¹⁷ “Blessed is the one whom God corrects;^(A)
    so do not despise the discipline^(B) of the Almighty.^[a](C)
18 For he wounds, but he also binds up;^(D)
    he injures, but his hands also heal.^(E)
19 From six calamities he will rescue^(F) you;
    in seven no harm will touch you.^(G)
20 In famine^(H) he will deliver you from death,
    and in battle from the stroke of the sword.^(I)
21 You will be protected from the lash of the tongue,^(J)
    and need not fear^(K) when destruction comes.^(L)
22 You will laugh^(M) at destruction and famine,^(N)
    and need not fear the wild animals.^(O)
23 For you will have a covenant^(P) with the stones^(Q) of the field,
    and the wild animals will be at peace with you.^(R)
24 You will know that your tent is secure;^(S)
    you will take stock of your property and find nothing missing.^(T)
25 You will know that your children will be many,^(U)
    and your descendants like the grass of the earth.^(V)
26 You will come to the grave in full vigor,^(W)
    like sheaves gathered in season.^(X)

²⁷ “We have examined this, and it is true.
    So hear it^(Y) and apply it to yourself.”^(Z)

² “If only my anguish could be weighed
    and all my misery be placed on the scales!^(AA)
3 It would surely outweigh the sand^(AB) of the seas—
    no wonder my words have been impetuous.^(AC)
4 The arrows^(AD) of the Almighty^(AE) are in me,^(AF)
    my spirit drinks^(AG) in their poison;^(AH)
    God’s terrors^(AI) are marshaled against me.^(AJ)
5 Does a wild donkey^(AK) bray^(AL) when it has grass,
    or an ox bellow when it has fodder?^(AM)
6 Is tasteless food eaten without salt,
    or is there flavor in the sap of the mallow^[b]?^(AN)
7 I refuse to touch it;
    such food makes me ill.^(AO)

⁸ “Oh, that I might have my request,
    that God would grant what I hope for,^(AP)
9 that God would be willing to crush^(AQ) me,
    to let loose his hand and cut off my life!^(AR)
10 Then I would still have this consolation^(AS)—
    my joy in unrelenting pain^(AT)—
    that I had not denied the words^(AU) of the Holy One.^(AV)

¹¹ “What strength do I have, that I should still hope?
    What prospects, that I should be patient?^(AW)
12 Do I have the strength of stone?
    Is my flesh bronze?^(AX)
13 Do I have any power to help myself,^(AY)
    now that success has been driven from me?

¹⁴ “Anyone who withholds kindness from a friend^(AZ)
    forsakes the fear of the Almighty.^(BA)
15 But my brothers are as undependable as intermittent streams,^(BB)
    as the streams that overflow
¹⁶ when darkened by thawing ice
    and swollen with melting snow,^(BC)
17 but that stop flowing in the dry season,
    and in the heat^(BD) vanish from their channels.
¹⁸ Caravans turn aside from their routes;
    they go off into the wasteland and perish.
¹⁹ The caravans of Tema^(BE) look for water,
    the traveling merchants of Sheba^(BF) look in hope.
²⁰ They are distressed, because they had been confident;
    they arrive there, only to be disappointed.^(BG)
21 Now you too have proved to be of no help;
    you see something dreadful and are afraid.^(BH)
22 Have I ever said, ‘Give something on my behalf,
    pay a ransom^(BI) for me from your wealth,^(BJ)
23 deliver me from the hand of the enemy,
    rescue me from the clutches of the ruthless’?^(BK)

²⁴ “Teach me, and I will be quiet;^(BL)
    show me where I have been wrong.^(BM)
25 How painful are honest words!^(BN)
    But what do your arguments prove?
²⁶ Do you mean to correct what I say,
    and treat my desperate words as wind?^(BO)
27 You would even cast lots^(BP) for the fatherless^(BQ)
    and barter away your friend.

²⁸ “But now be so kind as to look at me.
    Would I lie to your face?^(BR)
29 Relent, do not be unjust;^(BS)
    reconsider, for my integrity^(BT) is at stake.^[c](BU)
30 Is there any wickedness on my lips?^(BV)
    Can my mouth not discern^(BW) malice?

7 “Do not mortals have hard service^(BX) on earth?^(BY)
    Are not their days like those of hired laborers?^(BZ)
2 Like a slave longing for the evening shadows,^(CA)
    or a hired laborer waiting to be paid,^(CB)
3 so I have been allotted months of futility,
    and nights of misery have been assigned to me.^(CC)
4 When I lie down I think, ‘How long before I get up?’^(CD)
    The night drags on, and I toss and turn until dawn.^(CE)
5 My body is clothed with worms^(CF) and scabs,
    my skin is broken and festering.^(CG)

⁶ “My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle,^(CH)
    and they come to an end without hope.^(CI)
7 Remember, O God, that my life is but a breath;^(CJ)
    my eyes will never see happiness again.^(CK)
8 The eye that now sees me will see me no longer;
    you will look for me, but I will be no more.^(CL)
9 As a cloud vanishes^(CM) and is gone,
    so one who goes down to the grave^(CN) does not return.^(CO)
10 He will never come to his house again;
    his place^(CP) will know him no more.^(CQ)

¹¹ “Therefore I will not keep silent;^(CR)
    I will speak out in the anguish^(CS) of my spirit,
    I will complain^(CT) in the bitterness of my soul.^(CU)
12 Am I the sea,^(CV) or the monster of the deep,^(CW)
    that you put me under guard?^(CX)
13 When I think my bed will comfort me
    and my couch will ease my complaint,^(CY)
14 even then you frighten me with dreams
    and terrify^(CZ) me with visions,^(DA)
15 so that I prefer strangling and death,^(DB)
    rather than this body of mine.^(DC)
16 I despise my life;^(DD) I would not live forever.^(DE)
    Let me alone;^(DF) my days have no meaning.^(DG)

¹⁷ “What is mankind that you make so much of them,
    that you give them so much attention,^(DH)
18 that you examine them every morning^(DI)
    and test them^(DJ) every moment?^(DK)
19 Will you never look away from me,^(DL)
    or let me alone even for an instant?^(DM)
20 If I have sinned, what have I done to you,^(DN)
    you who see everything we do?
Why have you made me your target?^(DO)
    Have I become a burden to you?^[d](DP)
21 Why do you not pardon my offenses
    and forgive my sins?^(DQ)
For I will soon lie down in the dust;^(DR)
    you will search for me, but I will be no more.”^(DS)