12. Bless'd is the man thou chast'nest, Lord,and mak'st thy law to learn:
13. That thou may'st give him rest from daysof sad adversity,Until the pit be digg'd for thosethat work iniquity.
14. For sure the Lord will not cast offthose that his people be,Neither his own inheritancequit and forsake will he:
15. But judgment unto righteousnessshall yet return again;And all shall follow after itthat are right-hearted men.
16. Who will rise up for me againstthose that do wickedly?Who will stand up for me 'gainst thosethat work iniquity?
17. Unless the Lord had been my helpwhen I was sore opprest,Almost my soul had in the houseof silence been at rest.
18. When I had uttered this word,(my foot doth slip away,)Thy mercy held me up, O Lord,thy goodness did me stay.
19. Amidst the multitude of thoughtswhich in my heart do fight,My soul, lest it be overcharg'd,thy comforts do delight.
20. Shall of iniquity the thronehave fellowship with thee,Which mischief, cunningly contriv'd,doth by a law decree?
21. Against the righteous souls they join,they guiltless blood condemn.
22. But of my refuge God's the rock,and my defence from them.
23. On them their own iniquitythe Lord shall bring and lay,And cut them off in their own sin;our Lord God shall them slay.