1 But all who have pleased Godwill stand with confidencein the presence of thosewho abused them and made funof the good they did.
2 When those evil ones seehow God has saved his people,they will tremble with fearand be completely amazed.
3 They will groan and sayto each other,“We should have turned from sin!
4 We were fools to sneerat those people,but we thought they were foolswho had died in disgrace.
5 Why are they God's children?Why are they his holy people?
6 “So we were the oneswho turned from truthand rejected the lightfrom those good people.
7 We refused to follow the Lord!Instead we were lawlessand followed a desert roadthat led us to destruction.
8 All of our pride and wealthhas proved to be useless.
9 “Everything we treasuredhas vanished like a shadowor a hastily spoken word,*
10 or like the wake of a shipon ocean waves,
11 or like the flight of a birdthrough the air,
12 or like the unknown pathof an arrow on its wayto the target.
13 As soon as we were born,we began to disappearbecause we followed only eviland left behind no tracesof anything good.”
14 Sinners have no more hopethan dust in the wind,or frost in the heat of the sun,or smoke in a breeze.They are remembered no longerthan an overnight guest.
15 The Lord Most Hightakes care of his people;he will reward them,and they will live forever.
16 The Lord will protect themwith his powerful right arm,and he will bless themwith a glorious crown.
17 Eagerness will be like armorfor the Lord, and he will equipall creation to fightand punish his enemies.
18 The Lord will protect his chestwith deeds of fairness,and for a helmet he will wearequal justice for all.
19 Holiness will be his strong shield,
20 and fierce anger will behis sharp sword.All creation will join with himin fighting his crazy enemies.
21 Arrows of lightning will leapfrom behind the cloudsand never miss their target.
22 Fearsome hailstones will strikethe Lord's enemies,while ocean waves and riversroll over them like a flood.
23 Then a mighty windstormwill sweep them away—because lawlessness and evilbring ruin to the whole earthand to every kingdom.