For my sighing comes in place of my food, and my groanings flow forth like water.

he gives rain on the earth, and sends water on the fields;

Can the papyrus plant grow tall where there is no marsh? Can reeds flourish without water?

If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands clean with lye,

to the land of utter darkness, like the deepest darkness, and the deepest shadow and disorder, where even the light is like darkness."

For you will forget your trouble; you will remember it like water that has flowed away.

at the scent of water it will flourish and put forth shoots like a new plant.

As water disappears from the sea, or a river drains away and dries up,

as water wears away stones, and torrents wash away the soil, so you destroy man's hope.

how much less man, who is abominable and corrupt, who drinks in evil like water!

You gave the weary no water to drink and from the hungry you withheld food.

why it is so dark you cannot see, and why a flood of water covers you.

To whom did you utter these words? And whose spirit has come forth from your mouth?

Indeed, these are but the outer fringes of his ways! How faint is the whisper we hear of him! But who can understand the thunder of his power?"

My roots reach the water, and the dew lies on my branches all night long.

My words come from the uprightness of my heart, and my lips will utter knowledge sincerely.

What man is like Job, who drinks derision like water!

He draws up drops of water; they distill the rain into its mist,

Can you raise your voice to the clouds so that a flood of water covers you?

Who by wisdom can count the clouds, and who can tip over the water jars of heaven,

Who can uncover its outer covering? Who can penetrate to the inside of its armor?