¹⁶¹ Princes have persecuted me without a cause, But my heart stands in awe of your words.

¹⁸ He said, Why does my lord pursue after his servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in my hand?

²³ Though princes sit and slander me, Your servant will meditate on your statutes.

⁹ David said to Saul, Why listen you to men's words, saying, Behold, David seeks your hurt?

¹⁰ Behold, this day your eyes have seen how that Yahweh had delivered you today into my hand in the cave: and some bade me kill you; but [my eye] spared you; and I said, I will not put forth my hand against my lord; for he is Yahweh's anointed.

¹¹ Moreover, my father, behold, yes, see the skirt of your robe in my hand; for in that I cut off the skirt of your robe, and didn't kill you, know you and see that there is neither evil nor disobedience in my hand, and I have not sinned against you, though you hunt after my life to take it.

¹² Yahweh judge between me and you, and Yahweh avenge me of you; but my hand shall not be on you.

¹³ As says the proverb of the ancients, Out of the wicked comes forth wickedness; but my hand shall not be on you.

¹⁴ After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom do you pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea.

¹⁵ Yahweh therefore be judge, and give sentence between me and you, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of your hand.

²⁵ But this happened so that the word may be fulfilled which was written in their law, 'They hated me without a cause.'

²³ It happened, when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, that [the king] cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was in the brazier, until all the scroll was consumed in the fire that was in the brazier.

²⁴ They were not afraid, nor tore their garments, neither the king, nor any of his servants who heard all these words.

²⁵ Moreover Elnathan and Delaiah and Gemariah had made intercession to the king that he would not burn the scroll; but he would not hear them.

² For all these things has my hand made, and [so] all these things came to be, says Yahweh: but to this man will I look, even to him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at my word.

¹⁵⁷ Many are my persecutors and my adversaries. I haven't swerved from your testimonies.

⁴ Stand in awe, and don't sin. Search your own heart on your bed, and be still. Selah.

²³ For calamity from God is a terror to me, By reason of his majesty I can do nothing.

¹⁵ But the former governors who were before me were chargeable to the people, and took of them bread and wine, besides forty shekels of silver; yes, even their servants bore rule over the people: but I didn't do so, because of the fear of God.

¹⁹ because your heart was tender, and you did humble yourself before Yahweh, when you heard what I spoke against this place, and against the inhabitants of it, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and have torn your clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard you, says Yahweh.

¹⁵ Do I lack madmen, that you have brought this fellow to play the madman in my presence? shall this fellow come into my house?

¹⁸ Joseph said to them the third day, "Do this, and live, for I fear God.

⁹ He isn't greater in this house than I, neither has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?"