The One Who Trusts in Humankind Contrasted With the One Who Trusts in Yahweh

5 Thus says Yahweh,

“Cursed is the person who trusts in humankind

and makes flesh his ⌊strength⌋,c

and turns aside his heart from Yahweh.

6 And he will be like a juniper in the wilderness,d

and he will not see when good comes,

and he will dwell in the parched places in the desert,e

in a land of salt flats,f where no one lives.

7 Blessed be the person who trusts in Yahweh,

and Yahweh is his trust.

8 For he will be like a tree planted by water,

and to the stream it sends its roots,

and it will not fear when heat comes,

and its leavesg will be luxuriant,

and in the year of drought it will not be anxious,

and it will not cease from the bearing of fruit.

9 The heart is deceitful more than anything else,

and it is disastrous. Who can understand it?

10 I, Yahweh, examine the ⌊mind⌋,h

I test the ⌊heart⌋,i

and give to each one according to his way,

according to the fruit of his deeds.

11 Like a partridge that hatches eggs it did not lay

is one who amasses wealth without justice.

In the middle of his days it will leave him,

and at his end he will prove to be a fool.”