Men of understanding say to me – any wise man listening to me says –

The deep says, ‘It is not with me.’ And the sea says, ‘It is not with me.’

Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me. I, even I, will explain what I know.’

who says to a king, ‘Worthless man’ and to nobles, ‘Wicked men,’

“It is all one! That is why I say, ‘He destroys the blameless and the guilty.’

If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint, I will change my expression and be cheerful,’

So do not say, ‘We have found wisdom! God will refute him, not man!’

If I say, “My bed will comfort me, my couch will ease my complaint,”

“Do you think this to be just: when you say, ‘My right before God.’

For to the snow he says, ‘Fall to earth,’ and to the torrential rains, ‘Pour down.’

“They are dismayed and cannot answer any more; they have nothing left to say.

“But now, O Job, listen to my words, and hear everything I have to say!

But no one says, ‘Where is God, my Creator, who gives songs in the night,

“If you have understanding, listen to this, hear what I have to say.

I will say to God, ‘Do not condemn me; tell me why you are contending with me.’

If you say, ‘How we will pursue him, since the root of the trouble is found in him!’

I would know with what words he would answer me, and understand what he would say to me.

Destruction and Death say, ‘With our ears we have heard a rumor about where it can be found.’

The righteous see their destruction and rejoice; the innocent mock them scornfully, saying,

If he is uprooted from his place, then that place will disown him, saying, ‘I have never seen you!’