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?
"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?"
"O LORDGodof Israel,You are righteous,for we have been leftan escapedremnant,as [it is] thisday;behold,we are beforeYou in our guilt,for noonecan standbeforeYou becauseof this."
"However, You are justin allthat has comeupon us; For You have dealtfaithfully,but we have actedwickedly.
"The tentsof the destroyersprosper,And those who provokeGodare secure,WhomGodbringsinto their power.
"But I would speakto the Almighty,And I desireto arguewith God.
"From the citymengroan,And the soulsof the woundedcryout; Yet Goddoes not payattentionto folly.
"He providesthem with security,and they are supported;And His eyesare on their ways.
"His rootswraparounda rockpile,He graspsa houseof stones.
Graciousis the LORD,and righteous;Yes, our Godis compassionate.
Righteousare You, O LORD,And uprightare Your judgments.
I know,O LORD,that Your judgmentsare righteous,And that in faithfulnessYou have afflictedme.
The LORDis righteousin allHis waysAnd kindin allHis deeds.
Do not fretbecause of evildoers,Be not envioustoward wrongdoers.
I have seena wicked,violentmanSpreadinghimself like a luxurianttreein its nativesoil.
Against You, You only,I have sinnedAnd donewhatis evilin Your sight,Sothat You are justifiedwhen You speakAnd blamelesswhen You judge.
Behold,You desiretruthin the innermostbeing,And in the hiddenpartYou will make me knowwisdom.
That when the wickedsproutedup likegrassAnd allwho didiniquityflourished,It [was only] that they might be destroyedforevermore.
"For the waywardnessof the naivewill killthem, And the complacencyof foolswill destroythem.
Thereis futilitywhichis doneon the earth,that is, thereare righteousmento whomit happensaccording to the deedsof the wicked.On the other hand, thereare evilmento whomit happensaccording to the deedsof the righteous.I saythat thistoois futility.
"Presentyour case,"the LORDsays."Bringforwardyour strong[arguments]," The Kingof Jacobsays.
"You have not heard,you have not known.Evenfrom longagoyour earhas not been open,BecauseI knewthat you would dealverytreacherously;And you have been calleda rebelfrom birth.
But, O LORDof hosts,who judgesrighteously,Who triesthe feelingsand the heart,Let me seeYour vengeanceon them, For to You have I committedmy cause.
"For evenyour brothersand the householdof your father,Eventhey have dealttreacherouslywith you, Eventhey have criedaloudafteryou. Do not believethem, althoughthey may saynicethingsto you."
"Surely,as a womantreacherouslydeparts from her lover,Soyou have dealttreacherouslywith Me, O houseof Israel,"declaresthe LORD.
"I thought,'Aftershe has doneallthesethingsshe will returnto Me'; but she did not return,and her treacheroussisterJudahsawit.
"AfterI had giventhe deedof purchaseto Baruchthe sonof Neriah,then I prayedto the LORD,saying,
"For the houseof Israeland the houseof JudahHave dealtverytreacherouslywith Me," declaresthe LORD.
Ohthat I hadin the desertA wayfarers'lodgingplace;That I might leavemy peopleAnd gofrom them! For allof them are adulterers,An assemblyof treacherousmen.
"The LORDis righteous;For I have rebelledagainstHis command;Hearnow,allpeoples,And beholdmy pain;My virginsand my youngmenHave goneinto captivity.
"Yet you say,The wayof the Lordis not right.'Hearnow,O houseof Israel!Is My waynot right?Is it not your waysthat are not right?
"Therefore the LORDhas keptthe calamityin storeand broughtit on us; for the LORDour Godis righteouswith respectto allHis deedswhichHe has done,but we have not obeyedHis voice.
"Righteousnessbelongs to You, O Lord,but to us openshame,as it is thisday--to the menof Judah,the inhabitantsof Jerusalemand allIsrael,those who are nearbyand those who are faraway in allthe countriesto whichYou have driventhem, because of their unfaithfuldeedswhichthey have committedagainst You.
But like Adamthey have transgressedthe covenant;Therethey have dealttreacherouslyagainst Me.
Thereforethe lawis ignoredAnd justiceis neverupheld.For the wickedsurroundthe righteous;Thereforejusticecomesout perverted.
The LORDis righteouswithinher; He will donoinjustice.EverymorningHe bringsHis justiceto light;He does not fail.But the unjustknowsnoshame.
You have weariedthe LORDwith your words.Yet you say,"Howhave we wearied[Him]?" In that you say,"Everyonewho doesevilis goodin the sightof the LORD,and He delightsin them," or,"Whereis the Godof justice?"
So nowwe callthe arrogantblessed;not onlyare the doersof wickednessbuiltup but they alsotestGodand escape.'"
"The Rock!His workis perfect,For allHis waysare just;A Godof faithfulnessand withoutinjustice,Righteousand uprightis He.
