Study Desk

But his flesh on him has pain; His soul within him mourns."

Behold, he puts no trust in his holy ones; Yes, the heavens are not clean in his sight:

The wicked man travails with pain all his days, Even the number of years that are laid up for the oppressor.

A sound of terrors is in his ears; In prosperity the destroyer shall come on him.

He wanders abroad for bread, saying, 'Where is it?' He knows that the day of darkness is ready at his hand.

Because he has stretched out his hand against God, And behaves himself proudly against the Almighty;

He runs at him with a stiff neck, With the thick shields of his bucklers;

Because he has covered his face with his fatness, And gathered fat on his loins.

He shall not be rich, neither shall his substance continue, Neither shall their possessions be extended on the earth.

He shall not depart out of darkness; The flame shall dry up his branches, By the breath of God's mouth shall he go away.

Let him not trust in emptiness, deceiving himself; For emptiness shall be his reward.

It shall be accomplished before his time. His branch shall not be green.

He shall shake off his unripe grape as the vine, And shall cast off his flower as the olive tree.

He has torn me in his wrath, and persecuted me; He has gnashed on me with his teeth: My adversary sharpens his eyes on me.

I was at ease, and he broke me apart. Yes, he has taken me by the neck, and dashed me to pieces. He has also set me up for his target.

His archers surround me. He splits my kidneys apart, and does not spare. He pours out my gall on the ground.

That he would maintain the right of a man with God, Of a son of man with his neighbor!

He who denounces his friends for a prey, Even the eyes of his children shall fail.

Yet shall the righteous hold on his way. He who has clean hands shall grow stronger and stronger.

"Yes, the light of the wicked shall be put out, The spark of his fire shall not shine.