² Beautiful^(E) in its loftiness,
    the joy of the whole earth,
like the heights of Zaphon^[b](F) is Mount Zion,^(G)
    the city of the Great King.^(H)
3 God is in her citadels;^(I)
    he has shown himself to be her fortress.^(J)

⁴ When the kings joined forces,
    when they advanced together,^(K)
5 they saw her and were astounded;
    they fled in terror.^(L)
6 Trembling seized^(M) them there,
    pain like that of a woman in labor.^(N)
7 You destroyed them like ships of Tarshish^(O)
    shattered by an east wind.^(P)

⁸ As we have heard,
    so we have seen
in the city of the Lord Almighty,
    in the city of our God:
God makes her secure
    forever.^[c](Q)

⁹ Within your temple, O God,
    we meditate^(R) on your unfailing love.^(S)
10 Like your name,^(T) O God,
    your praise reaches to the ends of the earth;^(U)
    your right hand is filled with righteousness.
¹¹ Mount Zion rejoices,
    the villages of Judah are glad
    because of your judgments.^(V)

¹² Walk about Zion, go around her,
    count her towers,^(W)
13 consider well her ramparts,^(X)
    view her citadels,^(Y)
that you may tell of them
    to the next generation.^(Z)

¹⁴ For this God is our God for ever and ever;
    he will be our guide^(AA) even to the end.

⁵ Why should I fear^(AK) when evil days come,
    when wicked deceivers surround me—
⁶ those who trust in their wealth^(AL)
    and boast^(AM) of their great riches?^(AN)
7 No one can redeem the life of another
    or give to God a ransom for them—
⁸ the ransom^(AO) for a life is costly,
    no payment is ever enough—^(AP)
9 so that they should live on^(AQ) forever
    and not see decay.^(AR)
10 For all can see that the wise die,^(AS)
    that the foolish and the senseless^(AT) also perish,
    leaving their wealth^(AU) to others.^(AV)
11 Their tombs^(AW) will remain their houses^[e] forever,
    their dwellings for endless generations,^(AX)
    though they had^[f] named^(AY) lands after themselves.

¹² People, despite their wealth, do not endure;^(AZ)
    they are like the beasts that perish.^(BA)

¹³ This is the fate of those who trust in themselves,^(BB)
    and of their followers, who approve their sayings.^[g]
14 They are like sheep and are destined^(BC) to die;^(BD)
    death will be their shepherd
    (but the upright will prevail^(BE) over them in the morning).
Their forms will decay in the grave,
    far from their princely mansions.
¹⁵ But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead;^(BF)
    he will surely take me to himself.^(BG)
16 Do not be overawed when others grow rich,
    when the splendor of their houses increases;
¹⁷ for they will take nothing^(BH) with them when they die,
    their splendor will not descend with them.^(BI)
18 Though while they live they count themselves blessed—^(BJ)
    and people praise you when you prosper—
¹⁹ they will join those who have gone before them,^(BK)
    who will never again see the light^(BL) of life.

²⁰ People who have wealth but lack understanding^(BM)
    are like the beasts that perish.^(BN)

⁷ “Listen, my people, and I will speak;
    I will testify^(CE) against you, Israel:
    I am God, your God.^(CF)
8 I bring no charges^(CG) against you concerning your sacrifices
    or concerning your burnt offerings,^(CH) which are ever before me.
⁹ I have no need of a bull^(CI) from your stall
    or of goats^(CJ) from your pens,^(CK)
10 for every animal of the forest^(CL) is mine,
    and the cattle on a thousand hills.^(CM)
11 I know every bird^(CN) in the mountains,
    and the insects in the fields^(CO) are mine.
¹² If I were hungry I would not tell you,
    for the world^(CP) is mine, and all that is in it.^(CQ)
13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls
    or drink the blood of goats?

¹⁴ “Sacrifice thank offerings^(CR) to God,
    fulfill your vows^(CS) to the Most High,^(CT)
15 and call^(CU) on me in the day of trouble;^(CV)
    I will deliver^(CW) you, and you will honor^(CX) me.”

“What right have you to recite my laws
    or take my covenant^(CY) on your lips?^(CZ)
17 You hate^(DA) my instruction
    and cast my words behind^(DB) you.
¹⁸ When you see a thief, you join^(DC) with him;
    you throw in your lot with adulterers.^(DD)
19 You use your mouth for evil
    and harness your tongue to deceit.^(DE)
20 You sit and testify against your brother^(DF)
    and slander your own mother’s son.
²¹ When you did these things and I kept silent,^(DG)
    you thought I was exactly^[j] like you.
But I now arraign^(DH) you
    and set my accusations^(DI) before you.

²² “Consider this, you who forget God,^(DJ)
    or I will tear you to pieces, with no one to rescue you:^(DK)
23 Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor me,
    and to the blameless^[k] I will show my salvation.^(DL)”