Let darkness and deep gloom reclaim it; let clouds settle down on it; let blackness in mid-day terrify it.

Let the stars of its evening twilight be dark; let it hope for light but let there be none; let it not see the breaking rays of the dawn.

"If I had died, I would be lying down by now, undisturbed, asleep, and at rest,

Their wealth perishes with them, doesn't it? They die, and do so without having wisdom, don't they?"

"When I lie down I ask, "When will I wake up?' But the night continues and I keep tossing and turning until dawn.

Why won't you look away from me? Why don't you leave me alone so I can swallow my saliva?

So what if I sin? What have I done against you, you observer of humankind? Why have you made me your target? Why burden yourself with me?

Why haven't you pardoned my transgression and taken away my iniquity? Now I'm about to lie down in the dust. You will seek me diligently, but I won't be around!"

"I'm blameless; I don't know myself; I despise my life.

They pass by like a ship made of reeds, like an eagle swooping down on its prey.

I'll say to God, "Don't condemn me! Let me know why you are fighting me.

If you have any iniquity, throw it far away. Don't let evil live in your residence.

Your life will be brighter than noonday. Even its darkness will be like dawn.

When he tears down, nobody rebuilds; when he incarcerates, nobody escapes.

"Don't talk to me! It's my turn to speak; then whatever happens, happens.

"There is hope for the tree, if it is cut down, that it will sprout again, and that its shoots won't stop growing.

so also a person lies down and does not get up; they won't awaken until the heavens are no more, nor will they arise from their sleep."

What do you know that we don't know, or that you understand and that isn't clear to us?

"Listen, earth! Don't cover my blood, for my outcry has no place to rest.

For when only a few years have elapsed, I'll start down a path from which I'll never return."

Will it go down to the bars that lock the doors of the afterlife? Will we descend together into the dust?"

Indeed, the residences of the wicked are like this; and so are the homes of those who don't know God."

Ten times you've tried to humiliate me! You're not ashamed to wrong me!

He is breaking me down on every side, and now it's too late for me; he has uprooted my hopes like a tree.

If only my words were written down; if only they were inscribed in a book

Though his bones were full of youthful vigor; yet they will lie down with him in the dust.

They both lie down in the dust; and worms cover them."

Haven't you asked travelers on the highway? Don't you accept their word

Who will expose his conduct to his face? Who will repay him for what he has done

"Look! If I go east, he isn't there! If I go to the west, I don't perceive him.

Why doesn't the Almighty reserve time for judgment? And why don't those who know him perceive his days?

"Then there are those who rebel against the light; they are not acquainted with its ways; and they don't stay on its course.

The murderer rises at dawn to kill the poor and needy; at night, he is like a thief.

They break into houses in the dark; during the day they remained sealed in. They don't know daylight.

They're exalted momentarily, but then they are gone; they are humbled, just like all the others. They are cut down like heads of corn.

"He restricts the waters within clouds and the clouds don't burst open under them.

Don't even bother to mention coral and crystal wisdom is more valuable than a bag of rubies.

They abhor me they keep their distance from me; but they don't refrain from spitting at the sight of me.

since I don't know the first thing about how to flatter; and the one who made me would sweep me away as if I were nothing."

Don't be afraid of me; I'll go easy on you."

to show favor to him and to plead, "Deliver him from having to go down to the Pit I know where his ransom is!'

He has redeemed my soul from going down to the Pit; my life will see the light.'

What I don't see, instruct me! If I've done anything evil, I won't repeat it!'

So that no one entices you with riches, don't let a large ransom turn you astray.

Don't long for night, when people vanish in their place.

Be careful! Don't turn to evil, because of this you will be tried by more than affliction.

When the clouds pour down; they drop their rain on all of humanity.

"God thunders with his wondrous voice; he does awesome works that we don't comprehend.

For he says to the snow, "Fall to the earth.' He tells the rain, "Pour down,' then it rains profusely.

"Then a beast enters its lair and remains in its den.

"Have you ever commanded the morning at any time during your life? Do you know where the dawn lives,

when they crouch down to give birth to their offspring, and let go of their birth pangs?

Their young are strong; they grow up in the open field; then they go off and don't return to them."

stared down and subdued every proud person, trampled the wicked right where they are,

"Can you draw Leviathan out of the water with a hook, or tie down his tongue with a rope?

"His snorting releases flashes of light; his eyes are like the rays of the dawn.

He looks down on everything that is high; he rules over every kind of pride."

You asked, "Who is this that darkens counsel without knowledge?' Well now, I have talked about what I don't understand awesome things beyond me that I don't know.