"How often is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out, that their calamity comes on them, that God distributes sorrows in his anger?

You say, 'God lays up his iniquity for his children.' Let him recompense it to himself, that he may know it.

For what does he care for his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off?

"Shall any teach God knowledge, seeing he judges those who are high?

One dies in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.

Another dies in bitterness of soul, and never tastes of good.

"Can a man be profitable to God? Surely he who is wise is profitable to himself.

"Isn't God in the heights of heaven? See the height of the stars, how high they are.

You say, 'What does God know? Can he judge through the thick darkness?

who said to God, 'Depart from us;' and, 'What can Shaddai do for us?'

Yet he filled their houses with good things, but the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

saying, 'Surely those who rose up against us are cut off. The fire has consumed the remnant of them.'

"Acquaint yourself with him, now, and be at peace. Thereby good shall come to you.

For then you will delight yourself in Shaddai, and shall lift up your face to God.

For God has made my heart faint. Shaddai has terrified me.

Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither did he cover the thick darkness from my face.

They cut their provender in the field. They glean the vineyard of the wicked.

From out of the populous city, men groan. The soul of the wounded cries out, yet God doesn't regard the folly.

Yet God preserves the mighty by his power. He rises up who has no assurance of life.

God gives them security, and they rest in it. His eyes are on their ways.

They are exalted; yet a little while, and they are gone. Yes, they are brought low, they are taken out of the way as all others, and are cut off as the tops of the ears of grain.

How then can man be just with God? Or how can he who is born of a woman be clean?

Sheol is naked before God, and Abaddon has no covering.

"As God lives, who has taken away my right, Shaddai, who has made my soul bitter.

(For the length of my life is still in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils);

For what is the hope of the godless, when he is cut off, when God takes away his life?

Will God hear his cry when trouble comes on him?

Will he delight himself in Shaddai, and call on God at all times?

I will teach you about the hand of God. That which is with Shaddai will I not conceal.

"This is the portion of a wicked man with God, the heritage of oppressors, which they receive from Shaddai.

"God understands its way, and he knows its place.

"Oh that I were as in the months of old, as in the days when God watched over me;

as I was in the ripeness of my days, when the friendship of God was in my tent,

when I went forth to the city gate, when I prepared my seat in the street.

By great force is my garment disfigured. It binds me about as the collar of my coat.

When I looked for good, then evil came; When I waited for light, there came darkness.

For what is the portion from God above, and the heritage from Shaddai on high?

(let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know my integrity);

What then shall I do when God rises up? When he visits, what shall I answer him?

if I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, because I saw my help in the gate,

For calamity from God is a terror to me. Because his majesty, I can do nothing.

this also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges; for I should have denied the God who is above.

Then the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel, the Buzite, of the family of Ram, was kindled against Job. His wrath was kindled because he justified himself rather than God.

Beware lest you say, 'We have found wisdom, God may refute him, not man;'

The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of Shaddai gives me life.

Behold, I am toward God even as you are. I am also formed out of the clay.

"Behold, I will answer you. In this you are not just, for God is greater than man.

For God speaks once, yes twice, though man pays no attention.

then God is gracious to him, and says, 'Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom.'

He prays to God, and he is favorable to him, so that he sees his face with joy. He restores to man his righteousness.

"Behold, God works all these things, twice, yes three times, with a man,

Let us choose for us that which is right. Let us know among ourselves what is good.

For Job has said, 'I am righteous, God has taken away my right:

For he has said, 'It profits a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.'

"Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness, from Shaddai, that he should commit iniquity.

Yes surely, God will not do wickedly, neither will Shaddai pervert justice.

For he doesn't need to consider a man further, that he should go before God in judgment.

"For has any said to God, 'I am guilty, but I will not offend any more.

For he adds rebellion to his sin. He claps his hands among us, and multiplies his words against God."

"Do you think this to be your right, or do you say, 'My righteousness is more than God's,'

But none says, 'Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night,

Surely God will not hear an empty cry, neither will Shaddai regard it.

"Bear with me a little, and I will show you; for I still have something to say on God's behalf.

I will get my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.

"Behold, God is mighty, and doesn't despise anyone. He is mighty in strength of understanding.

Do not desire the night, when people are cut off in their place.

Behold, God is exalted in his power. Who is a teacher like him?

Behold, God is great, and we do not know him. The number of his years is unsearchable.

God thunders marvelously with his voice. He does great things, which we can't comprehend.

By the breath of God, ice is given, and the breadth of the waters is frozen.

"Listen to this, Job. Stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.

Do you know how God controls them, and causes the lightning of his cloud to shine?

Out of the north comes golden splendor. With God is awesome majesty.

when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

Who has cut a channel for the flood water, or the path for the thunderstorm;

Who provides for the raven his prey, when his young ones cry to God, and wander for lack of food?

because God has deprived her of wisdom, neither has he imparted to her understanding.

"Shall he who argues contend with Shaddai? He who argues with God, let him answer it."

Or do you have an arm like God? Can you thunder with a voice like him?

He is the chief of the ways of God. He who made him gives him his sword.

Many there are who say of my soul, "There is no help for him in God." Selah.

Arise, LORD. Save me, my God. For you have struck all of my enemies on the cheek bone. You have broken the teeth of the wicked.

Answer me when I call, God of my righteousness. Give me relief from my distress. Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.

Many say, "Who will show us any good?" LORD, let the light of your face shine on us.

Listen to the voice of my cry, my King and my God; for to you do I pray.

For you are not a God who has pleasure in wickedness. Evil can't live with you.

Hold them guilty, God. Let them fall by their own counsels; Thrust them out in the multitude of their transgressions, for they have rebelled against you.

LORD, my God, I take refuge in you. Save me from all those who pursue me, and deliver me,

LORD, my God, if I have done this, if there is iniquity in my hands,

Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous; their minds and hearts are searched by the righteous God.

My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart.

God is a righteous judge, yes, a God who has indignation every day.

The wicked shall be turned back to Sheol, even all the nations that forget God.

The wicked, in the pride of his face, has no room in his thoughts for God.

He says in his heart, "God has forgotten. He hides his face. He will never see it."

Arise, LORD. God, lift up your hand. Do not forget the helpless.

Why does the wicked person condemn God, and say in his heart, "God won't call me into account?"

May the LORD cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that boasts,

Behold, and answer me, LORD, my God. Give light to my eyes, lest I sleep in death;

I will sing to the LORD, because he has been good to me.