Study Desk

"His anger has torn me and hunted me down, He has gnashed at me with His teeth; My enemy glares at me.

"They have gaped at me with their mouths, They have slapped me on the cheek with contempt; They have massed themselves against me.

"He breaks through me with breach after breach; He runs at me like a warrior.

That one might plead for a man with God As a son of man with his neighbor!

"Mockers are certainly with me, And my eye gazes on their provocation.

"Make a pledge for me with Yourself; Who is there that will be my guarantor?

"Will it go down with me to Sheol? Shall we together go down into the dust?"

"Those in the west are appalled at his fate, And those in the east are seized with horror.

"How long will you torment me And crush me with words?

"Even if I have truly done wrong, My error stays with me.

Know then that God has wronged me And has surrounded me with His net.

"I call to my servant, but he does not answer; I have to implore his favor with my mouth.

"Why do you persecute me as God does, And are not satisfied with my flesh?

"That with an iron stylus and lead They were engraved in the rock forever!

"His bones are full of his youthful strength, But it lies down with him in the dust.

"He does not look at the streams, The rivers flowing with honey and curds.

"Bear with me that I may speak; Then after I have spoken, you may mock me.

"Their descendants endure with them in their sight, And their offspring before their eyes,

"They sing with the tambourine and harp, And rejoice at the sound of the flute.

'Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him, And what would we gain if we plead with Him?'