1 C all now—is there any who will answer you? And to which of the holy will you turn?

2 F or vexation and rage kill the foolish man; jealousy and indignation slay the simple.

3 I have seen the foolish taking root, but suddenly I saw that his dwelling was cursed.

4 H is children are far from safety; they are crushed in the gate, and there is no one to deliver them.

5 H is harvest the hungry eat and take it even among the thorns; the snare opens for wealth.

6 F or affliction comes not forth from the dust, neither does trouble spring forth out of the ground.

7 B ut man is born to trouble as the sparks and the flames fly upward.

8 A s for me, I would seek God and inquire of and require Him, and to God would I commit my cause—

9 W ho does great things and unsearchable, marvelous things without number,

10 W ho gives rain upon the earth and sends waters upon the fields,

11 S o that He sets on high those who are lowly, and those who mourn He lifts to safety.

12 H e frustrates the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise or anything of worth.

13 H e catches the wise in their own trickiness, and the counsel of the schemers is brought to a quick end.

14 I n the daytime they meet in darkness, and at noon they grope as in the night.

15 B ut saves from the sword of their mouth, and the needy from the hand of the mighty.

16 S o the poor have hope, and iniquity shuts her mouth.

17 H appy and fortunate is the man whom God reproves; so do not despise or reject the correction of the Almighty.

18 F or He wounds, but He binds up; He smites, but His hands heal.

19 H e will rescue you in six troubles; in seven nothing that is evil will touch you.

20 I n famine He will redeem you from death, and in war from the power of the sword.

21 Y ou shall be hidden from the scourge of the tongue, neither shall you be afraid of destruction when it comes.

22 A t destruction and famine you shall laugh, neither shall you be afraid of the living creatures of the earth.

23 F or you shall be in league with the stones of the field, and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with you.

24 A nd you shall know that your tent shall be in peace, and you shall visit your fold and your dwelling and miss nothing.

25 Y ou shall know also that your children shall be many, and your offspring as the grass of the earth.

26 Y ou shall come to your grave in ripe old age, and as a shock of grain goes up in its season.

27 T his is what we have searched out; it is true. Hear and heed it and know for yourself.