| 1"Call now! Is there anyone who will answer you? To which of the holy ones will you turn? | 1"Call now! Is there anyone who will answer you? To which of the holy ones will you turn? |
| 2For wrath kills the foolish person, and anger slays the silly one. | 2For wrath kills the foolish person, and anger slays the silly one. |
| 3I myself have seen the fool taking root, but suddenly I cursed his place of residence. | 3I myself have seen the fool taking root, but suddenly I cursed his place of residence. |
| 4His children are far from safety, and they are crushed at the place where judgment is rendered, nor is there anyone to deliver them. | 4His children are far from safety, and they are crushed at the place where judgment is rendered, nor is there anyone to deliver them. |
| 5The hungry eat up his harvest, and take it even from behind the thorns, and the thirsty swallow up their fortune. | 5The hungry eat up his harvest, and take it even from behind the thorns, and the thirsty swallow up their fortune. |
| 6For evil does not come up from the dust, nor does trouble spring up from the ground, | 6For evil does not come up from the dust, nor does trouble spring up from the ground, |
| 7but people are born to trouble, as surely as the sparks fly upward. | 7but people are born to trouble, as surely as the sparks fly upward. |
| 8"But as for me, I would seek God, and to God I would set forth my case. | 8"But as for me, I would seek God, and to God I would set forth my case. |
| 9He does great and unsearchable things, marvelous things without number; | 9He does great and unsearchable things, marvelous things without number; |
| 10he gives rain on the earth, and sends water on the fields; | 10he gives rain on the earth, and sends water on the fields; |
| 11he sets the lowly on high, that those who mourn are raised to safety. | 11he sets the lowly on high, that those who mourn are raised to safety. |
| 12He frustrates the plans of the crafty so that their hands cannot accomplish what they had planned! | 12He frustrates the plans of the crafty so that their hands cannot accomplish what they had planned! |
| 13He catches the wise in their own craftiness, and the counsel of the cunning is brought to a quick end. | 13He catches the wise in their own craftiness, and the counsel of the cunning is brought to a quick end. |
| 14They meet with darkness in the daytime, and grope about in the noontime as if it were night. | 14They meet with darkness in the daytime, and grope about in the noontime as if it were night. |
| 15So he saves from the sword that comes from their mouth, even the poor from the hand of the powerful. | 15So he saves from the sword that comes from their mouth, even the poor from the hand of the powerful. |
| 16Thus the poor have hope, and iniquity shuts its mouth. | 16Thus the poor have hope, and iniquity shuts its mouth. |
| 17"Therefore, blessed is the man whom God corrects, so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. | 17"Therefore, blessed is the man whom God corrects, so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. |
| 18For he wounds, but he also bandages; he strikes, but his hands also heal. | 18For he wounds, but he also bandages; he strikes, but his hands also heal. |
| 19He will deliver you from six calamities; yes, in seven no evil will touch you. | 19He will deliver you from six calamities; yes, in seven no evil will touch you. |
| 20In time of famine he will redeem you from death, and in time of war from the power of the sword. | 20In time of famine he will redeem you from death, and in time of war from the power of the sword. |
| 21You will be protected from malicious gossip, and will not be afraid of the destruction when it comes. | 21You will be protected from malicious gossip, and will not be afraid of the destruction when it comes. |
| 22You will laugh at destruction and famine and need not be afraid of the beasts of the earth. | 22You will laugh at destruction and famine and need not be afraid of the beasts of the earth. |
| 23For you will have a pact with the stones of the field, and the wild animals will be at peace with you. | 23For you will have a pact with the stones of the field, and the wild animals will be at peace with you. |
| 24And you will know that your home will be secure, and when you inspect your domains, you will not be missing anything. | 24And you will know that your home will be secure, and when you inspect your domains, you will not be missing anything. |
| 25You will also know that your children will be numerous, and your descendants like the grass of the earth. | 25You will also know that your children will be numerous, and your descendants like the grass of the earth. |
| 26You will come to your grave in a full age, As stacks of grain are harvested in their season. | 26You will come to your grave in a full age, As stacks of grain are harvested in their season. |
| 27Look, we have investigated this, so it is true. Hear it, and apply it for your own good." | 27Look, we have investigated this, so it is true. Hear it, and apply it for your own good." |
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