But, O LORDof hosts,who judgesrighteously,Who triesthe feelingsand the heart,Let me seeYour vengeanceon them, For to You have I committedmy cause.
"Farbe it from You to dosucha thing,to slaythe righteouswith the wicked,so that the righteousand the wickedare [treated] alike. Farbe it from You! Shall not the Judgeof allthe earthdealjustly?"
Then Hezekiahtookthe letterfrom the handof the messengersand readit, and he wentup to the houseof the LORDand spreadit out beforethe LORD.
"As for you, my sonSolomon,knowthe Godof your father,and serveHim with a wholeheartand a willingmind;for the LORDsearchesallhearts,and understandseveryintentof the thoughts.Ifyou seekHim, He will let you findHim; but ifyou forsakeHim, He will rejectyou forever.
"Since I know,O my God,that You trythe heartand delightin uprightness,I, in the integrityof my heart,have willinglyofferedallthese[things]; so nowwith joyI have seenYour people,who are presenthere,make[their] offeringswillinglyto You.
"But as for me, I would seekGod,And I would placemy causebeforeGod;
Searchme, O God,and knowmy heart;Tryme and knowmy anxiousthoughts;
Takeholdof bucklerand shieldAnd riseup for my help.
Vindicateme, O God,and pleadmy caseagainstan ungodlynation;O deliverme from the deceitfuland unjustman!
Be graciousto me, O God,be graciousto me, For my soultakesrefugein You; And in the shadowof Your wingsI will takerefugeUntildestructionpassesby.
The righteouswill rejoicewhenhe seesthe vengeance;He will washhis feetin the bloodof the wicked.
My shieldis with God,Who savesthe uprightin heart.
The LORDjudgesthe peoples;Vindicateme, O LORD,according to my righteousnessand my integritythat is in me.
Olet the evilof the wickedcometo an end,but establishthe righteous;For the righteousGodtriesthe heartsand minds.
Beforethe LORD,for He is comingto judgethe earth;He will judgethe worldwith righteousnessAnd the peopleswith equity.
Righteousare You, O LORD,that I would plead[my] casewith You; IndeedI would discussmattersof justicewith You: Whyhas the wayof the wickedprospered?[Why] are allthose who dealin treacheryat ease?
But You knowme, O LORD;You seeme; And You examinemy heart's[attitude] towardYou. Dragthem offlike sheepfor the slaughterAnd setthem apartfor a dayof carnage!
You who know,O LORD,Rememberme, takenoticeof me, And takevengeancefor me on my persecutors.Do not, in view of Your patience,takeme away; Knowthat for Your sakeI endurereproach.
"I, the LORD,searchthe heart,I testthe mind,Even to giveto eachmanaccording to his ways,According to the resultsof his deeds.
Let those who persecuteme be putto shame,but as for me, let me not be putto shame;Let them be dismayed,but let me not be dismayed.Bringon them a dayof disaster,And crushthem with twofolddestruction!
Yet, O LORDof hosts,You who testthe righteous,Who seethe mindand the heart;Let me seeYour vengeanceon them; For to You I have setforthmy cause.
O Lord,You have pleadedmy soul'scause;You have redeemedmy life.
O LORD,You have seenmy oppression;Judgemy case.
You will recompensethem, O LORD,According to the workof their hands.
Then the Spiritof the LORDfellupon me, and He saidto me, "Say,'Thussaysthe LORD,"Soyou think,houseof Israel,for I knowyour thoughts.
becauseHe has fixeda dayin whichHe willjudgethe worldin righteousnessthrougha ManwhomHe has appointed,having furnishedproofto all menby raisingHim from the dead."
Be anxiousfor nothing,but in everythingby prayerand supplicationwith thanksgivinglet your requestsbe made knownto God.
Alexanderthe coppersmithdidme muchharm;the Lordwill repayhim accordingto his deeds.
and while being reviled,He did not revile in return;while suffering,He utterednothreats,but kept entrusting[Himself] to Him who judgesrighteously;
"Rejoiceoverher, O heaven,and you saintsand apostlesand prophets,becauseGodhas pronouncedjudgmentfor you againsther."
And I will killher childrenwith pestilence,and allthe churcheswill knowthat I amHe who searchesthe mindsand hearts;and I will giveto each oneof you accordingto your deeds.
But the LORDsaidto Samuel,"Do not lookat his appearanceor at the heightof his stature,becauseI have rejectedhim; for God[sees] not as mansees,for manlooksat the outwardappearance,but the LORDlooksat the heart."
"The LORDtherefore be judgeand decidebetweenyou and me; and may He seeand pleadmy causeand deliverme from your hand."
