Daily Bread

² “Are all these words to go unanswered?^(B)
    Is this talker to be vindicated?^(C)
3 Will your idle talk^(D) reduce others to silence?
    Will no one rebuke you when you mock?^(E)
4 You say to God, ‘My beliefs are flawless^(F)
    and I am pure^(G) in your sight.’
⁵ Oh, how I wish that God would speak,^(H)
    that he would open his lips against you
⁶ and disclose to you the secrets of wisdom,^(I)
    for true wisdom has two sides.
    Know this: God has even forgotten some of your sin.^(J)

⁷ “Can you fathom^(K) the mysteries of God?
    Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?
⁸ They are higher^(L) than the heavens^(M) above—what can you do?
    They are deeper than the depths below^(N)—what can you know?^(O)
9 Their measure^(P) is longer than the earth
    and wider than the sea.^(Q)

¹⁰ “If he comes along and confines you in prison
    and convenes a court, who can oppose him?^(R)
11 Surely he recognizes deceivers;
    and when he sees evil, does he not take note?^(S)
12 But the witless can no more become wise
    than a wild donkey’s colt^(T) can be born human.^[a](U)

¹³ “Yet if you devote your heart^(V) to him
    and stretch out your hands^(W) to him,^(X)
14 if you put away^(Y) the sin that is in your hand
    and allow no evil^(Z) to dwell in your tent,^(AA)
15 then, free of fault, you will lift up your face;^(AB)
    you will stand firm^(AC) and without fear.^(AD)
16 You will surely forget your trouble,^(AE)
    recalling it only as waters gone by.^(AF)
17 Life will be brighter than noonday,^(AG)
    and darkness will become like morning.^(AH)
18 You will be secure, because there is hope;
    you will look about you and take your rest^(AI) in safety.^(AJ)
19 You will lie down, with no one to make you afraid,^(AK)
    and many will court your favor.^(AL)
20 But the eyes of the wicked will fail,^(AM)
    and escape will elude them;^(AN)
    their hope will become a dying gasp.”^(AO)

² “Doubtless you are the only people who matter,
    and wisdom will die with you!^(AP)
3 But I have a mind as well as you;
    I am not inferior to you.
    Who does not know all these things?^(AQ)

⁴ “I have become a laughingstock^(AR) to my friends,^(AS)
    though I called on God and he answered^(AT)—
    a mere laughingstock, though righteous and blameless!^(AU)
5 Those who are at ease have contempt^(AV) for misfortune
    as the fate of those whose feet are slipping.^(AW)
6 The tents of marauders are undisturbed,^(AX)
    and those who provoke God are secure^(AY)—
    those God has in his hand.^[b]

⁷ “But ask the animals, and they will teach you,^(AZ)
    or the birds in the sky,^(BA) and they will tell you;^(BB)
8 or speak to the earth, and it will teach you,
    or let the fish in the sea inform you.
⁹ Which of all these does not know^(BC)
    that the hand of the Lord has done this?^(BD)
10 In his hand is the life^(BE) of every creature
    and the breath of all mankind.^(BF)
11 Does not the ear test words
    as the tongue tastes food?^(BG)
12 Is not wisdom found among the aged?^(BH)
    Does not long life bring understanding?^(BI)

¹³ “To God belong wisdom^(BJ) and power;^(BK)
    counsel and understanding are his.^(BL)
14 What he tears down^(BM) cannot be rebuilt;^(BN)
    those he imprisons cannot be released.^(BO)
15 If he holds back the waters,^(BP) there is drought;^(BQ)
    if he lets them loose, they devastate the land.^(BR)
16 To him belong strength and insight;^(BS)
    both deceived and deceiver are his.^(BT)
17 He leads rulers away stripped^(BU)
    and makes fools of judges.^(BV)
18 He takes off the shackles^(BW) put on by kings
    and ties a loincloth^[c] around their waist.^(BX)
19 He leads priests away stripped^(BY)
    and overthrows officials long established.^(BZ)
20 He silences the lips of trusted advisers
    and takes away the discernment of elders.^(CA)
21 He pours contempt on nobles^(CB)
    and disarms the mighty.^(CC)
22 He reveals the deep things of darkness^(CD)
    and brings utter darkness^(CE) into the light.^(CF)
23 He makes nations great, and destroys them;^(CG)
    he enlarges nations,^(CH) and disperses them.^(CI)
24 He deprives the leaders of the earth of their reason;^(CJ)
    he makes them wander in a trackless waste.^(CK)
25 They grope in darkness with no light;^(CL)
    he makes them stagger like drunkards.^(CM)

13 “My eyes have seen all this,^(CN)
    my ears have heard and understood it.
² What you know, I also know;
    I am not inferior to you.^(CO)
3 But I desire to speak to the Almighty^(CP)
    and to argue my case with God.^(CQ)
4 You, however, smear me with lies;^(CR)
    you are worthless physicians,^(CS) all of you!^(CT)
5 If only you would be altogether silent!^(CU)
    For you, that would be wisdom.^(CV)