¹⁷ “Listen to me and I will explain to you;
    let me tell you what I have seen,^(A)
18 what the wise have declared,
    hiding nothing received from their ancestors^(B)
19 (to whom alone the land^(C) was given
    when no foreigners moved among them):
²⁰ All his days the wicked man suffers torment,^(D)
    the ruthless man through all the years stored up for him.^(E)
21 Terrifying sounds fill his ears;^(F)
    when all seems well, marauders attack him.^(G)
22 He despairs of escaping the realm of darkness;^(H)
    he is marked for the sword.^(I)
23 He wanders about^(J) for food like a vulture;^(K)
    he knows the day of darkness^(L) is at hand.^(M)
24 Distress and anguish^(N) fill him with terror;^(O)
    troubles overwhelm him, like a king^(P) poised to attack,
²⁵ because he shakes his fist^(Q) at God
    and vaunts himself against the Almighty,^(R)
26 defiantly charging against him
    with a thick, strong shield.^(S)

²⁷ “Though his face is covered with fat
    and his waist bulges with flesh,^(T)
28 he will inhabit ruined towns
    and houses where no one lives,^(U)
    houses crumbling to rubble.^(V)
29 He will no longer be rich and his wealth will not endure,^(W)
    nor will his possessions spread over the land.^(X)
30 He will not escape the darkness;^(Y)
    a flame^(Z) will wither his shoots,^(AA)
    and the breath of God’s mouth^(AB) will carry him away.^(AC)
31 Let him not deceive^(AD) himself by trusting what is worthless,^(AE)
    for he will get nothing in return.^(AF)
32 Before his time^(AG) he will wither,^(AH)
    and his branches will not flourish.^(AI)
33 He will be like a vine stripped of its unripe grapes,^(AJ)
    like an olive tree shedding its blossoms.^(AK)
34 For the company of the godless^(AL) will be barren,
    and fire will consume^(AM) the tents of those who love bribes.^(AN)
35 They conceive trouble^(AO) and give birth to evil;^(AP)
    their womb fashions deceit.”