Who is as the wise man? and who knows the interpretation of a thing? a man’s wisdom makes his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed.
The above is the LORD, through (in) Solomon, imparting wisdom and describing life and death by its apprehension: it seizing us; our then applying it: operating under its anointing and power. The Hebrew word rendered “interpretation,” is a one-time used word pesher, from the word pathar, meaning to open up. Pathar is only used nine times, all in Genesis 40 & 41 in telling of Joseph’s ability to interpret dreams: ideas that come into the minds of the those sleeping, meaning they are in a death-like state and unable to understand anything, even their own thoughts.
The Chaldean word equivalents are pshar, used thirty-two times, and an identical word pshar, only used once; all appearing in Daniel. In Daniel 5:16 these two words appear together, rendered “make interpretations” in telling us this is what dissolves doubt (revealing unknown meaning – as in interpreting an unknown tongue/word).
The Chaldean (Aramaic) words translated “dissolve doubt” are shre’ qtar; the first appearing five times in Daniel and once in Ezra 5:2; the second only appearing in Daniel 5, three times. In Ezra shre’ is rendered “began” in telling of when Zerubbabel and Joshua (Jeshua) were freed to build the house of God. In the verse prior, we are told what dissolved the bands keeping them from building was the prophesying, in the name of God, of Haggai and Zechariah. As we know from previous studies, this and the resistance they encountered, are what Zachariah writes of in Zechariah 3 & 4. In Ezra 4 we are told of those who rose up to resist their building; who were offering to join in the building, as a way to subvert it from within. In Zachariah 3 these adversaries are described as Satan standing at Joshua’s right hand to resist the work of the LORD, which was to cleanse Joshua. We have seen the word there rendered “resist” is the Hebrew word satan, meaning to attack and or accuse, and in its five other appearances it is rendered adversaries (Psalms 38:20, 71:13, & 109:4, 20, & 29).
Daniel 5 ends telling of the end of Belshazzar, which come as foretold by the hand of the LORD sent to write on the wall. Belshazzar is the son of Nebuchadnezzar, whose name we understand tells of the lies of the false prophets (which rule over God’s people) and are the abominations that cause the total, final, desolation of God’s people. Belshazzar, whose name means Baal protects the king, is said to have committed the same offenses as his father, and God, therefore, ends his kingdom (ends the rule of their creations, showing their idols are nothing and therefore unable to protect anything). This is the pattern of our time, as the same hand of God is sent to write on this wall, and end the rule of the false prophets and usurpers over God’s people. The numbers (mene) that begin and end this rule are those we have seen Daniel describe in the end Daniel 9, and are the beginning and end of Abram’s (Abraham’s) deep sleep.
We have also seen this is the time of the awakening Daniel describe in Daniel 12, when the book is unsealed and knowledge is greatly increased. “12 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which stands for the children of your people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time your people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. 2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 And they that be wise shall shine [see Ecclesiastes 8:1, the title above] as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. 4 But you, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro [see Zechariah 4:10 below], and knowledge shall be increased.”
The final verse of Daniel 5 tells of the coming of Darius (the LORD who reigns supreme), after Daniel (the judge of God) interprets (pshar), dissolves the doubt, as foretold, and Belshazzar is slain. Ezra 4 ends describing the time as the second year of Darius, who reigns after Belshazzar, which same dating is identified by Haggai and Zechariah in as their respective Books begin. Remember, the times (mene, mene) are, in a pattern, telling of Abram’s sleep as beginning when the adversaries troubled those building the house (wall) of God, who Zechariah describes as Satan standing at Joshua’s (the priesthood) right hand to resist the work of God (who is the true and only able builder). It ends at the coming of the LORD, patterned in Darius appearing in the second year of His reign.
Hosea 6
1 Come, and let us return [shuwb – turn again] unto the LORD: for he has torn, and he will heal us; he has smitten, and he will bind us up.
2 After two days [yowm – also a year – as in Exodus 13:10] will he revive us: in the third day [yowm – also an age] he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.
3 Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth [this word of God is the latter rain, and the former rain, on each side of Abraham’s sleep].
4 O Ephraim, what shall I do unto you? O Judah, what shall I do unto you? for your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goes away [when the sun rises].
5 Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth: and your judgments are as the light [understanding] that goes forth.
6 For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
7 But they like men have transgressed the covenant: there have they dealt treacherously against me [says the LORD].
Daniel 5
1 Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand.
