5. The Lord says,“I will condemn thosewho turn away from meand put their trust in human beings,in the strength of mortals.
6. They are like bushes in the desert,which grow in the dry wilderness,on salty ground where nothing else grows.Nothing good ever happens to them.
7. “But I will bless thosewho put their trust in me.
8. They are like trees growing near a streamand sending out roots to the water.They are not afraid when hot weather comes,because their leaves stay green;they have no worries when there is no rain;they keep on bearing fruit.
9. “Who can understand the human heart?There is nothing else so deceitful;it is too sick to be healed.
10. I, the Lord, search human mindsand test human hearts.I treat each one according to the way he lives,according to what he does.”
11. The person who gets money dishonestlyis like a bird that hatches eggs it didn't lay.In the prime of life he will lose his riches,and in the end he is nothing but a fool.
12. Our Temple is like a glorious throne,standing on a high mountain from the beginning.
13. Lord, you are Israel's hope;all who abandon you will be put to shame.They will disappear like names written in the dust,because they have abandoned you, the Lord,the spring of fresh water.
14. Lord, heal me and I will be completely well; rescue me and I will be perfectly safe. You are the one I praise!
15. The people say to me, “Where are those threats the Lord made against us? Let him carry them out now!”
16. But, Lord, I never urged you to bring disaster on them; I did not wish a time of trouble for them. Lord, you know this; you know what I have said.
17. Do not be a terror to me; you are my place of safety when trouble comes.