For You have beena defensefor the helpless,A defensefor the needyin his distress,A refugefrom the storm,a shadefrom the heat;For the breathof the ruthlessIs like a [rain] storm[against] a wall.
But He setsthe needysecurelyon highaway from affliction,And makes[his] familieslike a flock.
I clingto Your testimonies;O LORD,do not putme to shame!
"Becauseof the devastationof the afflicted,becauseof the groaningof the needy,NowI will arise,"saysthe LORD;"I will sethim in the safetyfor which he longs."
The LORDis your keeper;The LORDis your shadeon your righthand.
Allmy boneswill say,"LORD,whois likeYou, Who deliversthe afflictedfrom him whois toostrongfor him, And the afflictedand the needyfrom him who robshim?"
"I would hastento my placeof refugeFrom the stormywind[and] tempest."
He will havecompassionon the poorand needy,And the livesof the needyhe will save.
May he vindicatethe afflictedof the people,Savethe childrenof the needyAnd crushthe oppressor.
And those who knowYour namewill puttheir trustin You, For You, O LORD,have not forsakenthose who seekYou.
He who dwellsin the shelterof the MostHighWill abidein the shadowof the Almighty.
But with righteousnessHe will judgethe poor,And decidewith fairnessfor the afflictedof the earth;And He will strikethe earthwith the rodof His mouth,And with the breathof His lipsHe will slaythe wicked.
"Howthen will one answerthe messengersof the nation?That the LORDhas foundedZion,And the afflictedof His peoplewill seekrefugein it."
"Give[us] advice,makea decision;Castyour shadowlike nightat highnoon;Hidethe outcasts,do not betraythe fugitive.
For you have forgottenthe Godof your salvationAnd have not rememberedthe rockof your refuge.Thereforeyou plantdelightfulplantsAnd setthem with vineslipsof a strange[god].
"Orlet him relyon My protection,Let him makepeacewith Me, Let him makepeacewith Me."
A spiritof justicefor him who sitsin judgment,A strengthto those who repelthe onslaughtat the gate.
The afflictedalso will increasetheir gladnessin the LORD,And the needyof mankindwill rejoicein the HolyOneof Israel.
For the ruthlesswill cometo an endand the scornerwill be finished,Indeed allwho are intenton doingevilwill be cutoff;
But the multitudeof your enemieswill becomelike finedust,And the multitudeof the ruthlessoneslike the chaffwhich blowsaway;And it will happeninstantly,suddenly.
Eachwill be like a refugefrom the windAnd a shelterfrom the storm,Like streamsof waterin a drycountry,Like the shadeof a hugerockin a parchedland.
He will dwellon the heights,His refugewill be the impregnablerock;His breadwill be given[him], His waterwill be sure.
O LORD,be graciousto us; we have waitedfor You. Be their strengthevery morning,Our salvationalsoin the timeof distress.
Then the angelof the LORDwentout and struck185000in the campof the Assyrians;and when men aroseearlyin the morning,behold,allof these were dead.
Surely,thussaysthe LORD,"Eventhe captivesof the mightymanwill be takenaway, And the preyof the tyrantwill be rescued;For I will contendwith the onewhocontendswith you, And I will saveyour sons.
"When you cryout, let your collection[of idols] deliveryou. But the windwill carryallof them up, [And] a breathwill take[them away]. But he who takesrefugein Me will inheritthe landAnd will possessMy holymountain."
"For My handmadeallthesethings,Thus allthesethingscameinto being,"declaresthe LORD."But to thisoneI will look,To him whois humbleand contriteof spirit,and whotremblesat My word.
"Then He shall becomea sanctuary;But to boththe housesof Israel,a stoneto strikeand a rockto stumbleover, [And] a snareand a trapfor the inhabitantsof Jerusalem.
O LORD,my strengthand my stronghold,And my refugein the dayof distress,To You the nationswill comeFrom the endsof the earthand say,"Our fathershave inheritednothingbut falsehood,Futilityand thingsof noprofit."
"You will goup, you will comelike a storm;you will be like a cloudcoveringthe land,you and allyour troops,and manypeopleswith you."
"But I will leaveamongyou A humbleand lowlypeople,And they will takerefugein the nameof the LORD.
Listen,my belovedbrethren:did not Godchoosethe poorof thisworld[to be] richin faithand heirsof the kingdomwhichHe promisedto thosewho loveHim?
