<p class="poetry">People lie to one another;<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">they flatter and deceive.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">They mock<n id="1" /> and say evil things;<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">they proudly threaten violence.<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">They will proclaim the splendor of your kingdom;p> <p class="poetry">they will tell about your power,p>

<p class="poetry">I said to myself, &#8216;Age<n id="1" /> should speak,<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">and length of years<n id="3" /> should make wisdom known.&#8217;p>

<p class="poetry">They spew out threats<n id="1" /> and speak defiantly;p> <p class="poetry">all the evildoers boast.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">They have mouths, but cannot speak,p> <p class="poetry">eyes, but cannot see,p>

<p class="poetry">They have mouths, but cannot speak,p> <p class="poetry">eyes, but cannot see,p>

She said, &#8220;In the past they would always say, &#8216;Let them inquire in Abel,&#8217; and that is how they settled things.

<p class="poetry">And I have waited.<n id="1" /> But because they do not speak,p> <p class="poetry">because they stand there and answer no more,p>

<p class="poetry">For they do not try to make peace with others,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">but plan ways to deceive those who are unsuspecting.<n id="2" />p>

<t /><p class="poetry">&#8220;Listen to me in silence, you coastlands!<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">Let the nations find renewed strength!p> <p class="poetry">Let them approach and then speak;p> <p class="poetry">let us come together for debate!<n id="2" />p>

and listen to what they are saying. Then you will be brave<n id="1" /> and attack the camp.&#8221; So he went down with Purah his servant to where the sentries were guarding the camp.<n id="2" />

<p class="poetry">How blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them!p> <p class="poetry">They will not be put to shame<n id="1" /> when they confront<n id="2" /> enemies at the city gate.p>

<p class="poetry">Also, do not pay attention to everything that people<n id="1" /> say;p> <p class="poetry">otherwise,<n id="2" /> you might even hear<n id="3" /> your servant cursing you.p>

<p class="poetry">One friend deceives anotherp> <p class="poetry">and no one tells the truth.p> <p class="poetry">These people have trained themselves<n id="1" /> to tell lies.p> <p class="poetry">They do wrong and are unable to repent.p>

The bravest of the warriors will speak to him from the midst of Sheol along with his allies, saying: &#8216;The uncircumcised have come down; they lie still, killed by the sword.&#8217;p>

These two kings, their minds<n id="1" /> filled with evil intentions, will trade<n id="2" /> lies with one another at the same table. But it will not succeed, for there is still an end at the appointed time.

<p class="poetry">I have listened to them very carefully,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">but they do not speak honestly.p> <p class="poetry">None of them regrets the evil he has done.p> <p class="poetry">None of them says, &#8220;I have done wrong!&#8221;<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">All of them persist in their own wayward course<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">like a horse charging recklessly into battle.p>

<p class="poetry">Such idols are like scarecrows in a cucumber field.p> <p class="poetry">They cannot talk.p> <p class="poetry">They must be carriedp> <p class="poetry">because they cannot walk.p> <p class="poetry">Do not be afraid of themp> <p class="poetry">because they cannot hurt you.p> <p class="poetry">And they do not have any power to help you.&#8221;<n id="1" />p>

<p class="poetry">As a matter of fact,<n id="1" /> even your own brothersp> <p class="poetry">and the members of your own family have betrayed you too.p> <p class="poetry">Even they have plotted to do away with you.<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">So do not trust them even when they say kind things<n id="3" /> to you.p>