Study Desk

He will never again enjoy so much wealth— rivers flowing with honey and cream.

But you say, ‘God is saving their punishment for their children.' No! Let God punish the evil people themselves so that they will know what they have done!

So even the soil in the valley will be pleasant for them, and thousands of people will join their funeral procession.

"So your empty words are no comfort to me. There is no truth at all in your answers!"

No, it is because you sin so much. You never stop sinning.

That is why it is so dark you cannot see, and why a flood of water covers you.

Thick clouds hide us from his eyes, so he cannot see us as he walks around the edge of the sky.'

They are soaked with rain in the mountains. They stay close to the large rocks for shelter. They have no clothes, so they work naked. They carry piles of grain for others, but they go hungry. They press out olive oil and walk on grapes in the winepress, but they have nothing to drink. In the city you can hear the sad sounds of dying people. Those who are hurt cry out for help, but God does not listen. "Some people rebel against the light. They don't know what God wants. They don't live the way he wants. A murderer gets up at dawn and kills poor, helpless people. And at night he becomes a thief. A man who commits adultery waits for the night to come. He thinks, ‘No one will see me,' but still, he covers his face. When it is dark, evil people go out and break into houses. But during the day they lock themselves in their homes to avoid the light. The darkest night is their morning. They are friends with the terrors of darkness. " You say, ‘Evil people are taken away like things carried away in a flood. The land they own is cursed, so no one goes to work in their vineyards. As hot, dry weather melts away the winter snows, so the grave takes away those who have sinned. Their own mothers will forget them. Only the worms will want them. No one will remember them. They will be broken like a rotten stick! These evil people hurt women who have no children to protect them, and they refuse to help widows. By his power God removes the powerful. Even if they have a high position, they cannot be sure of their lives. They might feel safe and secure, but God is watching how they live. They might be successful for a while, but then they will be gone. Like everyone else, they will be cut down like grain.' "I swear these things are true! Who can prove that I lied? Who can show that I am wrong?"

They have no clothes, so they work naked. They carry piles of grain for others, but they go hungry.

" You say, ‘Evil people are taken away like things carried away in a flood. The land they own is cursed, so no one goes to work in their vineyards.

As hot, dry weather melts away the winter snows, so the grave takes away those who have sinned.

You have given such wonderful advice to this foolish man! You have provided so much useful information!

But you have seen it all with your own eyes. So why do you say such useless things?

Evil people collect silver as easily as dirt. They may have so many clothes that they are piled up like clay.

"So where does wisdom come from? Where can we find understanding?

God's light shined above me, so I could walk through the darkness.

Life was so good that I washed my feet in cream and had plenty of the finest oils.

They are starving with nothing to eat, so they chew on the dry, ruined land.

God has taken the string from my bow and made me weak, so they feel free to do whatever they want to me.

They guard the road so that I cannot escape. They succeed in destroying me, without help from anyone.