Study Desk

"From the [populous and crowded] city men groan, And the souls of the wounded cry out for help; Yet God [seemingly] does not pay attention to the wrong [done to them].

"Yet God draws away the mighty by His power; He rises, but no one has assurance of life.

"God gives them security, and they are supported; And His eyes are on their ways.

"Dominion and awe belong to God; He establishes peace and order in His high places.

"How then can man be justified and righteous with God? Or how can he who is born of a woman be pure and clean?

"Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead) is naked before God, And Abaddon (the place of destruction) has no covering [from His eyes].

"As God lives, who has taken away my right and denied me justice, And the Almighty, who has caused bitterness and grief for my soul,

As long as my life is within me, And the breath of God is [still] in my nostrils,

"I hold fast my uprightness and my right standing with God and I will not let them go; My heart does not reproach me for any of my days.

"For what is the hope of the godless, even though he has gained [in this world], When God takes his life?

"Will God hear his cry When trouble and distress come upon him?

"Will he take delight in the Almighty? Will he call on God at all times?

"I will teach you regarding the hand (power) of God; I will not conceal what is with the Almighty [God's actual treatment of the wicked].

"This [which I am about to explain] is the portion of a wicked man from God, And the inheritance which tyrants and oppressors receive from the Almighty:

"God understands the way [to wisdom] And He knows its place [for wisdom is with God alone].

"Oh, that I were as in the months of old, As in the days when God watched over me,

As I was in the prime of my days, When the friendship and counsel of God were over my tent,

"For God has loosed His bowstring [attacking me] and [He has] afflicted and humbled me; They have cast off the bridle [of restraint] before me.

"God has cast me into the mire [a swampland of crisis], And I have become [worthless] like dust and ashes.

"For what is the portion I would have from God above, And what heritage from the Almighty on high?