2 Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein.
3 Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them.
4 They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.
5 In the same hour came forth fingers of a man’s hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.
6 Then the king’s countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed [shre’ – the word of God put the fear of God into him], and his knees smote one against another.
7 The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. And the king spoke, and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and show me the interpretation [pshar] thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.
8 Then came in all the king’s wise men: but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation [pshar] thereof.
9 Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were astonished.
10 Now the queen by reason of the words of the king and his lords came into the banquet house: and the queen spoke and said, O king, live for ever: let not your thoughts trouble you, nor let your countenance be changed:
11 There is a man in your kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of your father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar your father, the king, I say, your father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers;
12 Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts [shre’ qtar], were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will show the interpretation [pshar].
13 Then was Daniel brought in before the king. And the king spoke and said unto Daniel, Are you that Daniel, which are of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Jewry?
14 I have even heard of you, that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in you.
15 And now the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing, and make known unto me the interpretation [pshar] thereof: but they could not show the interpretation [pshar] of the thing:
16 And I have heard of you, that you can make interpretations [pshar], and dissolve doubts [shre’ qtar]: now if you can read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation [pshar] thereof, you shall be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about your neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.
17 Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let your gifts be to yourself, and give your rewards to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation [pshar].
18 O you king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honor:
19 And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down.
20 But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him:
21 And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the Most High God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appoints over it whomsoever he will.
22 And you his son, O Belshazzar [O false prophets], have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this;
23 But have lifted up yourself against the LORD of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before you, and you, and your lords, your wives, and your concubines, have drunk wine in them; and you have praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand your breath is, and whose are all your ways, have you not glorified:
24 Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written.
25 And this is the writing that was written, Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin.
26 This is the interpretation [pshar] of the thing: Mene; God has numbered your kingdom, and finished it.
27 Tekel; You are weighed in the balances, and are found wanting.
28 Peres; Your kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.
29 Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with scarlet, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.
30 In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain.
31 And Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old.
Ezra 3
8 Now in the second year of their coming unto the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, began Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua [Joshua] the son of Jozadak, and the remnant of their brethren the priests and the Levites, and all they that were come out of the captivity unto Jerusalem; and appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to set forward the work of the house of the LORD.
9 Then stood Jeshua with his sons and his brethren, Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah, together, to set forward the workmen in the house [family] of God: the sons of Henadad, with their sons and their brethren the Levites.
10 And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the LORD, after the ordinance of David king of Israel.
11 And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endures for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.
12 But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy:
13 So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.
Ezra 4
1 Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity built the temple unto the LORD God of Israel;
2 Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as you do; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither.
3 But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, You have nothing to do with us to build a house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the LORD God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us.
4 Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building,
5 And hired counselors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.
6 And in the reign of Ahasuerus,
Ezra 4
24 Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem. So it ceased unto the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.
Ezra 5
1 Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, even unto them.
2 Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began [shre’ – the word of God sent and released them from the fear that kept them from building] to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem: and with them were the prophets of God helping them.
Ezra 5
9 Then asked we those elders, and said unto them thus, Who commanded you to build this house, and to make up these walls?
10 We asked their names also, to certify you, that we might write the names of the men that were the chief of them.
11 And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and build the house that was built these many years ago, which a great king of Israel [Solomon] built and set up.
12 But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon.
13 But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon the same king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God.
14 And the vessels also of gold and silver of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem, and brought them into the temple of Babylon, those did Cyrus the king take out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered unto one, whose name was Sheshbazzar [this is the Chaldean name of Zerubbabel – a name said {in the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon} to mean worshipper of fire – which should be worshipper in the fire – referring to Daniel as the unnamed one in the fire, whose form is like the son of God – Daniel 3:25], whom he had made governor;
15 And said unto him, Take these vessels, go, carry them into the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house [family] of God be built in his place.
16 Then came the same Sheshbazzar, and laid the foundation [no other foundation than Christ – 1 Corinthians 3:11] of the house of God which is in Jerusalem: and since that time even until now has it been in building, and yet it is not finished [see Zechariah 4:9 below – God’s Spirit in us, Christ in us, began the work and He will finish it].
17 Now therefore, if it seems good to the king, let there be search made in the king’s treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.
Ezra 6
1 Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the rolls, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon.
