Yahweh’s People Vindicated

• 7 The way of the righteous is a straight path;[fn]
• 8 in the path of your judgments, Yahweh, for your name and renown are the desire of the soul.
• 9 with all my soul in the night; also I seek you with my spirit within me,
• for when your judgments are[fn] the earth,
  • the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.
• 10 Though the wicked person is shown compassion, he does not learn righteousness;he acts unjustly in the land of uprightness,
  • and he does not see the majesty of Yahweh.
• 11 Yahweh, though your hand reaches high, they do not see it.Let them see, and let them be ashamed of the zeal of people.
  • Indeed, let the fire of your enemies consume them.
  • 12  for you have done even all of our works for us.
  • 13 [fn]
  • 14 The dead do not live; dead spirits do not rise
• because you have punished and destroyed them,
  • and you have destroyed all memory of them.
  • 15  You have added to the nation; you are honored.
  • You have extended all the ends of the land.
  • 16  they poured out an[fn]

your discipline was on them.

• 17 a pregnant woman on the point of giving birth, she writhes; she cries in her labor pains.

So we were because of your presence, Yahweh.

• 18 we gave birth to wind.
• We cannot bring about deliverance on the earth,
  • and no inhabitants of the world are born.
  • 19 [fn] shall rise. Wake up and sing for joy, dwellers of the dust,
• for your dew is[fn]
  • and the earth will give birth to dead spirits.[fn]
  • 20  and shut your doors[fn] behind you;
• hide for[fn] while,
  • until the wrath has passed over.

21 For look! Yahweh is about to come out from his placeto punish the iniquity of the inhabitants[fn] of the earth against him,

• and the earth will disclose her blood
  • and will no longer cover her slain.