“Let the stars of its early dawn be dark;
Let the morning wait in vain for the light,
Let it not see the eyelids of morning (the day’s dawning),

“The caravans of Tema looked [for water],
The caravans of Sheba waited for them [in vain].

“I am accounted wicked and held guilty;
Why then should I labor in vain [to appear innocent]?

“But the eyes of the wicked will fail,
And they will not escape [the justice of God];
And their hope is to breathe their last [and die].”

“He will fail to bring his grapes to maturity [leaving them to wither unnourished] on the vine,
And will cast off blossoms [and fail to bring forth fruit] like the olive tree.

“Behold, all of you have seen it;
Why then do you act vainly and foolishly [cherishing worthless concepts]?

“Gold and glass cannot equal wisdom,
Nor can it be exchanged for articles of fine gold.

“If I have withheld from the poor what they desired,
Or have caused the eyes of the widow to look in vain [for relief],

“If I have put my trust and confidence in gold,
Or have declared fine gold my hope and assurance,

“Surely God will not listen to an empty cry [which lacks trust],
Nor will the Almighty regard it.

“She treats her young cruelly, as if they were not hers;
Though her labor is in vain because she is unconcerned [for the safety of her brood],