As soon as I lie down, I say, When shall I arise? yet he lengtheneth out the evening, and I am wearied with tossings until the breeze of twilight.

When I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall help to carry my complaint,

Lo! he snatcheth away, who can bring it back? Who shall say unto him, What wouldst thou do?

If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will lay aside my sad countenance, and brighten up,

I say unto GOD, Do not hold me guilty, Let me know, on what account thou contendest with me!

Surely ye should say - Why should we persecute him? seeing, the root of the matter, is found in me.

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

For ye say, Where is the house of the noble-minded? And where the dwelling-tent of the lawless?

Wilt thou say then, What doth GOD know? Out through a thick cloud, can he judge?

When men cast themselves down, then thou shalt say: Up! And, him that is of downcast eyes, shall he save;

I would note the words wherewith he would respond to me, and would mark what he would say to me.

Lo! I waited for your words, I kept giving ear for your reasons, until ye should search out what to say;

Lest ye should say, We have found out wisdom. GOD, must put him to flight, not man.

If there is anything to say, reply to me, Speak, for I desire to justify thee;

Doth one say to a king, Abandoned one! Or, Lawless one! unto nobles?

The men of mind, will say to me, yea any wise man hearkening unto me: -

For thou dost say, How can one profit by thee? How can I benefit, more than by my sin?

Let us know what we shall say to him, We cannot set in order, by reason of darkness.

Shall it be declared to him - that I would speak? Were any man to say aught, he might he destroyed?

Canst thou send forth the lightnings, so that they go, and say to thee, Behold us?