Study Desk

"Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked and the ungodly, And such is the place of him who does not know or recognize or honor God."

Know then that God has wronged me and overthrown me And has closed His net around me.

"Have pity on me! Have pity on me, O you my friends, For the hand of God has touched me.

"Why do you persecute me as God does? Why are you not satisfied with my flesh (anguish)?

"Even after my [mortal] skin is destroyed [by death], Yet from my [immortal] flesh I will see God,

"He swallows [his ill-gotten] riches, But will vomit them up; God will drive them out of his belly.

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

"This is the wicked man's portion from God, And the heritage decreed and appointed to him by God."

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

"Yet they say to God, 'Depart from us, For we do not desire the knowledge of Your ways.

"How often [then] is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out, And that their disaster falls on them? Does God distribute pain and destruction and sorrow [to them] in His anger?

"You say, 'God stores away [the punishment of] man's wickedness for his children.' Let God repay him so that he may know and experience it.

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

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

"Is not God in the height of heaven? And behold the distant stars, how high they are!

"You say, 'What does God know [about me]? Can He judge through the thick darkness?

"They said to God, 'Depart from us! What can the Almighty do for us or to us?'

"Now yield and submit yourself to Him [agree with God and be conformed to His will] and be at peace; In this way [you will prosper and great] good will come to you.

Then you will have delight in the Almighty, And you will lift up your face to God.

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