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

Thus, he that calleth upon God, and whom God heareth, is mocked of his neighbour; the godly and innocent man is laughed to scorn.

Godliness is a light despised in the hearts of the rich, and is set for them to stumble upon.

What is he, but he knoweth that the hand of the LORD made all these?

In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all men.

"Among old persons there is wisdom, and among the aged is understanding.

Yea, with God is wisdom and strength - it is he that hath counsel and foreknowledge.

With him is strength and wisdom: he knoweth both the deceiver and him that is deceived.

He carrieth away the wise men, as it were a spoil, and bringeth the judges out of their wits.

Nevertheless I am purposed to talk with the almighty, and my desire is to commune with God.

As for you, ye are workmasters of lies, and unprofitable physicians altogether.

Would God ye kept your tongue, that ye might be taken for wise men!

Shall that help you, when he calleth you to reckoning? Think ye to beguile him, as a man is beguiled?

"Hold your tongues now, and let me speak, for there is something come into my mind.

What is he that will go to law with me? For if I hold my tongue, I shall die.

Whereas I, notwithstanding, must consume like as a foul carrion, and as a cloth that is moth eaten.

Man that is born of a woman hath but a short time to live, and is full of divers miseries.

He cometh up and is cut down like a flower. He flyeth as it were a shadow, and never continueth in one state.

Go from him, that he may rest until his day come: which he looketh for, like as a hireling doth.

"If a tree be cut down, there is some hope yet, that it will sprout and shoot forth the branches again;

yet when the stock getteth the scent of water, it will bud, and bring forth bows, like as when it was first planted.

But as for man; when he is dead, perished and consumed away, what becometh of him?

Thou hast sealed up mine offenses, as it were in a bag: but be merciful unto my wickedness.

While he liveth, his flesh must have travail: And while the soul is in him, he must be in sorrow."

"Should a wise man's answer be as the science of the wind, and fill his belly with the wind of the east?

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

Hast thou heard the secret counsel of God, that all wisdom is too little for thee?

With us are old and aged men; yea, such as have lived longer than thy forefathers.

Thinkest thou it a small thing of the consolations of God? With thee is a lying word.

that thy mind is so puffed up against God and lettest such words go out of thy mouth?

What is man, that he should be clean? What hath he, which is born of a woman, whereby he might be known to be righteous?

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

The ungodly despaireth all the days of his life, and the number of a tyrant's years is unknown.

A fearful sound is ever in his ears, and when it is peace yet feareth he destruction.

He believeth never to be delivered out of darkness; the sword is always before his eyes.

When he goeth forth to get his living, he thinketh plainly, that the day of darkness is at hand.

Sorrow and carefulness make him afraid, and compass him round about, like as it where a king with his host ready to the battle.

He will never apply himself to faithfulness and truth, so sore is he deceived with vanity.

He shall be plucked off as an untimely grape from the vine, and shall let his flower fall, as the olive doth.

For the congregation of hypocrites is unfruitful, and the fire shall consume the houses of such as are greedy to receive gifts.

I could speak as ye do also. But would God, that your soul were in my soul's stead: then should I heap up words against you, and shake my head at you.

And that thou hast filled me with wrinkles, my flesh is witness; and my leanness riseth up against me and beareth witness thereof in my face.

He is angry at me, he hateth me, and gnasheth upon me with his teeth. Mine enemy scowleth upon me with his eyes.

I was some time in wealth, but suddenly hath he brought me to naught. He hath taken me by the neck, he hath rent me, and set me, as it were a mark for him to shoot at.

He hath given me one wound upon another, and is fallen upon me like a giant.

My face is swollen with weeping, and mine eyes are waxen dim.

"Howbeit there is no wickedness in my hands, and my prayer is clean.

For lo, my witness is in heaven, and he that knoweth me, is above in the height.

Though a body might plead with God, as one man doth with another,

He hath made me as it were a byword of the common people. I am his jesting stock among them.

Mine eye is dim for very heaviness, and all my strength is become like a shadow.

"As for you, turn you, and get you hence, I pray you - seeing I cannot see one wise man among you.

Though I tarry never so much, yet the grave is my house, and I must make my bed in the dark.

Wherefore are we counted as beasts, and reputed so vile in your sight?

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

The snare is laid for him in the ground, and a pitfall in the way.

Other men shall dwell in his house - which now is none of his - and brimstone shall be scattered upon his habitation.

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

But if ye will enhance yourselves against me, and accuse me to be a wicked person because of the shame that is come upon me;

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

Behold: though I cry, yet violence is done unto me. I cannot be heard! Though I complain, there is none to give sentence with me.

He hath destroyed me on every side, and I am undone: My hope hath he taken away from me, as it were a tree plucked up by the root.

His wrath is kindled against me; he taketh me, as though I were his enemy.

He hath put my brethren far away from me, and such as were of mine acquaintance, are become strangers unto me.

The servants and maids of mine own house take me for a stranger, and I am become as an alien in their sight.

All such as were my most familiars, abhor me: And they whom I loved best, are turned against me.

My bone hangeth to my skin, and my flesh is away; there is left me only the skin about my teeth.

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

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

But beware of the sword, for the sword will be avenged of wickedness. And be sure, that there is a judgment."

"For the same cause do my thoughts compel me to answer. And why? My mind is tossed here and there.

yet he perisheth at the last, like dung. Insomuch that they which have seen him, say, 'Where is he?'

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

The bread that he did eat is turned to the poison of serpents, within his body.

Though he had plenteousness of everything, yet was he poor, and therefore he is but a wretch on every side.

This is the portion that the wicked shall have of God, and the heritage that he may look for of the LORD."

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

For when I ponder and consider this, I am afraid, and my flesh is smitten with fear.

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!

What manner of fellow is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What profit should we have, to submit ourselves unto him?'

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

Yea, they shall be even as chaff before the wind, and as dust that the storm carrieth away.

For what careth he, what become of his household after his death, when the number of his months is cut short?

Inasmuch then as God hath the highest power of all, who can teach him any knowledge?

One dieth now when he is mighty and at his best, rich and in prosperity;

For ye say, 'Where is the prince's palace? Where is the dwelling of the ungodly?

that the wicked is kept unto the day of destruction, and that the ungodly shall be brought forth in the day of wrath.

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

"May a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself?

Is it any advantage to the Almighty that thou art righteous? Or what doth it profit him, that thy ways are perfect?

Is he afraid to reprove thee, and to step forth with thee into judgment?

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

To such as were weary, hast thou given no water to drink, and thou hast withdrawn bread from the hungry.

Should such one then as useth violence, wrong and oppression, doing all things of partiality, and having respect of persons, dwell in the land?

Now because that God is higher than the heavens, and because thou seest the stars are so high,

which were cut down out of time, and whose foundation was as a running water,

which said unto God, 'Go from us.' And what did the Almighty do with them?

He filled their houses with good things. But the council of the ungodly is far from me.

"My saying is yet this day in bitterness, and my hand heavy among my groanings.