<p class="poetry">I take note of the treacherous and despise them,p> <p class="poetry">because they do not keep your instructions.<n id="1" />p>

<p class="poetry">I rejoice in your instructions,p> <p class="poetry">like one who finds much plunder.<n id="1" />p>

<p class="poetry">May my tongue sing about your instructions,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">for all your commands are just.p>

<p class="poetry">He<n id="1" /> sends his command through the earth;<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">swiftly his order reaches its destination.<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">Every word of God is purified;<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">he is like<n id="2" /> a shield for those who take refuge in him.<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">My teaching will drop like the rain,p> <p class="poetry">my sayings will drip like the dew,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">as rain drops upon the grass,p> <p class="poetry">and showers upon new growth.p>

<p class="poetry">The one true God acts in a faithful manner;<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s promise is reliable;<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">he is a shield to all who take shelter in him.p>

<p class="poetry">I call to you for you will answer me, O God.p> <p class="poetry">Listen to me!<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">Hear what I say!<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">The one true God acts in a faithful manner;<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s promise<n id="2" /> is reliable;<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">he is a shield to all who take shelter<n id="4" /> in him.p>

<t /><p class="poetry">You complacent<n id="1" /> women,p> <p class="poetry">get up and listen to me!p> <p class="poetry">You carefree<n id="2" /> daughters,p> <p class="poetry">pay attention to what I say!p>

<p class="bodytext">Lamech said to his wives,p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;Adah and Zillah! Listen to me!p> <p class="poetry">You wives of Lamech, hear my words!p> <p class="poetry">I have killed a man for wounding me,p> <p class="poetry">a young man<n id="1" /> for hurting me.p>

<p class="poetry">He said to his father and mother, &#8220;I have not seen him,&#8221;<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">and he did not acknowledge his own brothersp> <p class="poetry">or know his own children,p> <p class="poetry">for they kept your word,p> <p class="poetry">and guarded your covenant.p>

<p class="poetry">I will bow down toward your holy temple,p> <p class="poetry">and give thanks to your name,p> <p class="poetry">because of your loyal love and faithfulness,p> <p class="poetry">for you have exalted your promise above the entire sky.<n id="1" />p>

<p class="poetry">Therefore, as flaming fire<n id="1" /> devours straw,p> <p class="poetry">and dry grass disintegrates in the flames,p> <p class="poetry">so their root will rot,p> <p class="poetry">and their flower will blow away like dust.<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">For they have rejected the law of the <sc>Lordsc> who commands armies,p> <p class="poetry">they have spurned the commands<n id="3" /> of the Holy One of Israel.<n id="4" />p>

<p class="lamhebrew">&#1506; (<i>Ayini>)p> <p class="poetry">The <sc>Lordsc> has done what he planned;p> <p class="poetry">he has fulfilled<n id="1" /> his promise<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">that he threatened<n id="3" /> long ago:<n id="4" />p> <p class="poetry">He has overthrown you without mercy<n id="5" />p> <p class="poetry">and has enabled the enemy to gloat over you;p> <p class="poetry">he has exalted your adversaries&#8217; power.<n id="6" />p>