just as I was in my most productive time, when God’s intimate friendship was experienced in my tent,

What then would be one’s lot from God above, one’s heritage from the Almighty on high?

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

“Be patient with me a little longer and I will instruct you, for I still have words to speak on God’s behalf.

Do you know how God commands them, how he makes lightning flash in his storm cloud?

From the north he comes in golden splendor; around God is awesome majesty.

For God deprived her of wisdom, and did not impart understanding to her.

“Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him? Let the person who accuses God give him an answer!”

The Lord is alive! My protector is praiseworthy! The God who delivers me is exalted as king!

Tremble, O earth, before the Lord – before the God of Jacob,

If only you would kill the wicked, O God! Get away from me, you violent men!

Every word of God is purified; he is like a shield for those who take refuge in him.

But Jeshurun became fat and kicked, you got fat, thick, and stuffed! Then he deserted the God who made him, and treated the Rock who saved him with contempt.

That day – let it be darkness; let not God on high regard it, nor let light shine on it!

“Therefore, blessed is the man whom God corrects, so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.

For the arrows of the Almighty are within me; my spirit drinks their poison; God’s sudden terrors are arrayed against me.

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

I am a laughingstock to my friends, I, who called on God and whom he answered – a righteous and blameless man is a laughingstock!

But the tents of robbers are peaceful, and those who provoke God are confident – who carry their god in their hands.

Have pity on me, my friends, have pity on me, for the hand of God has struck me.