They draw near who persecute me with evil purpose; they are far from your law.
When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall.
If one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.
For you hate discipline, and you cast my words behind you.
For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet—
They say to God, ‘Depart from us! We do not desire the knowledge of your ways.
Now therefore send quickly and tell David, ‘Do not stay tonight at the fords of the wilderness, but by all means pass over, lest the king and all the people who are with him be swallowed up.’”
And Jonathan, Saul’s son, rose and went to David at Horesh, and strengthened his hand in God.
“How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
We all growl like bears; we moan and moan like doves; we hope for justice, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far from us.
Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands far away; for truth has stumbled in the public squares, and uprightness cannot enter.