Study Desk

"Is my complaint directed to man? Why should I not be impatient?

"Is my complaint directed to a human being? Why should I not be impatient?

Look at me and be astonished; clap your hand over your mouth.

Look at me and be appalled; clap your hand over your mouth.

When I think about this, I am terrified; trembling seizes my body.

When I think about this, I am terrified; trembling seizes my body.

Why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power?

Why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power?

They see their children established around them, their offspring before their eyes.

They see their children established around them, their offspring before their eyes.

Their homes are safe and free from fear; the rod of God is not upon them.

Their homes are safe and free from fear; the rod of God is not on them.

Their bulls never fail to breed; their cows calve and do not miscarry.

Their bulls never fail to breed; their cows calve and do not miscarry.

They send forth their children as a flock; their little ones dance about.

They send forth their children as a flock; their little ones dance about.

They sing to the music of tambourine and harp; they make merry to the sound of the flute.

They sing to the music of timbrel and lyre; they make merry to the sound of the pipe.

They spend their years in prosperity and go down to the grave in peace.

They spend their years in prosperity and go down to the grave in peace.

Yet they say to God, 'Leave us alone! We have no desire to know your ways.

Yet they say to God, ‘Leave us alone! We have no desire to know your ways.

Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What would we gain by praying to him?'

Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What would we gain by praying to him?'

But their prosperity is not in their own hands, so I stand aloof from the counsel of the wicked.

But their prosperity is not in their own hands, so I stand aloof from the plans of the wicked.

"Yet how often is the lamp of the wicked snuffed out? How often does calamity come upon them, the fate God allots in his anger?

"Yet how often is the lamp of the wicked snuffed out? How often does calamity come upon them, the fate God allots in his anger?

How often are they like straw before the wind, like chaff swept away by a gale?

How often are they like straw before the wind, like chaff swept away by a gale?