Mark of Salvation and Mark of Destruction
By Pinchas Shir
An Excerpt from Psalms of Solomon (First/Second Century BCE) - "Mark of Salvation" and "Mark of Destruction"
1 When I was persecuted I called on the Lord’s name;
I expected the help of Jacob’s God and I was saved.
For you, O God, are the hope and refuge of the poor.
2 For who, O God, is strong except he who confesses you in truth;
and what person is powerful except he who confesses your name?
3 A new psalm with song with a happy heart,
the fruit of the lips with the tuned instrument of the tongue,
the first fruits of the lips from a devout and righteous heart.
4 The one who does these things will never be disturbed by evil;
the flame of fire and anger against the unrighteous shall not touch him
5 when it goes out from the Lord’s presence against sinners
to destroy the sinners’ every assurance.
6 For God’s mark is on the righteous for (their) salvation.
7 Famine and sword and death shall be far from the righteous;
for they will retreat from the devout like those pursued by famine.
8 But they shall pursue sinners and overtake them,
for those who act lawlessly shall not escape the Lord’s judgment.
9 They shall be overtaken as by those experienced in war,
for on their forehead (is) the mark of destruction.
10 And the inheritance of sinners is destruction and darkness,
and their lawless actions shall pursue them below into Hades.
11 Their inheritance shall not be found for their children,
for lawless actions shall devastate the homes of sinners.
(Psalms of Solomon 15:1-11)
