"Manytimesthey have persecutedme from my youthup," Let Israelnowsay,
In my troubleI criedto the LORD,And He answeredme.
I will liftup my eyesto the mountains;From whereshall my helpcome?
I was gladwhen they saidto me, "Let us goto the houseof the LORD."
To You I liftup my eyes,O You who are enthronedin the heavens!
"Had it not beenthe LORDwhowas on our side," Let Israelnowsay,
Those who trustin the LORDAre as MountZion,which cannotbe movedbut abidesforever.
When the LORDbroughtbackthe captiveones of Zion,We were like those who dream.
Unlessthe LORDbuildsthe house,They laborin vainwho buildit; Unlessthe LORDguardsthe city,The watchmankeepsawakein vain.
How blessedis everyonewho fearsthe LORD,Who walksin His ways.
I was afflictedand about to diefrom my youthon; I sufferYour terrors;I am overcome.
So they appointedtaskmastersoverthem to afflictthem with hardlabor.And they builtfor Pharaohstoragecities,Pithomand Raamses.
Then Pharaohcommandedallhis people,saying,"Everysonwho is bornyou are to castinto the Nile,and everydaughteryou are to keepalive."
"Stand[fast] nowin your spellsAnd in your manysorceriesWith whichyou have laboredfrom your youth;Perhapsyou will be ableto profit,Perhapsyou may causetrembling.
"Goand proclaimin the earsof Jerusalem,saying,'Thussaysthe LORD,"I rememberconcerning you the devotionof your youth,The loveof your betrothals,Your followingafterMe in the wilderness,Through a landnot sown.
"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.
Judahhas goneinto exileunderafflictionAnd underharshservitude;She dwellsamong the nations,[But] she has foundnorest;Allher pursuershave overtakenher In the midstof distress.
and they playedthe harlotin Egypt.They playedthe harlotin their youth;theretheir breastswere pressedand theretheir virginbosomwas handled.
WhenIsrael[was] a youthI lovedhim, And out of EgyptI calledMy son.
"Then I will giveher her vineyardsfrom there,And the valleyof Achoras a doorof hope.And she will singthereas in the daysof her youth,As in the daywhen she cameup from the landof Egypt.
Whereverthey went,the handof the LORDwas against them for evil,as the LORDhad spokenand as the LORDhad swornto them, so that they were severelydistressed.
Then the angerof the LORDwas kindledagainst Israel,so that He soldthem into the handsof Cushan-rishathaimkingof Mesopotamia;and the sonsof IsraelservedCushan-rishathaimeightyears.
Now noblacksmithcould be foundin allthe landof Israel,for the Philistinessaid,"Otherwisethe Hebrewswill makeswordsorspears."
