"Do you think this to be just: when you say, 'My right before God.'

And he reveals this for correction, and says that they must turn from evil.

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

At this also my heart pounds and leaps from its place.

"Pay attention to this, Job! Stand still and consider the wonders God works.

"Who is this who darkens counsel with words without knowledge?

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

After this Job lived 140 years; he saw his children and their children to the fourth generation.

For this reason the wicked cannot withstand judgment, nor can sinners join the assembly of the godly.

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!

I am absolutely terrified, and you, Lord -- how long will this continue?

The wicked are turned back and sent to Sheol; this is the destiny of all the nations that ignore God,

He does not charge interest when he lends his money. He does not take bribes to testify against the innocent. The one who lives like this will never be upended.

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 the music director; by the Lord's servant David, who sang to the Lord the words of this song when the Lord rescued him from the power of all his enemies, including Saul. He said: "I love you, Lord, my source of strength!

Who is this majestic king? The Lord who is strong and mighty! The Lord who is mighty in battle!

Who is this majestic king? The Lord who commands armies! He is the majestic king! (Selah)

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

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.

For this reason every one of your faithful followers should pray to you while there is a window of opportunity. Certainly when the surging water rises, it will not reach them.

This oppressed man cried out and the Lord heard; he saved him from all his troubles.

O Lord, how long are you going to just stand there and watch this? Rescue me from their destructive attacks; guard my life from the young lions!

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

My enemies ask this cruel question about me, 'When will he finally die and be forgotten?'

By this I know that you are pleased with me, for my enemy does not triumph over me.

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

For the music director; according to the tune of "Lilies;" by the Korahites, a well-written poem, a love song. My heart is stirred by a beautiful song. I say, "I have composed this special song for the king; my tongue is as skilled as the stylus of an experienced scribe."

You are the most handsome of all men! You speak in an impressive and fitting manner! For this reason God grants you continual blessings.

You love justice and hate evil. For this reason God, your God has anointed you with the oil of joy, elevating you above your companions.

For this reason we do not fear when the earth shakes, and the mountains tumble into the depths of the sea,

For the music director, a psalm by the Korahites. Listen to this, all you nations! Pay attention, all you inhabitants of the world!

This is the destiny of fools, and of those who approve of their philosophy. (Selah)

He pronounces this blessing on himself while he is alive: "May men praise you, for you have done well!"

God says this to the evildoer: "How can you declare my commands, and talk about my covenant?

Carefully consider this, you who reject God! Otherwise I will rip you to shreds and no one will be able to rescue you.

When the godly see this, they will be filled with awe, and will mock the evildoer, saying:

For this reason I will praise you while I live; in your name I will lift up my hands.

This collection of the prayers of David son of Jesse ends here.

Take a good look! This is what the wicked are like, those who always have it so easy and get richer and richer.

When I tried to make sense of this, it was troubling to me.

We do not see any signs of God's presence; there are no longer any prophets and we have no one to tell us how long this will last.

When the Lord heard this, he was furious. A fire broke out against Jacob, and his anger flared up against Israel,

Despite all this, they continued to sin, and did not trust him to do amazing things.

He brought them to the border of his holy land, to this mountainous land which his right hand acquired.

How long will this go on, O Lord? Will you stay angry forever? How long will your rage burn like fire?

O God, invincible warrior, come back! Look down from heaven and take notice! Take care of this vine,

I mention Rahab and Babylon to my followers. Here are Philistia and Tyre, along with Ethiopia. It is said of them, "This one was born there."

The Lord writes in the census book of the nations, "This one was born there." (Selah)

How long, O Lord, will this last? Will you remain hidden forever? Will your anger continue to burn like fire?

Turn back toward us, O Lord! How long must this suffering last? Have pity on your servants!

I say this about the Lord, my shelter and my stronghold, my God in whom I trust --

The spiritually insensitive do not recognize this; the fool does not understand this.

Then they say, "The Lord does not see this; the God of Jacob does not take notice of it."

Take notice of this, you ignorant people! You fools, when will you ever understand?

This brought him a reward, an eternal gift.

When the godly see this, they rejoice, and every sinner shuts his mouth.

May the Lord repay my accusers in this way, those who say evil things about me!

Then they will realize this is your work, and that you, Lord, have accomplished it.

