"It is not the earth that bringeth forth travail, neither cometh sorrow out of the ground;

Which destroyeth the devices of the subtle, so that they are not able to perform the things that they take in hand;

Insomuch that they run into darkness by fair day, and grope about them at the noonday, like as in the night.

"Behold, happy is the man whom God punisheth: therefore, despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty.

He shall keep thee from the perilous tongue so that when trouble cometh, thou shalt not need to fear.

In destruction and dearth thou shalt be merry, and shalt not be afraid for the beasts of the earth:

The things that sometime I might not away withal, are now my meat for very sorrow.

Then should I have some comfort: yea, I would desire him in my pain, that he should not spare, for I will not be against the words of the holy one.

Am I able to help my self? Is not my strength gone from me,

Wherefore look not only upon me, but upon yourselves: whether I lie, or no.

Is not the life of man upon earth a very battle? Are not his days like the days of a hired servant?

Even so have I laboured whole months long - but in vain - and many a careful night have I told.

When I laid me down to sleep, I said, 'O when shall I rise?' Again, I longed sore for the night. Thus am I full of sorrow, till it be dark.

Therefore I will not spare my mouth, but will speak in the trouble of my spirit; in that bitterness of my mind will I talk.

Why goest thou not from me, nor lettest me alone, so long till I swallow down my spittle?

Why dost thou not forgive my sin? Wherefore takest thou not away my wickedness? Behold, now must I sleep in the dust: And if thou seekest me tomorrow in the morning, I shall be gone."

When thy sons sinned against him, did not he punish them for their wickedness?

If thou wouldest live a pure and godly life; should he not wake up unto thee immediately, and give thee the beauty of righteousness again?

For we are but of yesterday, and consider not that our days upon earth are but a very shadow.

He leaneth him upon his house, but he shall not stand; he holdeth him fast by it, yet shall he not endure.

But if it be taken out of its place, every man denieth it, saying, 'I know thee not.'

"Behold, God will not cast away a virtuous man, neither will he help the ungodly.

If he will argue with him, he shall not be able to answer him unto one among a thousand.

He commandeth the sun, and it riseth not: he closeth up the stars, as it were under a signet.

If he came by me, I might not look upon him: if he went his way, I should not perceive it.

Yea though I be righteous, yet will I not give him one word again, but meekly submit myself to my judge.

If I had called upon him, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had heard my voice!

He will not let my spirit be in rest, but filleth me with bitterness.

As for the world, he giveth it over into the power of the wicked; and he shall cover the faces of the judges thereof. Is it not so? Where is he - or who is he - that can show the contrary?

Then am I afraid of all my works, for I know thou wilt not judge me innocent.

For he that I must give answer unto, and with whom I go to law, is not a man as I am.

and will say unto God: O do not condemn me; but show me the cause, wherefore thou contendest so with me.

Hast thou not turned me, as it were milk: and turned me to cruddes like cheese?

"If I did sin, thou haddest an eye unto me, and shalt not declare me innocent because of mine offense.

If I have done wickedly, woe is me therefore. If I have done righteously, yet dare I not lift up my head; so full am I of confusion, and see mine own misery.

Shall not my short life come so soon to an end? O hold thee from me, let me alone, that I may ease myself a little

before I go thither, from whence I shall not turn again. Namely, to that land of darkness and shadow of death:

"Should not he that maketh many words, be answered? Should he that babbleth much, be commended therein?

For it is he that knoweth the vanity of men. He seeth their wickedness also; should he not then consider it?

Then mightest thou lift up thy face without shame! Then shouldest thou be sure, and have no need to fear.

As for the eyes of the ungodly, they shall be consumed, and not escape: their hope shall be misery and sorrow of mind."

But I have understanding as well as ye, and am no less than ye. Yea who knoweth not these things?

Have not the ears pleasure in hearing, and the mouth in tasting the thing that it eateth?

Shall he not make you afraid, when he showeth himself? Shall not his terrible face fall upon you?

Nevertheless, grant me two things, and then will I not hide myself from thee.

Withdraw thine hand from me, and let not the fearful dread of thee make me afraid.

but when man sleepeth, he riseth not again, until the heaven perish: he shall not wake up nor rise out of his sleep.

If thou wouldest but call me, I should obey thee: only despise not the work of thine own hands.

