In the thought of one who is at ease there is contempt for misfortune; it is ready for those whose feet slip.
And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’
The light of the righteous rejoices, but the lamp of the wicked will be put out.
My steps have held fast to your paths; my feet have not slipped.
“There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,
And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’
“Woe to those who are at ease in Zion, and to those who feel secure on the mountain of Samaria, the notable men of the first of the nations, to whom the house of Israel comes! Pass over to Calneh, and see, and from there go to Hamath the great; then go down to Gath of the Philistines. Are you better than these kingdoms? Or is their territory greater than your territory, O you who put far away the day of disaster and bring near the seat of violence? “Woe to those who lie on beds of ivory and stretch themselves out on their couches, and eat lambs from the flock and calves from the midst of the stall, who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp and like David invent for themselves instruments of music,
Give glory to the Lord your God before he brings darkness, before your feet stumble on the twilight mountains, and while you look for light he turns it into gloom and makes it deep darkness.
If one curses his father or his mother, his lamp will be put out in utter darkness.
Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us, for we have had more than enough of contempt. Our soul has had more than enough of the scorn of those who are at ease, of the contempt of the proud.
When I thought, “My foot slips,” your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up.
“Indeed, the light of the wicked is put out, and the flame of his fire does not shine.
I also could speak as you do, if you were in my place; I could join words together against you and shake my head at you.
Does the wild donkey bray when he has grass, or the ox low over his fodder?
Vengeance is mine, and recompense, for the time when their foot shall slip; for the day of their calamity is at hand, and their doom comes swiftly.’
Unless otherwise indicated, all content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Contact me: openbibleinfo (at) gmail.com.