וַה' צְבָאוֹת בֹּחֵן צַדִּיק רֹאֶה כְלָיוֹת וָלֵב אֶרְאֶה נִקְמָתְךָ מֵהֶם כִּי אֵלֶיךָ גִּלִּיתִי אֶת רִיבִי: שִׁירוּ לַה' הַלְלוּ אֶת ה' כִּי הִצִּיל אֶת נֶפֶשׁ אֶבְיוֹן מִיַּד מְרֵעִים:
O LORD of Hosts, You who test the righteous, who examine the heart and the mind, let me see Your retribution upon them [Jeremiah's prosecutors], for I lay my case before You. Sing unto the LORD, praise the LORD, for God has rescued the needy from the hands of evildoers!
[JPS translation. Edited for gender neutrality]
Suggested Discussion Questions:
1. Why does God test the righteous? Why does God then save the needy from the hands of evildoers?
2. At times of serious desperation, why does Jeremiah praise God? Is there a connection between prayer and redemption?
Time Period: Biblical (early ancestors to 165 BCE)