1The sin of Judah is written

with an iron stylus,

Engraved with a diamond point

upon the tablets of their hearts,a

Your wealth and all your treasures

I give as plunder,

As payment for all your sins

throughout your territory,

4You will relinquish your hold on your heritage

which I have given you.

I will enslave you to your enemies

in a land you do not know:

For a fire has broken out from my anger,

burning forever.b

5Thus says the Lord:

Cursed is the man who trusts in human beings,

who makes flesh his strength,

whose heart turns away from the Lord.c

6He is like a barren bush in the wasteland

that enjoys no change of season,

But stands in lava beds in the wilderness,

a land, salty and uninhabited.

7Blessed are those who trust in the Lord;

the Lord will be their trust.d

8They are like a tree planted beside the waters

that stretches out its roots to the stream:

It does not fear heat when it comes,

its leaves stay green;

In the year of drought it shows no distress,

but still produces fruit.e

9More tortuous than anything is the human heart,

beyond remedy; who can understand it?

10I, the Lord, explore the mind

and test the heart,

Giving to all according to their ways,

according to the fruit of their deeds.f

11A partridge that broods but does not hatch

are those who acquire wealth unjustly:

In midlife it will desert them;

in the end they are only fools.g

12A throne of glory, exalted from the beginning,

such is our holy place.h

13O Hope of Israel, Lord!

all who forsake you shall be put to shame;

The rebels shall be enrolled in the netherworld;

they have forsaken the Lord, source of living waters.i

14Heal me, Lord, that I may be healed;

save me, that I may be saved,

for you are my praise.

15See how they say to me,

“Where is the word of the Lord?

Let it come to pass!”j

16Yet I did not press you to send disaster;

the day without remedy I have not desired.

You know what passed my lips;

it is present before you.

17Do not become a terror to me,

you are my refuge in the day of disaster.k

18Let my persecutors be confounded—not me!

let them be terrified—not me!

Bring upon them the day of disaster,

crush them with double destruction.l