Is it not misfortune for the unjust, and disaster for those who work iniquity?

With my knowledge I will speak comprehensively, ¹  and to my Creator I will ascribe righteousness. ² 

When the foundations ¹  are destroyed, what can the godly ²  accomplish?” ³ 

who, moreover, do no wrong, but follow in his footsteps. ¹ 

Gilead is a city full of evildoers; ¹  its streets are stained with bloody footprints! ² 

A blacksmith works with his tool ¹  and forges metal over the coals. He forms it ²  with hammers; he makes it with his strong arm. He gets hungry and loses his energy; ³  he drinks no water and gets tired.

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

They were saying to God, ‘Turn away from us,’ and ‘What can the Almighty do to us?’ ¹ 

There is no darkness, and no deep darkness, where evildoers can hide themselves. ¹ 

Who has prescribed his ways for him? Or said to him, ‘You have done what is wicked’?

He prepares to use deadly weapons against him; ¹  he gets ready to shoot flaming arrows. ² 

he digs a pit ¹  and then falls into the hole he has made. ² 

Whoever lives a blameless life, ¹  does what is right, and speaks honestly. ² 

Deliver me from evildoers! ¹  Rescue me from violent men! ² 

Hide me from the plots of evil men, from the crowd of evildoers. ¹ 

But God has been my ¹  king from ancient times, performing acts of deliverance on the earth. ² 

They spew out threats ¹  and speak defiantly; all the evildoers boast. ² 

Protect me from the snare they have laid for me, and the traps the evildoers have set. ¹ 

The way of the Lord ¹  is like ²  a stronghold for the upright, ³  but it is destruction ⁴  to evildoers. ⁵ 

The Lord works ¹  everything for its own ends ²  – even the wicked for the day of disaster. ³