But, O LORD of hosts, that judgest righteously, that triest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I revealed my cause.

That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?

He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.

TZADDI. Righteous art thou, O LORD, and upright are thy judgments.

The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.

O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries whither thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee.

Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?

They take up all of them with the angle, they catch them in their net, and gather them in their drag: therefore they rejoice and are glad.

Shall they therefore empty their net, and not spare continually to slay the nations?

The just LORD is in the midst thereof; he will not do iniquity: every morning doth he bring his judgment to light, he faileth not; but the unjust knoweth no shame.

But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man)

God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world?

Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.

Produce your cause, saith the LORD; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob.

They are waxen fat, they shine: yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge.

The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly.

Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?

Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.

They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.

They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave.

What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?

Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.

I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.

For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.

Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.

They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.

And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?

Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.

If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.

Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.

How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.

Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.

Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.

Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.

For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.

When the wicked spring as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish; it is that they shall be destroyed for ever:

LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph?

How long shall they utter and speak hard things? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves?

For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.

Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth.

And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.

For even thy brethren, and the house of thy father, even they have dealt treacherously with thee; yea, they have called a multitude after thee: believe them not, though they speak fair words unto thee.

For the house of Israel and the house of Judah have dealt very treacherously against me, saith the LORD.

Yea, thou heardest not; yea, thou knewest not; yea, from that time that thine ear was not opened: for I knew that thou wouldest deal very treacherously, and wast called a transgressor from the womb.

But they like men have transgressed the covenant: there have they dealt treacherously against me.