I too will answer my part, I too will explain what I know.

The Beloved to Her Lover: Oh, how handsome you are, my lover! Oh, how delightful you are! The lush foliage is our canopied bed;

Indeed, they are barely planted; yes, they are barely sown; yes, they barely take root in the earth, and then he blows on them, causing them to dry up, and the wind carries them away like straw.

Who decreed this from the beginning, so we could know? Who announced it ahead of time, so we could say, ‘He’s correct’? Indeed, none of them decreed it! Indeed, none of them announced it! Indeed, no one heard you say anything!

who summons an eagle from the east, from a distant land, one who carries out my plan. Yes, I have decreed, yes, I will bring it to pass; I have formulated a plan, yes, I will carry it out.

The Lord impoverishes and makes wealthy; he humbles and he exalts.

But even if it were true that I have erred, my error remains solely my concern!

At this also my heart pounds and leaps from its place.

Would you indeed annul my justice? Would you declare me guilty so that you might be right?

who, moreover, do no wrong, but follow in his footsteps.

I will remember my covenant with Jacob and also my covenant with Isaac and also my covenant with Abraham, and I will remember the land.

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you! Don’t be frightened, for I am your God! I strengthen you – yes, I help you – yes, I uphold you with my saving right hand!

A man uses it to make a fire; he takes some of it and warms himself. Yes, he kindles a fire and bakes bread. Then he makes a god and worships it; he makes an idol and bows down to it.

Abraham approached and said, “Will you sweep away the godly along with the wicked?

The wisest of her ladies answer; indeed she even thinks to herself,

Yes, you would gamble for the fatherless, and auction off your friend.

“How much less, then, can I answer him and choose my words to argue with him!

But you even break off piety, and hinder meditation before God.

how much less man, who is abominable and corrupt, who drinks in evil like water!

how much less a mortal man, who is but a maggot – a son of man, who is only a worm!”