A Psalm of Solomon: For a rebuke.

1 When Israel was led away captive into a strange land, because they departed from the Lord which redeemed them;

2 They were cast away among every nation, from out of the inheritance which the Lord gave them: that Israel might be dispersed according to the word of God;

3 That Thou mightest be justified, O God, in Thy righteousness by reason of our transgressions.

4 For Thou art a just Judge over all the peoples of the earth.

5 For there shall not be hidden from Thy knowledge any one that doeth evil,

6 And the righteous acts of Thy saints are before Thee, O Lord; and where shall a man be hidden from Thy knowledge?

7 O God, our works are in our choice, yea, in the power of our own soul: to do either righteousness or iniquity in the works of our hands.

8 And in Thy righteousness dost Thou visit the sons of men.

9 Whoso doeth righteousness layeth up for himself life at the Lord's hand: and whoso doeth wickedness is guilty of his own soul to destroy it.

10 For the judgements of the Lord are in righteousness according to each man and his house.

11 With whom wilt Thou deal graciously, O God, save with them that call upon the Lord?

12 He will cleanse the soul that hath sinned, if it make confession and acknowledgment.

13 For upon us and upon our faces is shame because of all these things.

14 And to whom will He forgive sins, save unto them that have committed sin?

15 The righteous Thou wilt bless and wilt not correct them for the sins that they have committed: and Thy kindness is toward them that sin, if so be they repent.

16 And now Thou art our God, and we are the people whom Thou hast loved: behold and have pity, O God of Israel, for we are Thine, and remove not Thy mercy from us, that they set not upon us.

17 For Thou didst choose the seed of Abraham before all the nations,

18 And didst set Thy name upon us, O Lord; and Thou wilt not forsake us for ever.

19 Of a truth Thou didst covenant with our fathers concerning us: and in Thee will we trust when our soul is turned unto Thee.

20 Let the mercy of the Lord be upon the house of Israel for everlasting and world without end.