Then I would yet have my comfort, then I would rejoice, in spite of pitiless pain, for I have not concealed the words of the Holy One.

Yes, you would gamble for the fatherless, and auction off your friend.

so that I would prefer strangling, and death more than life.

If I summoned him, and he answered me, I would not believe that he would be listening to my voice --

Although I am innocent, my mouth would condemn me; although I am blameless, it would declare me perverse.

who would take his rod away from me so that his terror would not make me afraid.

Then would I speak and not fear him, but it is not so with me.

If I sinned, then you would watch me and you would not acquit me of my iniquity.

"Why then did you bring me out from the womb? I should have died and no eye would have seen me!

But if only God would speak, if only he would open his lips against you,

and reveal to you the secrets of wisdom -- for true wisdom has two sides -- so that you would know that God has forgiven some of your sins.

But an empty man will become wise, when a wild donkey's colt is born a human being.

If only you would keep completely silent! For you, that would be wisdom.

Would it turn out well if he would examine you? Or as one deceives a man would you deceive him?

He would certainly rebuke you if you secretly showed partiality!

Would not his splendor terrify you and the fear he inspires fall on you?

Moreover, this will become my deliverance, for no godless person would come before him.

Although its roots may grow old in the ground and its stump begins to die in the soil,

"O that you would hide me in Sheol, and conceal me till your anger has passed! O that you would set me a time and then remember me!

"Surely now you count my steps; then you would not mark my sin.

My offenses would be sealed up in a bag; you would cover over my sin.

But I would strengthen you with my words; comfort from my lips would bring you relief.

If indeed you would exalt yourselves above me and plead my disgrace against me,

"Surely you know that it has been from old, ever since humankind was placed on the earth,

"Why do the wicked go on living, grow old, even increase in power?

Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What would we gain if we were to pray to him?'

"Yes, I know what you are thinking, the schemes by which you would wrong me.

Will you keep to the old path that evil men have walked --

I would lay out my case before him and fill my mouth with arguments.

I would know with what words he would answer me, and understand what he would say to me.

Would he contend with me with great power? No, he would only pay attention to me.

There an upright person could present his case before him, and I would be delivered forever from my judge.

But he knows the pathway that I take; if he tested me, I would come forth like gold.

Like wild donkeys in the desert they go out to their labor, seeking diligently for food; the wasteland provides food for them and for their children.

the young men would see me and step aside, and the old men would get up and remain standing;

gaunt with want and hunger, they would gnaw the parched land, in former time desolate and waste.

By the brush they would gather herbs from the salt marshes, and the root of the broom tree was their food.

They were banished from the community -- people shouted at them like they would shout at thieves --

What then would be one's lot from God above, one's heritage from the Almighty on high?

For I would have committed a shameful act, an iniquity to be judged.

For it is a fire that devours even to Destruction, and it would uproot all my harvest.

then this also would be iniquity to be judged, for I would have been false to God above.

because I was terrified of the great multitude, and the contempt of families terrified me, so that I remained silent and would not go outdoors --

Surely I would wear it proudly on my shoulder, I would bind it on me like a crown;

I would give him an accounting of my steps; like a prince I would approach him.

It is not the aged who are wise, nor old men who understand what is right.

for I do not know how to give honorary titles, if I did, my Creator would quickly do away with me.

all flesh would perish together and human beings would return to dust.

who teaches us more than the wild animals of the earth, and makes us wiser than the birds of the sky?'

Would your wealth sustain you, so that you would not be in distress, even all your mighty efforts?

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

Should he be informed that I want to speak? If a man speaks, surely he would be swallowed up!

"Are you acquainted with the way the mountain goats give birth? Do you watch as the wild deer give birth to their young?

Who let the wild donkey go free? Who released the bonds of the donkey,

Is the wild ox willing to be your servant? Will it spend the night at your feeding trough?

Can you bind the wild ox to a furrow with its rope, will it till the valleys, following after you?

She forgets that a foot might crush them, or that a wild animal might trample them.

Would you indeed annul my justice? Would you declare me guilty so that you might be right?

For the hills bring it food, where all the wild animals play.

It leaves a glistening wake behind it; one would think the deep had a head of white hair.

And so Job died, old and full of days.

including all the sheep and cattle, as well as the wild animals,

Break the arm of the wicked and evil man! Hold him accountable for his wicked deeds, which he thought you would not discover.

I wish the deliverance of Israel would come from Zion! When the Lord restores the well-being of his people, may Jacob rejoice, may Israel be happy!

Protect me as you would protect the pupil of your eye! Hide me in the shadow of your wings!

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

Deliver me from the sword! Save my life from the claws of the wild dogs!

Rescue me from the mouth of the lion, and from the horns of the wild oxen! You have answered me!

Even if my father and mother abandoned me, the Lord would take me in.

Where would I be if I did not believe I would experience the Lord's favor in the land of the living?

Do you want to really live? Would you love to live a long, happy life?

I mourned for them as I would for a friend or my brother. I bowed down in sorrow as if I were mourning for my mother.

I was once young, now I am old. I have never seen a godly man abandoned, or his children forced to search for food.

Yet you have battered us, leaving us a heap of ruins overrun by wild dogs; you have covered us with darkness.

would not God discover it, for he knows one's thoughts?

For every wild animal in the forest belongs to me, as well as the cattle that graze on a thousand hills.

Even if I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and all it contains belong to me.

Certainly you do not want a sacrifice, or else I would offer it; you do not desire a burnt sacrifice.

"Look, here is the man who would not make God his protector! He trusted in his great wealth and was confident about his plans to destroy others."

I wish the deliverance of Israel would come from Zion! When God restores the well-being of his people, may Jacob rejoice, may Israel be happy!

I say, "I wish I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and settle in a safe place!

We would share personal thoughts with each other; in God's temple we would walk together among the crowd.

You visit the earth and give it rain; you make it rich and fertile with overflowing streams full of water. You provide grain for them, for you prepare the earth to yield its crops.

If I had harbored sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.

Sound your battle cry against the wild beast of the reeds, and the nations that assemble like a herd of calves led by bulls! They humble themselves and offer gold and silver as tribute. God scatters the nations that like to do battle.

Do not reject me in my old age! When my strength fails, do not abandon me!

Even when I am old and gray, O God, do not abandon me, until I tell the next generation about your strength, and those coming after me about your power.

If I had publicized these thoughts, I would have betrayed your loyal followers.

Do not hand the life of your dove over to a wild animal! Do not continue to disregard the lives of your oppressed people!

From heaven you announced what their punishment would be. The earth was afraid and silent

I thought about the days of old, about ancient times.

The wild boars of the forest ruin it; the insects of the field feed on it.

I said, 'Listen, my people! I will warn you! O Israel, if only you would obey me!

If only my people would obey me! If only Israel would keep my commands!

Then I would quickly subdue their enemies, and attack their adversaries."

"I would feed Israel the best wheat, and would satisfy your appetite with honey from the rocky cliffs."

Certainly spending just one day in your temple courts is better than spending a thousand elsewhere. I would rather stand at the entrance to the temple of my God than live in the tents of the wicked.

Yes, the Lord will bestow his good blessings, and our land will yield its crops.

You exalt my horn like that of a wild ox. I am covered with fresh oil.

They bear fruit even when they are old; they are filled with vitality and have many leaves.