In times past thou didst set me up on high, as it were above the wind, but now hast thou given me a very sore fall.

Sure I am, that thou wilt deliver me unto death: whereas a lodging is prepared for all men living.

"Have I put my trust in gold? Or, have I said to the finest gold of all, 'Thou art my confidence?'

If thou canst, then give me answer: prepare thyself to stand before me face to face.

Behold, before God am I, even as thou, for I am fashioned and made even of the same mould.

Therefore, thou needest not be afraid of me, neither needest thou to fear that my authority shall be too heavy for thee.

"Now hast thou spoken in mine ears, and I have heard the voice of thy words:

Why dost thou then strive against him? Because he giveth thee no accounts of all his doings?

But if thou hast anything to say, then answer me, and speak, for thy answer pleaseth me.

If thou hast nothing, then hear me, and hold thy tongue, so shall I teach thee wisdom."

"If thou now have understanding, hear what I say, and hearken to the voice of my words.

May he be made whole, that loveth no right? If thou were a very innocent man, shouldest thou then be punished?

Wilt thou not give a reasonable answer? Art thou afraid of anything, seeing thou begannest first to speak, and not I?

For else the men of understanding and wisdom, that have heard me, might say: 'What canst thou speak?'

"Thinkest thou it right, that thou saidst, 'I am righteous before God?'

For thou sayest, 'What advantage will it be unto thee, and what profit shall thou have of my sin?'

Look unto the heaven, and behold it: consider the clouds, how they are higher than thou.

If thou sinnest, what doest thou unto him? If thine offenses be many, how gettest thou his favour?

If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? Or what receiveth he of thy hands:

of such an ungodly person as thou, and of the son of man that is righteous - as thou pretendest to be?

"When thou speakest, then, should not he pardon thee, if thou open thyself before him, and put thy trust in him?

Even so shall he keep thee - if thou wilt be content - from the bottomless pit that is beneath: and if thou wilt hold the quiet, he shall fill thy table with plenteousness.

Nevertheless, thou hast condemned the judgment of the ungodly; yea, even such a judgment and sentence shalt thou suffer.

Prolong not thou the time, till there come a night for thee, to set other people in thy stead.

But beware that thou turn not aside to wickedness and sin, which hitherto thou hast chosen more than meekness.

Who will reprove him of his way? Who will say unto him, 'Thou hast done wrong?'

Art thou of counsel with God, when he doth these things? When he causeth the light to come forth of his clouds?

Art thou of his counsel, when he spreadeth out the clouds? Hast thou the perfect knowledge of his wonders?

Hast thou helped him to spread out the heavens, which are strong and bright as a looking glass?

Gird up thy loins like a man, for I will question thee, see thou give me a direct answer.

"Where wast thou, when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell plainly if thou hast understanding.

Who hath measured it, knowest thou? Or, who hath spread the line upon it?

Where wast thou, when the morning stars praised me together, and all the children of God rejoiced triumphantly?

saying, 'Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further, and here shalt thou lay down thy proud and high waves.'

"Hast thou given the morning his charge, as soon as thou wast born, and showed the day spring his place,

Their tokens and weapons hast thou turned like clay, and set them up again as the changing of a garment.

Yea, thou hast spoiled the ungodly of their light, and broken the arm of the proud.

Camest thou ever into the ground of the sea: or hast thou walked in the low corners of the deep?

Have the gates of death been open unto thee, or hast thou seen the door of everlasting treasure?

Hast thou also perceived how broad the earth is? Now if thou hast knowledge of all,

that thou mayest bring us unto their quarters, if thou canst tell the way to their houses.

Knowest thou, when thou wast born, how old thou shouldest be?

Wentest thou ever into the treasures of the snow? Or hast thou seen the secret places of the hail,

Hast thou brought the seven stars together? Or art thou able to loose the bands of Orion?

Canst thou bring forth the morning star or the evening star at convenient times, and convey them home again?

Knewest thou the course of heaven, that thou mayest set up the ordinance thereof upon the earth?

Moreover, canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that they may pour down a great rain upon thee?

Canst thou thunder also that they may go their way, and be obedient unto thee, saying, 'Lo here are we'?

Huntest thou the prey from the lion, or feedest thou his whelps

Knowest thou the time when the wild goats bring forth their young among the stony rocks? Or layest thou wait when the hinds use to fawn?

Reckonest thou the months after they engender, that thou knowest the time of their bearing?

