Yea, He meteth out the waters by measure. He established it, yea, and searched it out. Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; And to depart from evil is understanding. XII. For when the ear heard me, then it blessed me; And when the eye saw me, it gave witness unto me: Because I delivered the poor that cried, The fatherless also, that had none to help him. The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: And I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy. I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: And feet was I to the lame. I was a father to the needy: And the cause of him that I knew not I searched out. And I brake the jaws of the unrighteous, XIII. If I did despise the cause of my manservant or of my maidservant, When they contended with me: What then shall I do when God riseth up? And when He visiteth, what shall I answer Him? Did not He that made me in the womb make him? And did not one fashion us in the womb ? And the fatherless hath not eaten thereof; And I have been her guide from my mother's womb;) If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, Or that the needy had no covering; If his loins have not blessed me, And if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep; If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, Because I saw my help in the gate; Then let my shoulder fall from the shoulder blade, And mine arm be broken from the bone. If I have made gold my hope, And have said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence; If I rejoiced because my wealth was great, And because mine hand had gotten much; This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judges; For I should have lied to God that is above. If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, Or lifted up myself when evil found him; If the men of my tent said not, Who can find one that hath not been satisfied with his flesh ? If like Adam I covered my transgressions, And the contempt of families terrified me, Surely I would carry it upon my shoulder; I would bind it under me as a crown. I would declare unto him the number of my steps; As a prince would I go near unto him. If my land cry out against me, And the furrows thereof weep together; If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, Or have caused the owners thereof to lose their life: Let thistles grow instead of wheat, And cockle instead of barley. XIV. LORD, who shall sojourn in Thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in Thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, And speaketh truth in his heart. He that slandereth not with his tongue, Nor doeth evil to his friend, Nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbor. In whose eyes a reprobate is despised; He that putteth not out his money to usury, Nor taketh reward against the innocent, He that doeth these things shall never be moved. XV. The heavens declare the glory of God; And night unto night sheweth knowledge. Their voice cannot be heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, And rejoiceth as a strong man to run his course. His going forth is from the end of the heaven, And his circuit unto the ends of it: And there is nothing hid from the heat thereof. The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul: The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. |