Study Desk

He sent His burning anger upon them, Fury and indignation and trouble, A band of destroying angels.

He leveled a path for His anger; He did not spare their souls from death, But turned their lives over to the plague,

But He led His own people out like sheep, And guided them in the wilderness like a flock;

But turned back and acted treacherously like their fathers; They turned aside like a treacherous bow.

Then the Lord awoke as if from sleep, Like a warrior overcome by wine.

We have become a disgrace before our neighbors, An object of derision and ridicule to those around us.

Listen, Shepherd of Israel, Who leads Joseph like a flock; You who are enthroned above the cherubim, shine forth!

You removed a vine from Egypt; You drove out the nations and planted it.

A boar from the forest eats it away, And whatever moves in the field feeds on it.

Raise a song, strike the tambourine, The sweet sounding lyre with the harp.

For it is a statute for Israel, An ordinance of the God of Jacob.

He established it as a testimony in Joseph When he went throughout the land of Egypt. I heard a language I did not know:

"There shall be no strange god among you; Nor shall you worship a foreign god.

They have said, "Come, and let's wipe them out as a nation, So that the name of Israel will no longer be remembered."

For they have conspired together with one mind; They make a covenant against You:

Assyria also has joined them; They have become a help to the children of Lot. Selah

Like fire that burns the forest, And like a flame that sets the mountains on fire,

The bird also has found a house, And the swallow a nest for herself, where she may put her young: Your altars, LORD of armies, My King and my God.

Passing through the Valley of Baca they make it a spring; The early rain also covers it with blessings.

For a day in Your courtyards is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God Than live in the tents of wickedness.