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God Is Just

¹ "Call now—is there anyone who will answer you?
And to which of the ^(C1)holy ones (angels) will you turn?

² "For ^(C1)anger slays the foolish man,
And jealousy kills the simple (naive).

³ "I have seen the ^(C1)foolish taking root and outwardly prospering,
But I ^(C2)cursed his dwelling immediately for his destruction was certain.

⁴ "His ^(C1)children are far from safety and included in their father's ruin,
They are oppressed and crushed in the court of justice in the city's gate,
And there is no ^(F1)one to rescue them.

⁵ "The hungry devour his harvest
And take it even when it grows among the thorns;
The ^(C1)trap opens for his wealth.

⁶ "For ^(C1)affliction does not come forth from the dust,
Nor does trouble spring forth from the ground.

⁷ "For ^(C1)man is born for trouble,
As naturally as sparks fly upward.

⁸ "As for me, I would ^(C1)seek God and inquire of Him,
And I would commit my cause to God;

⁹ Who ^(C1)does great and unsearchable things,
Marvelous things without number.

¹⁰ "He ^(C1)gives rain upon the earth
And sends waters upon the fields,

¹¹ So that ^(C1)He sets on high those who are lowly,
And He lifts to safety those who mourn.

¹² "He ^(C1)frustrates the devices and schemes of the crafty,
So that their hands cannot attain success or achieve anything of lasting worth.

¹³ "He ^(C1)catches the so-called wise in their own shrewdness,
And the advice of the devious is quickly thwarted. ^(VR1)

¹⁴ "In the daytime they ^(C1)meet in darkness,
And at noon they grope as in the night.

¹⁵ "But God saves the innocent from ^(C1)the sword of the mouth of the devious,
And ^(C2)the poor from the hand of the mighty.

¹⁶ "So the helpless have hope,
And ^(C1)injustice shuts its mouth.

¹⁷ "^(C1)Behold, how happy and fortunate is the man whom God reproves,
So do not despise or reject the ^(C2)discipline of the Almighty subjecting you to trial and suffering.

¹⁸ "For ^(C1)He inflicts pain, but He binds up and gives relief;
He wounds, but His hands also heal.

¹⁹ "^(C1)He will rescue you from six troubles;
Even in seven, ^(C2)evil will not touch you.

²⁰ "In ^(C1)famine He will redeem you from death,
And ^(C2)in war from the power of the sword.

²¹ "You will be ^(C1)hidden from the scourge of the tongue,
^(C2)And you will not be afraid of destruction when it comes.

²² "You will ^(C1)laugh at violence and famine,
^(C2)And you will not be afraid of the wild beasts of the earth.

²³ "For you will be in harmony with the stones of the field,
And ^(C1)the beasts of the field will be at peace with you.

²⁴ "You will know also that your ^(C1)tent is secure and at peace,
And you will visit your dwelling and fear no loss nor find anything amiss.

²⁵ "You will know also that your ^(C1)descendants will be many,
And ^(C2)your offspring as the grass of the earth.

²⁶ "You will ^(C1)come to your grave in old age,
Like the stacking of grain on the threshing floor in its season.

²⁷ "Behold this; we have investigated it, and it is true.
Hear and heed it, and know for yourself for your own good."