They have hands, but they don't feel. They have feet, but they don't walk, neither do they speak through their throat.

They surrounded me, yes, they surrounded me. In the name of Yahweh I indeed cut them off.

They surrounded me like bees. They are quenched like the burning thorns. In the name of Yahweh I cut them off.

Yes, they do nothing wrong. They walk in his ways.

Let the proud be disappointed, for they have overthrown me wrongfully. I will meditate on your precepts.

Let those who fear you turn to me. They will know your statutes.

All of your commandments are faithful. They persecute me wrongfully. Help me!

They had almost wiped me from the earth, but I didn't forsake your precepts.

I have taken your testimonies as a heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart.

It is time to act, Yahweh, for they break your law.

Streams of tears run down my eyes, because they don't observe your law. TZADI

You have commanded your statutes in righteousness. They are fully trustworthy.

They draw near who follow after wickedness. They are far from your law.

Salvation is far from the wicked, for they don't seek your statutes.

I look at the faithless with loathing, because they don't observe your word.

I am for peace, but when I speak, they are for war. A Song of Ascents.

I was glad when they said to me, "Let's go to Yahweh's house!"

then they would have swallowed us up alive, when their wrath was kindled against us;

Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing. Then they said among the nations, "Yahweh has done great things for them."

Unless Yahweh builds the house, they labor in vain who build it. Unless Yahweh watches over the city, the watchman guards it in vain.

Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them. They won't be disappointed when they speak with their enemies in the gate. A Song of Ascents.

Many times they have afflicted me from my youth up. Let Israel now say,

many times they have afflicted me from my youth up, yet they have not prevailed against me.

The plowers plowed on my back. They made their furrows long.

They have mouths, but they can't speak. They have eyes, but they can't see.

They have ears, but they can't hear; neither is there any breath in their mouths.

All the kings of the earth will give you thanks, Yahweh, for they have heard the words of your mouth.

Yes, they will sing of the ways of Yahweh; for great is Yahweh's glory.

Your eyes saw my body. In your book they were all written, the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there were none of them.

If I would count them, they are more in number than the sand. When I wake up, I am still with you.

For they speak against you wickedly. Your enemies take your name in vain.

I hate them with perfect hatred. They have become my enemies.

those who devise mischief in their hearts. They continually gather themselves together for war.

They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent. Viper's poison is under their lips. Selah.

The proud have hidden a snare for me, they have spread the cords of a net by the path. They have set traps for me. Selah.

Yahweh, don't grant the desires of the wicked. Don't let their evil plans succeed, or they will become proud. Selah.

Let burning coals fall on them. Let them be thrown into the fire, into miry pits, from where they never rise.

Their judges are thrown down by the sides of the rock. They will hear my words, for they are well spoken.

Keep me from the snare which they have laid for me, from the traps of the workers of iniquity.

When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, you knew my path. In the way in which I walk, they have hidden a snare for me.

Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need. deliver me from my persecutors, For they are stronger than me.

Part your heavens, Yahweh, and come down. Touch the mountains, and they will smoke.

They will utter the memory of your great goodness, and will sing of your righteousness.

They will speak of the glory of your kingdom, and talk about your power;

He provides food for the livestock, and for the young ravens when they call.

He has not done this for just any nation. They don't know his ordinances. Praise Yah!

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

for they will be a garland to grace your head, and chains around your neck.

If they say, "Come with us, Let's lay in wait for blood; let's lurk secretly for the innocent without cause;

for their feet run to evil. They hurry to shed blood.

but these lay wait for their own blood. They lurk secretly for their own lives.

Then will they call on me, but I will not answer. They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me;

because they hated knowledge, and didn't choose the fear of Yahweh.

They wanted none of my counsel. They despised all my reproof.

Therefore they will eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own schemes.

None who go to her return again, neither do they attain to the paths of life:

for length of days, and years of life, and peace, will they add to you.

so they will be life to your soul, and grace for your neck.

For they don't sleep, unless they do evil. Their sleep is taken away, unless they make someone fall.

For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.

The way of the wicked is like darkness. They don't know what they stumble over.

For they are life to those who find them, and health to their whole body.

that they may keep you from the strange woman, from the foreigner who flatters with her words.

They are all plain to him who understands, right to those who find knowledge.

Don't they go astray who plot evil? But love and faithfulness belong to those who plan good.

Where there is no counsel, plans fail; but in a multitude of counselors they are established.

Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to Yahweh: they shall certainly not be unpunished.

Righteous lips are the delight of kings. They value one who speaks the truth.

The words of a gossip are like dainty morsels: they go down into a person's innermost parts.

All the relatives of the poor shun him: how much more do his friends avoid him! He pursues them with pleas, but they are gone.

The violence of the wicked will drive them away, because they refuse to do what is right.

Don't be desirous of his dainties, since they are deceitful food.

"They hit me, and I was not hurt! They beat me, and I don't feel it! When will I wake up? I can do it again. I can find another."

The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, they go down into the innermost parts.

When the wicked rise, men hide themselves; but when they perish, the righteous thrive.

The bloodthirsty hate a man of integrity; and they seek the life of the upright.

"There are four things which are little on the earth, but they are exceedingly wise:

the ants are not a strong people, yet they provide their food in the summer.

The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks.

The locusts have no king, yet they advance in ranks.

lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the justice due to anyone who is afflicted.

All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full. To the place where the rivers flow, there they flow again.

I searched in my heart how to cheer my flesh with wine, my heart yet guiding me with wisdom, and how to lay hold of folly, until I might see what it was good for the sons of men that they should do under heaven all the days of their lives.

I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice, and to do good as long as they live.

I said in my heart, "As for the sons of men, God tests them, so that they may see that they themselves are like animals.

For that which happens to the sons of men happens to animals. Even one thing happens to them. As the one dies, so the other dies. Yes, they have all one breath; and man has no advantage over the animals: for all is vanity.

Then I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold, the tears of those who were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.

For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him who is alone when he falls, and doesn't have another to lift him up.

Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth; but how can one keep warm alone?

I saw all the living who walk under the sun, that they were with the youth, the other, who succeeded him.

Guard your steps when you go to God's house; for to draw near to listen is better than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they don't know that they do evil.

Behold, this only have I found: that God made man upright; but they search for many schemes."

So I saw the wicked buried. Indeed they came also from holiness. They went and were forgotten in the city where they did this. This also is vanity.

This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that there is one event to all: yes also, the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead.

For the living know that they will die, but the dead don't know anything, neither do they have any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.

Also their love, their hatred, and their envy has perished long ago; neither have they any more a portion forever in anything that is done under the sun.

If the clouds are full of rain, they empty themselves on the earth; and if a tree falls toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falls, there shall it be.

In the morning sow your seed, and in the evening don't withhold your hand; for you don't know which will prosper, whether this or that, or whether they both will be equally good.

Yes, if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember the days of darkness, for they shall be many. All that comes is vanity.