Who is it that shall contend with me? For, now, if I should hold my peace, why! I should breathe my last!

Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? Not one!

How much less when one is detested and corrupt, a man who drinketh in - like water - perversity.

And, he that voucheth for me is on high. My friends are, they who scorn me, Unto GOD, hath mine eye shed tears: -

Appoint it, I pray thee - be thou surety for me with thyself, Who is there that, on my side, can pledge himself?

But indeed, as for them all, will ye bethink yourselves and enter into it, I pray you? Or shall I not find, among you, one who is wise?

Where then would be my hope? And, as for my blessedness, who should see it!

Over his day, have they been astounded who come behind, and, them who are in advance, a shudder hath seized.

All the men of mine intimate circle abhor me, and, these whom I loved, have turned against me;

Whom, I myself, shall see, on my side, and, mine own eyes, shall have looked upon, and not those of a stranger. Exhausted are my deepest desires in my bosom!

Like his own stubble, shall he utterly perish, They who had seen him, shall say, Where is he?

Is it, to GOD, one can teach knowledge, seeing that, he, shall judge, them who are on high?

Who can declare - to his face - his way? And, what, he, hath done, who shall recompense to him?

Who were snatched away before the time, and, a stream, washed away their foundation?

Who had been saying unto GOD, Depart from us! and - What can the Almighty do for himself?

But, he, is one, and who can turn him? What his soul desired, he hath done.

Drought and heat, steal away snow water, Hades, them who have sinned.

He oppresseth the barren who beareth not, and, to the widow, he doeth not good;

But, if not, who then can convict me of falsehood? or make of no account my words?

Dominion and dread, are with him, who causeth prosperity among his lofty ones;

Is there any number to his troops? And upon whom ariseth not his light?

How then shall, a mortal, be just with GOD? Or how shall he be pure who is born of a woman?

How much less a mortal who is a creeping thing? Or a son of the earth-born who is a worm?

Whom hast thou taught speech? Whose inspiration hath come from thee?

Who stretcheth out the north over emptiness, hangeth the earth upon nothingness;

Who bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds, and the cloud is not rent beneath them;

Who shutteth-in the face of the throne, he spreadeth over it his cloud;

Lo! these, are the fringes of his way, and what a whisper of a word hath been heard of him! But, the thunder of his might, who could understand?

As GOD liveth who hath taken away my right, even the Almighty, who hath embittered my soul;

Because I used to deliver the oppressed who was crying out for aid, the fatherless also, and him that had no helper;

I chose out their way, and sat chief, - and abode, as king, in an army, as one who, to mourners, giveth comfort.

But, now, they who are of fewer days than I, have poured derision upon me; whose fathers I refused - to set with the dogs of my flock.

In want and hunger, they were lean, - who used to gnaw the dry ground, a dark night of desolation!

Who used to pluck off the mallow by the bushes, with the root of the broom for their food;

Thus is attuned to mourning - my lyre, and my flute, to the noise of them who weep.

Did not he who, in the womb, made me, make him? And is not he who formed us in the body one?

If there hath been near him a messenger who could interpret - one of a thousand, to declare to the son of earth His uprightness,

He made supplication unto GOD, who hath accepted him, and he hath beheld his face with a shout of triumph, Thus hath he given back to man his righteousness.

Hear, ye wise men, my words, and, ye who know, give ear unto me;

Who set him in charge of the earth? Or who appointed him the whole world?

When, he, giveth quiet, who then shall condemn? And, when he hideth his face, who then shall sing of him? whether unto a nation or unto mankind altogether,

But none saith - Where is GOD my maker, Who giveth songs in the night;

Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and, beyond the bird of the heavens, giveth us wisdom?

He will not keep alive one who is lawless, but, the right of oppressed ones, will he grant;

Lo, GOD, exalteth himself by his strength, Who like him doth teach?

Who enjoined on him his way? and who ever said, Thou hast wrought perversity?

Canst thou get to know concerning the poisings of the thick cloud, the wonders of one who is perfect in knowledge?

The Almighty, whom we have not fully found out, is great in vigour, - Neither, justice nor abounding righteousness, will he weaken.

Therefore, do men revere him, He will not regard any who are wise in heart.

Who is it that darkeneth counsel, by words, without knowledge?

Who set the measurements thereof, if thou knowest? Or who stretched out over it a line?

Whereon were the pedestals thereof sunk? Or who laid the corner stone thereof; -

Or who shut in, with double doors, the sea, when, bursting out of the womb, it came forth;

Who hath cloven - for the torrent - a channel? Or a way for the lightning of thunders;

Hath the rain a father? Or who hath begotten the drops of dew?