"For thou hast numbered all my goings, yet be not thou too extreme upon my sins.

Whether his children come to worship or no, he cannot tell: And if they be men of low degree, he knoweth not.

As for shame, thou hast set it aside - else wouldest thou not make so many words before God.

Thine own mouth condemneth thee, and not I: yea thine own lips shape the answer.

What knowest thou, that we know not? What understandest thou, but we can the same?

Behold, he doth not trust his saints; yea, the very heavens are not clean in his sight.

which wise men have told, and hath not been hid from their fathers:

He shall not be rich, neither shall his substance continue, nor increase upon earth.

He shall perish, before his time be worn out, and his hand shall not be green.

Shall not thy vain words come yet to an end? Or, hast thou yet any more to say?

"But what shall I do? For all my words, my sorrow will not cease: and though I hold my tongue, yet will it not depart from me.

His archers compass me round about; he hath wounded my loins, and not spared. My bowels hath he poured upon the ground.

O earth, cover not my blood, and let my crying find no room.

yet the number of my years are come - and I must go the way from whence I shall not turn again.

Thou hast withholden their hearts from understanding, therefore shall they not be set up on high.

changing the night into day, and the light into darkness.

Shall not the light of the ungodly be put out? Yea, the flame of his fire shall not burn.

For his feet shall be taken in the net, and he is at his wits end.

"Fearfulness shall make him afraid on every side, that he shall not know where to get out.

His remembrance shall perish from the earth, and his name shall not be praised in the streets:

Such are now the dwellings of the wicked, and this is the place of him that knoweth not God."

Lo, ten times have ye reproved me: are ye not ashamed, for to laugh me to scorn?

know this then: that it is God which hath handled me so violently, and hath compassed me about with his net.

Mine own wife may not abide my breath, I was fain to speak fair for the children of mine own body.

Why do ye persecute me as God, and are not satisfied of my flesh?

Yea, I myself shall behold him - not with other, but with these same eyes, though my reins are consumed within me.

Did not ye say, "Why doth he suffer persecution?" Is there found an occasion against me?

Knowest thou not this, namely: that from the beginning - ever since the creation of man upon earth -

He vanisheth as a dream, so that he can no more be found, and passeth away as a vision in the night.

That he favoured, that would he not forsake; but kept it close in his throat.

But he shall labour, and yet have nothing to eat. Great travail shall he make for riches, but he shall not enjoy them.

And why? He hath oppressed the poor, and not helped them: houses hath he spoiled, and not builded them.

He devoured so greedily that he left nothing behind; therefore his goods shall not prosper.

Is it with a man, that I make this disputation? Which if it were so, should not my spirit be then in sore trouble?

Their houses are safe from all fear, for the rod of God doth not smite them.

Their bullock gendereth, and that not out of time: their cow calveth, and is not unfruitful.

They say unto God, 'Go from us: we desire not the knowledge of thy ways!

Lo, there is utterly no goodness in them, therefore will not I have to do with the counsel of the ungodly.

Ask any man that goeth by the way, and - if ye will not regard their tokens and deeds - he shall tell you,

How vain, then, is the comfort that ye give me? Are not your answers clean contrary to right and truth?"

Is not thy wickedness great, and thine ungracious deeds innumerable?

Shouldest thou then see no darkness? Should not the water flood run over thee?

Tush, the clouds cover him that he may not see, for he dwelleth in heaven.'

"For though I go before, I find him not; If I come behind, I can get no knowledge of him;

If I go on the left side to ponder his works, I can not attain unto them. Again, if I go on the rightside, he hideth himself, that I cannot see him.

My foot doth keep his path; his highway have I holden, and will not go out of it.

I have not forsaken the commandment of his lips; but look, what he charged me with his mouth, that have I shut up in my heart.

Thus can I not get out of darkness, the cloud hath so covered my face.

Considering then that there is no time hid from the Almighty, how happeneth it, that they which know him, will not regard his days?

They reap the corn field that is not their own; and let the vineyard of the ungodly alone.

"The whole city crieth unto the LORD with sighing, the souls of the slain make their complaint: But God destroyeth them not for all this,

whereas they, notwithstanding, are rebellious and disobedient enemies: which seek not his light and way, nor turn again in to his path.