⁸ “But if I were you, I would appeal to God;
    I would lay my cause before him.^(P)
9 He performs wonders^(Q) that cannot be fathomed,^(R)
    miracles that cannot be counted.^(S)
10 He provides rain for the earth;^(T)
    he sends water on the countryside.^(U)
11 The lowly he sets on high,^(V)
    and those who mourn^(W) are lifted^(X) to safety.
¹² He thwarts the plans^(Y) of the crafty,
    so that their hands achieve no success.^(Z)
13 He catches the wise^(AA) in their craftiness,^(AB)
    and the schemes of the wily are swept away.^(AC)
14 Darkness^(AD) comes upon them in the daytime;
    at noon they grope as in the night.^(AE)
15 He saves the needy^(AF) from the sword in their mouth;
    he saves them from the clutches of the powerful.^(AG)
16 So the poor^(AH) have hope,
    and injustice shuts its mouth.^(AI)

¹⁷ “Blessed is the one whom God corrects;^(AJ)
    so do not despise the discipline^(AK) of the Almighty.^[a](AL)
18 For he wounds, but he also binds up;^(AM)
    he injures, but his hands also heal.^(AN)
19 From six calamities he will rescue^(AO) you;
    in seven no harm will touch you.^(AP)
20 In famine^(AQ) he will deliver you from death,
    and in battle from the stroke of the sword.^(AR)
21 You will be protected from the lash of the tongue,^(AS)
    and need not fear^(AT) when destruction comes.^(AU)
22 You will laugh^(AV) at destruction and famine,^(AW)
    and need not fear the wild animals.^(AX)
23 For you will have a covenant^(AY) with the stones^(AZ) of the field,
    and the wild animals will be at peace with you.^(BA)
24 You will know that your tent is secure;^(BB)
    you will take stock of your property and find nothing missing.^(BC)
25 You will know that your children will be many,^(BD)
    and your descendants like the grass of the earth.^(BE)
26 You will come to the grave in full vigor,^(BF)
    like sheaves gathered in season.^(BG)

²⁷ “We have examined this, and it is true.
    So hear it^(BH) and apply it to yourself.”^(BI)

² “If only my anguish could be weighed
    and all my misery be placed on the scales!^(BJ)
3 It would surely outweigh the sand^(BK) of the seas—
    no wonder my words have been impetuous.^(BL)
4 The arrows^(BM) of the Almighty^(BN) are in me,^(BO)
    my spirit drinks^(BP) in their poison;^(BQ)
    God’s terrors^(BR) are marshaled against me.^(BS)
5 Does a wild donkey^(BT) bray^(BU) when it has grass,
    or an ox bellow when it has fodder?^(BV)
6 Is tasteless food eaten without salt,
    or is there flavor in the sap of the mallow^[b]?^(BW)
7 I refuse to touch it;
    such food makes me ill.^(BX)

⁸ “Oh, that I might have my request,
    that God would grant what I hope for,^(BY)
9 that God would be willing to crush^(BZ) me,
    to let loose his hand and cut off my life!^(CA)
10 Then I would still have this consolation^(CB)—
    my joy in unrelenting pain^(CC)—
    that I had not denied the words^(CD) of the Holy One.^(CE)

¹¹ “What strength do I have, that I should still hope?
    What prospects, that I should be patient?^(CF)
12 Do I have the strength of stone?
    Is my flesh bronze?^(CG)
13 Do I have any power to help myself,^(CH)
    now that success has been driven from me?

¹⁴ “Anyone who withholds kindness from a friend^(CI)
    forsakes the fear of the Almighty.^(CJ)
15 But my brothers are as undependable as intermittent streams,^(CK)
    as the streams that overflow
¹⁶ when darkened by thawing ice
    and swollen with melting snow,^(CL)
17 but that stop flowing in the dry season,
    and in the heat^(CM) vanish from their channels.
¹⁸ Caravans turn aside from their routes;
    they go off into the wasteland and perish.
¹⁹ The caravans of Tema^(CN) look for water,
    the traveling merchants of Sheba^(CO) look in hope.
²⁰ They are distressed, because they had been confident;
    they arrive there, only to be disappointed.^(CP)
21 Now you too have proved to be of no help;
    you see something dreadful and are afraid.^(CQ)
22 Have I ever said, ‘Give something on my behalf,
    pay a ransom^(CR) for me from your wealth,^(CS)
23 deliver me from the hand of the enemy,
    rescue me from the clutches of the ruthless’?^(CT)

²⁴ “Teach me, and I will be quiet;^(CU)
    show me where I have been wrong.^(CV)
25 How painful are honest words!^(CW)
    But what do your arguments prove?
²⁶ Do you mean to correct what I say,
    and treat my desperate words as wind?^(CX)
27 You would even cast lots^(CY) for the fatherless^(CZ)
    and barter away your friend.

²⁸ “But now be so kind as to look at me.
    Would I lie to your face?^(DA)
29 Relent, do not be unjust;^(DB)
    reconsider, for my integrity^(DC) is at stake.^[c](DD)
30 Is there any wickedness on my lips?^(DE)
    Can my mouth not discern^(DF) malice?

7 “Do not mortals have hard service^(DG) on earth?^(DH)
    Are not their days like those of hired laborers?^(DI)
2 Like a slave longing for the evening shadows,^(DJ)
    or a hired laborer waiting to be paid,^(DK)
3 so I have been allotted months of futility,
    and nights of misery have been assigned to me.^(DL)
4 When I lie down I think, ‘How long before I get up?’^(DM)
    The night drags on, and I toss and turn until dawn.^(DN)
5 My body is clothed with worms^(DO) and scabs,
    my skin is broken and festering.^(DP)

⁶ “My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle,^(DQ)
    and they come to an end without hope.^(DR)
7 Remember, O God, that my life is but a breath;^(DS)
    my eyes will never see happiness again.^(DT)
8 The eye that now sees me will see me no longer;
    you will look for me, but I will be no more.^(DU)
9 As a cloud vanishes^(DV) and is gone,
    so one who goes down to the grave^(DW) does not return.^(DX)
10 He will never come to his house again;
    his place^(DY) will know him no more.^(DZ)

¹¹ “Therefore I will not keep silent;^(EA)
    I will speak out in the anguish^(EB) of my spirit,
    I will complain^(EC) in the bitterness of my soul.^(ED)
12 Am I the sea,^(EE) or the monster of the deep,^(EF)
    that you put me under guard?^(EG)
13 When I think my bed will comfort me
    and my couch will ease my complaint,^(EH)
14 even then you frighten me with dreams
    and terrify^(EI) me with visions,^(EJ)
15 so that I prefer strangling and death,^(EK)
    rather than this body of mine.^(EL)
16 I despise my life;^(EM) I would not live forever.^(EN)
    Let me alone;^(EO) my days have no meaning.^(EP)

¹⁷ “What is mankind that you make so much of them,
    that you give them so much attention,^(EQ)
18 that you examine them every morning^(ER)
    and test them^(ES) every moment?^(ET)
19 Will you never look away from me,^(EU)
    or let me alone even for an instant?^(EV)
20 If I have sinned, what have I done to you,^(EW)
    you who see everything we do?
Why have you made me your target?^(EX)
    Have I become a burden to you?^[d](EY)
21 Why do you not pardon my offenses
    and forgive my sins?^(EZ)
For I will soon lie down in the dust;^(FA)
    you will search for me, but I will be no more.”^(FB)