Study Desk

"For He performs what is planned (appointed) for me, And He is mindful of many such things.

"For God has made my heart faint, And the Almighty has terrified me,

"Why does the Almighty not set seasons for judgment? Why do those who know Him not see His days [for punishment of the wicked]?

"They drive away the donkeys of the orphans; They take the widow's ox for a pledge.

"Behold, as wild donkeys in the desert, The poor go to their work, diligently seeking food; As bread for their children in the desert.

"They are wet from the rain of the mountains And cling to the rock for lack of shelter.

"From the [populous and crowded] city men groan, And the souls of the wounded cry out for help; Yet God [seemingly] does not pay attention to the wrong [done to them].

"The eye of the adulterer waits for the twilight, Saying, 'No eye will see me,' And he covers his face.

"For the morning is the same to him as the thick darkness [of midnight]; For he is familiar with the terrors of thick darkness.

"He preys on the barren (childless) woman And does no good for the widow.

"They are exalted for a little while, and then they are gone; Moreover, they are brought low and like everything [they are] gathered up and taken out of the way; Even like the heads of grain they are cut off.

"As God lives, who has taken away my right and denied me justice, And the Almighty, who has caused bitterness and grief for my soul,

"I hold fast my uprightness and my right standing with God and I will not let them go; My heart does not reproach me for any of my days.

"For what is the hope of the godless, even though he has gained [in this world], When God takes his life?

Though his children are many, they are destined for the sword; And his descendants will not have sufficient bread.

"For it will hurl [thunderbolts of God's wrath] at him unsparingly and without compassion; He flees in haste from its power.

"Surely there is a mine for silver, And a place where they refine gold.

"[As for] the earth, out of it comes food, But underneath [its surface, down deep] it is turned over as fire.

"Man puts his hand on [and tears apart] the flinty rock; He overturns the mountains at the base [looking for treasure].

"It cannot be obtained for pure gold, Nor can silver be weighed as its price.