They come in as through a wide breach; amid the crash they come rolling in.

Terrors are turned loose on me; they drive away my honor like the wind, and like a cloud my deliverance has passed away.

"If I have disregarded the right of my male servants or my female servants when they disputed with me,

If I have refused to give the poor what they desired, or caused the eyes of the widow to fail,

With Job's three friends he was also angry, because they could not find an answer, and so declared Job guilty.

"They are dismayed and cannot answer any more; they have nothing left to say.

And I have waited. But because they do not speak, because they stand there and answer no more,

In a dream, a night vision, when deep sleep falls on people as they sleep in their beds.

In a moment they die, in the middle of the night, people are shaken and they pass away. The mighty are removed effortlessly.

Therefore, he knows their deeds, he overthrows them in the night and they are crushed.

because they have turned away from following him, and have not understood any of his ways,

so that they caused the cry of the poor to come before him, so that he hears the cry of the needy.

"People cry out because of the excess of oppression; they cry out for help because of the power of the mighty.

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

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

then he reveals to them what they have done, and their transgressions, that they were behaving proudly.

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

If they obey and serve him, they live out their days in prosperity and their years in pleasantness.

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

The godless at heart nourish anger, they do not cry out even when he binds them.

They die in their youth, and their life ends among the male cultic prostitutes.

He draws up drops of water; they distill the rain into its mist,

The wild animals go to their lairs, and in their dens they remain.

Can you send out lightning bolts, and they go? Will they say to you, 'Here we are'?

when they crouch in their dens, when they wait in ambush in the thicket?

Do you count the months they must fulfill, and do you know the time they give birth?

They crouch, they bear their young, they bring forth the offspring they have carried.

Their young grow strong, and grow up in the open; they go off, and do not return to them.

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

She is harsh with her young, as if they were not hers; she is unconcerned about the uselessness of her labor.

Will partners bargain for it? Will they divide it up among the merchants?

They lock tightly together, one to the next; they cling together and cannot be separated.

The folds of its flesh are tightly joined; they are firm on it, immovable.

When it rises up, the mighty are terrified, at its thrashing about they withdraw.

So they went, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite, and did just as the Lord had told them; and the Lord had respect for Job.

So they came to him, all his brothers and sisters and all who had known him before, and they dined with him in his house. They comforted him and consoled him for all the trouble the Lord had brought on him, and each one gave him a piece of silver and a gold ring.

Not so with the wicked! Instead they are like wind-driven chaff.

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

For they do not speak the truth; their stomachs are like the place of destruction, their throats like an open grave, their tongues like a steep slope leading into it.

Condemn them, O God! May their own schemes be their downfall! Drive them away because of their many acts of insurrection, for they have rebelled against 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!

My eyes grow dim from suffering; they grow weak because of all my enemies.

May all my enemies be humiliated and absolutely terrified! May they turn back and be suddenly humiliated!

Otherwise they will rip me to shreds like a lion; they will tear me to bits and no one will be able to rescue me.

O Lord my God, if I have done what they say, or am guilty of unjust actions,

When my enemies turn back, they trip and are defeated before you.

when they prayed: "Have mercy on me, Lord! See how I am oppressed by those who hate me, O one who can snatch me away from the gates of death!

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

Terrify them, Lord! Let the nations know they are mere mortals! (Selah)

His victims are crushed and beaten down; they are trapped in his sturdy nets.

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

May the Lord rain down burning coals and brimstone on the wicked! A whirlwind is what they deserve!

People lie to one another; they flatter and deceive.

They say, "We speak persuasively; we know how to flatter and boast. Who is our master?"

"Because of the violence done to the oppressed, because of the painful cries of the needy, I will spring into action," says the Lord. "I will provide the safety they so desperately desire."

The Lord's words are absolutely reliable. They are as untainted as silver purified in a furnace on the ground, where it is thoroughly refined.

For the music director; by David. Fools say to themselves, "There is no God." They sin and commit evil deeds; none of them does what is right.

Everyone rejects God; they are all morally corrupt. None of them does what is right, not even one!

All those who behave wickedly do not understand -- those who devour my people as if they were eating bread, and do not call out to the Lord.

They are absolutely terrified, for God defends the godly.

their troubles multiply, they desire other gods. I will not pour out drink offerings of blood to their gods, nor will I make vows in the name of their gods.

They are calloused; they speak arrogantly.

They attack me, now they surround me; they intend to throw me to the ground.

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.

The earth heaved and shook; the roots of the mountains trembled; they heaved because he was angry.

He rescued me from my strong enemy, from those who hate me, for they were too strong for me.

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

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.

When they hear of my exploits, they submit to me. Foreigners are powerless before me;

foreigners lose their courage; they shake with fear as they leave their strongholds.

They are of greater value than gold, than even a great amount of pure gold; they bring greater delight than honey, than even the sweetest honey from a honeycomb.

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.

In you our ancestors trusted; they trusted in you and you rescued them.

To you they cried out, and they were saved; in you they trusted and they were not disappointed.

All who see me taunt me; they mock me and shake their heads.

They say, "Commit yourself to the Lord! Let the Lord rescue him! Let the Lord deliver him, for he delights in him."

They open their mouths to devour me like a roaring lion that rips its prey.

Yes, wild dogs surround me -- a gang of evil men crowd around me; like a lion they pin my hands and feet.

They are dividing up my clothes among themselves; they are rolling dice for my garments.

A whole generation will serve him; they will tell the next generation about the sovereign Lord.

They will come and tell about his saving deeds; they will tell a future generation what he has accomplished.

The Lord shows his faithful followers the way they should live.

They experience his favor; their descendants inherit the land.

Watch my enemies, for they outnumber me; they hate me and want to harm me.

When evil men attack me to devour my flesh, when my adversaries and enemies attack me, they stumble and fall.

Do not drag me away with evil men, with those who behave wickedly, who talk so friendly to their neighbors, while they plan to harm them!

Pay them back for their evil deeds! Pay them back for what they do! Punish them!

For they do not understand the Lord's actions, or the way he carries out justice. The Lord will permanently demolish them.

You will free me from the net they hid for me, for you are my place of refuge.

For I hear what so many are saying, the terrifying news that comes from every direction. When they plot together against me, they figure out how they can take my life.

O Lord, do not let me be humiliated, for I call out to you! May evil men be humiliated! May they go wailing to the grave!

You hide them with you, where they are safe from the attacks of men; you conceal them in a shelter, where they are safe from slanderous attacks.

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

May they be like wind-driven chaff, as the Lord's angel attacks them!

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

Let destruction take them by surprise! Let the net they hid catch them! Let them fall into destruction!

They repay me evil for the good I have done; I am overwhelmed with sorrow.

When they were sick, I wore sackcloth, and refrained from eating food. (If I am lying, may my prayers go unanswered!)