Study Desk

Yet I -- I inquire for God, And for God I give my word,

Lo, the happiness of mortal man, God doth reprove him: And the chastisement of the Mighty despise not,

For arrows of the Mighty [are] with me, Whose poison is drinking up my spirit. Terrors of God array themselves [for] me!

O that my request may come, That God may grant my hope!

That God would please -- and bruise me, Loose His hand and cut me off!

Doth God pervert judgment? And doth the Mighty One pervert justice?

If thou dost seek early unto God, And unto the Mighty makest supplication,

So [are] the paths of all forgetting God, And the hope of the profane doth perish,

Lo, God doth not reject the perfect, Nor taketh hold on the hand of evil doers.

Truly I have known that [it is] so, And what -- is man righteous with God?

God doth not turn back His anger, Under Him bowed have proud helpers.

I say unto God, `Do not condemn me, Let me know why Thou dost strive [with] me.

And yet, O that God had spoken! And doth open His lips with thee.

And declare to thee secrets of wisdom, For counsel hath foldings. And know thou that God forgetteth for thee, [Some] of thine iniquity.

By searching dost thou find out God? Unto perfection find out the Mighty One?

A laughter to his friend I am: `He calleth to God, and He answereth him,' A laughter [is] the perfect righteous one.

At peace are the tents of spoilers, And those provoking God have confidence, He into whose hand God hath brought.

Yet I for the Mighty One do speak, And to argue for God I delight.

For God do ye speak perverseness? And for Him do ye speak deceit?

His face do ye accept, if for God ye strive?