(For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, Because our days upon earth are a shadow);

So are the paths of all that forget God; And the hope of the godless man shall perish:

His roots are wrapped about the'stone -heap, He beholdeth the place of stones.

Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer; I would make supplication to my judge.

Now my days are swifter than a post: They flee away, they see no good,

They are passed away as the swift ships; As the eagle that swoopeth on the prey.

Hast thou eyes of flesh? Or seest thou as man seeth?

Are thy days as the days of man, Or thy years as man's days,

Thou renewest thy witnesses against me, And increasest thine indignation upon me: Changes and warfare are with me.

Are not my days few? cease then, And let me alone, that I may take comfort a little,

The land dark as midnight, The land of the shadow of death, without any order, And where the light is as midnight.

For thou shalt forget thy misery; Thou shalt remember it as waters that are passed away,

No doubt but ye are the people, And wisdom shall die with you.

The tents of robbers prosper, And they that provoke God are secure; Into whose hand God bringeth abundantly .

Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee; And the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.

Doth not the ear try words, Even as the palate tasteth its food?

With him is strength and wisdom; The deceived and the deceiver are his.

He taketh away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth, And causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.

Lo, mine eye hath seen all this , Mine ear hath heard and understood it.

But ye are forgers of lies; Ye are all physicians of no value.

Oh that ye would altogether hold your peace! And it would be your wisdom.

Is it good that he should search you out? Or as one deceiveth a man, will ye deceive him?

Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes, Your defences are defences of clay.

Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak; And let come on me what will.

Hear diligently my speech, And let my declaration be in your ears.

Then call thou, and I will answer; Or let me speak, and answer thou me.

How many are mine iniquities and sins? Make me to know my transgression and my sin.

Seeing his days are determined, The number of his months is with thee, And thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass;

But man dieth, and is laid low: Yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?

The waters wear the stones; The overflowings thereof wash away the dust of the earth: So thou destroyest the hope of man.

His sons come to honor, and he knoweth it not; And they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them.

Should he reason with unprofitable talk, Or with speeches wherewith he can do no good?

Art thou the first man that was born? Or wast thou brought forth before the hills?

With us are both the gray-headed and the very aged men, Much elder than thy father.

Are the consolations of God too small for thee, Even the word that is gentle toward thee?

Behold, he putteth no trust in his holy ones; Yea, the heavens are not clean in his sight:

The wicked man travaileth with pain all his days, Even the number of years that are laid up for the oppressor.

He wandereth abroad for bread,'saying , Where is it? He knoweth that the day of darkness is ready at his hand.

And he hath dwelt in desolate cities, In houses which no man inhabited, Which were ready to become heaps;

I have heard many such things: Miserable comforters are ye all.

Shall vain words have an end? Or what provoketh thee that thou answerest?

I also could speak as ye do; If your soul were in my soul's stead, I could join words together against you, And shake my head at you.

But I would strengthen you with my mouth, And the solace of my lips would assuage your grief .

For when a few years are come, I shall go the way whence I shall not return.

My spirit is consumed, my days are extinct, The grave is ready for me.

Surely there are mockers with me, And mine eye dwelleth upon their provocation.

Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, And all my members are as a shadow.

My days are past, my purposes are broken off, Even the thoughts of my heart.

Where then is my hope? And as for my hope, who shall see it?

Wherefore are we counted as beasts, And are become unclean in your sight?

Thou that tearest thyself in thine anger, Shall the earth be forsaken for thee? Or shall the rock be removed out of its place?

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

He shall have neither son nor son's son among his people, Nor any remaining where he sojourned.

They that come after shall be astonished at his day, As they that went before were affrighted.

Surely such are the dwellings of the unrighteous, And this is the place of him that knoweth not God.

These ten times have ye reproached me: Ye are not ashamed that ye deal hardly with me.

He hath put my brethren far from me, And mine acquaintance are wholly estranged from me.

All my familiar friends abhor me, And they whom I loved are turned against me.

Why do ye persecute me as God, And are not satisfied with my flesh?

Oh that my words were now written! Oh that they were inscribed in a book!

That with an iron pen and lead They were graven in the rock for ever!

Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung: They that have seen him shall say, Where is he?

His bones are full of his youth, But it shall lie down with him in the dust.

He draweth it forth, and it cometh out of his body; Yea, the glittering point cometh out of his gall: Terrors are upon him.

Hear diligently my speech; And let this be your consolations.

Mark me, and be astonished, And lay your hand upon your mouth.

Their houses are safe from fear, Neither is the rod of God upon them.

That they are as stubble before the wind, And as chaff that the storm carrieth away?

Shall any teach God knowledge, Seeing he judgeth those that are high?

His pails are full of milk, And the marrow of his bones is moistened.

Behold, I know your thoughts, And the devices wherewith ye would wrong me.

For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? And where is the tent wherein the wicked dwelt?

That the evil man is reserved to the day of calamity? That they are led forth to the day of wrath?

The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, And all men shall draw after him, As there were innumerable before him.

How then comfort ye me in vain, Seeing in your answers there remaineth only falsehood?

Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? Or is it gain to him , that thou makest thy ways perfect?

Therefore snares are round about thee, And sudden fear troubleth thee,

Or darkness, so that thou canst not see, And abundance of waters cover thee.

Is not God in the height of heaven? And behold the height of the stars, how high they are!

Thick clouds are a covering to him, so that he seeth not; And he walketh on the vault of heaven.

Who were snatched away before their time, Whose foundation was poured out as a stream,

The righteous see it, and are glad; And the innocent laugh them to scorn,

Saying , Surely they that did rise up against us are cut off, And the remnant of them the fire hath consumed.

Oh that I knew where I might find him! That I might come even to his seat!

For he performeth that which is appointed for me: And many such things are with him.

Why are times not laid up by the Almighty? And why do not they that know him see his days?

There are that remove the landmarks; They violently take away flocks, and feed them.

They are wet with the showers of the mountains, And embrace the rock for want of a shelter.

There are that pluck the fatherless from the breast, And take a pledge of the poor;

These are of them that rebel against the light; They know not the ways thereof, Nor abide in the paths thereof.

God giveth them to be in security, and they rest thereon; And his eyes are upon their ways.

They are exalted; yet a little while, and they are gone; Yea, 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.

Dominion and fear are with him; He maketh peace in his high places.

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

Behold, even the moon hath no brightness, And the stars are not pure in his sight:

They that are deceased tremble Beneath the waters and the inhabitants thereof.

The pillars of heaven tremble And are astonished at his rebuke.

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

Lo, these are but the outskirts of his ways: And how small a whisper do we hear of him! But the thunder of his power who can understand?

Behold, all ye yourselves have seen it; Why then are ye become altogether vain?