if the members of my household have never said, 'If only there were someone who has not been satisfied from Job's meat!' --

if I have covered my transgressions as men do, by hiding iniquity in my heart,

if I have eaten its produce without paying, or caused the death of its owners,

So do not say, 'We have found wisdom! God will refute him, not man!'

"They are dismayed and cannot answer any more; they have nothing left to say.

And I have waited. But because they do not speak, because they stand there and answer no more,

"But now, O Job, listen to my words, and hear everything I have to say!

See now, I have opened my mouth; my tongue in my mouth has spoken.

Look, I am just like you in relation to God; I too have been molded from clay.

"Indeed, you have said in my hearing (I heard the sound of the words!):

I am pure, without transgression; I am clean and have no iniquity.

and if God is gracious to him and says, 'Spare him from going down to the place of corruption, I have found a ransom for him,'

That person sings to others, saying: 'I have sinned and falsified what is right, but I was not punished according to what I deserved.

If you have any words, reply to me; speak, for I want to justify you.

"If you have understanding, listen to this, hear what I have to say.

because they have turned away from following him, and have not understood any of his ways,

"Has anyone said to God, 'I have endured chastisement, but I will not act wrongly any more.

Teach me what I cannot see. If I have done evil, I will do so no more.'

"Be patient with me a little longer and I will instruct you, for I still have words to speak on God's behalf.

then he reveals to them what they have done, and their transgressions, that they were behaving proudly.

Take heed, do not turn to evil, for because of this you have been tested by affliction.

Who has prescribed his ways for him? Or said to him, 'You have done what is wicked'?

Remember to extol his work, which people have praised in song.

Have you ever in your life commanded the morning, or made the dawn know its place,

Have you gone to the springs that fill the sea, or walked about in the recesses of the deep?

Have the gates of death been revealed to you? Have you seen the gates of deepest darkness?

Have you considered the vast expanses of the earth? Tell me, if you know it all!

Have you entered the storehouse of the snow, or seen the armory of the hail,

Does the rain have a father, or who has fathered the drops of the dew?

They crouch, they bear their young, they bring forth the offspring they have carried.

I have spoken once, but I cannot answer; twice, but I will say no more."

Do you have an arm as powerful as God's, and can you thunder with a voice like his?

Whoever strikes it with a sword will have no effect, nor with the spear, arrow, or dart.

you asked, 'Who is this who darkens counsel without knowledge?' But I have declared without understanding things too wonderful for me to know.

After the Lord had spoken these things to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite, "My anger is stirred up against you and your two friends, because you have not spoken about me what is right, as my servant Job has.

So now take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and offer a burnt offering for yourselves. And my servant Job will intercede for you, and I will respect him, so that I do not deal with you according to your folly, because you have not spoken about me what is right, as my servant Job has."

"I myself have installed my king on Zion, my holy hill."

The king says, "I will announce the Lord's decree. He said to me: 'You are my son! This very day I have become your father!

For the music director, to be accompanied by stringed instruments; a psalm of David. When I call out, answer me, O God who vindicates me! Though I am hemmed in, you will lead me into a wide, open place. Have mercy on me and respond to my prayer!

You make me happier than those who have abundant grain and wine.

Condemn them, O God! May their own schemes be their downfall! Drive them away because of their many acts of insurrection, for they have rebelled against you.

Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am frail! Heal me, Lord, for my bones are shaking!

A musical composition by David, which he sang to the Lord concerning a Benjaminite named Cush. O Lord my God, in you I have taken shelter. Deliver me from all who chase me! Rescue me!

O Lord my God, if I have done what they say, or am guilty of unjust actions,

or have wronged my ally, or helped his lawless enemy,

Stand up angrily, Lord! Rise up with raging fury against my enemies! Wake up for my sake and execute the judgment you have decreed for them!

From the mouths of children and nursing babies you have ordained praise on account of your adversaries, so that you might put an end to the vindictive enemy.

you appoint them to rule over your creation; you have placed everything under their authority,

The enemy's cities have been reduced to permanent ruins; you destroyed their cities; all memory of the enemies has perished.

when they prayed: "Have mercy on me, Lord! See how I am oppressed by those who hate me, O one who can snatch me away from the gates of death!

The wicked arrogantly chase the oppressed; the oppressed are trapped by the schemes the wicked have dreamed up.

You have taken notice, for you always see one who inflicts pain and suffering. The unfortunate victim entrusts his cause to you; you deliver the fatherless.

