Their houses are safe and without fear; and no rod of punishment from God is upon them.

So they say to God, ‘Turn away from us! We do not want to know your ways.

They were saying to God, ‘Turn away from us,’ and ‘What can the Almighty do to us?’

Surely then you will delight yourself in the Almighty, and will lift up your face toward God.

How then can a human being be righteous before God? How can one born of a woman be pure?

“As surely as God lives, who has denied me justice, the Almighty, who has made my life bitter –

This is the portion of the wicked man allotted by God, the inheritance that evildoers receive from the Almighty.

then what will I do when God confronts me in judgment; when he intervenes, how will I respond to him?

then this also would be iniquity to be judged, for I would have been false to God above.

Look, I am just like you in relation to God; I too have been molded from clay.

Now in this, you are not right – I answer you, for God is greater than a human being.

Surely it is an empty cry – God does not hear it; the Almighty does not take notice of it.

Indeed, God is mighty; and he does not despise people, he is mighty, and firm in his intent.

Who prepares prey for the raven, when its young cry out to God and wander about for lack of food?

Pay attention to my cry for help, my king and my God, for I am praying to you!

O Lord my God, if I have done what they say, or am guilty of unjust actions,

The wicked are turned back and sent to Sheol; this is the destiny of all the nations that ignore God,

I call to you for you will answer me, O God. Listen to me! Hear what I say!

The Lord is alive! My protector is praiseworthy! The God who delivers me is exalted as king!

For the music director; a psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; the sky displays his handiwork.