Study Desk

"Look at the heavens and see; And look at the clouds—they are higher than you.

"He does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous, But with kings on the throne He has seated them forever, and they are exalted.

"And if they are bound in shackles, And are caught in the snares of misery,

Then He declares to them their work And their wrongdoings, that they have been arrogant.

"He opens their ears to instruction, And commands that they return from injustice.

"If they listen and serve Him, They will end their days in prosperity, And their years in happiness.

"But if they do not listen, they will perish by the sword, And die without knowledge.

"They die in youth, And their life perishes among the cult prostitutes.

"It is changed like clay under the seal; And they stand out like a garment.

"Can you send flashes of lightning, so that they may go And say to you, 'Here we are'?

When they crouch in their hiding places, And lie in wait in their lair?

"Their offspring become strong, they grow up in the open field; They leave and do not return to them.

"Look at everyone who is arrogant, and humble him, And trample down the wicked where they stand.

"They are joined one to another; They clasp each other and cannot be separated.

Then all his brothers, all his sisters, and all who had known him before came to him, and they ate bread with him in his house; and they sympathized with him and comforted him for all the adversities that the LORD had brought on him. And each one gave him a piece of money, and each a ring of gold.

All my enemies will be put to shame and greatly horrified; They shall turn back, they will suddenly be put to shame.

When my enemies turn back, They stumble and perish before You.

They speak lies to one another; They speak with flattering lips and a double heart.

Do all the workers of injustice not know, Who devour my people as they eat bread, And do not call upon the LORD?

From people by Your hand, LORD, From people of the world, whose portion is in this life, And whose belly You fill with Your treasure; They are satisfied with children, And leave their abundance to their babies.