Lord, you have heard the request of the oppressed; you make them feel secure because you listen to their prayer.

For the music director; by David. In the Lord I have taken shelter. How can you say to me, "Flee to a mountain like a bird!

For the music director; according to the sheminith style; a psalm of David. Deliver, Lord! For the godly have disappeared; people of integrity have vanished.

Then my enemy will say, "I have defeated him!" Then my foes will rejoice because I am upended.

A prayer of David. Protect me, O God, for I have taken shelter in you.

It is as if I have been given fertile fields or received a beautiful tract of land.

You have scrutinized my inner motives; you have examined me during the night. You have carefully evaluated me, but you find no sin. I am determined I will say nothing sinful.

As for the actions of people -- just as you have commanded, I have not followed in the footsteps of violent men.

Lord, use your power to deliver me from these murderers, from the murderers of this world! They enjoy prosperity; you overwhelm them with the riches they desire. They have many children, and leave their wealth to their offspring.

For I have obeyed the Lord's commands; I have not rebelled against my God.

For you deliver oppressed people, but you bring down those who have a proud look.

He asked you to sustain his life, and you have granted him long life and an enduring dynasty.

For the music director; according to the tune "Morning Doe;" a psalm of David. My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? I groan in prayer, but help seems far away.

I have been dependent on you since birth; from the time I came out of my mother's womb you have been my God.

Do not remain far away from me, for trouble is near and I have no one to help me.

Rescue me from the mouth of the lion, and from the horns of the wild oxen! You have answered me!

Remember your compassionate and faithful deeds, O Lord, for you have always acted in this manner.

Turn toward me and have mercy on me, for I am alone and oppressed!

Protect me and deliver me! Please do not let me be humiliated, for I have taken shelter in you!

By David. Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have integrity, and I trust in the Lord without wavering.

But I have integrity! Rescue me and have mercy on me!

I have asked the Lord for one thing -- this is what I desire! I want to live in the Lord's house all the days of my life, so I can gaze at the splendor of the Lord and contemplate in his temple.

Hear me, O Lord, when I cry out! Have mercy on me and answer me!

Hear, O Lord, and have mercy on me! O Lord, deliver me!"

For the music director; a psalm of David. In you, O Lord, I have taken shelter! Never let me be humiliated! Vindicate me by rescuing me!

Have mercy on me, for I am in distress! My eyes grow dim from suffering. I have lost my strength.

Love the Lord, all you faithful followers of his! The Lord protects those who have integrity, but he pays back in full the one who acts arrogantly.

They repay me evil for the good I have done; I am overwhelmed with sorrow.

Do not let them say to themselves, "Aha! We have what we wanted!" Do not let them say, "We have devoured him!"

I can see the evildoers! They have fallen! They have been knocked down and are unable to get up!

They will not be ashamed when hard times come; when famine comes they will have enough to eat.

I was once young, now I am old. I have never seen a godly man abandoned, or his children forced to search for food.

I have seen ruthless evil men growing in influence, like a green tree grows in its native soil.

But then one passes by, and suddenly they have disappeared! I looked for them, but they could not be found.

Sinful rebels are totally destroyed; evil men have no future.

I have prayed for deliverance, because otherwise they will gloat over me; when my foot slips they will arrogantly taunt me.

They repay me evil for the good I have done; though I have tried to do good to them, they hurl accusations at me.

I am silent and cannot open my mouth because of what you have done.

Please stop wounding me! You have almost beaten me to death!

O Lord, my God, you have accomplished many things; you have done amazing things and carried out your purposes for us. No one can thwart you! I want to declare them and talk about them, but they are too numerous to recount!

I have told the great assembly about your justice. Look! I spare no words! O Lord, you know this is true.

I have not failed to tell about your justice; I spoke about your reliability and deliverance; I have not neglected to tell the great assembly about your loyal love and faithfulness.

As for me, I said: "O Lord, have mercy on me! Heal me, for I have sinned against you!

As for you, O Lord, have mercy on me and raise me up, so I can pay them back!"

For the music director; by the Korahites, a well-written song. O God, we have clearly heard; our ancestors have told us what you did in their days, in ancient times.

All this has happened to us, even though we have not rejected you or violated your covenant with us.

We have not been unfaithful, nor have we disobeyed your commands.

Yet you have battered us, leaving us a heap of ruins overrun by wild dogs; you have covered us with darkness.