Day 269 of 365

¹"Come down, and sit in the dust, virgin daughter of Babylon; sit on the ground without a throne, daughter of the Chaldeans: for you shall no more be called tender and delicate.

²Take the millstones, and grind meal; remove your veil, strip off the train, uncover the leg, pass through the rivers.

³Your nakedness shall be uncovered, yes, your shame shall be seen: I will take vengeance, and will spare no man."

⁴Our Redeemer, the Lord of hosts is his name, the Holy One of Israel.

⁵"Sit in silence, and go into darkness, daughter of the Chaldeans; for you shall no more be called the mistress of kingdoms.

⁶I was angry with my people, I profaned my inheritance, and gave them into your hand: you showed them no mercy; on the aged you have very heavily laid your yoke.

⁷You said, 'I shall be a mistress forever;' so that you did not lay these things to your heart, nor did you remember the latter end of it.

⁸"Now therefore hear this, you who are given to pleasures, who sit securely, who say in your heart, 'I am, and there is none else besides me; I shall not sit as a widow, neither shall I know the loss of children:'

⁹but these two things shall come to you in a moment in one day, the loss of children, and widowhood; in their full measure shall they come on you, in the multitude of your sorceries, and the great abundance of your enchantments.

¹⁰For you have trusted in your wickedness; you have said, No one sees me; your wisdom and your knowledge, it has perverted you, and you have said in your heart, 'I am, and there is none else besides me.'

¹¹Therefore disaster will come on you; you won't know when it dawns: and calamity will fall on you; you will not be able to put it away: and desolation shall come on you suddenly and unexpectedly.

¹²"Stand now with your enchantments, and with the multitude of your sorceries, in which you have labored from your youth; if so be you shall be able to profit, if so be you may prevail.

¹³You are wearied in the multitude of your counsels: let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save you from the things that shall come on you.

¹⁴Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame: it shall not be a coal to warm at, nor a fire to sit before.

¹⁵Thus shall the things be to you in which you have labored: those who have trafficked with you from your youth shall wander everyone to his quarter; there shall be none to save you.

¹"Hear this, house of Jacob, you who are called by the name of Israel, and have come forth out of the waters of Judah; who swear by the name of the Lord, and make mention of the God of Israel, but not in truth, nor in righteousness

²(for they call themselves of the holy city, and stay themselves on the God of Israel; the Lord of hosts is his name):

³I have declared the former things from of old; yes, they went forth out of my mouth, and I showed them: suddenly I did them, and they happened.

⁴Because I knew that you are obstinate, and your neck is an iron sinew, and your brow brass;

⁵therefore I have declared it to you from of old; before it came to pass I showed it to you; lest you should say, 'My idol has done them, and my engraved image, and my molten image, has commanded them.'

⁶You have heard it; see all this; and you, will you not declare it? "I have shown you new things from this time, even hidden things, which you have not known.

⁷They are created now, and not from of old; and before this day you did not hear them; lest you should say, 'Behold, I knew them.'

⁸Yes, you did not hear; yes, you did not know; yes, from of old your ear was not opened: for I knew that you dealt very treacherously, and was called a transgressor from the womb.

⁹For my name's sake will I defer my anger, and for my praise will I refrain for you, that I not cut you off.

¹⁰Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have chosen you in the furnace of affliction.

¹¹For my own sake, for my own sake, will I do it; for how should my name be profaned? I will not give my glory to another.

¹²"Listen to me, O Jacob, and Israel my called: I am he; I am the first, I also am the last.

¹³Yes, my hand has laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand has spread out the heavens: when I call to them, they stand up together.

¹⁴"Assemble yourselves, all you, and hear; who among them has declared these things? He whom the Lord loves shall perform his pleasure on Babylon, and his arm shall be on the Chaldeans.

¹⁵I, even I, have spoken; yes, I have called him; I have brought him, and he shall make his way prosperous.

¹⁶"Come near to me and hear this: "From the beginning I have not spoken in secret; from the time that it was, there am I." Now the Lord God has sent me, with his Spirit.

¹⁷Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you by the way that you should go.

¹⁸Oh that you had listened to my commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea:

¹⁹your seed also had been as the sand, and the offspring of your body like its grains: his name would not be cut off nor destroyed from before me.

²⁰Go forth from Babylon, flee from the Chaldeans; with a voice of singing declare, tell this, utter it even to the end of the earth: say, the Lord has redeemed his servant Jacob.

