9  ^t“He will guard the feet of his faithful ones,

but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness,

for not by might shall a man prevail.

9  Therefore justice is far from us,

and righteousness does not overtake us;

^jwe hope for light, and behold, darkness,

and for brightness, but we walk in gloom.

10  ^kWe grope for the wall like the blind;

we grope like those who have no eyes;

we stumble at noon as in the twilight,

^lamong those in full vigor we are like dead men.

12  ^qTherefore their way shall be to them

like slippery paths ^rin the darkness,

into which they shall be driven and fall,

for I will bring disaster upon them

^sin the year of their punishment,

declares the Lord.

5  “Indeed, ^fthe light of the wicked is put out,

and the flame of his fire does not shine.