How miserable I am! For I have lived temporarily in Meshech; I have resided among the tents of Kedar.

A song of ascents, by David. I was glad because they said to me, “We will go to the Lord’s temple.”

A psalm of David. O Lord, I cry out to you. Come quickly to me! Pay attention to me when I cry out to you!

who loves me and is my stronghold, my refuge and my deliverer, my shield and the one in whom I take shelter, who makes nations submit to me.

he taught me, and he said to me: “Let your heart lay hold of my words; keep my commands so that you will live.

Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching at my doors day by day, waiting beside my doorway.

Do not say, “I will do to him just as he has done to me; I will pay him back according to what he has done.”

I designed royal gardens and parks for myself, and I planted all kinds of fruit trees in them.

I constructed pools of water for myself, to irrigate my grove of flourishing trees.

So I was far wealthier than all my predecessors in Jerusalem, yet I maintained my objectivity:

The Lover to His Beloved: My lover spoke to me, saying: “Arise, my darling; My beautiful one, come away with me!

Then I will summon as my reliable witnesses Uriah the priest and Zechariah son of Jeberekiah.”

My heart palpitates, I shake in fear; the twilight I desired has brought me terror.

I am not angry. I wish I could confront some thorns and briers! Then I would march against them for battle; I would set them all on fire,

What can I say? He has decreed and acted. I will walk slowly all my years because I am overcome with grief.

they will say about me, “Yes, the Lord is a powerful deliverer.”’” All who are angry at him will cower before him.

The sovereign Lord has spoken to me clearly; I have not rebelled, I have not turned back.

I looked, but there was no one to help; I was shocked because there was no one offering support. So my right arm accomplished deliverance; my raging anger drove me on.

I planted you in the land like a special vine of the very best stock. Why in the world have you turned into something like a wild vine that produces rotten, foul-smelling grapes?

No, a wind too strong for that will come at my bidding. Yes, even now I, myself, am calling down judgment on them.’