²¹They did not thirst when he led them through the deserts; he caused the waters to flow out of the rock for them; he split the rock also, and the waters gushed out.

²²"There is no peace," says the Lord, "for the wicked."

¹Listen, islands, to me; and listen, you peoples, from far: the Lord has called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother has he made mention of my name:

²and he has made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand, he has hidden me: and he has made me a polished shaft; in his quiver has he kept me close:

³and he said to me, "You are my servant; Israel, in whom I will be glorified."

⁴But I said, "I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely the justice due to me is with the Lord, and my reward with my God."

⁵Now says the Lord who formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, and that Israel be gathered to him (for I am honorable in the eyes of the Lord, and my God has become my strength);

⁶yes, he says, "It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give you for a light to the nations, that you may be my salvation to the end of the earth."

⁷Thus says the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despises, to him whom the nation abhors, to a servant of rulers: "Kings shall see and arise; princes, and they shall worship; because of the Lord who is faithful, even the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you."

⁸Thus says the Lord, "In an acceptable time have I answered you, and in a day of salvation have I helped you; and I will preserve you, and give you for a covenant of the people, to raise up the land, to make them inherit the desolate heritage:

⁹saying to those who are bound, 'Come out!'; to those who are in darkness, 'Show yourselves!' "They shall feed in the ways, and on all bare heights shall be their pasture.

¹⁰They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun strike them: for he who has mercy on them will lead them, even by springs of water he will guide them.

¹¹I will make all my mountains a way, and my highways shall be exalted.

¹²Behold, these shall come from far; and behold, these from the north and from the west; and these from the land of Sinim."

¹³Sing, heavens; and be joyful, earth; and break forth into singing, mountains: for the Lord has comforted his people, and will have compassion on his afflicted.

¹⁴But Zion said, "The Lord has forsaken me, and the Lord has forgotten me."

¹⁵"Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yes, these may forget, yet I will not forget you!

¹⁶Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me.

¹⁷Your children make haste; your destroyers and those who made you waste shall go forth from you.

¹⁸Lift up your eyes all around, and see: all these gather themselves together, and come to you. As I live," says the Lord, "you shall surely clothe yourself with them all as with an ornament, and dress yourself with them, like a bride.

¹⁹"For, as for your waste and your desolate places, and your land that has been destroyed, surely now you shall be too small for the inhabitants, and those who swallowed you up shall be far away.

²⁰The children of your bereavement shall yet say in your ears, The place is too small for me; give place to me that I may dwell.

²¹Then you will say in your heart, 'Who has conceived these for me, since I have been bereaved of my children, and am solitary, an exile, and wandering back and forth? Who has brought up these? Behold, I was left alone; these, where were they?'"

²²Thus says the Lord God, "Behold, I will lift up my hand to the nations, and set up my banner to the peoples; and they shall bring your sons in their bosom, and your daughters shall be carried on their shoulders.

²³Kings shall be your nursing fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers: they shall bow down to you with their faces to the earth, and lick the dust of your feet; and you shall know that I am the Lord; and those who wait for me shall not be disappointed."

²⁴Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the captives of a tyrant be delivered?

²⁵But thus says the Lord, "Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered; for I will contend with him who contends with you, and I will save your children.

²⁶I will feed those who oppress you with their own flesh; and they shall be drunken with their own blood, as with sweet wine: and all flesh shall know that I, the Lord, am your Savior, and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob."

¹Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the Lord's Law.

²Blessed are those who keep his statutes, who seek him with their whole heart.

³Yes, they do nothing wrong. They walk in his ways.

⁴You have commanded your precepts, that we should fully obey them.

⁵Oh that my ways were steadfast to obey your statutes!

⁶Then I wouldn't be disappointed, when I consider all of your commandments.

⁷I will give thanks to you with uprightness of heart, when I learn your righteous judgments.

⁸I will observe your statutes. Do not utterly forsake me.

⁹How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.

¹⁰With my whole heart, I have sought you. Do not let me wander from your commandments.

¹¹I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

¹²Blessed are you, Lord. Teach me your statutes.

¹³With my lips, I have declared all the ordinances of your mouth.

¹⁴I have rejoiced in the way of your testimonies, as much as in all riches.

¹⁵I will meditate on your precepts, and consider your ways.

¹⁶I will delight myself in your statutes. I will not forget your word.

¹⁷Do good to your servant. I will live and I will obey your word.

¹⁸Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things out of your Law.

¹⁹I am a stranger on the earth. Do not hide your commandments from me.

