The Discipline of the Almighty

1“Call now, is there anyone who will answer you?

And to which of the holy ones will you turn?

2For vexation kills the ignorant fool,

And jealousy puts to death the simple.

3I have seen the ignorant fool taking root,

And I cursed his abode suddenly.

4His sons are far from salvation,

They are even crushed in the gate,

And there is no deliverer.

5[†]His harvest the hungry devour

And take it to a place of thorns,

And the [†]schemer pants after their wealth.

6For wickedness does not come out from the dust,

Nor does trouble sprout from the ground,

7For man is born for trouble,

As [†]sparks fly upward.

8“But as for me, I would seek God,

And I would set my cause before God,

9Who does great and unsearchable things,

[†]Wonders without number.

10He gives rain on the earth

And sends water on the fields outside,

11So that He sets on high those who are lowly,

And those who mourn are lifted to salvation.

12He frustrates the thoughts of the crafty,

So that their hands cannot attain success of sound wisdom.

13He catches the wise by their own craftiness,

And the counsel of the twisted is quickly thwarted.

14By day they meet with darkness

And grope at noon as in the night.

15But He saves from the sword of their mouth,

And the needy from the hand of the strong.

16So the poor has hope,

And unrighteousness must shut its mouth.

17“Behold, how blessed is the man whom God reproves,

So do not reject the discipline of the [†]Almighty.

18For He inflicts pain and [†]gives relief;

He [†]wounds, and His hands also heal.

19[†]From six distresses He will deliver you,

Even in seven evil will not touch you.

20In famine He will redeem you from death,

And in war from hands with swords.

21You will be hidden from the scourge of the tongue,

And you will not be afraid of devastation when it comes.

22You will laugh at devastation and starvation,

And you will not be afraid of the beasts of the earth.

23For your covenant will be with the stones of the field,

And the beasts of the field will be at peace with you.

24You will know that your tent is at peace,

For you will visit your abode and fear no loss.

25You will know also that your seed will be many,

And your offspring as the vegetation of the land.

26You will come to the grave in full vigor,

Like the stacking of grain in its season.

27Behold this; we have investigated it, and so it is.

Hear it, and know for yourself.”