Daily Bread

² “Bear with me a little longer and I will show you
    that there is more to be said in God’s behalf.
³ I get my knowledge from afar;^(A)
    I will ascribe justice to my Maker.^(B)
4 Be assured that my words are not false;^(C)
    one who has perfect knowledge^(D) is with you.^(E)

⁵ “God is mighty,^(F) but despises no one;^(G)
    he is mighty, and firm in his purpose.^(H)
6 He does not keep the wicked alive^(I)
    but gives the afflicted their rights.^(J)
7 He does not take his eyes off the righteous;^(K)
    he enthrones them with kings^(L)
    and exalts them forever.^(M)
8 But if people are bound in chains,^(N)
    held fast by cords of affliction,^(O)
9 he tells them what they have done—
    that they have sinned arrogantly.^(P)
10 He makes them listen^(Q) to correction^(R)
    and commands them to repent of their evil.^(S)
11 If they obey and serve him,^(T)
    they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity^(U)
    and their years in contentment.^(V)
12 But if they do not listen,
    they will perish by the sword^[a](W)
    and die without knowledge.^(X)

¹³ “The godless in heart^(Y) harbor resentment;^(Z)
    even when he fetters them, they do not cry for help.^(AA)
14 They die in their youth,^(AB)
    among male prostitutes of the shrines.^(AC)
15 But those who suffer^(AD) he delivers in their suffering;^(AE)
    he speaks^(AF) to them in their affliction.^(AG)

¹⁶ “He is wooing^(AH) you from the jaws of distress
    to a spacious place^(AI) free from restriction,^(AJ)
    to the comfort of your table^(AK) laden with choice food.^(AL)
17 But now you are laden with the judgment due the wicked;^(AM)
    judgment and justice have taken hold of you.^(AN)
18 Be careful that no one entices you by riches;
    do not let a large bribe^(AO) turn you aside.^(AP)
19 Would your wealth^(AQ) or even all your mighty efforts
    sustain you so you would not be in distress?
²⁰ Do not long for the night,^(AR)
    to drag people away from their homes.^[b]
21 Beware of turning to evil,^(AS)
    which you seem to prefer to affliction.^(AT)

²² “God is exalted in his power.^(AU)
    Who is a teacher like him?^(AV)
23 Who has prescribed his ways^(AW) for him,^(AX)
    or said to him, ‘You have done wrong’?^(AY)
24 Remember to extol his work,^(AZ)
    which people have praised in song.^(BA)
25 All humanity has seen it;^(BB)
    mortals gaze on it from afar.
²⁶ How great is God—beyond our understanding!^(BC)
    The number of his years is past finding out.^(BD)

²⁷ “He draws up the drops of water,^(BE)
    which distill as rain to the streams^[c];^(BF)
28 the clouds pour down their moisture
    and abundant showers^(BG) fall on mankind.^(BH)
29 Who can understand how he spreads out the clouds,
    how he thunders^(BI) from his pavilion?^(BJ)
30 See how he scatters his lightning^(BK) about him,
    bathing the depths of the sea.^(BL)
31 This is the way he governs^[d] the nations^(BM)
    and provides food^(BN) in abundance.^(BO)
32 He fills his hands with lightning
    and commands it to strike its mark.^(BP)
33 His thunder announces the coming storm;^(BQ)
    even the cattle make known its approach.^[e](BR)