Study Desk

"Since his days are determined, The number of his months is with You [in Your control], And You have made his limits so he cannot pass [his allotted time].

"[O God] turn your gaze from him so that he may rest, Until he fulfills his day [on earth] like a hired man.

"But [the brave, strong] man must die and lie face down; Man breathes his last, and where is he?

"You prevail forever against him and overpower him, and he passes on; You change his appearance and send him away [from the presence of the living].

"His sons achieve honor, and he does not know it; They become insignificant, and he is not aware of it.

"But his body [lamenting its decay] grieves in pain over it, And his soul mourns over [the loss of] himself."

"Behold, God puts no trust in His holy ones (angels); Indeed, the heavens are not pure in His sight—

"The wicked man writhes with pain all his days, And numbered are the years stored up for him, the ruthless one.

"A [dreadful] sound of terrors is in his ears; While at peace and in a time of prosperity the destroyer comes upon him [the tent of the robber is not at peace].

"Because he has stretched out his hand against God And behaves arrogantly against the Almighty,

Running and charging headlong against Him With his ornamented and massive shield;

For he has covered his face with his fat, Adding layers of fat to his thighs [giving himself up to pleasures],

He will not become rich, nor will his wealth endure; And his grain will not bend to the earth nor his possessions be extended on the earth.

"He will not escape from darkness [fleeing disaster]; The flame [of God's wrath] will wither his branch, And by the blast of His mouth he will go away.

"Let him not trust in vanity (emptiness, futility) and be led astray; For emptiness will be his reward [for such living].

"It will be fulfilled while he still lives, And his branch will not be green [but shall wither away].

"He will fail to bring his grapes to maturity [leaving them to wither unnourished] on the vine, And will cast off blossoms [and fail to bring forth fruit] like the olive tree.

"His wrath has torn me and hunted me down, He has gnashed at me with his teeth; My adversary sharpens His gaze and glares [with piercing eyes] at me.

"I was [living] at ease, but He crushed me and broke me apart, And He has seized me by the neck and has shaken me to pieces; He has also set me up as His target.

"His arrows surround me. He pierces my kidneys (vital organs) without mercy; He pours out my gall on the ground.