who comforts us in all our troubles ¹  so that we may be able to comfort those experiencing any trouble ²  with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

They say to a wooden idol, ¹  ‘You are my father.’ They say to a stone image, ‘You gave birth to me.’ ²  Yes, they have turned away from me instead of turning to me. ³  Yet when they are in trouble, they say, ‘Come and save us!’

But where are the gods you made for yourselves? Let them save you when you are in trouble. The sad fact is that ¹  you have as many gods as you have towns, Judah.

They said to me, “The remnant that remains from the exile there in the province are experiencing considerable ¹  adversity and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem lies breached, and its gates have been burned down!” ² 

King Tiglath-pileser ¹  of Assyria came, but he gave him more trouble than support. ² 

All of them conspired together to move with armed forces ¹  against Jerusalem and to create a disturbance in it.

But now the same thing ¹  comes to you, and you are discouraged; ²  it strikes you, and you are terrified. ³ 

If you say, ‘How we will pursue him, since the root of the trouble is found in him!’ ¹ 

He becomes the victim of his own destructive plans ¹  and the violence he intended for others falls on his own head. ² 

He says to himself, ¹  “I will never ²  be upended, because I experience no calamity.” ³ 

Then ¹  my enemy will say, “I have defeated him!” Then ²  my foes will rejoice because I am upended.

They ¹  reached up to the sky, then dropped into the depths. The sailors’ strength ²  left them ³  because the danger was so great. ⁴ 

A song of ascents. ²  In my distress I cried out to the Lord and he answered me.

A kind person ¹  benefits ²  himself, ³  but a cruel person brings himself trouble. ⁴ 

The one who troubles ¹  his family ²  will inherit nothing, ³  and the fool ⁴  will be a servant to the wise person. ⁵ 

The one who is greedy for gain ¹  troubles ²  his household, ³  but whoever hates bribes ⁴  will live.

Blessed is the one who is always cautious, ¹  but whoever hardens his heart ²  will fall into evil.

We hoped for good fortune, but nothing good has come of it. We hoped for a time of relief, but instead we experience terror. ¹ 

There will be ¹  affliction and distress on everyone ²  who does evil, on the Jew first and also the Greek, ³ 

Then Jonathan said, “My father has caused trouble for the land. See how my eyes gleamed ¹  when I tasted just a little of this honey.