If I am guilty, why then weary myself in vain?

Do not wear yourself out to become rich; be wise enough to restrain yourself.

Even youths get tired and weary; even strong young men clumsily stumble.

“But you did not call for me, O Jacob; you did not long for me, O Israel.

We are pursued – they are breathing down our necks; we are weary and have no rest.

I am exhausted as I groan; all night long I drench my bed in tears; my tears saturate the cushion beneath me.

I am exhausted from shouting for help; my throat is sore; my eyes grow tired of looking for my God.

The toil of a stupid fool wears him out, because he does not even know the way to the city.

They will disappoint you, those you have so faithfully dealt with since your youth. Each strays off in his own direction, leaving no one to rescue you.”

You have wearied the Lord with your words. But you say, “How have we wearied him?” Because you say, “Everyone who does evil is good in the Lord’s opinion, and he delights in them,” or “Where is the God of justice?”

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is an eternal God, the creator of the whole earth. He does not get tired or weary; there is no limit to his wisdom.

But those who wait for the Lord’s help find renewed strength; they rise up as if they had eagles’ wings, they run without growing weary, they walk without getting tired.

You did not bring me lambs for your burnt offerings; you did not honor me with your sacrifices. I did not burden you with offerings; I did not make you weary by demanding incense.

You did not buy me aromatic reeds; you did not present to me the fat of your sacrifices. Yet you burdened me with your sins; you made me weary with your evil deeds.

Persist in trusting your amulets and your many incantations, which you have faithfully recited since your youth! Maybe you will be successful – maybe you will scare away disaster.

But I thought, “I have worked in vain; I have expended my energy for absolutely nothing.” But the Lord will vindicate me; my God will reward me.

Because of the long distance you must travel, you get tired, but you do not say, ‘I give up.’ You get renewed energy, so you don’t collapse.

They will not work in vain, or give birth to children that will experience disaster. For the Lord will bless their children and their descendants.

‘You have said, “I feel so hopeless! For the Lord has added sorrow to my suffering. I am worn out from groaning. I can’t find any rest.”’”

Be sure of this! The Lord who commands armies has decreed: The nations’ efforts will go up in smoke; their exhausting work will be for nothing.