₄Tell everyone who is discouraged,

“Be strong and don't be afraid!

God is coming to your rescue,

coming to punish your enemies.”

₅The blind will be able to see,

and the deaf will hear.

₆The lame will leap and dance,

and those who cannot speak will shout for joy.

Streams of water will flow through the desert;

₇the burning sand will become a lake,

and dry land will be filled with springs.

Where jackals used to live,

marsh grass and reeds will grow.

₁Praise the LORD!

Praise the LORD, my soul!

₂I will praise him as long as I live;

I will sing to my God all my life.

₃Don't put your trust in human leaders;

no human being can save you.

₄When they die, they return to the dust;

on that day all their plans come to an end.

₅Happy are those who have the God of Jacob to help them

and who depend on the LORD their God,

₆the Creator of heaven, earth, and sea,

and all that is in them.

He always keeps his promises;

₇he judges in favour of the oppressed

and gives food to the hungry.

The LORD sets prisoners free

₈and gives sight to the blind.

He lifts those who have fallen;

he loves his righteous people.

₉He protects the strangers who live in our land;

he helps widows and orphans,

but takes the wicked to their ruin.