<p class="poetry">It is higher<n id="1" /> than the heavens &#8211; what can you do?p> <p class="poetry">It is deeper than Sheol<n id="2" /> &#8211; what can you know?p>

<p class="poetry">But you say, &#8216;What will it profit you,&#8217;<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">and, &#8216;What do I gain by not sinning?&#8217;<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">How difficult it is for me to fathom your thoughts about me, O God!<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">How vast is their sum total!<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">Danger awaits one who says<n id="1" /> to his father,p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;What in the world<n id="2" /> are you fathering?&#8221;p> <p class="poetry">and to his mother,p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;What in the world are you bringing forth?&#8221;<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">If you sin, how does it affect God?<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">If your transgressions are many,p> <p class="poetry">what does it do to him?<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">If you are righteous, what do you give to God,p> <p class="poetry">or what does he receive from your hand?p>

<p class="poetry">&#8220;O <sc>Lordsc>, help me understand my mortalityp> <p class="poetry">and the brevity of life!<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">Let me realize how quickly my life will pass!<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">Take note of my brief lifespan!<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">Why do you make all people so mortal?<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">So what advantage does a wise man have over a fool?<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">And what advantage<n id="2" /> does a pauper gain by knowing how to survive?<n id="3" />p>

<p class="sosspeaker"><b><i>The Maidens to The Beloved:i>b>p> <p class="poetry">Why is your beloved better than others,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">O most beautiful of women?p> <p class="poetry">Why is your beloved better than others,p> <p class="poetry">that you would command us in this manner?p>

<t /><p class="poetry">Here is a message about Dumah:<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">Someone calls to me from Seir,<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;Watchman, what is left of the night?p> <p class="poetry">Watchman, what is left of the night?&#8221;<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">&#8216;How<n id="1" /> beautiful are your tents, O Jacob,p> <p class="poetry">and your dwelling places, O Israel!p>

<p class="poetry">Why<n id="1" /> has your heart carried you away,<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">and why do your eyes flash,<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">When the foundations<n id="1" /> are destroyed,p> <p class="poetry">what can the godly<n id="2" /> accomplish?&#8221;<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">How can I repay the <sc>Lordsc>p> <p class="poetry">for all his acts of kindness to me?p>

<p class="poetry">Your words are sweeterp> <p class="poetry">in my mouth than honey!<n id="1" />p>

<p class="poetry">There is a generation whose eyes are so lofty,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">and whose eyelids are lifted up disdainfully.<n id="2" />p>

<t /><p class="poetry">What benefit can a worker<n id="1" /> gain from his toil?<n id="2" />p>

<p class="bodytext">Jacob became angry<n id="1" /> and argued with Laban. &#8220;What did I do wrong?&#8221; he demanded of Laban.<n id="2" /> &#8220;What sin of mine prompted you to chase after me in hot pursuit?<n id="3" />

Then all the nations will ask, &#8220;Why has the <sc>Lordsc> done all this to this land? What is this fierce, heated display of anger<n id="1" /> all about?&#8221;