From my earliest youth my enemies have persecuted me. Let all Israel repeat this:

以色列当说：“从我幼年以来，敌人屡次苦害我，

说吧，以色列：“从我幼年以来，人屡次苦害我；

说吧，以色列：“从我幼年以来，人屡次苦害我；

以色列要说：我从小就深受仇敌的迫害，

愿以色列说：“从我幼年以来，敌人就多次苦害我。（本节在《马索拉文本》包括细字标题）

愿以色列说：“从我年幼以来，他们就多次苦害我——

以色列當說：從我幼年以來，敵人屢次苦害我，

說吧，以色列：「從我幼年以來，人屢次苦害我；

說吧，以色列：「從我幼年以來，人屢次苦害我；

以色列要說：我從小就深受仇敵的迫害，

願以色列說：“從我幼年以來，敵人就多次苦害我。（本節在《馬索拉文本》包括細字標題）

讓以色列說：『從我幼年以來敵人就大大苦害我。

願以色列說：「從我年幼以來，他們就多次苦害我——

以色列當曰、自我幼年、人屢苦我兮、

以色列族當曰、余自肇基以來、屢遭困苦兮、

以色列民當曰、從我幼時、敵人屢攻擊我、

嗟我義塞族。自幼多顚沛。

“ They have greatly oppressed me from my youth,” let Israel say;

Here is what Israel should say.“ My enemies have treated me badly ever since I was a young nation.

“ Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth”— let Israel now say—

Since my youth they have often attacked me— let Israel say—

“ Many times they have attacked me from my youth up,” Let Israel say,

“ Many a time they have afflicted me from my youth,” Let Israel now say—

Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth up, Let Israel now say,

Since my youth they have often attacked me— let Israel say—

Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth, may Israel now say:

“ Since my youth they have often attacked me,” let Israel say.

Many times they have afflicted me from my youth up. Let Israel now say,

What if the Lord had not been on our side? Let all Israel repeat:

I will return her vineyards to her and transform the Valley of Trouble into a gateway of hope. She will give herself to me there, as she did long ago when she was young, when I freed her from her captivity in Egypt.

“ When Israel was a child, I loved him, and I called my son out of Egypt.

“ Go and shout this message to Jerusalem. This is what the Lord says:“ I remember how eager you were to please me as a young bride long ago, how you loved me and followed me even through the barren wilderness.

I took my troubles to the Lord; I cried out to him, and he answered my prayer.

Judah has been led away into captivity, oppressed with cruel slavery. She lives among foreign nations and has no place of rest. Her enemies have chased her down, and she has nowhere to turn.

Every time Israel went out to battle, the Lord fought against them, causing them to be defeated, just as he had warned. And the people were in great distress.

I warned you when you were prosperous, but you replied,‘ Don’t bother me.’ You have been that way since childhood— you simply will not obey me!

who began to oppress them that year. For eighteen years they oppressed all the Israelites east of the Jordan River in the land of the Amorites( that is, in Gilead).The Ammonites also crossed to the west side of the Jordan and attacked Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim. The Israelites were in great distress.Finally, they cried out to the Lord for help, saying,“ We have sinned against you because we have abandoned you as our God and have served the images of Baal.”The Lord replied,“ Did I not rescue you from the Egyptians, the Amorites, the Ammonites, the Philistines,the Sidonians, the Amalekites, and the Maonites? When they oppressed you, you cried out to me for help, and I rescued you.

I was glad when they said to me,“ Let us go to the house of the Lord.”

There were no blacksmiths in the land of Israel in those days. The Philistines wouldn’t allow them for fear they would make swords and spears for the Hebrews.

“ Now use your magical charms! Use the spells you have worked at all these years! Maybe they will do you some good. Maybe they can make someone afraid of you.

The enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were rebuilding a Temple to the Lord, the God of Israel.So they approached Zerubbabel and the other leaders and said,“ Let us build with you, for we worship your God just as you do. We have sacrificed to him ever since King Esarhaddon of Assyria brought us here.”But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the other leaders of Israel replied,“ You may have no part in this work. We alone will build the Temple for the Lord, the God of Israel, just as King Cyrus of Persia commanded us.”Then the local residents tried to discourage and frighten the people of Judah to keep them from their work.They bribed agents to work against them and to frustrate their plans. This went on during the entire reign of King Cyrus of Persia and lasted until King Darius of Persia took the throne.Years later when Xerxes began his reign, the enemies of Judah wrote a letter of accusation against the people of Judah and Jerusalem.Even later, during the reign of King Artaxerxes of Persia, the enemies of Judah, led by Bishlam, Mithredath, and Tabeel, sent a letter to Artaxerxes in the Aramaic language, and it was translated for the king.Rehum the governor and Shimshai the court secretary wrote the letter, telling King Artaxerxes about the situation in Jerusalem.They greeted the king for all their colleagues— the judges and local leaders, the people of Tarpel, the Persians, the Babylonians, and the people of Erech and Susa( that is, Elam).They also sent greetings from the rest of the people whom the great and noble Ashurbanipal had deported and relocated in Samaria and throughout the neighboring lands of the province west of the Euphrates River.This is a copy of their letter:“ To King Artaxerxes, from your loyal subjects in the province west of the Euphrates River.“ The king should know that the Jews who came here to Jerusalem from Babylon are rebuilding this rebellious and evil city. They have already laid the foundation and will soon finish its walls.And the king should know that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are completed, it will be much to your disadvantage, for the Jews will then refuse to pay their tribute, customs, and tolls to you.“ Since we are your loyal subjects and do not want to see the king dishonored in this way, we have sent the king this information.We suggest that a search be made in your ancestors’ records, where you will discover what a rebellious city this has been in the past. In fact, it was destroyed because of its long and troublesome history of revolt against the kings and countries who controlled it.We declare to the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are completed, the province west of the Euphrates River will be lost to you.”Then King Artaxerxes sent this reply:“ To Rehum the governor, Shimshai the court secretary, and their colleagues living in Samaria and throughout the province west of the Euphrates River. Greetings.“ The letter you sent has been translated and read to me.I ordered a search of the records and have found that Jerusalem has indeed been a hotbed of insurrection against many kings. In fact, rebellion and revolt are normal there!Powerful kings have ruled over Jerusalem and the entire province west of the Euphrates River, receiving tribute, customs, and tolls.Therefore, issue orders to have these men stop their work. That city must not be rebuilt except at my express command.Be diligent, and don’t neglect this matter, for we must not permit the situation to harm the king’s interests.”When this letter from King Artaxerxes was read to Rehum, Shimshai, and their colleagues, they hurried to Jerusalem. Then, with a show of strength, they forced the Jews to stop building.

I lift my eyes to you, O God, enthroned in heaven.

Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted. Unless the Lord protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good.

Then Pharaoh gave this order to all his people:“ Throw every newborn Hebrew boy into the Nile River. But you may let the girls live.”

But the more the Egyptians oppressed them, the more the Israelites multiplied and spread, and the more alarmed the Egyptians became.So the Egyptians worked the people of Israel without mercy.They made their lives bitter, forcing them to mix mortar and make bricks and do all the work in the fields. They were ruthless in all their demands.

When the Lord brought back his exiles to Jerusalem, it was like a dream!

Then the Lord burned with anger against Israel, and he turned them over to King Cushan rishathaim of Aram naharaim. And the Israelites served Cushan rishathaim for eight years.

I have been sick and close to death since my youth. I stand helpless and desperate before your terrors.

Those who trust in the Lord are as secure as Mount Zion; they will not be defeated but will endure forever.

“ Do not supply any more straw for making bricks. Make the people get it themselves!But still require them to make the same number of bricks as before. Don’t reduce the quota. They are lazy. That’s why they are crying out,‘ Let us go and offer sacrifices to our God.’Load them down with more work. Make them sweat! That will teach them to listen to lies!”So the slave drivers and foremen went out and told the people:“ This is what Pharaoh says: I will not provide any more straw for you.Go and get it yourselves. Find it wherever you can. But you must produce just as many bricks as before!”So the people scattered throughout the land of Egypt in search of stubble to use as straw.Meanwhile, the Egyptian slave drivers continued to push hard.“ Meet your daily quota of bricks, just as you did when we provided you with straw!” they demanded.Then they whipped the Israelite foremen they had put in charge of the work crews.“ Why haven’t you met your quotas either yesterday or today?” they demanded.So the Israelite foremen went to Pharaoh and pleaded with him.“ Please don’t treat your servants like this,” they begged.“ We are given no straw, but the slave drivers still demand,‘ Make bricks!’ We are being beaten, but it isn’t our fault! Your own people are to blame!”But Pharaoh shouted,“ You’re just lazy! Lazy! That’s why you’re saying,‘ Let us go and offer sacrifices to the Lord.’Now get back to work! No straw will be given to you, but you must still produce the full quota of bricks.”The Israelite foremen could see that they were in serious trouble when they were told,“ You must not reduce the number of bricks you make each day.”

I look up to the mountains— does my help come from there?

How joyful are those who fear the Lord— all who follow his ways!

They became prostitutes in Egypt. Even as young girls, they allowed men to fondle their breasts.