Holdthem guilty,O God;By their own deviceslet them fall!In the multitudeof their transgressionsthrustthem out, For they are rebelliousagainst You.
But they rebelledAnd grievedHis HolySpirit;Therefore He turnedHimself to become their enemy,He foughtagainst them.
Then Absalomand allthe menof Israelsaid,"The counselof Hushaithe Architeis betterthanthe counselof Ahithophel."For the LORDhad ordainedto thwartthe goodcounselof Ahithophel,sothat the LORDmight bringcalamityon Absalom.
For the wisdomof thisworldis foolishnessbeforeGod.For it is written,"[He is] THE ONE WHO CATCHESTHE WISEIN THEIR CRAFTINESS";
Let those who are adversariesof my soulbe ashamed[and] consumed;Let them be coveredwith reproachand dishonor,who seekto injureme.
Let the lyinglipsbe mute,Which speakarrogantlyagainstthe righteousWith prideand contempt.
Now whenAhithophelsawthat his counselwas not followed,he saddled[his] donkeyand aroseand wentto his home,to his city,and sethis housein order,and strangledhimself; thus he diedand was buriedin the graveof his father.
Now someone toldDavid,saying,"Ahithophelis among the conspiratorswith Absalom."And Davidsaid,"O LORD,I pray,makethe counselof Ahithophelfoolishness."
The daysof punishmenthave come,The daysof retributionhave come;Let Israelknow[this]! The prophetis a fool,The inspiredmanis demented,Becauseof the grossnessof your iniquity,And [because] your hostilityis [so] great.
Her adversarieshave becomeher masters,Her enemiesprosper;For the LORDhas causedher griefBecauseof the multitudeof her transgressions;Her littleoneshave goneaway As captivesbeforethe adversary.
Let deathcomedeceitfullyupon them; Let them godownaliveto Sheol,For evilis in their dwelling,in their midst.
Let those be ashamedand humiliatedaltogetherwho rejoiceat my distress;Let those be clothedwith shameand dishonorwho magnifythemselves overme.
"To the Lordour God[belong] compassionand forgiveness,for we have rebelledagainst Him;
we have sinned,committediniquity,actedwickedlyand rebelled,even turningasidefrom Your commandmentsand ordinances.
"But ifyou refuseand rebel,You will be devouredby the sword."Truly,the mouthof the LORDhas spoken.
Listen,O heavens,and hear,O earth;For the LORDspeaks,"SonsI have rearedand broughtup, But they have revoltedagainst Me.
Becausethey had rebelledagainst the wordsof GodAnd spurnedthe counselof the MostHigh.
And returnto our neighborssevenfoldinto their bosomThe reproachwith whichthey have reproachedYou, O Lord.
He rulesby His mightforever;His eyeskeepwatchon the nations;Let not the rebelliousexaltthemselves. Selah.
Arise,O LORD,confronthim, bringhim low;Delivermy soulfrom the wickedwith Your sword,
Breakthe armof the wickedand the evildoer,Seekout his wickednessuntil You findnone.
So they hangedHamanon the gallowswhichhe had preparedfor Mordecai,and the king'sangersubsided.
As he was talkingwith him, the king saidto him, "Have we appointedyou a royalcounselor?Stop!Whyshould you be struckdown?"Then the prophetstoppedand said,"I knowthat Godhas plannedto destroyyou, becauseyou have donethisand have not listenedto my counsel."
When Davidheardthat Nabalwas dead,he said,"Blessedbe the LORD,whohas pleadedthe causeof my reproachfrom the handof Nabaland has keptbackHis servantfrom evil.The LORDhas also returnedthe evildoingof Nabalon his own head."Then Davidsenta proposalto Abigail,to takeher as his wife.
"Should anyoneriseup to pursueyou and to seekyour life,then the lifeof my lordshall be boundin the bundleof the livingwith the LORDyour God;but the livesof your enemiesHe will slingout as from the hollowof a sling.
"But Sihonkingof Heshbonwas not willingfor us to passthrough his land; for the LORDyour Godhardenedhis spiritand madehis heartobstinate,in orderto deliverhim into your hand,as [he is] today.
