I shall be condemned. Why then do I labor in vain?

"Shouldn't the multitude of words be answered? Should a man full of talk be justified?

If he passes by, or confines, or convenes a court, then who can oppose him?

Surely then you shall lift up your face without spot; Yes, you shall be steadfast, and shall not fear:

Life shall be clearer than the noonday. Though there is darkness, it shall be as the morning.

You shall be secure, because there is hope. Yes, you shall search, and shall take your rest in safety.

But the eyes of the wicked shall fail. They shall have no way to flee. Their hope shall be the giving up of the spirit."

Behold, he breaks down, and it can't be built again. He imprisons a man, and there can be no release.

Oh that you would be completely silent. Then you would be wise.

"Be silent, leave me alone, that I may speak. Let come on me what will.

This also shall be my salvation, that a godless man shall not come before him.

Hear diligently my speech. Let my declaration be in your ears.

so man lies down and doesn't rise. Until the heavens are no more, they shall not awake, nor be roused out of their sleep.

What is man, that he should be clean? What is he who is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?

(Which wise men have told by their fathers, and have not hidden it;

He doesn't believe that he shall return out of darkness. He is waited for by the sword.

He shall not be rich, neither shall his substance continue, neither shall their possessions be extended on the earth.

He shall not depart out of darkness. The flame shall dry up his branches. By the breath of God's mouth shall he go away.

Let him not trust in emptiness, deceiving himself; for emptiness shall be his reward.

It shall be accomplished before his time. His branch shall not be green.

For the company of the godless shall be barren, and fire shall consume the tents of bribery.

I was at ease, and he broke me apart. Yes, he has taken me by the neck, and dashed me to pieces. He has also set me up for his target.

"Now give a pledge, be collateral for me with yourself. Who is there who will strike hands with me?

My eye also is dim by reason of sorrow. All my members are as a shadow.

Upright men shall be astonished at this. The innocent shall stir up himself against the godless.

You who tear yourself in your anger, shall the earth be forsaken for you? Or shall the rock be removed out of its place?

"Yes, the light of the wicked shall be put out, The spark of his fire shall not shine.

The light shall be dark in his tent. His lamp above him shall be put out.

The steps of his strength shall be shortened. His own counsel shall cast him down.

For he is cast into a net by his own feet, and he wanders into its mesh.

A snare will take him by the heel. A trap will catch him.

His strength shall be famished. Calamity shall be ready at his side.

The members of his body shall be devoured. The firstborn of death shall devour his members.

He shall be rooted out of his tent where he trusts. He shall be brought to the king of terrors.

There shall dwell in his tent that which is none of his. Sulfur shall be scattered on his habitation.

His roots shall be dried up beneath. Above shall his branch be cut off.

He shall be driven from light into darkness, and chased out of the world.

Those who come after shall be astonished at his day, as those who went before were frightened.

My bones stick to my skin and to my flesh. I have escaped by the skin of my teeth.

be afraid of the sword, for wrath brings the punishments of the sword, that you may know there is a judgment."

"Therefore do my thoughts give answer to me, even by reason of my haste that is in me.

He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found. Yes, he shall be chased away like a vision of the night.

This is the portion of a wicked man from God, the heritage appointed to him by God."

"Listen diligently to my speech. Let this be your consolation.

As for me, is my complaint to man? Why shouldn't I be impatient?

Look at me, and be astonished. Lay your hand on your mouth.

Yet he will be borne to the grave. Men shall keep watch over the tomb.

The clods of the valley shall be sweet to him. All men shall draw after him, as there were innumerable before him.

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

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

If you return to Shaddai, you shall be built up, if you put away unrighteousness far from your tents.

Shaddai will be your treasure, and precious silver to you.

You shall make your prayer to him, and he will hear you. You shall pay your vows.

You shall also decree a thing, and it shall be established for you, and light shall shine on your ways.

When they cast down, you shall say, 'be lifted up.' He will save the humble person.

He will even deliver him who is not innocent. Yes, he shall be delivered through the cleanness of your hands."

There the upright might reason with him, so I should be delivered forever from my judge.

"Why aren't times made known by Shaddai? Why do not those who know him see his days?

The womb shall forget him. The worm shall feed sweetly on him. He shall be no more remembered. Unrighteousness shall be broken as a tree.

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

Can his armies be counted? On whom does his light not arise?

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

He stirs up the sea with his power, and by his understanding he strikes through Rahab.

By his Spirit the heavens are garnished. His hand has pierced the swift serpent.

Far be it from me that I should justify you. Until I die I will not put away my integrity from me.

"Let my enemy be as the wicked. Let him who rises up against me be as the unrighteous.

If his children are multiplied, it is for the sword. His offspring shall not be satisfied with bread.

Those who remain of him shall be buried in death. His widows shall make no lamentation.

He breaks open a shaft away from where people live. They are forgotten by the foot. They hang far from men, they swing back and forth.

As for the earth, out of it comes bread; Underneath it is turned up as it were by fire.

The proud animals have not trodden it, nor has the fierce lion passed by there.

He puts forth his hand on the flinty rock, and he overturns the mountains by the roots.

"But where shall wisdom be found? Where is the place of understanding?

It can't be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighed for its price.

It can't be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire.

Gold and glass can't equal it, neither shall it be exchanged for jewels of fine gold.

No mention shall be made of coral or of crystal. Yes, the price of wisdom is above rubies.

The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, Neither shall it be valued with pure gold.

He establishes the force of the wind. Yes, he measures out the waters by measure.

when his lamp shone on my head, and by his light I walked through darkness,

My glory is fresh in me. My bow is renewed in my hand.'

They pluck salt herbs by the bushes. The roots of the broom are their food.

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

You have turned to be cruel to me. With the might of your hand you persecute me.

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

then let me sow, and let another eat. Yes, let the produce of my field be rooted out.

For that would be a heinous crime. Yes, it would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges:

then let my shoulder fall from the shoulder blade, and my arm be broken from the bone.

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

(yes, I have not allowed my mouth to sin by asking his life with a curse);

if like Adam I have covered my transgressions, by hiding my iniquity in my heart,

I will speak, that I may be refreshed. I will open my lips and answer.

Behold, my terror shall not make you afraid, neither shall my pressure be heavy on you.

He keeps back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.

His flesh is so consumed away, that it can't be seen. His bones that were not seen stick out.

His flesh shall be fresher than a child's. He returns to the days of his youth.

to bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of the living.

"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.

because they turned aside from following him, and wouldn't pay attention to any of his ways,

that the godless man may not reign, that there be no one to ensnare the people.