²⁰My soul is consumed with longing for your ordinances at all times.

²¹You have rebuked the proud who are cursed, who wander from your commandments.

²²Take reproach and contempt away from me, for I have kept your statutes.

²³Though princes sit and slander me, your servant will meditate on your statutes.

²⁴Indeed your statutes are my delight, and my counselors.

²⁵My soul is laid low in the dust. Revive me according to your word!

²⁶I declared my ways, and you answered me. Teach me your statutes.

²⁷Let me understand the teaching of your precepts! Then I will meditate on your wondrous works.

²⁸My soul is weary with sorrow: strengthen me according to your word.

²⁹Keep me from the way of deceit. Grant me your Law graciously!

³⁰I have chosen the way of truth. I have set your ordinances before me.

³¹I cling to your statutes, Lord. Do not let me be disappointed.

³²I run in the path of your commandments, for you have set my heart free.

³³Teach me, Lord, the way of your statutes. I will keep them to the end.

³⁴Give me understanding, and I will keep your Law. Yes, I will obey it with my whole heart.

³⁵Direct me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in them.

³⁶Turn my heart toward your statutes, not toward selfish gain.

³⁷Turn my eyes away from looking at worthless things. Revive me in your ways.

³⁸Fulfill your promise to your servant, that you may be feared.

³⁹Take away my disgrace that I dread, for your ordinances are good.

⁴⁰Behold, I long for your precepts! Revive me in your righteousness.

⁴¹Let your loving kindness also come to me, Lord, your salvation, according to your word.

⁴²So I will have an answer for him who reproaches me, for I trust in your word.

⁴³Do not snatch the word of truth out of my mouth, for I put my hope in your ordinances.

⁴⁴So I will obey your Law continually, forever and ever.

⁴⁵I will walk in liberty, for I have sought your precepts.

⁴⁶I will also speak of your statutes before kings, and will not be disappointed.

⁴⁷I will delight myself in your commandments, because I love them.

⁴⁸I reach out my hands for your commandments, which I love. I will meditate on your statutes.

⁴⁹Remember your word to your servant, because you gave me hope.

⁵⁰This is my comfort in my affliction, for your word has revived me.

⁵¹The arrogant mock me excessively, but I do not swerve from your Law.

⁵²I remember your ordinances of old, Lord, and have comforted myself.

⁵³Indignation has taken hold on me, because of the wicked who forsake your Law.

⁵⁴Your statutes have been my songs, in the house where I live.

⁵⁵I have remembered your name, Lord, in the night, and I obey your Law.

⁵⁶This is my way, that I keep your precepts.

⁵⁷The Lord is my portion. I promised to obey your words.

⁵⁸I sought your favor with my whole heart. Be merciful to me according to your word.

⁵⁹I considered my ways, and turned my steps to your statutes.

⁶⁰I will hurry, and not delay, to obey your commandments.

⁶¹The ropes of the wicked bind me, but I won't forget your Law.

⁶²At midnight I will rise to give thanks to you, because of your righteous ordinances.

⁶³I am a friend of all those who fear you, of those who observe your precepts.

⁶⁴The earth is full of your loving kindness, Lord. Teach me your statutes.

⁶⁵Do good to your servant, according to your word, Lord.

⁶⁶Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe in your commandments.

⁶⁷Before I was afflicted, I went astray; but now I observe your word.

⁶⁸You are good, and do good. Teach me your statutes.

⁶⁹The proud have smeared a lie upon me. With my whole heart, I will keep your precepts.

⁷⁰Their heart is as callous as the fat, but I delight in your Law.

⁷¹It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn your statutes.

⁷²The Law you have spoken is better to me than thousands of pieces of gold and silver.

⁷³Your hands have made me and formed me. Give me understanding, that I may learn your commandments.

⁷⁴Those who fear you will see me and be glad, because I have put my hope in your word.

⁷⁵Lord, I know that your judgments are righteous, that in faithfulness you have humbled me.

⁷⁶Please let your loving kindness be for my comfort, according to your word to your servant.

⁷⁷Let your tender mercies come to me, that I may live; for your Law is my delight.

⁷⁸Let the proud be disappointed, for they have overthrown me wrongfully. I will meditate on your precepts.

⁷⁹Let those who fear you turn to me. They will know your statutes.

⁸⁰Let my heart be blameless toward your decrees, that I may not be disappointed.

⁸¹My soul faints for your salvation. I hope in your word.

⁸²My eyes fail for your word. I say, "When will you comfort me?"

