And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatic, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.
The LORD begins today in Matthew 4:24, a passage when spiritually discerned, by His spirit effectually working in us, further reveals the magnitude of the moment and His plan of rescue.
Friends, the necessary “effect” is our understanding this is hell, the place we know the LORD went after his death on the cross, and from where He comes in the resurrection. The gates of hell he speaks of, saying they will not stand against those who confess Him at His reappearing, are the ever-open mouths of devils, misleaders now in control of the world. They (the gates of hell) are their deceptions and denials of this reality, which have destroyed the world and hold it blind to the one who’s come to redeem it from their power. This (their power) is described above in the deeper meaning of the afflictions suffered and of those who hold the world enslaved as their possessions.
I am the person the LORD has sent: the lowly and powerless, sent to confound the powerful and destroy their hold. As we know, this is the moment Paul speaks of in 1 Corinthians 1 while quoting Isaiah 29:14 and later ending in summarizing Jeremiah 9:24. These further readings are what reveals the crux of the matter, knowing it is Him, spiritually discerning His presence, and in this confession, following Him out of hell into the promised end. (Friends, this is the way God has decided and planned to save the world. In His genius, He exhibits His almighty power: in weakness stronger than all the world’s strength, and wisdom the world rejects proving its ignorance and evil intent.)
Isaiah 4
6 That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else.
7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.
8 Drop down, you heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the LORD have created it.
9 Woe unto him that strives with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashions it, What make you? or your work, He has no hands?
10 Woe unto him that says unto his father, What beget you? or to the woman, What have you brought forth?
11 Thus says the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command you me.
12 I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded.
13 I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways: he shall build my city, and he shall let go my captives, not for price nor reward, says the LORD of hosts.
Isaiah 29
14 Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, even a marvelous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.
15 Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the LORD, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who sees us? and who knows us?
16 Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter’s clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?
Jeremiah 9
21 For death is come up into our windows, and is entered into our palaces, to cut off the children from without, and the young men from the streets.
22 Speak, Thus says the LORD, Even the carcasses of men shall fall as dung upon the open field, and as the handful after the harvestman, and none shall gather them.
23 Thus says the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:
24 But let him that glories glory in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, says the LORD.
1 Corinthians 1
17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
18 For the preaching of the cross [one taking up Christ’s cross, following Him into His sacrifice, to bring the understanding that takes away sin, the error resulting from following the advice of evil men] is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling-block, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
26 For you see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, has God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to naught things that are:
29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.
30 But of him are you in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
31 That, according as it is written, He that glories, let him glory in the LORD, [“that he understands and knows me”].
1 Corinthians 2
1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.
2 For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to naught:
7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the LORD of glory.
9 But as it is written, Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love him.
10 But God has revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searches all things, yea, the deep things of God.
11 For what man knows the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knows no man, but the Spirit of God.
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Ghost teaches; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14 But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
15 But he that is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
16 For who has known the mind of the LORD, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ.
The path we’re to follow, laid out in the title verse, begins with the three times used Greek word basanos, rendered “torment.” The meaning given in the Strong’s Greek Dictionary is “perhaps remotely from the same as 939 [basis – as in steps or footing {foundation}] (through the notion of going to the bottom); a touch-stone, i.e. (by analogy) torture.”
A “touch-stone,” according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, is (#2, after basis) “a test or criterion for determining the quality or genuineness of a thing.”
The two other times it (basanos) appears are in Luke 16:23 & 28, speaking of the rich man’s “torment” in hell. As seen in previous posts, the word chasma is used to describe the great “gulf” between heaven and hell. We know this is the one time used word said to be the origin of the also one time used word ketos, rendered “whale’s” belly. It appears in Matthew 12:40 as the LORD tells of his being in the belly of the earth as Jonah was in the whale’s belly. This (ketos from chasma) speaks of the mouths of men, as gaping for pray, taking and possessing the minds of men, blinding them to God’s purpose and plan to save the world. We know Jonah, in Jonah 2:2, says plainly he’s in the belly of hell – until he remembers the LORD, looks to, fixes his (mind) focus on, the LORD’s temple, and keeps His vow to go and preach repentance to the world. He later, before coming from the belly of hell (Sheol – the habitation of the dead), tells of those who observe lying vanities forsaking the mercy God shows those who come again to Him (by their right mind restored).
