2“How long will you speak these things,
And the words of your mouth be like a strong wind?
3Does God subvert judgment?
Or does the Almighty pervert justice?
4If your sons have sinned against Him,
He has cast them away [a]for their transgression.
5If you would earnestly seek God
And make your supplication to the Almighty,
6If you were pure and upright,
Surely now He would [b]awake for you,
And prosper your rightful dwelling place.
7Though your beginning was small,
Yet your latter end would increase abundantly.

8“For inquire, please, of the former age,
And consider the things discovered by their fathers;
9For we were born yesterday, and know [c]nothing,
Because our days on earth are a shadow.
10Will they not teach you and tell you,
And utter words from their heart?

11“Can the papyrus grow up without a marsh?
Can the reeds flourish without water?
12While it is yet green and not cut down,
It withers before any other plant.
13So are the paths of all who forget God;
And the hope of the hypocrite shall perish,
14Whose confidence shall be cut off,
And whose trust is [d]a spider’s web.
15He leans on his house, but it does not stand.
He holds it fast, but it does not endure.
16He grows green in the sun,
And his branches spread out in his garden.
17His roots wrap around the rock heap,
And look for a place in the stones.
18If he is destroyed from his place,
Then it will deny him, saying, ‘I have not seen you.’

19“Behold, this is the joy of His way,
And out of the earth others will grow.
20Behold, God will not [e]cast away the blameless,
Nor will He uphold the evildoers.
21He will yet fill your mouth with laughing,
And your lips with [f]rejoicing.
22Those who hate you will be clothed with shame,
And the dwelling place of the wicked [g]will come to nothing.”