65  You have dealt well with your servant,

O Lord, ^zaccording to your word.

66  Teach me ^agood judgment and knowledge,

for I believe in your commandments.

67  ^bBefore I was afflicted I went astray,

but now I keep your word.

68  ^cYou are good and do good;

^dteach me your statutes.

69  ^eThe insolent ^fsmear me with lies,

but with my whole heart I ^gkeep your precepts;

70  their heart is unfeeling ^hlike fat,

but I ⁱdelight in your law.

71  It is ^jgood for me that I was afflicted,

that I might learn your statutes.

72  ^kThe law of your mouth is better to me

than thousands of gold and silver pieces.

73  ^lYour hands have made and fashioned me;

^mgive me understanding that I may learn your commandments.

74  Those who fear you shall see me and ⁿrejoice,

because I have ^ohoped in your word.

75  I know, O Lord, that your rules are ^prighteous,

and that in ^qfaithfulness you have afflicted me.

76  Let your steadfast love comfort me

according to your promise to your servant.

77  Let your ^rmercy come to me, that I may live;

for your law is my ^sdelight.

78  Let ^tthe insolent be put to ^ushame,

because they have ^vwronged me with falsehood;

as for me, I will ^wmeditate on your precepts.

79  Let those who fear you ^xturn to me,

that they may know your testimonies.

80  May my heart be ^yblameless in your statutes,

^zthat I may not be put to shame!

81  My soul ^alongs for your salvation;

I ^bhope in your word.

82  My ^ceyes long for your promise;

I ask, ^d“When will you comfort me?”

83  For I have ^ebecome like a ^fwineskin in the smoke,

yet I have not forgotten your statutes.

84  ^gHow long must your servant endure?¹

^hWhen will you judge those who persecute me?

85  ⁱThe insolent have ^jdug pitfalls for me;

they do not live according to your law.

86  All your commandments are ^ksure;

they persecute me ^lwith falsehood; ^mhelp me!

87  They have almost made an end of me on earth,

but I have not forsaken your precepts.

88  In your steadfast love ⁿgive me life,

that I may keep the testimonies of your mouth.

89  Forever, O Lord, your ^oword

is firmly fixed in the heavens.

90  Your ^pfaithfulness endures to all generations;

you have ^qestablished the earth, and it ^rstands fast.

91  By your ^sappointment they stand this day,

for all things are your servants.

92  If your law had not been my ^tdelight,

I would have perished in my affliction.

93  I will never forget your precepts,

for by them you have ^ugiven me life.

94  I am yours; save me,

^vfor I have sought your precepts.

95  The wicked lie in wait to destroy me,

but I consider your testimonies.

96  I have seen a limit to all perfection,

but your commandment is exceedingly ^wbroad.

1  ^oThe scatterer has come up against you.

^pMan the ramparts;

watch the road;

dress for battle;¹

collect all your strength.

2  For ^qthe Lord is restoring the majesty of Jacob

as the majesty of Israel,

for plunderers have plundered them

and ^rruined their branches.

3  The shield of his mighty men is red;

^shis soldiers are clothed in scarlet.

The chariots come with flashing metal

on the day he musters them;

the cypress spears are brandished.

4  ^tThe chariots race madly through the streets;

they rush to and fro through the squares;

they gleam like torches;

they dart like lightning.

5  He remembers ^uhis officers;

^vthey stumble as they go,

they hasten to the wall;

the siege tower² is set up.

6  ^wThe river gates are opened;

the palace ^xmelts away;

7  its mistress³ is ^ystripped;⁴ she is carried off,

her slave girls ^zlamenting,

moaning like doves

and beating their breasts.

8  ^bNineveh is like a pool

whose waters run away.⁵

“Halt! Halt!” they cry,

but ^cnone turns back.

9  Plunder the silver,

plunder the gold!

There is no end of the treasure

or of the wealth of all precious things.

10  ^dDesolate! Desolation and ruin!

^eHearts melt and ^fknees tremble;

^ganguish is in all loins;

^hall faces grow pale!

11  Where is the lions’ den,

the feeding place of ⁱthe young lions,

where the lion and lioness went,

where his cubs were, with ^jnone to disturb?

12  ^kThe lion tore enough for his cubs

and ^lstrangled prey for his lionesses;

he filled his caves with prey

and his dens with torn flesh.