The wicked one lies in wait for the righteous
and seeks to kill him;

The wicked have drawn the sword and strung the bow
to bring down the afflicted and needy
and to slaughter those whose way is upright.

If they say—“Come with us!
Let’s set an ambush and kill someone.
Let’s attack some innocent person just for fun!

Pharaoh will not help him with his great army and vast horde in battle, when ramps are built and siege walls constructed to destroy many lives.

For a prostitute’s fee is only a loaf of bread,
but an adulteress goes after a precious life.

And you, devastated one, what are you doing
that you dress yourself in scarlet,
that you adorn yourself with gold jewelry,
that you enlarge your eyes with paint?
You beautify yourself for nothing.
Your lovers reject you;
they want to take your life.

They say, “Come, let us wipe them out as a nation
so that Israel’s name will no longer be remembered.”

Now in Midian the Lord told Moses, “Return to Egypt, for all the men who wanted to kill you are dead.”