then listen from heaven to their prayers for help ¹  and vindicate them. ² 

For all the gods of the nations are worthless, ¹  but the Lord made the heavens. ² 

Let the heavens rejoice, and the earth be happy! Let the nations say, ¹  ‘The Lord reigns!’

he alone spreads out the heavens, and treads ¹  on the waves of the sea; ² 

It is higher ¹  than the heavens – what can you do? It is deeper than Sheol ²  – what can you know?

If God places no trust in his holy ones, ¹  if even the heavens ²  are not pure in his eyes,

Even now my witness ¹  is in heaven; my advocate ²  is on high.

Even though his stature ¹  reaches to the heavens and his head touches the clouds,

Thick clouds are a veil for him, so he does not see us, ¹  as he goes back and forth in the vault ²  of heaven.’ ³ 

By his breath ¹  the skies became fair; his hand pierced the fleeing serpent. ² 

For ¹  it has been hidden from the eyes of every living creature, and from the birds of the sky it has been concealed.

Gaze at the heavens and see; consider the clouds, which are higher than you! ¹ 

Under the whole heaven he lets it go, even his lightning to the far corners ¹  of the earth.

From whose womb does the ice emerge, and the frost from the sky, ¹  who gives birth to it,

Do you know the laws of the heavens, or can you set up their rule over the earth?

Who by wisdom can count the clouds, and who can tip over ¹  the water jars of heaven,

the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea and everything that moves through the currents ¹  of the seas.

He made the sky sink ¹  as he descended; a thick cloud was under his feet.

By the Lord’s decree ¹  the heavens were made; by a mere word from his mouth all the stars in the sky were created. ² 

The Lord watches ¹  from heaven; he sees all people. ²