For the very thing I dreaded has happened to me, and what I feared has come upon me.

Is not their excess wealth taken away from them? They die, yet without attaining wisdom.

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

“Truly, I know that this is so. But how can a human be just before God?

Although I am innocent, I could not answer him; I could only plead with my judge for mercy.

But an empty man will become wise, when a wild donkey’s colt is born a human being.

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

How many are my iniquities and sins? Show me my transgression and my sin.

Do you wish to torment a windblown leaf and chase after dry chaff?

But as a mountain falls away and crumbles, and as a rock will be removed from its place,

if he retains it for himself and does not let it go, and holds it fast in his mouth,

‘Surely our enemies are destroyed, and fire consumes their wealth.’

Whatever you decide on a matter, it will be established for you, and light will shine on your ways.

For he fulfills his decree against me, and many such things are his plans.

The house he builds is as fragile as a moth’s cocoon, like a hut that a watchman has made.

It hurls itself against him without pity as he flees headlong from its power.

Fine gold cannot be given in exchange for it, nor can its price be weighed out in silver.

then let me sow and let another eat, and let my crops be uprooted.

so that my heart was secretly enticed, and my hand threw them a kiss from my mouth,

then this also would be iniquity to be judged, for I would have been false to God above.