The evil bow before the good, and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked and brings the wicked to ruin.

For though a righteous man may fall seven times, he still gets up; but the wicked stumble in bad times.

When the wicked thrive, rebellion increases; but the righteous will see their downfall.

Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall.

Listen to Me, you who know what is right, you people with My law in your hearts: Do not fear the scorn of men; do not be broken by their insults.

So you are to tell them this is what the LORD says: “Do men fall and not get up again? Does one turn away and not return?

The LORD is righteous, for I have rebelled against His command. Listen, all you people; look upon my suffering. My young men and maidens have gone into captivity.

But if a righteous man turns from his righteousness and practices iniquity, committing the same abominations as the wicked, will he live? None of the righteous acts he did will be remembered. Because of the unfaithfulness and sin he has committed, he will die.

Therefore, son of man, say to your people: ‘The righteousness of the righteous man will not deliver him in the day of his transgression; neither will the wickedness of the wicked man cause him to stumble on the day he turns from his wickedness. Nor will the righteous man be able to survive by his righteousness on the day he sins.’

saying, ‘This man could not finish what he started to build.’

ruin and misery lie in their wake,