1 C all now; is there any that will answer thee? And to which of the holy ones wilt thou turn?

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

2 F or vexation killeth the foolish man, And jealousy slayeth the silly one.

For vexation and rage kill the foolish man; jealousy and indignation slay the simple.

3 I have seen the foolish taking root: But suddenly I cursed his habitation.

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

4 H is children are far from safety, And they are crushed in the gate, Neither is there any to deliver them:

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

5 W hose harvest the hungry eateth up, And taketh it even out of the thorns; And the snare gapeth for their substance.

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

6 F or affliction cometh not forth from the dust, Neither doth trouble spring out of the ground;

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

7 B ut man is born unto trouble, As the sparks fly upward.

But man is born to trouble as the sparks and the flames fly upward.

8 B ut as for me, I would seek unto God, And unto God would I commit my cause;

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

9 W ho doeth great things and unsearchable, Marvellous things without number:

Who does great things and unsearchable, marvelous things without number,

10 W ho giveth rain upon the earth, And sendeth waters upon the fields;

Who gives rain upon the earth and sends waters upon the fields,

11 S o that he setteth up on high those that are low, And those that mourn are exalted to safety.

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

12 H e frustrateth the devices of the crafty, So that their hands cannot perform their enterprise.

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

13 H e taketh the wise in their own craftiness; And the counsel of the cunning is carried headlong.

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

14 T hey meet with darkness in the day-time, And grope at noonday as in the night.

In the daytime they meet in darkness, and at noon they grope as in the night.

15 B ut he saveth from the sword of their mouth, Even the needy from the hand of the mighty.

But saves from the sword of their mouth, and the needy from the hand of the mighty.

16 S o the poor hath hope, And iniquity stoppeth her mouth.

So the poor have hope, and iniquity shuts her mouth.

17 B ehold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: Therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty.

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

18 F or he maketh sore, and bindeth up; He woundeth, and his hands make whole.

For He wounds, but He binds up; He smites, but His hands heal.

19 H e will deliver thee in six troubles; Yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee.

He will rescue you in six troubles; in seven nothing that is evil will touch you.

20 I n famine he will redeem thee from death; And in war from the power of the sword.

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

21 T hou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue; Neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh.

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

22 A t destruction and dearth thou shalt laugh; Neither shalt thou be afraid of the beasts of the earth.

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

23 F or thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field; And the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee.

For 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 thou shalt know that thy tent is in peace; And thou shalt visit thy fold, and shalt miss nothing.

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

25 T hou shalt know also that thy seed shall be great, And thine offspring as the grass of the earth.

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

26 T hou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, Like as a shock of grain cometh in in its season.

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

27 L o this, we have searched it, so it is; Hear it, and know thou it for thy good.

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