“Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden,
And whom God has hedged in?

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

“Behold, this is the joy of His way;
And out of the dust others will spring.

“Though He slay me,
I will hope in Him.
Nevertheless I will argue my ways before Him.

“For when a few years are past,
I shall go the way of no return.

“Nevertheless the righteous will hold to his way,
And he who has clean hands will grow stronger and stronger.

“He has walled up my way so that I cannot pass,
And He has put darkness on my paths.

“His troops come together,
And build up their way against me
And camp around my tent.

“Listen carefully to my speech,
And let this be your way of consolation.

“They say to God, ‘Depart from us!
We do not even desire the knowledge of Your ways.

“Is there any pleasure to the Almighty if you are righteous,
Or profit if you make your ways perfect?

“You will also decree a thing, and it will be established for you;
And light will shine on your ways.

“But He knows the way I take;
When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

“My foot has held fast to His path;
I have kept His way and not turned aside.

“Others have been with those who rebel against the light;
They do not want to know its ways
Nor abide in its paths.

“He provides them with security, and they are supported;
And His eyes are on their ways.

“Behold, these are the fringes of His ways;
And how faint a word we hear of Him!
But His mighty thunder, who can understand?”

“God understands its way,
And He knows its place.

“I chose a way for them and sat as chief,
And dwelt as a king among the troops,
As one who comforted the mourners.

“On the right hand their brood arises;
They thrust aside my feet and build up against me their ways of destruction.

“Does He not see my ways
And number all my steps?

“If my step has turned from the way,
Or my heart followed my eyes,
Or if any spot has stuck to my hands,

“For He pays a man according to his work,
And makes him find it according to his way.

“For His eyes are upon the ways of a man,
And He sees all his steps.

Because they turned aside from following Him,
And had no regard for any of His ways;

“Who has appointed Him His way,
And who has said, ‘You have done wrong’?

“Where is the way to the dwelling of light?
And darkness, where is its place,

“Where is the way that the light is divided,
Or the east wind scattered on the earth?

“Who has cleft a channel for the flood,
Or a way for the thunderbolt,

“He is the first of the ways of God;
Let his maker bring near his sword.