Jonah 2
1 Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish’s belly,
2 And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell [Sheol] cried I, and you heard my voice.
3 For you had cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all your billows and your waves passed over me.
4 Then I said, I am cast out of your sight; yet I will look again toward your holy temple.
5 The waters compassed me about, even to the soul: the depth closed me round about, the weeds were wrapped about my head.
6 I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me forever: yet have you brought up my life from corruption, O LORD my God.
7 When my soul fainted within me I remembered the LORD: and my prayer came in unto you, into your holy temple.
8 They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.
9 But I will sacrifice unto you with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.
10 And the LORD spoke unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.
The word above in verse 5 rendered “weeds” is the Hebrew word cuwph, the same word rendered “Red” when describing the Red Sea. Its meaning is given as “probably of Egyptian origin; a reed, especially the papyrus.” It (cuwph) refers us to its appearing in Exodus 15:4 & 22, Isaiah 19:6 in telling of Egypt’s burden, and in Jeremiah 49:21.
This last-mentioned use, before its final appearance in Jonah, is as the LORD tells of the least of the flock drawing out Edom (the enemies mixed among us) and the inhabitants of Teman, which we’ve seen as the place of the wise of the world (who’ve become fools), and the place of the Theophany (the LORD’s distinctly appearing). The passage says these men’s cry is heard as the noise (qowl – voices) heard in the Red Sea (when those pursuing God’s people, to destroy them, were overthrown by these waters and destroyed).
Exodus 15
1 Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spoke, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider has he thrown into the sea.
2 The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him a habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him.
3 The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name.
4 Pharaoh’s chariots and his host has he cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red [cuwph] sea.
5 The depths have covered them: they sank into the bottom as a stone.
6 Your right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power: your right hand, O LORD, has dashed in pieces the enemy.
7 And in the greatness of your excellency you have overthrown them that rose up against you: you sent forth your wrath, which consumed them as stubble.
8 And with the blast of your nostrils the waters were gathered together, the floods stood upright as a heap, and the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea.
9 The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.
10 You didst blow with your wind, the sea covered them: they sank as lead in the mighty waters.
11 Who is like unto you, O LORD, among the gods? who is like you, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?
12 You stretched out your right hand, the earth swallowed them.
13 You in your mercy have led forth the people which you have redeemed: you have guided them in your strength unto your holy habitation.
14 The people shall hear, and be afraid: sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of Palestina [invaders – immigrants who refuse to assimilate].
15 Then the dukes of Edom [the powerful, as enemies mixed among us to destroy us] shall be amazed; the mighty men of Moab [whose mouths are the gates of hell], trembling shall take hold upon them; all the inhabitants of Canaan [those zealous to destroy] shall melt away.
16 Fear and dread shall fall upon them; by the greatness of your arm they shall be as still as a stone; till your people pass over, O LORD, till the people pass over, which you have purchased.
17 You shall bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of your inheritance, in the place, O LORD, which you have made for you to dwell in, in the Sanctuary, O LORD, which your hands have established.
18 The LORD shall reign forever and ever.
19 For the horse of Pharaoh [the great house] went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea, and the LORD brought again the waters of the sea upon them; but the children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea.
20 And Miriam [who was a rebel] the prophetess, the sister of Aaron [the bringer of the light], took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.
21 And Miriam answered them, Sing you to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider has he thrown into the sea.
22 So Moses [drawn from the waters – the ideas and ways of the oppressors] brought Israel [God’s people] from the Red [cuwph] sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur [the wall – that men built between God and man]; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water.
23 And when they came to Marah [bitter], they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah.
24 And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?
25 And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD showed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them,
26 And said, If you will diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD your God, and will do that which is right in his sight, and will give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon you, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that heals you.
27 And they came to Elim [palms – the LORD’s presence heard in the sweetness {honey} of the words of His mouth], where were twelve wells of water [of living waters], and threescore and ten palm trees [God’s presence in His people who receive His word as His]: and they encamped there by the waters.
Isaiah 19
3 And the [evil] spirit of Egypt [oppressors] shall fail in the midst thereof; and I will destroy the counsel thereof: and they shall seek to the idols, and to the charmers [manipulators], and to them that have familiar spirits [the known dead speaking advice leading to death], and to the wizards [the experts, the wise, of this ignorant and primitive world].
