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

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

2 F or resentment kills the foolish man, and jealousy kills the simple.

To be bitter kills the foolish man, and jealousy kills the child-like.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

For suffering does not come from the dust. Trouble does not grow out of the ground.

7 b ut man is born to trouble, as the sparks fly upward.

But man is born to trouble, as fire goes up.

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

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

9 w ho does great things that can’t be fathomed, marvelous things without number;

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

10 w ho gives rain on the earth, and sends waters on the fields;

He gives rain on the earth and sends water on the fields.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

They meet with darkness during the day, and feel their way at noon as in the night.

15 B ut he saves from the sword of their mouth, even the needy from the hand of the mighty.

But He saves from the sword those in need. He saves the poor from the power of the strong.

16 S o the poor has hope, and injustice shuts her mouth.

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

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

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

18 F or he wounds, and binds up. He injures, and his hands make whole.

He punishes, but He gives comfort. He hurts, but His hands heal.

19 H e will deliver you in six troubles; yes, in seven no evil shall touch you.

He will take you out of six troubles. Yes, in seven, nothing will hurt you.

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

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

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

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

22 A t destruction and famine you shall laugh, neither shall you be afraid of the animals of the earth.

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

23 F or you shall be allied with the stones of the field. The animals of the field shall be at peace with you.

For you will be in agreement with the stones of the field. And the animals of the field will be at peace with you.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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