⁸³For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke. I do not forget your statutes.

⁸⁴How many are the days of your servant? When will you execute judgment on those who persecute me?

⁸⁵The proud have dug pits for me, contrary to your Law.

⁸⁶All of your commandments are faithful. They persecute me wrongfully. Help me!

⁸⁷They had almost wiped me from the earth, but I did not forsake your precepts.

⁸⁸Preserve my life according to your loving kindness, so I will obey the statutes of your mouth.

⁸⁹Lord, your word is settled in heaven forever.

⁹⁰Your faithfulness is to all generations. You have established the earth, and it remains.

⁹¹Your laws remain to this day, for all things serve you.

⁹²Unless your Law had been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.

⁹³I will never forget your precepts, for with them, you have revived me.

⁹⁴I am yours. Save me, for I have sought your precepts.

⁹⁵The wicked have waited for me, to destroy me. I will consider your statutes.

⁹⁶I have seen a limit to all perfection, but your commands are boundless.

⁹⁷How I love your Law! It is my meditation all day.

⁹⁸Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, for your commandments are always with me.

⁹⁹I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation.

¹⁰⁰I understand more than the aged, because I have kept your precepts.

¹⁰¹I have kept my feet from every evil way, that I might observe your word.

¹⁰²I have not turned aside from your ordinances, for you have taught me.

¹⁰³How sweet are your promises to my taste, more than honey to my mouth!

¹⁰⁴Through your precepts, I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.

¹⁰⁵Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light for my path.

¹⁰⁶I have sworn, and have confirmed it, that I will obey your righteous ordinances.

¹⁰⁷I am afflicted very much. Revive me, Lord, according to your word.

¹⁰⁸Accept, I beg you, the willing offerings of my mouth. Lord, teach me your ordinances.

¹⁰⁹My soul is continually in my hand, yet I won't forget your Law.

¹¹⁰The wicked have laid a snare for me, yet I haven't gone astray from your precepts.

¹¹¹I have taken your testimonies as a heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart.

¹¹²I have set my heart to perform your statutes forever, even to the end.

¹¹³I hate double-minded men, but I love your Law.

¹¹⁴You are my hiding place and my shield. I hope in your word.

¹¹⁵Depart from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commandments of my God.

¹¹⁶Uphold me according to your word, that I may live. Let me not be ashamed of my hope.

¹¹⁷Hold me up, and I will be safe, and will have respect for your statutes continually.

¹¹⁸You reject all those who stray from your statutes, for their deceit is in vain.

¹¹⁹You put away all the wicked of the earth like dross. Therefore I love your testimonies.

¹²⁰My flesh trembles for fear of you. I am afraid of your judgments.

¹²¹I have done what is just and righteous. Do not leave me to my oppressors.

¹²²Ensure your servant's well-being. Do not let the proud oppress me.

¹²³My eyes fail looking for your salvation, for your righteous word.

¹²⁴Deal with your servant according to your loving kindness. Teach me your statutes.

¹²⁵I am your servant. Give me understanding, that I may know your testimonies.

¹²⁶It is time to act, Lord, for they break your Law.

¹²⁷Therefore I love your commandments more than gold, yes, more than pure gold.

¹²⁸Therefore I consider all of your precepts to be right. I hate every false way.

¹²⁹Your testimonies are wonderful, therefore my soul keeps them.

¹³⁰The entrance of your words gives light. It gives understanding to the simple.

¹³¹I opened my mouth wide and panted, for I longed for your commandments.

¹³²Turn to me, and have mercy on me, as you always do to those who love your name.

¹³³Establish my footsteps in your word. Do not let any iniquity have dominion over me.

¹³⁴Redeem me from the oppression of man, so I will observe your precepts.

¹³⁵Make your face shine on your servant. Teach me your statutes.

¹³⁶Streams of tears run down my eyes, because they do not observe your Law.

¹³⁷You are righteous, Lord. Your judgments are upright.

¹³⁸You have commanded your statutes in righteousness. They are fully trustworthy.

¹³⁹My zeal wears me out, because my enemies ignore your words.

¹⁴⁰Your promises have been thoroughly tested, and your servant loves them.

¹⁴¹I am small and despised. I do not forget your precepts.

¹⁴²Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness. Your Law is truth.

¹⁴³Trouble and anguish have taken hold of me. Your commandments are my delight.

¹⁴⁴Your testimonies are righteous forever. Give me understanding, that I may live.

