“Call now —is there anyone who will answer you?
And to which of the holy ones (angels) will you turn?

“Can something that has no taste to it be eaten without salt?
Or is there any flavor in the white of an egg?

“He will not return again to his house,
Nor will his place know about him anymore.

“While it is still green (in flower) and not cut down,
Yet it withers before any other plant [when without water].

The [sunless] land of utter gloom as darkness itself,
[The land] of the shadow of death, without order,
And [where] it shines as [thick] darkness.”

“Are the consolations of God [as we have interpreted them to you] too trivial for you,
[Or] were we too gentle toward you [in our first speech] to be effective?

“He has no offspring or prosperity among his people,
Nor any survivor where he sojourned.

“The eye which saw him sees him no longer,
Neither does his [accustomed] place behold him any longer.

“Can anyone teach God knowledge,
Seeing that He judges those on high?

“Is it any pleasure or joy to the Almighty that you are righteous?
Or is it of benefit to Him that you make your ways perfect?

“Is there any number to His [vast celestial] armies?
And upon whom does His light not rise?

“I hold fast my uprightness and my right standing with God and I will not let them go;
My heart does not reproach me for any of my days.

“If my step has turned away from the way [of God],
Or if my heart has [covetously] followed my eyes,
Or if any spot [of guilt] has stained my hands,

If I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing,
Or any poor person without covering,

“I will not [I warn you] be partial to any man [that is, let my respect for you mitigate what I say];
Nor flatter any man.

“Why do you complain against Him?
That He does not answer [you with] all His doings.

Because they turned aside from following Him
And would not consider or show regard for any of His ways,

“For has anyone said to God,
‘I have endured my chastisement;
I will not offend anymore;

“Men therefore fear Him;
He does not regard nor respect any who are wise in heart [in their own understanding and conceit].”

“Can anyone capture him when he is on watch,
Or pierce his nose with barbs [to trap him]?

“The sword that reaches him cannot avail,
Nor [does] the spear, the dart, or the javelin.