4 And the Egyptians will I give over into the hand of a cruel LORD; and a fierce king shall rule over them, says the LORD, the LORD of hosts.
5 And the waters [misleading words] shall fail from the sea, and the river [by which their words come] shall be wasted and dried up.
6 And they shall turn the rivers far away; and the brooks of defense shall be emptied and dried up: the reeds and flags [cuwph – as in the Red Sea they] shall wither.
7 The paper reeds by the brooks, by the mouth of the brooks, and every thing sown by the brooks, shall wither, be driven away, and be no more.
8 The fishers [those who gape as after prey] also shall mourn, and all they that cast angle into the brooks shall lament, and they that spread nets upon the waters shall languish.
9 Moreover they that work in fine flax, and they that weave networks [the inter-web], shall be confounded.
10 And they shall be broken in the purposes thereof, all that make sluices and ponds for fish.
11 Surely the princes of Zoan [in the places that have departed from God’s truth] are fools, the counsel of the wise counselors of Pharaoh [of the great house] becomes brutish: how say you unto Pharaoh, I am the son of the wise, the son of ancient kings?
12 Where are they? where are your wise men? and let them tell you now, and let them know what the LORD of hosts has purposed upon Egypt [the oppressor – to show them to be fools].
13 The princes of Zoan are become fools, the princes of Noph [the capital of the oppressors, who are prominent] are deceived; they have also seduced Egypt [the oppressed], even they that are the stay of the tribes thereof.
14 The LORD has mingled a perverse [deceiving and deluding] spirit in the midst thereof: and they have caused Egypt to err in every work thereof, as a drunken man staggers in his vomit.
15 Neither shall there be any work for Egypt, which the head or tail [their ancients and their false prophets], branch or rush, may do.
16 In that day shall Egypt be like unto women: and it shall be afraid and fear because of the shaking of the hand of the LORD of hosts, which he shakes over it.
17 And the land of Judah [the place of My elect remnant – who are the leader of My people, who follow Me into this battle against evil] shall be a terror unto Egypt [the oppressors], every one that makes mention thereof shall be afraid in himself, because of the counsel of the LORD of hosts, which he has determined against it.
18 In that day shall five cities in the land of Egypt speak the language of Canaan, and swear to the LORD of hosts; one shall be called, The city of destruction.
19 In that day shall there be an altar to the LORD in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar at the border thereof to the LORD.
20 And it shall be for a sign and for a witness unto the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt: for they shall cry unto the LORD because of the oppressors, and he shall send them a savior, and a great one, and he shall deliver them.
Jeremiah 49
19 Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan against the habitation of the strong: but I will suddenly make him run away from her: and who is a chosen man, that I may appoint over her? for who is like me? and who will appoint me the time? and who is that shepherd that will stand before me?
20 Therefore hear the counsel of the LORD, that he has taken against Edom [the enemies mixed among us]; and his purposes, that he has purposed against the inhabitants of Teman [the place of the wise of this world, who’ve become fools, and the place of the LORD appearing against them]: Surely the least of the flock shall draw them out: surely he shall make their habitations desolate with them.
21 The earth is moved at the noise [qowl – the voice from heaven – which is shaking the wicked from the world] of their fall, at the cry the noise [qowl – the voice of those overthrown by these waters] thereof was heard in the Red [cuwph] sea.
22 Behold, he shall come up and fly as the eagle, and spread his wings over Bozrah [over His flock – to stir them into battle]: and at that day shall the heart of the mighty men of Edom be as the heart of a woman in her pangs.
23 Concerning Damascus [the place where the work has been stopped and this word isn’t heard]. Hamath [their strongholds] is confounded, and Arpad [and scattered]: for they have heard evil tidings [shmuw’ah – this report not believed, this sound doctrine showing them to be evil, corrupt, and ignorant]: they are fainthearted; there is sorrow on the sea; it cannot be quiet.
24 Damascus is waxed feeble, and turned herself to flee, and fear has seized on her: anguish and sorrows have taken her, as a woman in travail.
25 How is the city of praise not left, the city of my joy!
26 Therefore her young men shall fall in her streets, and all the men of war shall be cut off in that day, says the LORD of hosts.
