They witnessed the acts of the Lord, his amazing feats on the deep water.

The Lord’s deeds are great, eagerly awaited by all who desire them.

His acts are characterized by faithfulness and justice; all his precepts are reliable.

I will not die, but live, and I will proclaim what the Lord has done.

I increased my possessions: I built houses for myself; I planted vineyards for myself.

When I look up at the heavens, which your fingers made, and see the moon and the stars, which you set in place,

The Lord avenges me. O Lord, your loyal love endures. Do not abandon those whom you have made!

This will happen because they have abandoned me and offered sacrifices to other gods, angering me with all the idols they have made. My anger will ignite against this place and will not be extinguished!’”

Yet when I reflected on everything I had accomplished and on all the effort that I had expended to accomplish it, I concluded: “All these achievements and possessions are ultimately profitless – like chasing the wind! There is nothing gained from them on earth.”

Their webs cannot be used for clothing; they cannot cover themselves with what they make. Their deeds are sinful; they commit violent crimes.

For the music director; according to the tune of “Lilies;” by the Korahites, a well-written poem, a love song. My heart is stirred by a beautiful song. I say, “I have composed this special song for the king; my tongue is as skilled as the stylus of an experienced scribe.”