2 And there was found at Achmetha [referring us to the hearth where the fire burned {ach} – the pattern we are shown in Jeremiah 36:22 & 23 – where the word of God was rejected – the words couldn’t be burned, because they’re in a man, upon who the fire has no effect], in the palace that is in the province of the Medes, a roll, and therein was a record thus written:
3 In the first year of Cyrus the king the same Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, Let the house be built, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; the height thereof threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof threescore cubits;
4 With three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber: and let the expenses be given out of the king’s house:
5 And also let the golden and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which is at Jerusalem, and brought unto Babylon, be restored, and brought again unto the temple which is at Jerusalem, every one to his place, and place them in the house of God.
6 Now therefore, Tatnai [you who’ve received this free gift of God’s word], governor beyond the river, Shetharboznai [who have received it from the Star of God’s splendor], and your companions the Apharsachites [those who God will divide as deceivers – separate the false prophets from His truth], which are beyond the river, be you far from thence:
7 Let the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house [family] of God in his place.
Haggai 1
1 In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, in the first day of the month, came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet unto Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, saying,
2 Thus speaks the LORD of hosts, saying, This people say, The time is not come, the time that the LORD’s house [family] should be built.
3 Then came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet, saying,
4 Is it time for you, O you, to dwell in your cieled houses, and this house lie waste?
5 Now therefore thus says the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.
6 You have sown much, and bring in little; you eat, but you have not enough; you drink, but you are not filled with drink; you clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earns wages earns wages to put it into a bag with holes.
7 Thus says the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.
8 Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, says the LORD.
9 You looked for much, and, lo it came to little; and when you brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? says the LORD of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, and you run every man unto his own house.
10 Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed from her fruit.
11 And I called for a drought [of hearing this true word of God] upon the land, and upon the mountains, and upon the corn, and upon the new wine, and upon the oil, and upon that which the ground brings forth, and upon men, and upon cattle, and upon all the labor of the hands.
12 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the LORD their God had sent him, and the people did fear before the LORD.
13 Then spoke Haggai the LORD’s messenger in the LORD’s message unto the people, saying, I am with you, says the LORD.
14 And the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and did work in the house of the LORD of hosts, their God,
15 In the four and twentieth day of the sixth month, in the second year of Darius the king.
Haggai 2
1 In the seventh month, in the one and twentieth day of the month, came the word of the LORD by the prophet Haggai, saying,
2 Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and to the residue of the people, saying,
3 Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory? and how do you see it now? is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing?
4 Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, says the LORD; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all you people of the land, says the LORD, and work: for I am with you, says the LORD of hosts:
5 According to the word that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt, so my spirit remains among you: fear you not.
6 For thus says the LORD of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land;
7 And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, says the LORD of hosts.
8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the LORD of hosts.
9 The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, says the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, says the LORD of hosts.
10 In the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet, saying,
11 Thus says the LORD of hosts; Ask now the priests concerning the law, saying,
12 If one bear holy flesh in the skirt of his garment, and with his skirt do touch bread, or pottage, or wine, or oil, or any meat, shall it be holy? And the priests answered and said, No.
13 Then said Haggai, If one that is unclean by a dead body touch any of these, shall it be unclean? And the priests answered and said, It shall be unclean.
14 Then answered Haggai, and said, So is this people, and so is this nation before me, says the LORD; and so is every work of their hands; and that which they offer there is unclean. [Here telling us why Zechariah, in Zechariah 3, tells of cleansing the priesthood, before telling of Zerubbabel finishing the building, by God’s Spirit in His prepared, cleansed, people.]
15 And now, I pray you, consider from this day and upward, from before a stone was laid upon a stone in the temple of the LORD:
16 Since those days were, when one came to an heap of twenty measures, there were but ten: when one came to the press-fat for to draw out fifty vessels out of the press, there were but twenty.
17 I smote you with blasting and with mildew and with hail in all the labors of your hands; yet you turned not to me, says the LORD.
18 Consider now from this day and upward, from the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, even from the day that the foundation of the LORD’s temple was laid, consider it.
19 Is the seed yet in the barn? yea, as yet the vine, and the fig tree, and the pomegranate, and the olive tree, has not brought forth: from this day will I bless you.
20 And again the word of the LORD came unto Haggai in the four and twentieth day of the month, saying,
21 Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I will shake the heavens and the earth;
22 And I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms, and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the heathen; and I will overthrow the chariots, and those that ride in them; and the horses and their riders shall come down, every one by the sword of his brother.
