They

They prey on the barren and childless, and show no kindness to the widow.

Yet by His power, God drags away the mighty; though rising up, they have no assurance of life.

They are exalted for a moment, then they are gone; they are brought low and gathered up like all others; they are cut off like heads of grain.

They are exalted for a moment, then they are gone; they are brought low and gathered up like all others; they are cut off like heads of grain.

They are exalted for a moment, then they are gone; they are brought low and gathered up like all others; they are cut off like heads of grain.

They are exalted for a moment, then they are gone; they are brought low and gathered up like all others; they are cut off like heads of grain.

Though his sons are many, they are destined for the sword; and his offspring will never have enough food.

After my words, they spoke no more; my speech settled on them like dew.

They waited for me as for rain and drank in my words like spring showers.

If I smiled at them, they did not believe it; the light of my countenance was precious.

“But now they mock me, men younger than I am, whose fathers I would have refused to put with my sheep dogs.

Gaunt from poverty and hunger, they gnawed the dry land, and the desolate wasteland by night.

They plucked mallow among the shrubs, and the roots of the broom tree were their food.

They were banished from among men, shouted at like thieves,

…so that they lived on the slopes of the wadis, among the rocks and in holes in the ground.

They cried out among the shrubs and huddled beneath the nettles.

A senseless and nameless brood, they were driven off the land.

And now they mock me in song; I have become a byword among them.

They abhor me and keep far from me; they do not hesitate to spit in my face.

They abhor me and keep far from me; they do not hesitate to spit in my face.

Because God has unstrung my bow and afflicted me, they have cast off restraint in my presence.

The rabble arises at my right; they lay snares for my feet and build siege ramps against me.

They tear up my path; they profit from my destruction, with no one to restrain them.

They tear up my path; they profit from my destruction, with no one to restrain them.

They advance as through a wide breach; through the ruins they keep rolling in.

They advance as through a wide breach; through the ruins they keep rolling in.

Terrors are turned loose against me; they drive away my dignity as by the wind, and my prosperity has passed like a cloud.

If I have rejected the cause of my manservant or maidservant when they made a complaint against me,

…and he burned with anger against Job’s three friends because they had failed to refute Job, and yet had condemned him.

Must I wait, now that they are silent, now that they stand and no longer reply?

Must I wait, now that they are silent, now that they stand and no longer reply?

In a dream, in a vision in the night, when deep sleep falls upon men as they slumber on their beds,

…who is not partial to princes and does not favor rich over poor? For they are all the work of His hands.

They die in an instant, in the middle of the night. The people convulse and pass away; the mighty are removed without human hand.

Therefore, He recognizes their deeds; He overthrows them in the night and they are crushed.

…because they turned aside from Him and had no regard for any of His ways.

They caused the cry of the poor to come before Him, and He heard the outcry of the afflicted.

Men cry out under great oppression; they plead for relief from the arm of the mighty.

There they cry out, but He does not answer, because of the pride of evil men.

…then He tells them their deeds and how arrogantly they have transgressed.

He opens their ears to correction and commands that they turn from iniquity.

If they obey and serve Him, then they end their days in prosperity and their years in happiness.

If they obey and serve Him, then they end their days in prosperity and their years in happiness.

But if they do not obey, then they perish by the sword and die without knowledge.

But if they do not obey, then they perish by the sword and die without knowledge.

The godless in heart harbor resentment; even when He binds them, they do not cry for help.

They die in their youth, among the male shrine prostitutes.

The wild animals enter their lairs; they settle down in their dens.

They swirl about, whirling at His direction, accomplishing all that He commands over the face of all the earth.

Can you send the lightning bolts on their way? Do they report to you, ‘Here we are’?

…when they crouch in their dens and lie in wait in the thicket?

Who provides food for the raven when its young cry out to God as they wander about for lack of food?

Can you count the months they are pregnant? Do you know the time they give birth?

Can you count the months they are pregnant? Do you know the time they give birth?

They crouch down and bring forth their young; they deliver their newborn.

They crouch down and bring forth their young; they deliver their newborn.

Their young ones thrive and grow up in the open field; they leave and do not return.

Look on every proud man and humble him; trample the wicked where they stand.

They are joined to one another; they clasp and cannot be separated.

They are joined to one another; they clasp and cannot be separated.

The folds of his flesh are tightly joined; they are firm and immovable.

When Leviathan rises up, the mighty are terrified; they withdraw before his thrashing.

All his brothers and sisters and prior acquaintances came and dined with him in his house. They consoled him and comforted him over all the adversity that the LORD had brought upon him. And each one gave him a piece of silver and a gold ring.

Not so the wicked! For they are like chaff driven off by the wind.

For not a word they speak can be trusted; destruction lies within them. Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.

Declare them guilty, O God; let them fall by their own devices. Drive them out for their many transgressions, for they have rebelled against You.

My eyes fail from grief; they grow dim because of all my foes.

All my enemies will be ashamed and dismayed; they will turn back in sudden disgrace.

…or they will shred my soul like a lion and tear me to pieces with no one to rescue me.

When my enemies retreat, they stumble and perish before You.

The nations have fallen into a pit of their making; their feet are caught in the net they have hidden.

Lay terror upon them, O LORD; let the nations know they are but men. Selah

In pride the wicked pursue the needy; let them be caught in the schemes they devise.

They are crushed and beaten down; the helpless fall prey to his strength.

For behold, the wicked bend their bows. They set their arrow on the string to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart.

The LORD is in His holy temple; the LORD is on His heavenly throne. His eyes are watching closely; they examine the sons of men.

They lie to one another; they speak with flattering lips and a double heart.

They lie to one another; they speak with flattering lips and a double heart.

They say, “With our tongues we will prevail. We own our lips—who can be our master?”

For the choirmaster. Of David. The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt; their acts are vile. There is no one who does good.

All have turned away, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.

Will the workers of iniquity never learn? They devour my people like bread; they refuse to call upon the LORD.

Will the workers of iniquity never learn? They devour my people like bread; they refuse to call upon the LORD.

There they are, overwhelmed with dread, for God is in the company of the righteous.

As for the saints in the land, they are the excellence in whom all my delight resides.

They have closed their callous hearts; their mouths speak with arrogance.

They have tracked us down, and now surround us; their eyes are set to cast us to the ground,

…from such men, O LORD, by Your hand—from men of the world whose portion is in this life. May You fill the bellies of Your treasured ones and satisfy their sons, so they leave their abundance to their children.

Then the earth shook and quaked, and the foundations of the mountains trembled; they were shaken because He burned with anger.

They confronted me in my day of calamity, but the LORD was my support.

I pursued my enemies and overtook them; I did not turn back until they were consumed.

I crushed them so they could not rise; they have fallen under my feet.

I crushed them so they could not rise; they have fallen under my feet.

They cried for help, but there was no one to save them—to the LORD, but He did not answer.

When they hear me, they obey me; foreigners cower before me.

When they hear me, they obey me; foreigners cower before me.

Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.

Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.

They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.

They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.