David said to Gad, &#8220;I am very upset! I prefer that we be attacked by the <sc>Lordsc>, for his mercy is great; I do not want to be attacked by men!&#8221;<n id="1" />p>

He was wiser than any man, including Ethan the Ezrahite or Heman, Calcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol. He was famous in all the neighboring nations.<n id="1" />

They have burned the gods of the nations,<n id="1" /> for they are not really gods, but only the product of human hands manufactured from wood and stone. That is why the Assyrians could destroy them.<n id="2" />

He sacrificed all the priests of the high places on the altars located there, and burned human bones on them. Then he returned to Jerusalem.p>

They seized the Hagrites&#8217;<n id="1" /> animals, including 50,000 camels, 250,000 sheep, and 2,000 donkeys. They also took captive 100,000 people.

And you did not stop there, O God! You have also spoken about the future of your servant&#8217;s family.<n id="1" /> You have revealed to me what men long to know,<n id="2" /> O <sc>Lordsc> God.

He told the judges, &#8220;Be careful what you do,<n id="1" /> for you are not judging for men, but for the <sc>Lordsc>, who will be with you when you make judicial decisions.

When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official<n id="1" /> heard all this, they were very displeased that someone had come to seek benefit for the Israelites.p>

<p class="poetry">If<n id="1" /> I have sinned &#8211; what have I done to you,<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">O watcher of men?<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">Why have you set me as your target?<n id="4" />p> <p class="poetry">Have I become a burden to you?<n id="5" />p>

<p class="poetry">But if God<n id="1" /> is quiet, who can condemn<n id="2" /> him?p> <p class="poetry">If he hides his face, then who can see him?p> <p class="poetry">Yet<n id="3" /> he is over the individual and the nation alike,<n id="4" />p>

<t /><p class="psasuper">For the music director; according to the <i>sheminithi> style;<n id="2" /> a psalm of David.p> <p class="poetry">Deliver, <sc>Lordsc>!p> <p class="poetry">For the godly<n id="3" /> have disappeared;<n id="4" />p> <p class="poetry">people of integrity<n id="5" /> have vanished.<n id="6" />p>

<p class="poetry">How great is your favor,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">which you store up for your loyal followers!<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">In plain sight of everyone you bestow it on those who take shelter<n id="3" /> in you.<n id="4" />p>

<p class="poetry">Look, you make my days short-lived,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">and my life span is nothing from your perspective.<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">Surely all people, even those who seem secure, are nothing but vapor.<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">You severely discipline people for their sins;<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">like a moth you slowly devour their strength.<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">Surely all people are a mere vapor. (Selah)p>

<p class="poetry">God looks down from heaven<n id="1" /> at the human race,<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">to see if there is anyone who is wise<n id="3" /> and seeks God.<n id="4" />p>

<p class="poetry">I am surrounded by lions;p> <p class="poetry">I lie down<n id="1" /> among those who want to devour me;<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">men whose teeth are spears and arrows,p> <p class="poetry">whose tongues are a sharp sword.<n id="3" />p>

<t /><p class="psasuper">For the music director; according to the <i>al-tashchethi> style;<n id="2" /> a prayer<n id="3" /> of David.p> <p class="poetry">Do you rulers really pronounce just decisions?<n id="4" />p> <p class="poetry">Do you judge people<n id="5" /> fairly?p>

<p class="poetry">Men are nothing but a mere breath;p> <p class="poetry">human beings are unreliable.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">When they are weighed in the scales,p> <p class="poetry">all of them together are lighter than air.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">You ascend on high,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">you have taken many captives.<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">You receive tribute<n id="3" /> from<n id="4" /> men,p> <p class="poetry">including even sinful rebels.p> <p class="poetry">Indeed the <sc>Lordsc> God lives there!<n id="5" />p>

<p class="poetry">If you say, &#8220;But we did not know about this,&#8221;p> <p class="poetry">does not the one who evaluates<n id="1" /> hearts consider?p> <p class="poetry">Does not the one who guards your life know?p> <p class="poetry">Will he not repay each person according to his deeds?<n id="2" />p>