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

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

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

It is certain that wrath kills the foolish man, and envy consumes the covetous one.

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

I have seen the foolish taking root, but at the same time 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 sons are far from saving health, and they shall be crushed in the gate, and there shall be no one 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.

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

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

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

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

yet 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.

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

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

who does great things that no one can understand, and marvels that have no explanation;

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

who gives rain upon the earth and sends waters abroad;

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.

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

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

He frustrates 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 takes the wise in their own prudence, and the counsel of his adversaries is turned to folly.

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 daytime and grope in the 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 saves the poor from the sword, from the mouth of the wicked, and from the hand of the violent.

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

Who is the hope of the poor, and iniquity closes 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, blessed is the man whom God chastens; therefore, do not despise not the correction of the Almighty.

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

For he makes sore, and binds up; he wounds, and his hands make whole.

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

He shall deliver thee in six tribulations, and in the seventh no evil shall 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 shall ransom 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 comes.

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

At destruction and famine 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 there is peace in thy tent, and thou shalt visit thy habitation and shalt not sin.

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 that thy seed is 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 a shock of wheat that is gathered in its season.

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

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