1 ¶ Call now, if there shall be anyone to answer thee; and if there shall be any of the saints for thee to look unto?

“Call now, is there anyone who will answer you? And to which of the holy ones will you turn?

2 I t is certain that wrath kills the foolish man, and envy consumes the covetous one.

“For anger slays the foolish man, And jealousy kills the simple.

3 I have seen the foolish taking root, but at the same time I cursed his habitation.

“I have seen the foolish taking root, And I cursed his abode immediately.

4 H is sons are far from saving health, and they shall be crushed in the gate, and there shall be no one to deliver them.

“His sons are far from safety, They are even oppressed in the gate, And there is no deliverer.

5 T he hungry shall eat up his harvest, and even take it out from among the thorns, and the thirsty shall drink up their substance.

“ His harvest the hungry devour And take it to a place of thorns, And the schemer is eager for their wealth.

6 ¶ For the iniquity does not come forth out of the dust; neither does chastisement spring up out of the ground;

“For affliction does not come from the dust, Nor does trouble sprout from the ground,

7 y et man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward.

For man is born for trouble, As sparks fly upward.

8 I would certainly seek God, and unto God would I commit my affairs;

“But as for me, I would seek God, And I would place my cause before God;

9 w ho does great things that no one can understand, and marvels that have no explanation;

Who does great and unsearchable things, Wonders without number.

10 w ho gives rain upon the earth and sends waters abroad;

“He gives rain on the earth And sends water on the fields,

11 w ho sets up the humble on high, that those who mourn may be lifted up with saving health.

So that He sets on high those who are lowly, And those who mourn are lifted to safety.

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

“He frustrates the plotting of the shrewd, So that their hands cannot attain success.

13 H e takes the wise in their own prudence, and the counsel of his adversaries is turned to folly.

“He captures the wise by their own shrewdness, And the advice of the cunning is quickly thwarted.

14 T hey meet with darkness in the daytime and grope in the noonday as in the night.

“By day they meet with darkness, And grope at noon as in the night.

15 B ut he saves the poor from the sword, from the mouth of the wicked, and from the hand of the violent.

“But He saves from the sword of their mouth, And the poor from the hand of the mighty.

16 W ho is the hope of the poor, and iniquity closes her mouth.

“So the helpless has hope, And unrighteousness must shut its mouth.

17 ¶ Behold, blessed is the man whom God chastens; therefore, do not despise not the correction of the Almighty.

“Behold, how happy is the man whom God reproves, So do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.

18 F or he makes sore, and binds up; he wounds, and his hands make whole.

“For He inflicts pain, and gives relief; He wounds, and His hands also heal.

19 H e shall deliver thee in six tribulations, and in the seventh no evil shall touch thee.

“ From six troubles He will deliver you, Even in seven evil will not touch you.

20 I n famine he shall ransom 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 comes.

“You will be hidden from the scourge of the tongue, And you will not be afraid of violence when it comes.

22 A t destruction and famine thou shalt laugh; neither shalt thou be afraid of the beasts of the earth;

“You will laugh at violence and famine, And you will not be afraid of wild beasts.

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 will be in league with the stones of the field, And the beasts of the field will be at peace with you.

24 A nd thou shalt know that there is peace in thy tent, and thou shalt visit thy habitation and shalt not sin.

“You will know that your tent is secure, For you will visit your abode and fear no loss.

25 T hou shalt know that thy seed is great and thine offspring as the grass of the earth.

“You will know also that your descendants will be many, And your offspring as the grass of the earth.

26 T hou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, like a shock of wheat that is gathered in its season.

“You will come to the grave in full vigor, Like the stacking of grain in its season.

27 B ehold that which we have searched out, so it is; hear it and judge it for thyself.

“Behold this; we have investigated it, and so it is. Hear it, and know for yourself.”