Study Desk

Is not thy fear of God thy confidence, And the integrity of thy ways thy hope?

By the breath of God they perish, And by the blast of his anger are they consumed.

Shall mortal man be more just than God? Shall a man be more pure than his Maker?

But as for me, I would seek unto God, And unto God would I commit my cause;

Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: Therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty.

For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, The poison whereof my spirit drinketh up: The terrors of God do set themselves in array against me.

Oh that I might have my request; And that God would grant me the thing that I long for!

Even that it would please God to crush me; That he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!

Doth God pervert justice? Or doth the Almighty pervert righteousness?

If thou wouldest seek diligently unto God, And make thy supplication to the Almighty;

So are the paths of all that forget God; And the hope of the godless man shall perish:

Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, Neither will he uphold the evil-doers.

Of a truth I know that it is so: But how can man be just with God?

God will not withdraw his anger; The helpers of Rahab do stoop under him.

I will say unto God, Do not condemn me; Show me wherefore thou contendest with me.

But oh that God would speak, And open his lips against thee,

And that he would show thee the secrets of wisdom! For he is manifold in understanding. Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.

Canst thou by searching find out God? Canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?

I am as one that is a laughing-stock to his neighbor, I who called upon God, and he answered: The just, the perfect man is a laughing-stock.

The tents of robbers prosper, And they that provoke God are secure; Into whose hand God bringeth abundantly.