Out of whose womb, came forth the ice? And, the hoar-frost of the heavens, who hath given it birth?

Who hath put - into cloud-forms - wisdom? Or who hath given - to the meteor - understanding?

Who can count the thin clouds, in wisdom? And, the bottles of the heavens, who can empty out;

Who prepareth for the Raven his nourishment, - when his young ones - unto GOD - cry out, when they wander for lack of food?

Who hath sent forth the Wild Ass free? And, the bands of the swift-runner, who hath loosed?

Pour out thy transports of anger, and look on every one who is high, and lay him low;

Look on every one who is high, and humble him, yea tread down the lawless, on the spot:

None so bold, that he will rouse him! Who then is he that, before me, can stand?

Who hath forestalled me, that I may repay him? Under all the heavens, mine it is!

Who hath removed his outer garment, through his double row of teeth, who would enter?

The doors of his face, who hath opened? The circles of his teeth, are a terror!

Who is it that hideth counsel without knowledge? Therefore, have I declared, but not understood, things too wonderful for me, which I could not know.

How happy the man, who hath not walked in the counsel of the lawless, - and, in the way of sinners, hath not stood, and, in the seat of scoffers, hath not sat;

Kiss the son, lest he be angry, and ye perish by the way, for soon might be kindled his anger, - How happy are all who seek refuge in him!

I will not be afraid of myriads of people, who, round about, have set themselves against me.

Multitudes, are saying, Who will show us prosperity? Lift thou upon us the light of thy countenance, O Yahweh.

Thou wilt destroy them who speak falsehood, - The man of bloodshed and of deceit, Yahweh abhorreth.

That all may rejoice who seek refuge in thee, to times age-abiding, may shout in triumph, that thou wilt protect them, and they may leap for joy in thee who are lovers of thy Name.

For, in death, is no remembrance of thee, - In hades, who shall give thanks unto thee?

My shield, is held by God, who is ready to save the upright in heart:

O Yahweh, our Lord! How majestic is thy Name, in all the earth, Who hast set thy splendour upon the heavens.

Thus let them who know thy Name, put confidence in thee, that thou hast not forsaken the searchers for thee, O Yahweh.

Sing ye praise to Yahweh, who is seated in Zion, Tell among the peoples his doings.

Show me favour, O Yahweh! Behold my humiliation due to them who hate me, Lift me on high out of the gates of death;

Them who say - With our tongue, will we prevail, our lips, are our own, who is our master?

O Yahweh! Who shall be a guest in thy tent? Who shall abide in thy holy mountain?

Despised in his sight, is the reprobate, but, them who revere Yahweh, he doth honour, he hath sworn to his neighbour, and will not change;

It belongeth unto the holy ones, whom, in his own land, Yahweh, ennobleth, In whom is all his delight

I will bless Yahweh, who hath counselled me, - Surely, by night, shall mine impulses admonish me.

Let thy lovingkindness be distinguished, thou Saviour of such as seek refuge from them who lift themselves up against thy right hand.

From the face of lawless ones who have treated me with violence, the foes of my soul, who come round against me:

Rise, Yahweh! Confront his face, Bring him down, Deliver my soul from the lawless one who is thy sword:

From men who are thy hand, O Yahweh, From the men of this age, whose portion, is among the living, and, with thy treasure, thou fillest their bosom, - They must be satisfied with sons, And must leave their abundance to their children: -

He rescued me from my foe, in his might, and from them who hated me, because they were too strong for me:

As for GOD, blameless is his way, The speech of Yahweh hath been proved, A shield, he is to all who seek refuge in him.

For who is a GOD, save Yahweh? And who is a Rock, save our God?

The GOD who girded me with strength, and set forth, as blameless, my way:

As for my foes, thou didst give me their neck, and, as for them who hated me, I destroyed them.

The GOD, who hath avenged me, - and subjugated peoples under me:

Who hath delivered me from my foes, - Yea, from mine assailants, hast thou set me on high, From the man of violence, hast thou rescued me.

Mistakes, who perceiveth? From things that are hidden, acquit me:

Thy hand, will find out, all thy foes, Thine own right hand, will find out them who hate thee.

But, thou, art holy, Who inhabitest the praises of Israel.

Of thee, is my praise in the great convocation, My vows, will I pay, before them who revere him.

The patient wronged-ones shall eat and be satisfied, They shall praise Yahweh, who are seekers of him, Let your heart live for aye.