My spirit is broken, ¹  my days have faded out, ²  the grave ³  awaits me.

For the music director; a psalm of David, a song. Praise awaits you, ²  O God, in Zion. Vows made to you are fulfilled.

For the message is a witness to what is decreed; ¹  it gives reliable testimony about how matters will turn out. ²  Even if the message ³  is not fulfilled right away, wait patiently; ⁴  for it will certainly come to pass – it will not arrive late.

Such is the lot God allots the wicked, and the heritage of his appointment ¹  from God.”

Severe discipline ¹  is for the one who abandons the way; the one who hates reproof ²  will die.

The stingy person ¹  hastens after riches and does not know that poverty will overtake him. ² 

Who among you will pay attention to this? Who will listen attentively in the future? ¹ 

“Look, the day! Look, it is coming! Doom has gone out! The staff has budded, pride has blossomed!

Danger awaits one who says ¹  to his father, “What in the world ²  are you fathering?” and to his mother, “What in the world are you bringing forth?” ³ 

Indeed, the residents of Maroth ¹  hope for something good to happen, ²  though the Lord has sent disaster against the city of Jerusalem. ³ 

Rejoice and be glad because your reward is great in heaven, for they persecuted the prophets before you in the same way.

The one who reaps receives pay ¹  and gathers fruit for eternal life, so that the one who sows and the one who reaps can rejoice together.

And now, ¹  compelled ²  by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem ³  without knowing what will happen to me there, ⁴ 

So I reflected on all this, ¹  attempting to clear ²  it all up. I concluded that ³  the righteous and the wise, as well as their works, are in the hand of God; whether a person will be loved or hated ⁴  – no one knows what lies ahead. ⁵ 

Even some of the wise will stumble, resulting in their refinement, purification, and cleansing until the time of the end, for it is still for the appointed time.

“If thieves came to rob you ¹  during the night, ²  they would steal only as much as they wanted! ³  If grape pickers came to harvest your vineyards, ⁴  they would leave some behind for the poor! ⁵  But you will be totally destroyed! ⁶ 

Rejoice in that day, and jump for joy, because ¹  your reward is great in heaven. For their ancestors ²  did the same things to the prophets. ³ 

Finally the crown of righteousness is reserved for me. The Lord, the righteous Judge, will award it to me in that day – and not to me only, but also to all who have set their affection on ¹  his appearing.

For it is time for judgment to begin, starting with the house ¹  of God. And if it starts with us, what will be the fate ²  of those who are disobedient to the gospel of God?

For the fate of humans ¹  and the fate of animals are the same: As one dies, so dies the other; both have the same breath. There is no advantage for humans over animals, for both are fleeting.