“Yes, I know what you are thinking, the schemes by which you would wrong me.

If God puts no trust in his servants and attributes folly to his angels,

Indeed, this is the joy of his way, and out of the earth others spring up.

If he holds back the waters, then they dry up; if he releases them, they destroy the land.

“Indeed, my eyes have seen all this, my ears have heard and understood it.

If God places no trust in his holy ones, if even the heavens are not pure in his eyes,

“If I cry out, ‘Violence!’ I receive no answer; I cry for help, but there is no justice.

But their prosperity is not their own doing. The counsel of the wicked is far from me!

“If I go to the east, he is not there, and to the west, yet I do not perceive him.

If you yourselves have all seen this, Why in the world do you continue this meaningless talk?

Look, I am just like you in relation to God; I too have been molded from clay.

Yet God finds occasions with me; he regards me as his enemy!

Indeed, God is mighty; and he does not despise people, he is mighty, and firm in his intent.

Indeed, God is exalted in his power; who is a teacher like him?

See how he scattered his lightning about him; he has covered the depths of the sea.

“Indeed, I am completely unworthy – how could I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth to silence myself.

(41:1) See, his expectation is wrong, he is laid low even at the sight of it.

“Surely, God does not reject a blameless man, nor does he grasp the hand of the evildoers.

If he passes by me, I cannot see him, if he goes by, I cannot perceive him.

If he snatches away, who can turn him back? Who dares to say to him, ‘What are you doing?’