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

Isn't your piety your confidence? Isn't the integrity of your ways your hope?

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

But the eyes of the wicked shall fail. They shall have no way to flee. Their hope shall be the giving up of the spirit."

He takes away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth, and causes them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.

Behold, he will kill 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 of no return.

Yet shall the righteous hold on his way. He who has clean hands shall grow stronger and stronger.

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

He has walled up my way so that I can't pass, and has set darkness in my paths.

They tell God, 'Depart from us, for we don't want to know about your ways.

Who shall declare his way to his face? Who shall repay him what he has done?

Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that you are righteous? Or does it benefit him, that you make your ways perfect?

Will you keep the old way, which wicked men have trodden,

You shall also decree a thing, and it shall be established to you. Light shall shine on your ways.

But he knows the way that I take. When he has tried me, I shall come forth like gold.

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

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

"These are of those who rebel against the light. They don't know its ways, nor stay in its paths.

"They are foam on the surface of the waters. Their portion is cursed in the earth. They don't turn into the way of the vineyards.

God gives them security, and they rest in it. His eyes are on their ways.

They are exalted; yet a little while, and they are gone. Yes, 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.

Behold, these are but the outskirts of his ways. How small a whisper do we hear of him! But the thunder of his power who can understand?"

"God understands its way, and he knows its place.

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. I lived as a king in the army, as one who comforts the mourners.

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

Doesn't he see my ways, and number all my steps?

if my step has turned out of the way, if my heart walked after my eyes, if any defilement has stuck to my hands,

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

"For his eyes are on the ways of a man. He sees all his goings.

He breaks in pieces mighty men in ways past finding out, and sets others in their place.

because they turned aside from following him, and wouldn't pay attention to any of his ways,

Who has prescribed his way for him? Or who can say, 'You have committed unrighteousness?'

"What is the way to the dwelling of light? As for darkness, where is its place,

By what way is the lightning distributed, or the east wind scattered on the earth?

He is the chief of the ways of God. He who made him gives him his sword.