Psalm of Solomon, Chapter 5

1. [ Psalm of Solomon] Lord God, I will praise with joy your name among those who know your righteous judgments.    2. For You [are] good and merciful, the shelter of the poor. When I cry out to You, do not ignore me.    3. For no one takes pillage from a strong man, so who is going to take [anything] from all that You have done, unless You give [it]?    4. For a human being and his fate [are] on the scales before You; he will not add any increase against your judgment, o God.    5. When we are persecuted, we call on You for help and You will not turn away from our prayer, for You are our God.    6. Do not weigh down your hand on us, lest we sin of necessity.    7. Even if You do not convert us, we will not remain distant, but will come to You.    8. For if I am hungry, I will cry out to You, o God, and You will give me [something].    9. You feed the birds and the fish. By sending rain to the wilderness so that the grass may sprout,    10. You provide pasture in the wilderness for every living thing, and if they are hungry, they will lift up their muzzle to You.    11. You feed kings and rulers and peoples, o God, and who is the hope of the poor and the needy, if not You, Lord?    12. You will listen, then. For who, but You, is good and kind to make the humble soul happy by opening your hand in mercy?    13. Human kindness [is] sparing and [comes] tomorrow, and if [it happens] a second time without complaint, you can wonder at it.    14. Your gift, however, is abundant, [offered] with goodness and rich, and where there is hope in You gifts will not be lacking.    15. Lord, your mercy is upon all the earth in goodness.    16. Happy is the one whom God remembers with a moderate sufficiency; for if a man is excessively rich, he sins.    17. Moderation is adequate- with righteousness; for in this consists the Lord's blessing: to be satisfied with righteousness.    18. May those who fear the Lord be happy with good things; in your kingdom your goodness [is] upon Israel.    19. May the glory of the Lord be praised, for He is our king.