BeforeI was afflictedI wentastray,But nowI keepYour word.
When allthe kings,servantsof Hadadezer,sawthat they were defeatedby Israel,they madepeacewith Israeland servedthem. So the Arameansfearedto helpthe sonsof Ammonanymore.
I have goneastraylike a lostsheep;seekYour servant,For I do not forgetYour commandments.
It is goodfor me that I was afflicted,That I may learnYour statutes.
I know,O LORD,that Your judgmentsare righteous,And that in faithfulnessYou have afflictedme.
"For the waywardnessof the naivewill killthem, And the complacencyof foolswill destroythem.
"I spoketo you in your prosperity;But you said,'I will not listen!'Thishas been your practicefrom your youth,That you have not obeyedMy voice.
I will goaway [and] returnto My placeUntilthey acknowledgetheir guiltand seekMy face;In their afflictionthey will earnestlyseekMe.
"But Jeshurungrewfatand kicked--You are grownfat,thick,and sleek--Then he forsookGodwho madehim, And scornedthe Rockof his salvation.
Becauseyou have keptthe wordof My perseverance,I alsowill keepyou from the hourof testing,that [hour] which is aboutto comeupon the wholeworld,to testthosewho dwellon the earth.
