1 “ Call out now; Is there anyone who will answer you? And to which of the holy ones will you turn?

“Call now; is there any who will answer you? To which of the holy ones will you turn?

2 F or wrath kills a foolish man, And envy slays a simple one.

For resentment kills the foolish man, and jealousy kills the simple.

3 I have seen the foolish taking root, But suddenly I cursed his dwelling place.

I have seen the foolish taking root, but suddenly I cursed his habitation.

4 H is sons are far from safety, They are crushed in the gate, And there is no deliverer.

His children are far from safety. They are crushed in the gate. Neither is there any to deliver them,

5 B ecause the hungry eat up his harvest, Taking it even from the thorns, And a snare snatches their substance.

whose harvest the hungry eats up, and take it even out of the thorns. The snare gapes for their substance.

6 F or affliction does not come from the dust, Nor does trouble spring from the ground;

For affliction doesn’t come out of the dust, neither does trouble spring out of the ground;

7 Y et man is born to trouble, As the sparks fly upward.

but man is born to trouble, as the sparks fly upward.

8 “ But as for me, I would seek God, And to God I would commit my cause—

“But as for me, I would seek God. I would commit my cause to God,

9 W ho does great things, and unsearchable, Marvelous things without number.

who does great things that can’t be fathomed, marvelous things without number;

10 H e gives rain on the earth, And sends waters on the fields.

who gives rain on the earth, and sends waters on the fields;

11 H e sets on high those who are lowly, And those who mourn are lifted to safety.

so that he sets up on high those who are low, those who mourn are exalted to safety.

12 H e frustrates the devices of the crafty, So that their hands cannot carry out their plans.

He frustrates the devices of the crafty, So that their hands can’t perform their enterprise.

13 H e catches the wise in their own craftiness, And the counsel of the cunning comes quickly upon them.

He takes the wise in their own craftiness; the counsel of the cunning is carried headlong.

14 T hey meet with darkness in the daytime, And grope at noontime as in the night.

They meet with darkness in the day time, and grope at noonday as in the night.

15 B ut He saves the needy from the sword, From the mouth of the mighty, And from their hand.

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

16 S o the poor have hope, And injustice shuts her mouth.

So the poor has hope, and injustice shuts her mouth.

17 “ Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects; Therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty.

“Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects. Therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty.

18 F or He bruises, but He binds up; He wounds, but His hands make whole.

For he wounds, and binds up. He injures, and his hands make whole.

19 H e shall deliver you in six troubles, Yes, in seven no evil shall touch you.

He will deliver you in six troubles; yes, in seven no evil shall touch you.

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

In famine he will redeem you from death; in war, from the power of the sword.

21 Y ou shall be hidden from the scourge of the tongue, And you shall not be afraid of destruction when it comes.

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

22 Y ou shall laugh at destruction and famine, And you shall not be afraid of the beasts of the earth.

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

23 F or you shall have a covenant with the stones of the field, And the beasts of the field shall be at peace with you.

For you shall be allied with the stones of the field. The animals of the field shall be at peace with you.

24 Y ou shall know that your tent is in peace; You shall visit your dwelling and find nothing amiss.

You shall know that your tent is in peace. You shall visit your fold, and shall miss nothing.

25 Y ou shall also know that your descendants shall be many, And your offspring like the grass of the earth.

You shall know also that your offspring shall be great, Your offspring as the grass of the earth.

26 Y ou shall come to the grave at a full age, As a sheaf of grain ripens in its season.

You shall come to your grave in a full age, like a shock of grain comes in its season.

27 B ehold, this we have searched out; It is true. Hear it, and know for yourself.”

Look this, we have searched it, so it is. Hear it, and know it for your good.”