Psalms of Solomon 8

1My ear heard distress and the sound of war, the sound of a trumpet sounding slaughter and destruction;

2The sound of a great multitude was like a very strong wind, like a storm of great fire sweeping through the wilderness.

3And I said in my heart, “Where then will God judge him?”

4I heard a voice in Jerusalem, the holy city.

5My loins were crushed from the report; my knees gave way.

6My heart was afraid; my bones were shaken like flax.

7I said, “They direct their ways in righteousness.” I considered the judgments of God from the creation of heaven and earth; I declared God righteous in his judgments from of old.

8God exposed their sins before the sun; all the earth came to know the righteous judgments of God.

9Their lawless deeds were in secret chambers, in provocation.

10A son with a mother and a father with a daughter were commingling.

11Each one was committing adultery with his neighbor’s wife; they made covenants with one another under oath about these things.

12The holy things of God were being plundered, as though there were no heir to redeem them.

13They trampled the altar of the Lord with every uncleanness, and with menstrual blood they defiled the sacrifices like profane meat;

14They omitted no sin that they did not commit, beyond the nations.

15Therefore God mixed for them a spirit of delusion; he made them drink a cup of undiluted wine to drunkenness.

16He brought the one from the end of the earth, the one who strikes mightily,

17He decreed war against Jerusalem and her land.

18The rulers of the land met him with joy; they said to him, “Blessed is your way. Come, enter with peace.”

19They made rough roads smooth before his entrance; they opened gates toward Jerusalem; they crowned her walls.

20He entered like a father into the house of his sons in peace; he set his feet with great security.

21He seized her fortified towers and the wall of Jerusalem,

22For God led him safely through their wandering.

23He destroyed their rulers and everyone wise in counsel; he poured out the blood of those dwelling in Jerusalem like unclean water.

24He led away their sons and their daughters, whom they had begotten in defilement.

25They acted according to their uncleannesses, just as their fathers did.

26He defiled Jerusalem and the things sanctified in the name of God.

27God was vindicated in his judgments among the nations of the earth,

28And the holy ones of God were like lambs in innocence in their midst.

29Praised be the Lord, who judges the whole earth in his righteousness.

30Behold now, O God, you have shown us your judgment in your righteousness,

31Our eyes have seen your judgments, O God; we have justified your honored name forever,

32For you are the God of righteousness, judging Israel with discipline.

33Turn your mercy toward us, O God, and have compassion on us.

34Gather the dispersed of Israel with mercy and kindness.

35For your faithfulness is with us, and we have stiffened our neck, and you are our disciplinarian.

36Do not overlook us, our God, lest the nations swallow us up as though there were no one to redeem.

37And you are our God from the beginning, and on you is our hope, O Lord.

38And we will not turn away from you, because your judgments toward us are good.

39May favor be upon us and our children forever; O Lord our Savior, we shall never again be shaken forever.

40Praised is the Lord in his judgments in the mouth of the holy ones, and blessed is Israel by the Lord forever.