23 In that day, says the LORD of hosts, will I take you, O Zerubbabel, my servant, the son of Shealtiel, says the LORD, and will make you as a signet [a sign]: for I have chosen you, says the LORD of hosts.
Zechariah 3
1 And he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist [satan] him.
2 And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke you, O Satan; even the LORD that has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?
3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel.
4 And he answered and spoke unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused your iniquity to pass from you, and I will clothe you with change of raiment.
5 And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments [these are the garments put on by the purified priest]. And the angel of the LORD stood by.
6 And the angel of the LORD protested [reiterated] unto Joshua, saying,
7 Thus says the LORD of hosts; If [IF] you will walk in my ways [even in the fire], and if you will keep my charge, then you shall also judge my house [as Daniel – judge of God], and shall also keep my courts, and I will give you places to walk among these that stand by.
8 Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, you, and your fellows that sit before you: for they are men wondered at [I and the children God’s has given me are for signs and wonders – see Isaiah 8:18]: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the Branch.
9 For behold the stone [Christ – the Chief cornerstone of the house] that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone shall be seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, says the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.
10 In that day, says the LORD of hosts, shall you call every man his neighbor under the vine and under the fig tree.
Zechariah 4
1 And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep [the angel appeared as a man already awakened – to awaken].
2 And said unto me, What sees you? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof:
3 And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof.
4 So I answered and spoke to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord?
5 Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Know you not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.
6 Then he answered and spoke unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel [born by coming out of confusion – awakened from the sleep of ignorance], saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of hosts.
7 Who are you, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain [AS GOD SHAKES HEAVEN AND EARTH, TO SHAKE THE WICKED OUT OF THEM]: and he shall bring forth the headstone [the Chief cornerstone] thereof with shouting, crying, Grace, grace unto it.
8 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
9 The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me unto you.
10 For who has despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven [the awakened church]; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth, [increasing their knowledge – see Daniel 12:4 above].
11 Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof [Joshua and Zerubbabel – God’s elect and His people at large – who shine as the stars of heaven]?
12 And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves?
13 And he answered me and said, Know you not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.
14 Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the LORD of the whole earth.
Psalms 109
1 Hold not your peace, O God of my praise;
2 For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me: they have spoken against me with a lying tongue.
3 They compassed me about also with words of hatred; and fought against me without a cause.
4 For my love they are my adversaries [satan]: but I give myself unto prayer.
5 And they have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love.
6 Set you a wicked man over him: and let Satan stand at his right hand.
7 When he shall be judged, let him be condemned: and let his prayer become sin.
8 Let his days be few; and let another take his office.
9 Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow.
10 Let his children be continually vagabonds, and beg: let them seek their bread also out of their desolate places.
11 Let the extortioner catch all that he has; and let the strangers spoil his labor.
12 Let there be none to extend mercy unto him: neither let there be any to favor his fatherless children.
13 Let his posterity be cut off; and in the generation following let their name be blotted out.
14 Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered with the LORD; and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out.
15 Let them be before the LORD continually, that he may cut off the memory of them from the earth.
16 Because that he remembered not to show mercy, but persecuted the poor and needy man, that he might even slay the broken in heart.
17 As he loved cursing, so let it come unto him: as he delighted not in blessing, so let it be far from him.
18 As he clothed himself with cursing like as with his garment, so let it come into his bowels like water, and like oil into his bones.
19 Let it be unto him as the garment which covers him, and for a girdle wherewith he is girded continually.
20 Let this be the reward of mine adversaries [satan] from the LORD, and of them that speak evil against my soul.
21 But do you for me, O God the LORD, for your name’s sake: because your mercy is good, deliver you me.
22 For I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me.
23 I am gone like the shadow when it declines: I am tossed up and down as the locust.
24 My knees are weak through fasting; and my flesh fails of fatness.
25 I became also a reproach unto them: when they looked upon me they shook their heads.
26 Help me, O LORD my God: O save me according to your mercy:
27 That they may know that this is your hand; that you, LORD, have done it.
28 Let them curse, but bless you: when they arise, let them be ashamed; but let your servant rejoice.
29 Let mine adversaries [satan] be clothed with shame, and let them cover themselves with their own confusion, as with a mantle.
30 I will greatly praise the LORD with my mouth; yea, I will praise him among the multitude.
31 For he shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save him from those that condemn his soul.
