“Surely you have spoken in my hearing, And I have heard the sound of your words:
‘He puts my feet in the stocks; He watches all my paths.’
“In a dream, a vision of the night, When sound sleep falls on men, While they slumber in their beds,
Then He opens the ears of men, And seals their instruction,
He keeps back his soul from the pit, And his life from passing over into Sheol.
“Then his soul draws near to the pit, And his life to those who bring death.
Then let him be gracious to him, and say, ‘Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom’;
Let his flesh become fresher than in youth, Let him return to the days of his youthful vigor;
‘He has redeemed my soul from going to the pit, And my life shall see the light.’
To bring back his soul from the pit, That he may be enlightened with the light of life.
“For the ear tests words As the palate tastes food.
Who goes in company with the workers of iniquity, And walks with wicked men?
“Therefore, listen to me, you men of understanding. Far be it from God to do wickedness, And from the Almighty to do wrong.
“Surely, God will not act wickedly, And the Almighty will not pervert justice.
“Who gave Him authority over the earth? And who has laid on Him the whole world?
“But if you have understanding, hear this; Listen to the sound of my words.
“Shall one who hates justice rule? And will you condemn the righteous mighty One,
Who shows no partiality to princes Nor regards the rich above the poor, For they all are the work of His hands?
“In a moment they die, and at midnight People are shaken and pass away, And the mighty are taken away without a hand.
“For His eyes are upon the ways of a man, And He sees all his steps.
“There is no darkness or deep shadow Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
“Therefore He knows their works, And He overthrows them in the night, And they are crushed.
“He strikes them like the wicked In a public place,
So that they caused the cry of the poor to come to Him, And that He might hear the cry of the afflicted--
So that godless men would not rule Nor be snares of the people.
‘Job ought to be tried to the limit, Because he answers like wicked men.
“Look at the heavens and see; And behold the clouds--they are higher than you.
“Because of the multitude of oppressions they cry out; They cry for help because of the arm of the mighty.
“But no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker, Who gives songs in the night,
Who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth And makes us wiser than the birds of the heavens?’
“There they cry out, but He does not answer Because of the pride of evil men.
“Surely God will not listen to an empty cry, Nor will the Almighty regard it.
“How much less when you say you do not behold Him, The case is before Him, and you must wait for Him!
“He does not keep the wicked alive, But gives justice to the afflicted.
“He does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous; But with kings on the throne He has seated them forever, and they are exalted.
“And if they are bound in fetters, And are caught in the cords of affliction,
“But if they do not hear, they shall perish by the sword And they will die without knowledge.
“But the godless in heart lay up anger; They do not cry for help when He binds them.
“They die in youth, And their life perishes among the cult prostitutes.
“He delivers the afflicted in their affliction, And opens their ear in time of oppression.
“Then indeed, He enticed you from the mouth of distress, Instead of it, a broad place with no constraint; And that which was set on your table was full of fatness.
“But you were full of judgment on the wicked; Judgment and justice take hold of you.
“Beware that wrath does not entice you to scoffing; And do not let the greatness of the ransom turn you aside.
“Will your riches keep you from distress, Or all the forces of your strength?
“Do not long for the night, When people vanish in their place.
“Behold, God is exalted, and we do not know Him; The number of His years is unsearchable.
“For He draws up the drops of water, They distill rain from the mist,
Which the clouds pour down, They drip upon man abundantly.
“Can anyone understand the spreading of the clouds, The thundering of His pavilion?
“Behold, He spreads His lightning about Him, And He covers the depths of the sea.
New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995
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