The Lord makes this promise on oath and will not revoke it: "You are an eternal priest after the pattern of Melchizedek."

When the wicked see this, they will worry; they will grind their teeth in frustration and melt away; the desire of the wicked will perish.

This is the Lord's gate -- the godly enter through it.

This is the Lord's work. We consider it amazing!

This is the day the Lord has brought about. We will be happy and rejoice in it.

I am like a foreigner in this land. Do not hide your commands from me!

This is what comforts me in my trouble, for your promise revives me.

This has been my practice, for I observe your precepts.

How long must your servant endure this? When will you judge those who pursue me?

For this reason I love your commands more than gold, even purest gold.

For this reason I carefully follow all your precepts. I hate all deceitful actions.

A song of ascents, by David. "If the Lord had not been on our side" -- let Israel say this! --

Yes indeed, the man who fears the Lord will be blessed in this way.

He said, "This will be my resting place forever; I will live here, for I have chosen it.

This will bring healing to your body, and refreshment to your inner self.

then, my child, do this in order to deliver yourself, because you have fallen into your neighbor's power: go, humble yourself, and appeal firmly to your neighbor.

If you say, "But we did not know about this," does not the one who evaluates hearts consider? Does not the one who guards your life know? Will he not repay each person according to his deeds?

When I saw this, I gave careful consideration to it; I received instruction from what I saw:

The poor person and the oppressor have this in common: the Lord gives light to the eyes of them both.

The words of Agur, the son of Jakeh; an oracle: This man says to Ithiel, to Ithiel and to Ukal:

This is the way of an adulterous woman: she eats and wipes her mouth and says, "I have not done wrong."

All this monotony is tiresome; no one can bear to describe it: The eye is never satisfied with seeing, nor is the ear ever content with hearing.

Is there anything about which someone can say, "Look at this! It is new!"? It was already done long ago, before our time.

So I decided to discern the benefit of wisdom and knowledge over foolish behavior and ideas; however, I concluded that even this endeavor is like trying to chase the wind!

I did not restrain myself from getting whatever I wanted; I did not deny myself anything that would bring me pleasure. So all my accomplishments gave me joy; this was my reward for all my effort.

Who knows if he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will be master over all the fruit of my labor for which I worked so wisely on earth! This also is futile!

For a man may do his work with wisdom, knowledge, and skill; however, he must hand over the fruit of his labor as an inheritance to someone else who did not work for it. This also is futile, and an awful injustice!

For all day long his work produces pain and frustration, and even at night his mind cannot relax! This also is futile!

There is nothing better for people than to eat and drink, and to find enjoyment in their work. I also perceived that this ability to find enjoyment comes from God.

For to the one who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy, but to the sinner, he gives the task of amassing wealth -- only to give it to the one who pleases God. This task of the wicked is futile -- like chasing the wind!

I also know that whatever God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it, and nothing taken away from it. God has made it this way, so that men will fear him.

So I again considered all the oppression that continually occurs on earth. This is what I saw: The oppressed were in tears, but no one was comforting them; no one delivers them from the power of their oppressors.

Then I considered all the skillful work that is done: Surely it is nothing more than competition between one person and another. This also is profitless -- like chasing the wind.

A man who is all alone with no companion, he has no children nor siblings; yet there is no end to all his toil, and he is never satisfied with riches. He laments, "For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?" This also is futile and a burdensome task!

There is no end to all the people nor to the past generations, yet future generations will not rejoice in him. This also is profitless and like chasing the wind.

The one who loves money will never be satisfied with money, he who loves wealth will never be satisfied with his income. This also is futile.

This is another misfortune: Just as he came, so will he go. What did he gain from toiling for the wind?

I have seen personally what is the only beneficial and appropriate course of action for people: to eat and drink, and find enjoyment in all their hard work on earth during the few days of their life which God has given them, for this is their reward.

God gives a man riches, property, and wealth so that he lacks nothing that his heart desires, yet God does not enable him to enjoy the fruit of his labor -- instead, someone else enjoys it! This is fruitless and a grave misfortune.

It is better to be content with what the eyes can see than for one's heart always to crave more. This continual longing is futile -- like chasing the wind.

It is better to go to a funeral than a feast. For death is the destiny of every person, and the living should take this to heart.

For like the crackling of quick-burning thorns under a cooking pot, so is the laughter of the fool. This kind of folly also is useless.