Study Desk

To those whose desire is for death, but it comes not; who are searching for it more than for secret wealth;

For I have a fear and it comes on me, and my heart is greatly troubled.

What I have seen is that those by whom trouble has been ploughed, and evil planted, get the same for themselves.

The old lion comes to his end for need of food, and the young of the she-lion go wandering in all directions.

Between morning and evening they are completely broken; they come to an end for ever, and no one takes note.

Give now a cry for help; is there anyone who will give you an answer? and to which of the holy ones will you make your prayer?

For wrath is the cause of death to the foolish, and he who has no wisdom comes to his end through passion.

Now his children have no safe place, and they are crushed before the judges, for no one takes up their cause.

For evil does not come out of the dust, or trouble out of the earth;

But as for me, I would make my prayer to God, and I would put my cause before him:

In the daytime it becomes dark for them, and in the sunlight they go feeling about as if it was night.

For after his punishment he gives comfort, and after wounding, his hands make you well.

For you will be in agreement with the stones of the earth, and the beasts of the field will be at peace with you.

See, we have made search with care, and it is so; it has come to our ears; see that you take note of it for yourself.

For then its weight would be more than the sand of the seas: because of this my words have been uncontrolled.

For the arrows of the Ruler of all are present with me, and their poison goes deep into my spirit: his army of fears is put in order against me.

My soul has no desire for such things, they are as disease in my food.

So I would still have comfort, and I would have joy in the pains of death, for I have not been false to the words of the Holy One.

The camel-trains of Tema were searching with care, the bands of Sheba were waiting for them:

Did I say, Give me something? or, Make a payment for me out of your wealth?