Study Desk

"My friends are my scoffers; My eye weeps to God,

That one might plead for a man with God As a son of man with his neighbor!

"Certainly these are the dwellings of the wicked, And this is the place of him who does not know God."

Know then that God has wronged me And has surrounded me with His net.

"Pity me, pity me, you friends of mine, For the hand of God has struck me.

"Why do you persecute me as God does, And are not satisfied with my flesh?

"Even after my skin is destroyed, Yet from my flesh I will see God,

"He swallows riches, But will vomit them up; God will expel them from his belly.

"When he fills his belly, God will send His fierce anger on him And rain it on him while he is eating.

"This is a wicked person's portion from God, The inheritance decreed to him by God."

Their houses are safe from fear, And the rod of God is not on them.

"Yet they say to God, 'Go away from us! We do not even desire the knowledge of Your ways.

"How often is the lamp of the wicked put out, Or does their disaster fall on them? Does God apportion destruction in His anger?

"You say, 'God saves up a person's wrongdoing for his sons.' Let God repay him so that he may know it.

"Can anyone teach God knowledge, In that He judges those on high?

"Can a strong man be of use to God, Or a wise one be useful to himself?

"Is God not in the height of heaven? Look also at the highest stars, how high they are!

"But you say, 'What does God know? Can He judge through the thick darkness?

"They said to God, 'Go away from us!' And 'What can the Almighty do to them?'

"For then you will take pleasure in the Almighty And lift up your face to God.