1 P ray, call, is there any to answer thee? And unto which of the holy ones dost thou turn?

Pray, call, is there any to answer thee? And unto which of the holy ones dost thou turn?

2 F or provocation slayeth the perverse, And envy putteth to death the simple,

For provocation slayeth the perverse, And envy putteth to death the simple,

3 I -- I have seen the perverse taking root, And I mark his habitation straightway,

I -- I have seen the perverse taking root, And I mark his habitation straightway,

4 F ar are his sons from safety, And they are bruised in the gate, And there is no deliverer.

Far are his sons from safety, And they are bruised in the gate, And there is no deliverer.

5 W hose harvest the hungry doth eat, And even from the thorns taketh it, And the designing swallowed their wealth.

Whose harvest the hungry doth eat, And even from the thorns taketh it, And the designing swallowed their wealth.

6 F or sorrow cometh not forth from the dust, Nor from the ground springeth up misery.

For sorrow cometh not forth from the dust, Nor from the ground springeth up misery.

7 F or man to misery is born, And the sparks go high to fly.

For man to misery is born, And the sparks go high to fly.

8 Y et I -- I inquire for God, And for God I give my word,

Yet I -- I inquire for God, And for God I give my word,

9 D oing great things, and there is no searching. Wonderful, till there is no numbering.

Doing great things, and there is no searching. Wonderful, till there is no numbering.

10 W ho is giving rain on the face of the land, And is sending waters on the out-places.

Who is giving rain on the face of the land, And is sending waters on the out-places.

11 T o set the low on a high place, And the mourners have been high safety.

To set the low on a high place, And the mourners have been high safety.

12 M aking void thoughts of the subtile, And their hands do not execute wisdom.

Making void thoughts of the subtile, And their hands do not execute wisdom.

13 C apturing the wise in their subtilty, And the counsel of wrestling ones was hastened,

Capturing the wise in their subtilty, And the counsel of wrestling ones was hastened,

14 B y day they meet darkness, And as night -- they grope at noon.

By day they meet darkness, And as night -- they grope at noon.

15 A nd He saveth the wasted from their mouth, And from a strong hand the needy,

And He saveth the wasted from their mouth, And from a strong hand the needy,

16 A nd there is hope to the poor, And perverseness hath shut her mouth.

And there is hope to the poor, And perverseness hath shut her mouth.

17 L o, the happiness of mortal man, God doth reprove him: And the chastisement of the Mighty despise not,

Lo, the happiness of mortal man, God doth reprove him: And the chastisement of the Mighty despise not,

18 F or He doth pain, and He bindeth up, He smiteth, and His hands heal.

For He doth pain, and He bindeth up, He smiteth, and His hands heal.

19 I n six distresses He delivereth thee, And in seven evil striketh not on thee.

In six distresses He delivereth thee, And in seven evil striketh not on thee.

20 I n famine He hath redeemed thee from death, And in battle from the hands of the sword.

In famine He hath redeemed thee from death, And in battle from the hands of the sword.

21 W hen the tongue scourgeth thou art hid, And thou art not afraid of destruction, When it cometh.

When the tongue scourgeth thou art hid, And thou art not afraid of destruction, When it cometh.

22 A t destruction and at hunger thou mockest, And of the beast of the earth, Thou art not afraid.

At destruction and at hunger thou mockest, And of the beast of the earth, Thou art not afraid.

23 ( For with sons of the field thy covenant, And the beast of the field Hath been at peace with thee.)

(For with sons of the field thy covenant, And the beast of the field Hath been at peace with thee.)

24 A nd thou hast known that thy tent peace, And inspected thy habitation, and errest not,

And thou hast known that thy tent peace, And inspected thy habitation, and errest not,

25 A nd hast known that numerous Thy seed, And thine offspring as the herb of the earth;

And hast known that numerous Thy seed, And thine offspring as the herb of the earth;

26 T hou comest in full age unto the grave, As the going up of a stalk in its season.

Thou comest in full age unto the grave, As the going up of a stalk in its season.

27 L o, this -- we searched it out -- it right, hearken; And thou, know for thyself!

Lo, this -- we searched it out -- it right, hearken; And thou, know for thyself!