<p class="poetry">For evil does not come up from the dust,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">nor does trouble spring up from the ground,p>

<p class="poetry">For you will have a pact with the stones<n id="1" /> of the field,p> <p class="poetry">and the wild animals<n id="2" /> will be at peace<n id="3" /> with you.p>

<p class="poetry">But because it is heavier<n id="1" /> than the sand<n id="2" /> of the sea,p> <p class="poetry">that is why my words have been wild.<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">For the arrows<n id="1" /> of the Almighty<n id="2" /> are within me;p> <p class="poetry">my spirit<n id="3" /> drinks their poison;<n id="4" />p> <p class="poetry">God&#8217;s sudden terrors<n id="5" /> are arrayed<n id="6" /> against me.p>

<p class="poetry">Then I would yet have my comfort,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">then<n id="2" /> I would rejoice,<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">in spite of pitiless pain,<n id="4" />p> <p class="poetry">for<n id="5" /> I have not concealed the words<n id="6" /> of the Holy One.<n id="7" />p>

<p class="poetry">Remember<n id="1" /> that my life is but a breath,p> <p class="poetry">that<n id="2" /> my eyes will never again<n id="3" /> see happiness.p>

<p class="poetry">I loathe<n id="1" /> it;<n id="2" /> I do not want to live forever;p> <p class="poetry">leave me alone,<n id="3" /> for my days are a vapor!<n id="4" />p>

<p class="poetry">if you become<n id="1" /> pure<n id="2" /> and upright,<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">even now he will rouse himself<n id="4" /> for you,p> <p class="poetry">and will restore<n id="5" /> your righteous abode.<n id="6" />p>

<p class="poetry">&#8220;Truly,<n id="1" /> I know that this is so.p> <p class="poetry">But how<n id="2" /> can a human<n id="3" /> be just before<n id="4" /> God?<n id="5" />p>

<p class="poetry">For he<n id="1" /> knows deceitful<n id="2" /> men;p> <p class="poetry">when he sees evil, will he not<n id="3" /> consider it?<n id="4" />p>

<p class="poetry">For<n id="1" /> then you will lift up your facep> <p class="poetry">without<n id="2" /> blemish;<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">you will be securely established<n id="4" />p> <p class="poetry">and will not fear.p>

<p class="poetry">Which of all these<n id="1" /> does not knowp> <p class="poetry">that the hand of the <sc>Lordsc><n id="2" /> has done<n id="3" /> this,p>

<p class="poetry">Would it turn out well if he would examine<n id="1" /> you?p> <p class="poetry">Or as one deceives<n id="2" /> a man would you deceive him?p>

<p class="poetry">Moreover, this will become my deliverance,p> <p class="poetry">for no godless person would come before him.<n id="1" />p>

<t /><p class="poetry">&#8220;But there is hope for<n id="1" /> a tree:<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">If it is cut down, it will sprout again,p> <p class="poetry">and its new shoots will not fail.p>

<p class="poetry">he wanders about &#8211; food for vultures;<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">he knows that the day of darkness is at hand.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">Have pity on me, my friends, have pity on me,p> <p class="poetry">for the hand of God has struck me.p>

<p class="poetry">If you say, &#8216;How we will pursue him,p> <p class="poetry">since the root of the trouble is found in him!&#8217;<n id="1" />p>

<p class="poetry">Fear the sword yourselves,p> <p class="poetry">for wrath<n id="1" /> brings the punishment<n id="2" /> by the sword,p> <p class="poetry">so that you may knowp> <p class="poetry">that there is judgment.&#8221;<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">For you say,p> <p class="poetry">&#8216;Where now is the nobleman&#8217;s house,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">and where are the tents in which the wicked lived?&#8217;<n id="2" />p>