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

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

2 T o be bitter kills the foolish man, and jealousy kills the child-like.

For vexation killeth the foolish man, And jealousy slayeth the silly one.

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

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

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

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

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

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

6 F or suffering does not come from the dust. Trouble does not grow out of the ground.

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

7 B ut man is born to trouble, as fire goes up.

But man is born unto trouble, As the sparks fly upward.

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

But as for me, I would seek unto God, And unto God would I commit my cause;

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

Who doeth great things and unsearchable, Marvellous things without number:

10 H e gives rain on the earth and sends water on the fields.

Who giveth rain upon the earth, And sendeth waters upon the fields;

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

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

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

He frustrateth the devices of the crafty, So that their hands cannot perform their enterprise.

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

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

14 T hey meet with darkness during the day, and feel their way at noon 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 from the sword those in need. He saves the poor from the power of the strong.

But he saveth from the sword of their mouth, Even the needy from the hand of the mighty.

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

So the poor hath hope, And iniquity stoppeth her mouth.

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

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

18 H e punishes, but He gives comfort. He hurts, but His hands heal.

For he maketh sore, and bindeth up; He woundeth, and his hands make whole.

19 H e will take you out of six troubles. Yes, in seven, nothing will hurt you.

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

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

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

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

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

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

At destruction and dearth thou shalt laugh; Neither shalt thou be afraid of the beasts of the earth.

23 F or you will be in agreement with the stones of the field. And the animals of the field will be at peace with you.

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

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

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

25 Y ou will know also that your children and children’s children will be many. They will be as the grass of the earth.

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

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

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

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

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