Canst thou bind the yoke about him in thy furrows, to make him plow after thee in the valleys?

Mayest thou trust him because he is strong, or commit thy labour unto him?

Mayest thou believe him, that he will bring home thy corn, or to carry anything unto thy barn?

"Gavest thou the fair wings unto the peacocks, or wings and feathers unto the Ostrich?

"Hast thou given the horse his strength? Or learned him to bow down his neck with fear:

Wilt thou disannul my judgment? Or wilt thou condemn me, that thou thyself mayest be made righteous?

pour out thy indignation of thy wrath; see that thou cast down all the proud,

look well, that thou makest all such as be stubburn, to obey; tread all the ungodly under thy feet,

Darest thou draw out Leviathan with an angle, or bind his tongue with a snare?

Canst thou put a ring in the nose of him, or bore his jaw through with an awl?

Will he make many fair words with thee, thinkest thou, or flatter thee?

Will he make a covenant with thee? Or art thou able to compel him to do thee continual service?

Wilt thou take thy pastime with him as with a bird? Or give him unto thy maidens,

Canst thou fill the net with his skin, or the fish panner with his head?

Darest thou lay hand upon him? It is better for thee to consider what harm might happen thee therethrough, and not to touch him.

For when thou thinkest to have hold upon him, he shall beguile thee: Every man also that seeth him, shall go back.

"I know that thou hast power over all things, and that there is no thought hid unto thee.

O hearken thou unto me also, and let me speak: answer me unto the thing that I will ask thee.

As for me, I will preach the law, whereof the LORD hath said unto me, "Thou art my son, this day have I begotten thee.

Thou shalt bruise them with a rod of iron, and break them in pieces like a potter's vessel."

But thou, O LORD, art my defender; thou art my worship, and the lifter up of my head.

Arise, LORD, and help me, O my God: for thou smitest all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.

{To the Chanter in Neginoth, a Psalm of David} Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness! Thou hast set me at liberty when I was in trouble; have mercy upon me, and hearken unto my prayer.

There be many that say, "Who will show us any good? LORD lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us."

Thou hast put gladness in my heart since the time that their corn and wine and oil increased.

I will lay me down in peace, and take my rest; for it is thou, LORD, only that makest me dwell in safety.

O hearken thou unto the voice of my petition, my King and my God; for unto thee will I make my prayer.

My voice shalt thou hear betimes, O LORD. Early in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.

For thou art the God that hast no pleasure in wickedness; neither shall any evil dwell with thee.

Such as be foolish shall not stand in thy sight, for thou hatest all them that work vanity.

Thou shalt destroy the liars; the LORD will abhor both the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.

Destroy thou them, O God; let them perish in their own imaginations! Cast them out in the multitude of their ungodliness; for they have rebelled against thee.

And let all them that put their trust in thee rejoice. They shall ever be giving of thanks, because thou defendest them. They that love thy name shall be joyful in thee;

for thou, LORD, wilt give thy blessing unto the righteous, and with thy favourable kindness wilt thou defend him, as with a shield.

My soul also is sore troubled; but LORD, how long wilt thou punish me?

Stand up, O LORD, in thy wrath, lift up thyself, because of the indignation of mine enemies; arise up for me in the judgment that thou hast commanded.

O let the wickedness of the ungodly come to an end; but guide thou the just. For the righteous God trieth the very hearts and reins.

{To the Chanter upon Gittith, a Psalm of David} O LORD our governour; how excellent is thy name in all the world; thou hast set thy glory above the heavens!

Out of the mouth of the very babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength, because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.

For I will consider thy heavens, even the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars which thou hast ordained.

What is man, that thou art mindful of him? And what is the son of man that thou visitest him?

Thou madest him lower than the angels, to crown him with glory and worship.

Thou makest him to have dominion of the works of thy hands; and thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet -

I will be glad and rejoice in thee; yea, my songs will I make of thy name, O thou most highest.

For thou hast maintained my right and my cause; thou art set in the throne that judgest right.

Thou hast rebuked the heathen, and destroyed the ungodly; thou hast put out their name forever and ever.

O thou enemy, thy destructions are come to a perpetual end; even as the cities which thou hast destroyed, their memorial is perished with them.

And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee; for thou, LORD, hast never failed them that seek thee.

Have mercy upon me, O LORD; consider the trouble which I suffer of them that hate me, thou that liftest me up from the gates of death.