You

Do You open Your eyes to one like this? Will You bring him into judgment before You?

Since his days are determined and the number of his months is with You, and since You have set limits that he cannot exceed,

Since his days are determined and the number of his months is with You, and since You have set limits that he cannot exceed,

If only You would hide me in Sheol and conceal me until Your anger has passed! If only You would appoint a time for me and then remember me!

If only You would hide me in Sheol and conceal me until Your anger has passed! If only You would appoint a time for me and then remember me!

You will call, and I will answer; You will desire the work of Your hands.

You will call, and I will answer; You will desire the work of Your hands.

For then You would count my steps, but would not keep track of my sin.

My transgression would be sealed in a bag, and You would cover over my iniquity.

…as water wears away the stones and torrents wash away the soil, so You destroy a man’s hope.

You forever overpower him, and he passes on; You change his countenance and send him away.

You forever overpower him, and he passes on; You change his countenance and send him away.

But you even undermine the fear of God and hinder meditation before Him.

For your iniquity instructs your mouth, and you choose the language of the crafty.

Your own mouth, not mine, condemns you; your own lips testify against you.

Your own mouth, not mine, condemns you; your own lips testify against you.

Were you the first man ever born? Were you brought forth before the hills?

Were you the first man ever born? Were you brought forth before the hills?

Do you listen in on the council of God or limit wisdom to yourself?

What do you know that we do not? What do you understand that is not clear to us?

What do you know that we do not? What do you understand that is not clear to us?

Are the consolations of God not enough for you, even words spoken gently to you?

Are the consolations of God not enough for you, even words spoken gently to you?

Why has your heart carried you away, and why do your eyes flash,

…so that you turn your spirit against God and pour such words from your mouth?

Listen to me and I will inform you. I will describe what I have seen,

“I have heard many things like these; miserable comforters are you all.

Is there no end to your long-winded speeches? What provokes you to continue testifying?

I could also speak like you if you were in my place; I could heap up words against you and shake my head at you.

I could also speak like you if you were in my place; I could heap up words against you and shake my head at you.

I could also speak like you if you were in my place; I could heap up words against you and shake my head at you.

I could also speak like you if you were in my place; I could heap up words against you and shake my head at you.

But I would encourage you with my mouth, and the consolation of my lips would bring relief.

Surely He has now exhausted me; You have devastated all my family.

You have bound me, and it has become a witness; my frailty rises up and testifies against me.

Give me, I pray, the pledge You demand. Who else will be my guarantor?

You have closed their minds to understanding; therefore You will not exalt them.

You have closed their minds to understanding; therefore You will not exalt them.

But come back and try again, all of you. For I will not find a wise man among you.

But come back and try again, all of you. For I will not find a wise man among you.

…and say to corruption, ‘You are my father,’ and to the worm, ‘My mother,’ or ‘My sister,’

“How long until you end these speeches? Show some sense, and then we can talk.

You who tear yourself in anger—should the earth be forsaken on your account, or the rocks be moved from their place?

“How long will you torment me and crush me with your words?

Ten times now you have reproached me; you shamelessly mistreat me.

Ten times now you have reproached me; you shamelessly mistreat me.

If indeed you would exalt yourselves above me and use my disgrace against me,

Why do you persecute me as God does? Will you never get enough of my flesh?

Why do you persecute me as God does? Will you never get enough of my flesh?

If you say, ‘Let us persecute him, since the root of the matter lies with him,’

…then you should fear the sword yourselves, because wrath brings punishment by the sword, so that you may know there is a judgment.”

…then you should fear the sword yourselves, because wrath brings punishment by the sword, so that you may know there is a judgment.”

Do you not know that from antiquity, since man was placed on the earth,

Bear with me while I speak; then, after I have spoken, you may go on mocking.

Behold, I know your thoughts full well, the schemes by which you would wrong me.

For you say, ‘Where now is the nobleman’s house, and where are the tents in which the wicked dwell?’

Have you never asked those who travel the roads? Do you not accept their reports?

Have you never asked those who travel the roads? Do you not accept their reports?

So how can you comfort me with empty words? For your answers remain full of falsehood.”

Does it delight the Almighty that you are righteous? Does He profit if your ways are blameless?

Is it for your reverence that He rebukes you and enters into judgment against you?

Is it for your reverence that He rebukes you and enters into judgment against you?

For you needlessly demanded security from your brothers and deprived the naked of their clothing.

You gave no water to the weary and withheld food from the famished,

You sent widows away empty-handed, and the strength of the fatherless was crushed.

Therefore snares surround you, and sudden peril terrifies you;

Therefore snares surround you, and sudden peril terrifies you;

…it is so dark you cannot see, and a flood of water covers you.

…it is so dark you cannot see, and a flood of water covers you.

Yet you say: ‘What does God know? Does He judge through thick darkness?

Will you stay on the ancient path that wicked men have trod?

Reconcile now and be at peace with Him; thereby good will come to you.

If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored. If you remove injustice from your tents

If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored. If you remove injustice from your tents

If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored. If you remove injustice from your tents

…then the Almighty will be your gold and the finest silver for you.

Surely then you will delight in the Almighty and lift up your face to God.

You will pray to Him, and He will hear you, and you will fulfill your vows.

You will pray to Him, and He will hear you, and you will fulfill your vows.

You will pray to Him, and He will hear you, and you will fulfill your vows.

When men are brought low and you say, ‘Lift them up!’ then He will save the lowly.

“How you have helped the powerless and saved the arm that is feeble!

How you have counseled the unwise and provided fully sound insight!

To whom have you uttered these words? And whose spirit spoke through you?

To whom have you uttered these words? And whose spirit spoke through you?

I will never say that you are right; I will maintain my integrity until I die.

I will instruct you in the power of God. I will not conceal the ways of the Almighty.

Surely all of you have seen it for yourselves. Why then do you keep up this empty talk?

Surely all of you have seen it for yourselves. Why then do you keep up this empty talk?

I cry out to You for help, but You do not answer; when I stand up, You merely look at me.

I cry out to You for help, but You do not answer; when I stand up, You merely look at me.

I cry out to You for help, but You do not answer; when I stand up, You merely look at me.

You have ruthlessly turned on me; You oppose me with Your strong hand.

You have ruthlessly turned on me; You oppose me with Your strong hand.

You snatch me up into the wind and drive me before it; You toss me about in the storm.

You snatch me up into the wind and drive me before it; You toss me about in the storm.

Yes, I know that You will bring me down to death, to the place appointed for all the living.

So Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite declared: “I am young in years, while you are old; that is why I was timid and afraid to tell you what I know.

So Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite declared: “I am young in years, while you are old; that is why I was timid and afraid to tell you what I know.

Indeed, I waited while you spoke; I listened to your reasoning; as you searched for words,