1. The Lord hasn't losthis powerful strength;he can still hearand answer prayers.
2. Your sins are the roadblockbetween you and your God.That's why he doesn't answeryour prayersor let you see his face.
3. Your talk is filled with liesand plans for violence;every finger on your handsis covered with blood.
4. You falsely accuse othersand tell lies in court;sin and trouble are the namesof your children.
5. You eat the deadly eggsof poisonous snakes,and more snakes crawl outfrom the eggs left to hatch.You weave spider's webs,
6. but you can't make clotheswith those websor hide behind them.You're sinful and brutal.
7. You hurry off to do wrongor murder innocent victims.All you think about is sin;you leave ruin and destructionwherever you go.
8. You don't know howto live in peaceor to be fair with others.The roads you make are crooked;your followers cannot find peace.
9. No one has come to defend usor to bring about justice.We hoped for a day of sunshine,but all we foundwas a dark, gloomy night.
10. We feel our way along,as if we were blind;we stumble at midday,as if it were night.We can see no betterthan someone dead.
11. We growl like bearsand mourn like doves.We hope for justice and victory,but they escape us.
12. How often have we sinnedand turned against you,the Lord God?Our sins condemn us!We have done wrong.
13. We have rebelled and refusedto follow you.Our hearts were deceitful,and so we lied;we planned to abuse othersand turn our backs on you.
14. Injustice is everywhere;justice seems far away.Truth is chased out of court;honesty is shoved aside.
15. Everyone tells lies;those who turn from crimeend up ruined.When the Lord noticedthat justice had disappeared,he became very displeased.
16. It disgusted him even moreto learn that no onewould do a thing about it.So with his own powerful arm,he won victories for truth.
17. Justice was the Lord's armour;saving power was his helmet;anger and revengewere his clothes.
18. Now the Lord will get furiousand do to his enemies,both near and far,what they did to his people.
19. He will attack like a floodin a mighty storm.Nations in the west and the eastwill then honour and praisehis wonderful name.
20. The Lord has promised to rescuethe city of Zionand Jacob's descendantswho turn from sin.
21. The Lord says: “My people,I promise to give you my Spiritand my message.These will be my gifts to youand your families for ever.I, the Lord, have spoken.”