Is it rightfor You indeedto oppress,To rejectthe laborof Your hands,And to lookfavorablyon the schemesof the wicked?
But now,O LORD,You are our Father,We are the clay,and You our potter;And allof us are the workof Your hand.
The LORDwill accomplishwhatconcernsme; Your lovingkindness,O LORD,is everlasting;Do not forsakethe worksof Your hands.
"You will call,and I will answerYou; You will longfor the workof Your hands.
Therefore,thosealsowho sufferaccordingto the willof Godshall entrusttheir soulsto a faithfulCreatorin doing what is right.
For the LORDhearsthe needyAnd does not despiseHis [who are] prisoners.
"Will you reallyannulMy judgment?Will you condemnMe that you may be justified?
"Will the faultfindercontendwith the Almighty?Let him who reprovesGodanswerit."
"Yet He filledtheir houseswith good[things]; But the counselof the wickedis farfrom me.
"Behold,their prosperityis not in their hand;The counselof the wickedis farfrom me.
"The earthis giveninto the handof the wicked;He coversthe facesof its judges.If[it is] not [He], thenwhois it?
"It is [all] one;thereforeI say,He destroysthe guiltlessand the wicked.'
"Lo,Godwill not reject[a man of] integrity,Norwill He supportthe evildoers.
Your handsfashionedand mademe altogether,And would You destroyme?
"Godhandsme overto ruffiansAnd tossesme into the handsof the wicked.
Knowthenthat Godhas wrongedme And has closedHis netaroundme.
"As Godlives,who has takenawaymy right,And the Almighty,who has embitteredmy soul,
"You have becomecruelto me; With the mightof Your handYou persecuteme.
"Did not He who mademe in the wombmakehim, And the sameonefashionus in the womb?
"The Spiritof Godhas mademe, And the breathof the Almightygivesme life.
Knowthat the LORDHimselfis God;It is He who has madeus, and not we ourselves;[We are] His peopleand the sheepof His pasture.
That you should turnyour spiritagainstGodAnd allow [such] wordsto goout of your mouth?