¹⁴⁵I have called with my whole heart. Answer me, Lord! I will keep your statutes.

¹⁴⁶I have called to you. Save me! I will obey your statutes.

¹⁴⁷I rise before dawn and cry for help. I put my hope in your words.

¹⁴⁸My eyes stay open through the night watches, that I might meditate on your word.

¹⁴⁹Hear my voice according to your loving kindness. Revive me, Lord, according to your ordinances.

¹⁵⁰They draw near who follow after wickedness. They are far from your Law.

¹⁵¹You are near, Lord. All your commandments are truth.

¹⁵²Of old I have known from your testimonies, that you have founded them forever.

¹⁵³Consider my affliction, and deliver me, for I do not forget your Law.

¹⁵⁴Plead my cause, and redeem me! Revive me according to your promise.

¹⁵⁵Salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not seek your statutes.

¹⁵⁶Great are your tender mercies, Lord. Revive me according to your ordinances.

¹⁵⁷Many are my persecutors and my adversaries. I haven't swerved from your testimonies.

¹⁵⁸I look at the faithless with loathing, because they do not observe your word.

¹⁵⁹Consider how I love your precepts. Revive me, Lord, according to your loving kindness.

¹⁶⁰All of your words are truth. Every one of your righteous ordinances endures forever.

¹⁶¹Princes have persecuted me without a cause, but my heart stands in awe of your words.

¹⁶²I rejoice at your word, as one who finds great spoil.

¹⁶³I hate and abhor falsehood. I love your Law.

¹⁶⁴Seven times a day, I praise you, because of your righteous ordinances.

¹⁶⁵Those who love your Law have great peace. Nothing causes them to stumble.

¹⁶⁶I have hoped for your salvation, Lord. I have done your commandments.

¹⁶⁷My soul has observed your testimonies. I love them exceedingly.

¹⁶⁸I have obeyed your precepts and your testimonies, for all my ways are before you.

¹⁶⁹Let my cry come before you, Lord. Give me understanding according to your word.

¹⁷⁰Let my supplication come before you. Deliver me according to your word.

¹⁷¹Let my lips utter praise, for you teach me your statutes.

¹⁷²Let my tongue sing of your word, for all your commandments are righteousness.

¹⁷³Let your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts.

¹⁷⁴I have longed for your salvation, Lord. Your Law is my delight.

¹⁷⁵Let my soul live, that I may praise you. Let your ordinances help me.

¹⁷⁶I have gone astray like a lost sheep. Seek your servant, for I do not forget your commandments.

¹The king's heart is in the Lord's hand like the watercourses. He turns it wherever he desires.

²Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the hearts.

³To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

⁴A high look, and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, is sin.

⁵The plans of the diligent surely lead to profit; and everyone who is hasty surely rushes to poverty.

⁶Getting treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor for those who seek death.

⁷The violence of the wicked will drive them away, because they refuse to do what is right.

⁸The way of the guilty is devious, but the conduct of the innocent is upright.

⁹It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than to share a house with a contentious woman.

¹⁰The soul of the wicked desires evil; his neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes.

¹¹When the mocker is punished, the simple gains wisdom. When the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.

¹²The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked, and brings the wicked to ruin.

¹³Whoever stops his ears at the cry of the poor, he will also cry out, but shall not be heard.

¹⁴A gift in secret pacifies anger; and a bribe in the cloak, strong wrath.

¹⁵It is joy to the righteous to do justice; but it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity.

¹⁶The man who wanders out of the way of understanding shall rest in the assembly of the dead.

¹⁷He who loves pleasure shall be a poor man. He who loves wine and oil shall not be rich.

¹⁸The wicked is a ransom for the righteous; the treacherous for the upright.

¹⁹It is better to dwell in a desert land, than with a contentious and fretful woman.

²⁰There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man swallows it up.

²¹He who follows after righteousness and kindness finds life, righteousness, and honor.

²²A wise man scales the city of the mighty, and brings down the strength of its confidence.

²³Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles.

²⁴The proud and haughty man, "scoffer" is his name; he works in the arrogance of pride.

²⁵The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor.

²⁶There are those who covet greedily all day long; but the righteous give and do not withhold.

²⁷The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination: how much more, when he brings it with a wicked mind!

²⁸A false witness will perish, and a man who listens speaks to eternity.

²⁹A wicked man hardens his face; but as for the upright, he establishes his ways.

³⁰There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord.

³¹The horse is prepared for the day of battle; but victory is with the Lord.