The word “disease” in the title verse, the cause of the “torment” in hell, is the twelve times used Greek word nosos. It (nosos) next appears in Matthew 8:17 in quoting Isaiah 53:4, where it’s rendered “sorrows,” from the Hebrew word mak’ob, meaning “anguish or (figuratively) affliction.”
We understand the intended deeper meaning when we see it (mak’ob) first appearing, in Exodus 3:7, telling of the “sorrow” of God’s people under the taskmasters (nagas) of Egypt. Nagas is the word used in Isaiah 53:7 to tell of the one “oppressed” and afflicted, who didn’t open His mouth to complain, but instead willingly was brought as a lamb to the slaughter. This is the cross of preaching Christ, confessing He is in us doing the work: One God in man manifesting His presence, by His word from the mouth of the lamb, the body He has chosen and strengthened for Himself.
Exodus 3
2 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.
3 And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.
4 And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.
5 And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off your shoes from off your feet, for the place whereon you stand is holy ground.
6 Moreover he said, I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.
7 And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters [nagas]; for I know their sorrows [mak’ob];
8 And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.
9 Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them.
10 Come now therefore, and I will send you unto Pharaoh, that you may bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.
Isaiah 52
10 The LORD has made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.
11 Depart you, depart you, go you out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go you out of the midst of her; be you clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD.
12 For you shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight: for the LORD will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your reward.
13 Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high.
14 As many were astonished at you; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:
15 So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider.
Isaiah 53
1 Who has believed our report [shmuw’ah – these good tiding, sound doctrine, a rumor not believed]? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?
2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he has no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows [mak’ob], and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows [mak’ob]: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed [nagas], and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he opens not his mouth.
8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he has put him to grief: when you shall make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he has poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
The other deeper meanings, in the title verse’s words, identifying the cause of the “disease” and “torment,” are daimonizomai, rendered “those which were possessed with devils;” seleniazomai as “lunatic,” and paralutikus as palsy.
As we know, devils is telling of misleaders, who give destructive advice, here taking those following into misery and torment. The word seleniazomai is more descriptive of who is followed, through meaning “to be moon-struck, i.e. crazy.” It’s telling of being led by a civil government they worship {as god}, into mass delusion, as they have. They are now unable and unwilling to comprehend reality, in dystopia accepting the misery and torment as the new normal.
The word paralutikus, tells these same people now paralyzed, unable and unwilling, to rise up and just walk away from those they’ve follow, who now hold them in hell. These are the parasites causing the paralysis, convincing them through deception, to stay in dystopia, so they can feed off them until they’re fully consumed.
Isaiah 52
11 Depart you, depart you, go you out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go you out of the midst of her; be you clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD.
When Isaiah 53:4 tells these as sorrows and griefs the LORD carries and bears, the latter is from Hebrews choliy, meaning “malady, anxiety, calamity.” It’s meant to refer us to Isaiah 1:5 where Isaiah first defines the specific cause.
Isaiah 1
2 Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD has spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.
3 The ox knows his owner, and the ass his master’s crib: but Israel does not know, my people does not consider.
4 Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward.
5 Why should you be stricken any more? you will revolt more and more: the whole head [your leadership] is sick [choliy], and the whole heart [foundation of thinking is] faint.
6 From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrefying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.
7 Your country is desolate, your cities are burned with fire: your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers.
Psalms 94
1 O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongs; O God, to whom vengeance belongs, show yourself [yapha’ – shine forth].
2 Lift up yourself, you judge of the earth: render a reward to the proud.
3 LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph?
4 How long shall they utter and speak hard things? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves?
5 They break in pieces your people, O LORD, and afflict your heritage.
6 They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless.
7 Yet they say, The LORD shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it.
8 Understand, you brutish among the people: and you fools, when will you be wise?
9 He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see?
10 He that chastises the heathen, shall not he correct? he that teaches man knowledge, shall not he know?
11 The LORD knows the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.
12 Blessed is the man whom you chastens, O LORD, and teaches him out of your law;
13 That you may give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked.
14 For the LORD will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance.
15 But judgment shall return unto righteousness: and all the upright in heart shall follow it.
16 Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?
17 Unless the LORD had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence.
18 When I said, My foot slips; your mercy, O LORD, held me up.
19 In the multitude of my thoughts within me your comforts delight my soul.
20 Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with you, which frames mischief by a law?
21 They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.
22 But the LORD is my defense; and my God is the rock of my refuge.
