the good things which come from your open hand.

If your face is veiled, they are troubled; when you take away their breath, they come to an end, and go back to the dust.

If you send out your spirit, they are given life; you make new the face of the earth.

When they were still small in number, and strange in the land;

When they went about from one nation to another, and from one kingdom to another people.

Their hearts were turned to hate against his people, so that they made secret designs against them.

He sent black night and made it dark; and they did not go against his word.

Egypt was glad when they went; for the fear of them had come down on them.

His hand made the rock open, and the waters came streaming out; they went down through the dry places like a river.

And gave them the lands of the nations; and they took the work of the peoples for a heritage;

So that they might keep his orders, and be true to his laws. Give praise to the Lord.

Happy are they whose decisions are upright, and he who does righteousness at all times.

Our fathers did not give thought to your wonders in Egypt; they did not keep in memory the great number of your mercies, but gave you cause for wrath at the sea, even at the Red Sea.

Then they had faith in his words; they gave him songs of praise.

They gave way to their evil desires in the waste land, and put God to the test in the dry places.

They were full of envy against Moses among the tents, and against Aaron, the holy one of the Lord.

They made a young ox in Horeb, and gave worship to an image of gold.

They had no memory of God their saviour, who had done great things in Egypt;

They were disgusted with the good land; they had no belief in his word;

Talking against him secretly in their tents, they did not give ear to the voice of the Lord.

And they were joined to Baal-peor, and took part in the offerings to the dead.

So they made him angry by their behaviour; and he sent disease on them.

They made God angry again at the waters of Meribah, so that Moses was troubled because of them;

For they made his spirit bitter, and he said unwise things.

They did not put an end to the peoples, as the Lord had said;

But they were joined to the nations, learning their works.

And they gave worship to images; which were a danger to them:

They even made offerings of their sons and their daughters to evil spirits,

So they became unclean through their works, going after their evil desires.

And he gave them into the hands of the nations; and they were ruled by their haters.

By them they were crushed, and made low under their hands.

Again and again he made them free; but their hearts were turned against his purpose, and they were overcome by their sins.

They were wandering in the waste places; they saw no way to a resting-place.

Then they sent up their cry to the Lord in their sorrow, and he gave them salvation out of all their troubles;

Guiding them in the right way, so that they might come into the town of their resting-place.

Because they went against the words of God, and gave no thought to the laws of the Most High:

So that he made their hearts weighted down with grief; they were falling, and had no helper.

Then they sent up their cry to the Lord in their sorrow, and he gave them salvation out of all their troubles.

They are disgusted by all food, and they come near to the doors of death.

Then they send up their cry to the Lord in their sorrow, and he gives them salvation out of all their troubles.

They see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep.

They are turned here and there, rolling like a man who is full of wine; and all their wisdom comes to nothing.

Then they send up their cry to the Lord in their sorrow, and he gives them salvation out of all their troubles.

Then they are glad, because the sea is quiet, and he takes them to the harbour of their desire.

And there he gives the poor a resting-place, so that they may make themselves a town;

He gives them his blessing so that they are increased greatly, and their cattle do not become less.

And when they are made low, and crushed by trouble and sorrow,

Words of hate are round about me; they have made war against me without cause.

For my love they give me back hate; but I have given myself to prayer.

They have put on me evil for good; hate in exchange for my love.

As for me, they make sport of me; shaking their heads when they see me.

So that they may see that it is the work of your hand; that you, Lord, have done it.

They may give curses but you give blessing; when they come up against me, put them to shame; but let your servant be glad.

They are fixed for ever and ever, they are done in faith and righteousness.

They have mouths, but no voice; they have eyes, but they see not;

They have ears, but no hearing; they have noses, but no sense of smell;

They have hands without feeling, and feet without power of walking; and no sound comes from their throat.

They are round me, yes, they are all about me; but in the name of the Lord I will have them cut down.

They are round me like bees; but they are put out like a fire among thorns; for in the name of the Lord I will have them cut down.

Happy are they who are without sin in their ways, walking in the law of the Lord.

Happy are they who keep his unchanging word, searching after him with all their heart.

They do no evil; they go in his ways.

Make me go in the way of your teachings; for they are my delight.

I have kept the memory of your decisions from times past, O Lord; and they have been my comfort.

Let the men of pride be shamed; because they have falsely given decision against me; but I will give thought to your orders.

All your teachings are certain; they go after me with evil design; give me your help.

They had almost put an end to me on earth; but I did not give up your orders.

They are ruled this day by your decisions; for all things are your servants.

How sweet are your sayings to my taste! truly, they are sweeter than honey in my mouth!

It is time, O Lord, for you to let your work be seen; for they have made your law without effect.

Those who have evil designs against me come near; they are far from your law.

Salvation is far from evil-doers; for they have made no search for your rules.

I saw with hate those who were untrue to you; for they did not keep your saying.

Great peace have lovers of your law; they have no cause for falling.

I was glad because they said to me, We will go into the house of the Lord.

They have mouths, but no voice, they have eyes, but they do not see;

They have ears, but no hearing; and there is no breath in their mouths.

O Lord, keep in mind against the children of Edom the day of Jerusalem; how they said, Let it be uncovered, uncovered even to its base.

They will make songs about the ways of the Lord; for great is the glory of the Lord.

Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book all my days were recorded, even those which were purposed before they had come into being.

For they go against you with evil designs, and your haters make sport of your name.

My hate for them is complete; my thoughts of them are as if they were making war on me.

For their hearts are full of evil designs; and they are ever making ready causes of war.

O Lord, take me out of the hands of sinners; keep me safe from the violent man: for they are designing my downfall.

The men of pride have put secret cords for my feet; stretching nets in my way, so that they may take me with their tricks. (Selah.)

Let burning flames come down on them: let them be put into the fire, and into deep waters, so that they may not get up again.

Give ear to my cry, for I am made very low: take me out of the hands of my haters, for they are stronger than I.

He has not done these things for any other nation: and as for his laws, they have no knowledge of them. Let the Lord be praised.