² “How long will you say these things
    and the words of your mouth be a great wind?
³ Does God pervert justice?
    Or does the Almighty^[a] pervert the right?^(A)
4 If your children sinned against him,
    he delivered them into the power of their transgression.^(B)
5 If you will seek God
    and make supplication to the Almighty,^[b](C)
6 if you are pure and upright,
    surely then he will rouse himself for you
    and restore to you your rightful place.^(D)
7 Though your beginning was small,
    your latter days will be very great.^(E)

⁸ “For inquire now of bygone generations
    and consider what their ancestors have found,^(F)
9 for we are but of yesterday, and we know nothing,
    for our days on earth are but a shadow.^(G)
10 Will they not teach you and tell you
    and utter words out of their understanding?

¹¹ “Can papyrus grow where there is no marsh?
    Can reeds flourish where there is no water?
¹² While yet in flower and not cut down,
    they wither before any other plant.^(H)
13 Such are the paths of all who forget God;
    the hope of the godless shall perish.^(I)
14 Their confidence is gossamer,
    a spider’s house their trust.
¹⁵ If one leans against its house, it will not stand;
    if one lays hold of it, it will not endure.^(J)
16 The wicked thrive^[c] before the sun,
    and their shoots spread over the garden.^(K)
17 Their roots twine around the stoneheap;
    they live among the rocks.^[d]
18 If they are destroyed from their place,
    then it will deny them, saying, ‘I have never seen you.’^(L)
19 See, these are their happy ways,^[e]
    and out of the earth still others will spring.

²⁰ “See, God will not reject the blameless,
    nor take the hand of evildoers.^(M)
21 He will yet fill your mouth with laughter
    and your lips with shouts of joy.^(N)
22 Those who hate you will be clothed with shame,
    and the tent of the wicked will be no more.”^(O)