Why is light given to a man whose way is hid, And whom God hath hedged in?

Is not thy fear of God thy confidence, And the integrity of thy ways thy hope?

The caravans that travel by the way of them turn aside; They go up into the waste, and perish.

Behold, this is the joy of his way; And out of the earth shall others spring.

But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, And they shall have no way to flee; And their hope shall be the giving up of the ghost.

He taketh away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth, And causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.

Behold, he will slay me; I have no hope: Nevertheless I will maintain my ways before him.

For when a few years are come, I shall go the way whence I shall not return.

Yet shall the righteous hold on his way, And he that hath clean hands shall wax stronger and stronger.

A noose is hid for him in the ground, And a trap for him in the way.

He hath walled up my way that I cannot pass, And hath set darkness in my paths.

His troops come on together, And cast up their way against me, And encamp round about my tent.

And they say unto God, Depart from us; For we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.

Who shall declare his way to his face? And who shall repay him what he hath done?

Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? Or is it gain to him , that thou makest thy ways perfect?

Wilt thou keep the old way Which wicked men have trodden?

Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee; And light shall shine upon thy ways.

But he knoweth the way that I take; When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

My foot hath held fast to his steps; His way have I kept, and turned not aside.

They turn the needy out of the way: The poor of the earth all hide themselves.

These are of them that rebel against the light; They know not the ways thereof, Nor abide in the paths thereof.

Swiftly they pass away upon the face of the waters; Their portion is cursed in the earth: They turn not into the way of the vineyards.

God giveth them to be in security, and they rest thereon; And his eyes are upon their ways.

They are exalted; yet a little while, and they are gone; Yea, they are brought low, they are taken out of the way as all others, And are cut off as the tops of the ears of grain.

Lo, these are but the outskirts of his ways: And how small a whisper do we hear of him! But the thunder of his power who can understand?

God understandeth the way thereof, And he knoweth the place thereof.

When he made a decree for the rain, And a way for the lightning of the thunder;

I chose out their way, and sat as chief, And dwelt as a king in the army, As one that comforteth the mourners.

Upon my right hand rise the rabble; They thrust aside my feet, And they cast up against me their ways of destruction.

Doth not he see my ways, And number all my steps?

If my step hath turned out of the way, And my heart walked after mine eyes, And if any spot hath cleaved to my hands:

For the work of a man will he render unto him, And cause every man to find according to his ways.

For his eyes are upon the ways of a man, And he seeth all his goings.

He breaketh in pieces mighty men in ways past finding out, And setteth others in their stead.

Because they turned aside from following him, And would not have regard in any of his ways:

Who hath enjoined him his way? Or who can say, Thou hast wrought unrighteousness?

Where is the way to the dwelling of light? And as for darkness, where is the place thereof,

By what way is the light parted, Or the east wind scattered upon the earth?

Who hath cleft a channel for the waterflood, Or the way for the lightning of the thunder;

He is the chief of the ways of God: He only that made him giveth him his sword.