Study Desk

"But notice, the prosperity of the wicked is not in their hand (in their power); The counsel of the wicked [and the mystery of God's dealings with the ungodly] is far from my comprehension.

"But who will confront him with his actions and rebuke him face to face, And who will repay him for what he has done?

"But the land is possessed by the man with power, And the favored and honorable man dwells in it.

"Yet He filled their houses with good things; But the counsel of the wicked and ungodly is far from me.

"Behold, I go forward (to the east), but He is not there; I go backward (to the west), but I cannot perceive Him;

To the left (north) He turns, but I cannot behold Him; He turns to the right hand (south), but I cannot see Him.

"But He knows the way that I take [and He pays attention to it]. When He has tried me, I will come forth as [refined] gold [pure and luminous].

"But He is unique and unchangeable, and who can turn Him? And what His soul desires, that He does.

But I am not silenced by the darkness [of these woes that fell on me], Nor by the thick darkness which covers my face.

"Within the walls [of the wicked] the poor make [olive] oil; They tread [the grapes in] the wine presses, but thirst.

"Yet God draws away the mighty by His power; He rises, but no one has assurance of life.

But Job answered and said,

He may prepare it, but the just will wear it And the innocent will divide the silver.

"He lies down rich, but never will again; He opens his eyes, and it is gone.

"[As for] the earth, out of it comes food, But underneath [its surface, down deep] it is turned over as fire.

"But where can wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?

"But to man He said, 'Behold, the reverential and worshipful fear of the Lord—that is wisdom; And to depart from evil is understanding.'"

"But now those younger than I mock and laugh at me, Whose fathers I refused to put with the sheepdogs of my flock.

"I cry to You for help, [Lord,] but You do not answer me; I stand up, but You [only] gaze [indifferently] at me.

(But from my youth the orphan grew up with me as with a father, And from my mother's womb I have been the widow's guide),