As for me, I will sing about your strength; I will praise your loyal love in the morning. For you are my refuge and my place of shelter when I face trouble.

Proud men hide a snare for me; evil men spread a net by the path; they set traps for me. (Selah)

I purchased male and female slaves, and I owned slaves who were born in my house; I also possessed more livestock – both herds and flocks – than any of my predecessors in Jerusalem.

I also amassed silver and gold for myself, as well as valuable treasures taken from kingdoms and provinces. I acquired male singers and female singers for myself, and what gives a man sensual delight – a harem of beautiful concubines!

The Beloved to Her Lover: Oh, how I wish you were my little brother, nursing at my mother’s breasts; if I saw you outside, I could kiss you – surely no one would despise me!

I take no delight when they offer up to me frankincense that comes from Sheba or sweet-smelling cane imported from a faraway land. I cannot accept the burnt offerings they bring me. I get no pleasure from the sacrifices they offer to me.’

I will purify them from all the sin that they committed against me. I will forgive all their sins which they committed in rebelling against me.

Indeed! All lives are mine – the life of the father as well as the life of the son is mine. The one who sins will die.

I will destroy her vines and fig trees, about which she said, “These are my wages for prostitution that my lovers gave to me!” I will turn her cultivated vines and fig trees into an uncultivated thicket, so that wild animals will devour them.

Ephraim boasts, “I am very rich! I have become wealthy! In all that I have done to gain my wealth, no one can accuse me of any offense that is actually sinful.”

My enemies, do not gloat over me! Though I have fallen, I will get up. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.

But Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.”

In this way God has snatched away your father’s livestock and given them to me.

“‘If in spite of these things you do not allow yourselves to be disciplined and you walk in hostility against me,

“‘If in spite of this you do not obey me but walk in hostility against me,

I will shoot three arrows near it, as though I were shooting at a target.

He asked me, ‘Who are you?’ I told him, ‘I’m an Amalekite.’

They confronted me in my day of calamity, but the Lord helped me.

The Lord repaid me for my godly deeds; he rewarded my blameless behavior.

The Lord rewarded me for my godly deeds; he took notice of my blameless behavior.