Read the Bible

¹ "Call now, is there anyone answering you?
And to which of the holy ones will you turn?
² For vexation will slay the fool,
and jealousy will kill the simple.
³ I have seen a fool taking root,
but^[a] suddenly I cursed his dwelling.
⁴ His children are far from deliverance,
and they are crushed in the gate,
and there is no deliverer—
⁵ whose harvest the hungry eats,
and he takes it from behind^[b] the thorns;
and the thirsty pants after their wealth.
⁶ Indeed,^[c] mischief does not come from the dust,
and trouble does not sprout from the earth.
⁷ But a human being is born to trouble,
and they soar aloft^[d] like sparks.^[e]
8 "But I myself^[f] will seek God,
and to God I would commit my cause.
⁹ He is doing great and unsearchable^[g] things,
marvelous things without number^[h]—
¹⁰ the one who is giving rain on the surface of^[i] the earth
and is sending water on the surface of^[j] the fields,
¹¹ to set the lowly on high,
and those mourning are lifted to safety.
¹² He is frustrating the devices of the crafty,
and their hands do not achieve success.
¹³ He is capturing the wise in their craftiness,
and the schemes of the wily are rushed.
¹⁴ In the daytime they meet with darkness,
and they grope at noon^[k] as in the night.
¹⁵ And^[l] he saves from the sword of^[m] their mouth,
even^[n] the poor from the hand of the strong.
¹⁶ So^[o] there is hope^[p] for the powerless,
and wickedness shuts its mouth.
¹⁷ "Look, happy is the human being whom God reproves;
and you must not despise the discipline of Shaddai,
¹⁸ for he himself^[q] wounds, but^[r] he binds up;
he strikes, but^[s] his hands heal.
¹⁹ From^[t] six troubles he will deliver you,
and in seven evil shall not touch you.
²⁰ In famine he will redeem you from death,
and in war from the power of^[u] the sword.
²¹ From the scourge of the tongue you shall be hidden,
and you shall not be afraid of^[v] destruction when it comes.
²² At destruction and famine^[w] you shall laugh,
and you shall not fear the wild animals of the earth.
²³ For your covenant will be with the stones of the field,
and the wild animals^[x] of the field will be at peace with you.
²⁴ And you shall know that your tent is safe,
and you will inspect your fold, and you shall not be missing anything.
²⁵ And you shall know that your offspring are many,
and your descendants like the vegetation of the earth.
²⁶ You shall come in maturity to the grave,
as the raising up of a stack of sheaves in its season.
²⁷ "Look, we have searched this out—it is true;
hear it and know it yourself."^[y]