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

“Call now. Is there anyone who will answer you? To which of the holy ones will you turn?

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

To be bitter kills the foolish man, and jealousy kills the child-like.

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

I have seen the fool taking root, but right away his house was cursed.

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

His sons are far from being safe. They are destroyed in the gate, and there is no one to help them.

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

The hungry eat the food of his field. They take it even out of the thorns. And the thirsty want his riches.

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

For suffering does not come from the dust. Trouble does not grow out of the ground.

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

But man is born to trouble, as fire goes up.

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

“But as for me, I would look to God. I would put my troubles before God.

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

He does great things, too great for us to understand. He does too many wonderful things for us to number.

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

He gives rain on the earth and sends water on the fields.

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

He puts those who are in low places up to high places. Those who are filled with sorrow are lifted to where they are safe.

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

He troubles the plans of those who try to fool people, so that their hands cannot do what they plan.

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

God gets them into a trap when they use their own wisdom. And the plans of the wise are brought to a quick end.

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

They meet with darkness during the day, and feel their way at noon as in the night.

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

But He saves from the sword those in need. He saves the poor from the power of the strong.

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

So those who have no hope, have hope, and what is not right and good must shut its mouth.

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

“See, happy is the man to whom God speaks strong words. So do not hate the strong teaching of the All-powerful.

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

He punishes, but He gives comfort. He hurts, but His hands heal.

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

He will take you out of six troubles. Yes, in seven, nothing will hurt you.

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

He will keep you from death in times of no food, and from the power of the sword in war.

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

You will be hidden from the punishment of the tongue. You will not be afraid of being destroyed when danger comes.

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

You will laugh at danger and times of no food. And you will not be afraid of wild animals.

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.

For you will be in agreement with the stones of the field. And the animals of the field will 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.

You will know that your tent is safe. You will look over what you have and see that nothing is gone.

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

You will know also that your children and children’s children will be many. They will be 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.

You will come to the grave in full strength, like the grain gathered in when it is time.

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

See, this is what we have found, and it is true. Hear it, and know for yourself.”