² Doesn’t this gush of words call for an answer?
Can this man’s bold talk be justified?
³ Should your empty words reduce men to silence?
Can you be allowed to scoff without anyone putting you in your place?
⁴ You say, “What I teach is untainted,
and I am pure in your eyes.”
⁵ Oh how I wish that God would speak up,
open his lips against you,
⁶ and show you the secret of wisdom,
because sound judgment must look at both sides.
Then you would know that God has even forgotten some of your guilt!

⁷ Can you explore the essence of God?
Can you find a limit to the perfections of the Almighty?
⁸ They are as high as the heavens. What can you do?
They are deeper than hell. ^[1] What can you know?
⁹ His dimensions are greater than the earth
and wider than the sea.
¹⁰ If God comes and arrests someone and puts him on trial,
who can overrule him?
¹¹ Certainly he recognizes deceitful men for what they are.
He sees evil, and he recognizes it for what it is.

¹² Before an empty-headed man gets understanding,
a wild donkey colt will be born as a man.

¹³ But you, if you make your heart steadfast,
and you spread out your hands to him,
¹⁴ if you put away the sin you are holding in your hand,
and you do not allow injustice to dwell in your tents,
¹⁵ then you will lift up your face and be blameless.
You will be solid and fearless.
¹⁶ You will certainly forget your trouble.
Your memory of it will be like water that has flowed away.
¹⁷ The rest of your life will be brighter than noon.
Darkness will become like morning.
¹⁸ You will be confident that there is hope.
When you look around, you will go to bed confidently.
¹⁹ You will lie down, and no one will make you tremble.
Many will seek your favor.
²⁰ The eyes of the wicked will fail,
and their place of refuge will disappear.
Their hope will vanish with their dying breath. ^[2]

² Yes, indeed. You are the people,
and wisdom will die with you!
³ But I understand things as well as you. ^[3]
I do not fall short of you.
Who doesn’t know all these things?

⁴ But I am a laughingstock to my neighbor—
I, who call on God, and he answers me—
I, a righteous and complete man, am a laughingstock!
⁵ Those who are carefree do not worry about disaster.
They think it is reserved for those whose feet are slipping.
⁶ The tents of raiders are undisturbed,
and those who provoke God are secure—
those who carry their god in their hand. ^[4]

⁷ Please ask the animals, and they will teach you.
Ask the birds of the sky, and they will inform you.
⁸ Complain to the earth, and it will teach you,
and the fish of the sea will tell you about it.
⁹ Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord ^[5] did this?
¹⁰ The life of every living thing is in his hand,
as well as the breath ^[6] in all human flesh.

¹¹ Isn’t it true that the ear tests words
and the palate tastes food?
¹² Isn’t it true that wisdom is found among the aged
and understanding among those who have had a long life?
¹³ But wisdom and power are with God.
He gives guidance and understanding.
¹⁴ If he tears something down, it cannot be rebuilt.
If he shuts a door on a man, it cannot be opened.
¹⁵ Look! He holds back the waters, and the land dries up.
He turns them loose, and the earth is overwhelmed.
¹⁶ He has strength and sound judgment.
The deceiver and the deceived both belong to him.
¹⁷ He causes royal advisors to be led away naked.
He makes fools of judges.
¹⁸ He takes away the ruling power of kings,
and he wraps a loincloth around their waist. ^[7]
19 He causes priests to be led away naked,
and he brings the pillars of society down to ruin.
²⁰ He closes the lips of trusted advisors,
and he takes away good judgment from elders.
²¹ He pours contempt on nobles.
He loosens the belt of the strong.
²² He uncovers deep mysteries that were hidden in darkness.
He brings the shadow of death into the light.
²³ He raises nations to power, and then he destroys them.
He enlarges nations, and then he leads them away captive.
²⁴ He deprives the heads of the peoples of the earth of their reason.
He makes them wander in a wild land where there are no roads.
²⁵ They grope around in darkness, where there is no light.
He causes them to wander aimlessly like drunks.