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1 Call now, if there be any that will answer thee; and to which of the saints wilt thou turn?
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2 For wrath killeth the foolish man, and envy slayeth the silly one.
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3 I have seen the foolish taking root: but suddenly I cursed his habitation.
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4 His children are far from safety, and they are crushed in the gate, neither is there any to deliver them.
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5 Whose harvest the hungry eateth up, and taketh it even out of the thorns, and the robber swalloweth up their substance.
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6 Although affliction cometh not forth of the dust, neither doth trouble spring out of the ground;
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7 Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward.
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8 I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause:
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9 Which doeth great things and unsearchable; marvellous things without number:
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10 Who giveth rain upon the earth, and sendeth waters upon the fields:
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11 To set up on high those that be low; that those which mourn may be exalted to safety.
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12 He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise.
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13 He taketh the wise in their own craftiness: and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong.
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14 They meet with darkness in the day time, and grope in the noonday as in the night.
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15 But he saveth the poor from the sword, from their mouth, and from the hand of the mighty.
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16 So the poor hath hope, and iniquity stoppeth her mouth.
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17 Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:
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18 For he maketh sore, and bindeth up: he woundeth, and his hands make whole.
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19 He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee.
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20 In famine he shall redeem thee from death: and in war from the power of the sword.
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21 Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue: neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh.
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22 At destruction and famine thou shalt laugh: neither shalt thou be afraid of the beasts of the earth.
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23 For thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field: and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee.
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24 And thou shalt know that thy tabernacle shall be in peace; and thou shalt visit thy habitation, and shalt not sin.
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25 Thou shalt know also that thy seed shall be great, and thine offspring as the grass of the earth.
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26 Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in in his season.
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27 Lo this, we have searched it, so it is; hear it, and know thou it for thy good.
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- 1 “Call now, is there anyone who will answer you? And to which of the holy ones will you turn?
- 2 “For anger slays the foolish man, And jealousy kills the simple.
- 3 “I have seen the foolish taking root, And I cursed his abode immediately.
- 4 “His sons are far from safety, They are even oppressed in the gate, And there is no deliverer.
- 5 “His harvest the hungry devour And take it to a place of thorns, And the schemer is eager for their wealth.
- 6 “For affliction does not come from the dust, Nor does trouble sprout from the ground,
- 7 For man is born for trouble, As sparks fly upward.
- 8 “But as for me, I would seek God, And I would place my cause before God;
- 9 Who does great and unsearchable things, Wonders without number.
- 10 “He gives rain on the earth And sends water on the fields,
- 11 So that He sets on high those who are lowly, And those who mourn are lifted to safety.
- 12 “He frustrates the plotting of the shrewd, So that their hands cannot attain success.
- 13 “He captures the wise by their own shrewdness, And the advice of the cunning is quickly thwarted.
- 14 “By day they meet with darkness, And grope at noon as in the night.
- 15 “But He saves from the sword of their mouth, And the poor from the hand of the mighty.
- 16 “So the helpless has hope, And unrighteousness must shut its mouth.
- 17 “Behold, how happy is the man whom God reproves, So do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.
- 18 “For He inflicts pain, and gives relief; He wounds, and His hands also heal.
- 19 “From six troubles He will deliver you, Even in seven evil will not touch you.
- 20 “In famine He will redeem you from death, And in war from the power of the sword.
- 21 “You will be hidden from the scourge of the tongue, And you will not be afraid of violence when it comes.
- 22 “You will laugh at violence and famine, And you will not be afraid of wild beasts.
- 23 “For you will be in league with the stones of the field, And the beasts of the field will be at peace with you.
- 24 “You will know that your tent is secure, For you will visit your abode and fear no loss.
- 25 “You will know also that your descendants will be many, And your offspring as the grass of the earth.
- 26 “You will come to the grave in full vigor, Like the stacking of grain in its season.
- 27 “Behold this; we have investigated it, and so it is. Hear it, and know for yourself.”
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