"If I have put my confidence in gold or said to pure gold, 'You are my security!'

But no stranger had to spend the night outside, for I opened my doors to the traveler --

But when Elihu saw that the three men had no further reply, he became very angry.

So Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite spoke up: "I am young, but you are elderly; that is why I was fearful, and afraid to explain to you what I know.

But it is a spirit in people, the breath of the Almighty, that makes them understand.

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!

Or a person is chastened by pain on his bed, and with the continual strife of his bones,

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

For Job says, 'I am innocent, but God turns away my right.

Who entrusted to him the earth? And who put him over the whole world?

But if God is quiet, who can condemn him? If he hides his face, then who can see him? Yet he is over the individual and the nation alike,

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

Is it your opinion that God should recompense it, because you reject this? But you must choose, and not I, so tell us what you know.

But Job will be tested to the end, because his answers are like those of wicked men.

But you say, 'What will it profit you,' and, 'What do I gain by not sinning?'

But no one says, 'Where is God, my Creator, who gives songs in the night,

Then they cry out -- but he does not answer -- because of the arrogance of the wicked.

He does not allow the wicked to live, but he gives justice to the poor.

He does not take his eyes off the righteous; but with kings on the throne he seats the righteous and exalts them forever.

But if they are bound in chains, and held captive by the cords of affliction,

But if they refuse to listen, they pass over the river of death, and expire without knowledge.

But now you are preoccupied with the judgment due the wicked, judgment and justice take hold of you.

But now, the sun cannot be looked at -- it is bright in the skies -- after a wind passed and swept the clouds away.

As for the Almighty, we cannot attain to him! He is great in power, but justice and abundant righteousness he does not oppress.

Who has put wisdom in the heart, or has imparted understanding to the mind?

"The wings of the ostrich flap with joy, but are they the pinions and plumage of a stork?

But as soon as she springs up, she laughs at the horse and its rider.

"Indeed, I am completely unworthy -- how could I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth to silence myself.

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

Can you put a cord through its nose, or pierce its jaw with a hook?

Smoke streams from its nostrils as from a boiling pot over burning rushes.

It makes the deep boil like a cauldron and stirs up the sea like a pot of ointment,

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

I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye has seen you.

Certainly the Lord guards the way of the godly, but the way of the wicked ends in destruction.

They say, "Let's tear off the shackles they've put on us! Let's free ourselves from their ropes!"

But you, Lord, are a shield that protects me; you are my glory and the one who restores me.

Tremble with fear and do not sin! Meditate as you lie in bed, and repent of your ways! (Selah)

But as for me, because of your great faithfulness I will enter your house; I will bow down toward your holy temple as I worship you.

But may all who take shelter in you be happy! May they continually shout for joy! Shelter them so that those who are loyal to you may rejoice!

I am exhausted as I groan; all night long I drench my bed in tears; my tears saturate the cushion beneath me.

May the evil deeds of the wicked come to an end! But make the innocent secure, O righteous God, you who examine inner thoughts and motives!

he digs a pit and then falls into the hole he has made.

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.

But the Lord rules forever; he reigns in a just manner.

The nations fell into the pit they had made; their feet were caught in the net they had hidden.

For look, the wicked prepare their bows, they put their arrows on the strings, to shoot in the darkness at the morally upright.

The Lord approves of the godly, but he hates the wicked and those who love to do violence.

But I trust in your faithfulness. May I rejoice because of your deliverance!

He despises a reprobate, but honors the Lord's loyal followers. He makes firm commitments and does not renege on his promise.

You will not abandon me to Sheol; you will not allow your faithful follower to see the Pit.

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.

They confronted me in my day of calamity, but the Lord helped me.

You prove to be reliable to one who is blameless, but you prove to be deceptive to one who is perverse.

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

I beat them to death; they fall at my feet.

They cry out, but there is no one to help them; they cry out to the Lord, but he does not answer them.

I grind them as fine windblown dust; I beat them underfoot like clay in the streets.

Some trust in chariots and others in horses, but we depend on the Lord our God.

They will fall down, but we will stand firm.

Yes, they intend to do you harm; they dream up a scheme, but they do not succeed.

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.

My God, I cry out during the day, but you do not answer, and during the night my prayers do not let up.

But I am a worm, not a man; people insult me and despise me.

But you, O Lord, do not remain far away! You are my source of strength! Hurry and help me!

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

For his anger lasts only a brief moment, and his good favor restores one's life. One may experience sorrow during the night, but joy arrives in the morning.

"What profit is there in taking my life, in my descending into the Pit? Can the dust of the grave praise you? Can it declare your loyalty?

I hate those who serve worthless idols, but I trust in the Lord.

But I trust in you, O Lord! I declare, "You are my God!"

I jumped to conclusions and said, "I am cut off from your presence!" But you heard my plea for mercy when I cried out to you for help.

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.

Do not be like an unintelligent horse or mule, which will not obey you unless they are controlled by a bridle and bit.

An evil person suffers much pain, but the Lord's faithfulness overwhelms the one who trusts in him.

Even young lions sometimes lack food and are hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

But the Lord opposes evildoers and wipes out all memory of them from the earth.

The godly face many dangers, but the Lord saves them from each one of them.

I did not harm them, but they hid a net to catch me and dug a pit to trap me.

But when I stumbled, they rejoiced and gathered together; they gathered together to ambush me. They tore at me without stopping to rest.

When I tripped, they taunted me relentlessly, and tried to bite me.

For they do not try to make peace with others, but plan ways to deceive those who are unsuspecting.

But you take notice, Lord! O Lord, do not remain far away from me!

He plans ways to sin while he lies in bed; he is committed to a sinful lifestyle; he does not reject what is evil.

Wicked men will be wiped out, but those who rely on the Lord are the ones who will possess the land.

Evil men will soon disappear; you will stare at the spot where they once were, but they will be gone.

But the oppressed will possess the land and enjoy great prosperity.

The little bit that a godly man owns is better than the wealth of many evil men,

for evil men will lose their power, but the Lord sustains the godly.

But evil men will die; the Lord's enemies will be incinerated -- they will go up in smoke.

Evil men borrow, but do not repay their debt, but the godly show compassion and are generous.

Surely those favored by the Lord will possess the land, but those rejected by him will be wiped out.

For the Lord promotes justice, and never abandons his faithful followers. They are permanently secure, but the children of evil men are wiped out.

But the Lord does not surrender the godly, or allow them to be condemned in a court of law.

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

But the Lord delivers the godly; he protects them in times of trouble.

But I am like a deaf man -- I hear nothing; I am like a mute who cannot speak.

But those who are my enemies for no reason are numerous; those who hate me without cause outnumber me.

For the music director, Jeduthun; a psalm of David. I decided, "I will watch what I say and make sure I do not sin with my tongue. I will put a muzzle over my mouth while in the presence of an evil man."

Look, you make my days short-lived, and my life span is nothing from your perspective. Surely all people, even those who seem secure, are nothing but vapor.