Psalms of Solomon

Psalm II

PSALM II. A Psalm of Solomon concerning Jerusalem. 1 When the sinful man waxed proud, he cast down fenced walls with a battering-ram, and thou didst not prevent him. 2 The heathen went up against thine altar, they trampled it down, yea, with their sandals in their pride, 3 Because the sons of Jerusalem defiled the holy things of the LORD, and polluted the gifts of God with iniquities, 4 For this cause said he: ‘Cast ye them afar off from me.’ 5 The beauty of his glory did not prosper them; it was set at nought before God, it was utterly dishonoured. 6 Her sons and her daughters were in grievous captivity ; their neck was marked with a seal, with the brand of slavery among the Gentiles. 7 According to their sins he dealt with them, for he gave them up into the hands of oppressors, 8 —yea, he turned away his face from showing them mercy— he gave them up, I say, the young man and the old man and their children together, 9 Because they wrought evil together, to the intent that they should not hearken unto him: 10 And the heaven was grieved at them, and the earth ab- horred them. 11 For none had done upon it all the things that they had done ; 12 And the earth shall know all thy righteous judgements. 13 God set forth the sons of Jerusalem in derision that they should be as harlots in her midst; every one that passed by went in unto them before the sun, they made a mock of their transgressions. 14 According as they were wont to do, even so did the Gentiles make an open show of their iniquities before the sun; and the daughters of Jerusalem were polluted according to thy judgement, 15 because they had defiled themselves in unclean intercourse. My belly and my bowels pain me because of these things, 16 I will justify thee, O God, in uprightness of heart ; for in thy judgements is thy righteousness, O God. 17 For thou didst recompense sinners according to their works, according to their sins that were wicked exceedingly. 18 Thou didst lay bare their sins, to the end that thy judge- ment might appear. 19 Thou didst blot out their memorial from off the earth. God is a righteous judge and respecteth no man’s person. 20 He cast down her beauty from the throne of glory, for the Gentiles brought reproach upon Jerusalem by treading her under foot. 21 She girded herself with sackcloth instead of fair raiment; she put a rope about her head instead of a crown; 22 She put off the diadem of glory, which God had set upon her ; 23 Her beauty was cast aside in dishonour upon the ground. 7 24 And I beheld and I intreated the face of the LORD and said; ‘Enough, O LORD; let not thy hand be any more heavy upon Jerusalem, in bringing the Gentiles upon her. 25 For they mocked, and spared her not in their wrath and anger and vengeance. 26 And they will be utterly consumed, unless thou, O LORD, rebuke them in thy wrath, 27 For they have done it not in zeal, but in the lust of their soul, 28 That they might pour out their anger against us in rapine. Delay not, O God, to recompense it upon their heads, 29 To turn the pride of the dragon to dishonour.’ 30 And I delayed not until God showed to me that inso- lent one, lying pierced upon the high-places of Egypt, made of less account than him that is least on earth and sea; 31 Even his dead body lying corrupted upon the waves in great contempt: and there was none to bury him; 32 for he set him at nought in dishonour. He considered not that he was a man, and his latter end he did not consider. 33 He said: I will be lord of earth and sea; and perceived not that it is God who is great, powerful in the greatness of his strength. 34 He is king over the heavens and judgeth kings and rulers. 35 It is he that lifteth me up unto glory, and layeth low the proud in eternal destruction in dishonour, because they knew him not. 36 And now behold, ye princes of the earth, the judgement of the LORD, that he is a great and righteous king, judging the whole earth. 37 Bless ye God, ye that fear the LORD with understanding ; for the mercy of the LORD is with judgement upon them that fear him, 38 To separate between the righteous and the sinner, to re- compense unto the sinners for ever according to their works, 39 And to show mercy unto the righteous because of their oppression by the sinner, and to recompense unto the sinner in return for that which he hath done unto the righteous. 40 For the LORD is gracious unto them that call upon him in patience, to deal according to his mercy with them that are his, that they may stand continually in his presence in strength, 41 Blessed be the LORD for ever in the presence of his servants.