הֵן

O LORD, God of Israel, You are righteous! For we remain this day as a remnant. Here we are before You in our guilt, though because of it no one can stand before You.”

“Very well,” said the LORD to Satan. “He is in your hands, but you must spare his life.”

If God puts no trust in His servants, and He charges His angels with error,

Surely this is the joy of his way; yet others will spring from the dust.

Behold, God does not reject the blameless, nor will He strengthen the hand of evildoers.

Were He to pass by me, I would not see Him; were He to move, I would not recognize Him.

If He takes away, who can stop Him? Who dares to ask Him, ‘What are You doing?’

What He tears down cannot be rebuilt; the man He imprisons cannot be released.

If He holds back the waters, they dry up, and if He releases them, they overwhelm the land.

“Indeed, my eyes have seen all this; my ears have heard and understood.

Though He slay me, I will hope in Him. I will still defend my ways to His face.

If God puts no trust in His holy ones, if even the heavens are not pure in His eyes,

Though I cry out, ‘Violence!’ I get no response; though I call for help, there is no justice.

Still, their prosperity is not in their own hands, so I stay far from the counsel of the wicked.

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

If I go east, He is not there, and if I go west, I cannot find Him.

Indeed, like wild donkeys in the desert, the poor go to work foraging for food; the wasteland is food for their children.

If even the moon does not shine, and the stars are not pure in His sight,

Indeed, these are but the fringes of His ways; how faint is the whisper we hear of Him! Who then can understand the thunder of His power?”

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

And He said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”

(Oh, that I had one to hear me! Here is my signature. Let the Almighty answer me; let my accuser compose an indictment.

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

I am just like you before God; I was also formed from clay.

Yet God finds occasions against me; He counts me as His enemy.

Behold, you are not right in this matter. I will answer you, for God is greater than man.

Behold, all these things God does to a man, two or even three times,

Indeed, God is mighty, but He despises no one; He is mighty in strength of understanding.

Behold, God is exalted in His power. Who is a teacher like Him?

Indeed, God is great—beyond our knowledge; the number of His years is unsearchable.

See how He scatters His lightning around Him and covers the depths of the sea.

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

“Behold, I am insignificant. How can I reply to You? I place my hand over my mouth.

Though the river rages, Behemoth is unafraid; he remains secure, though the Jordan surges to his mouth.

Surely hope of overcoming him is false. Is not the sight of him overwhelming?

Surely I was brought forth in iniquity; I was sinful when my mother conceived me.

Surely You desire truth in the inmost being; You teach me wisdom in the inmost place.

…to Him who rides upon the highest heavens of old; behold, His mighty voice resounds.

When He struck the rock, water gushed out and torrents raged. But can He also give bread or supply His people with meat?”

Even before a word is on my tongue, You know all about it, O LORD.

If I ascend to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, You are there.

If the righteous receive their due on earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner!

If you say, “Behold, we did not know about this,” does not He who weighs hearts consider it? Does not the One who guards your life know? Will He not repay a man according to his deeds?

How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh, how very beautiful! Your eyes are like doves.

How handsome you are, my beloved! Oh, how delightful! The soft grass is our bed.

How beautiful you are, my darling—how very beautiful! Your eyes are like doves behind your veil. Your hair is like a flock of goats streaming down Mount Gilead.

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying: “Whom shall I send? Who will go for Us?” And I said: “Here am I. Send me!”

Behold, I will stir up against them the Medes, who have no regard for silver and no desire for gold.