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He hath made me also a byword of the people; and aforetime I was as a tabret.

Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, and all my members are as a shadow.

For he is cast into a net by his own feet, and he walketh upon a snare.

For he is cast into a net by his own feet, and he walketh upon a snare.

The snare is laid for him in the ground, and a trap for him in the way.

He hath destroyed me on every side, and I am gone: and mine hope hath he removed like a tree.

They that dwell in mine house, and my maids, count me for a stranger: I am an alien in their sight.

Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book!

Be ye afraid of the sword: for wrath bringeth the punishments of the sword, that ye may know there is a judgment.

That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?

He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night.

He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night.

All darkness shall be hid in his secret places: a fire not blown shall consume him; it shall go ill with him that is left in his tabernacle.

This is the portion of a wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed unto him by God.

They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.

They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave.

Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself?

For thou hast taken a pledge from thy brother for nought, and stripped the naked of their clothing.

Thick clouds are a covering to him, that he seeth not; and he walketh in the circuit of heaven.

Which were cut down out of time, whose foundation was overflown with a flood:

Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways.

They drive away the ass of the fatherless, they take the widow’s ox for a pledge.

Behold, as wild asses in the desert, go they forth to their work; rising betimes for a prey: the wilderness yieldeth food for them and for their children.

They are wet with the showers of the mountains, and embrace the rock for want of a shelter.

They pluck the fatherless from the breast, and take a pledge of the poor.

The murderer rising with the light killeth the poor and needy, and in the night is as a thief.

The womb shall forget him; the worm shall feed sweetly on him; he shall be no more remembered; and wickedness shall be broken as a tree.

They are exalted for a little while, but are gone and brought low; they are taken out of the way as all other, and cut off as the tops of the ears of corn.

And if it be not so now, who will make me a liar, and make my speech nothing worth?

How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?

How much less man, that is a worm? and the son of man, which is a worm?

How much less man, that is a worm? and the son of man, which is a worm?

Lo, these are parts of his ways: but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand?

This is the portion of a wicked man with God, and the heritage of oppressors, which they shall receive of the Almighty.

He buildeth his house as a moth, and as a booth that the keeper maketh.

He buildeth his house as a moth, and as a booth that the keeper maketh.

Terrors take hold on him as waters, a tempest stealeth him away in the night.

The east wind carrieth him away, and he departeth: and as a storm hurleth him out of his place.

Surely there is a vein for the silver, and a place for gold where they fine it.

Surely there is a vein for the silver, and a place for gold where they fine it.

There is a path which no fowl knoweth, and which the vulture’s eye hath not seen:

When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder:

When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder:

I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem.

I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem.

I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.

I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners.

They were driven forth from among men, (they cried after them as after a thief;)

They came upon me as a wide breaking in of waters: in the desolation they rolled themselves upon me.

Terrors are turned upon me: they pursue my soul as the wind: and my welfare passeth away as a cloud.

I am a brother to dragons, and a companion to owls.

I am a brother to dragons, and a companion to owls.

I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?

I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?

Is not destruction to the wicked? and a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity?

If mine heart have been deceived by a woman, or if I have laid wait at my neighbour’s door;

For it is a fire that consumeth to destruction, and would root out all mine increase.

(For from my youth he was brought up with me, as with a father, and I have guided her from my mother’s womb;)

For destruction from God was a terror to me, and by reason of his highness I could not endure.

Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by wishing a curse to his soul.

Did I fear a great multitude, or did the contempt of families terrify me, that I kept silence, and went not out of the door?

Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me, and that mine adversary had written a book.

Surely I would take it upon my shoulder, and bind it as a crown to me.

I would declare unto him the number of my steps; as a prince would I go near unto him.

But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.

In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed;

In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed;

If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness:

If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness:

Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.

His flesh shall be fresher than a child’s: he shall return to the days of his youth:

For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.

For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.

Who hath given him a charge over the earth? or who hath disposed the whole world?

Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly?

In a moment shall they die, and the people shall be troubled at midnight, and pass away: and the mighty shall be taken away without hand.

When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only:

When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only:

Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken unto me.

Thy wickedness may hurt a man as thou art; and thy righteousness may profit the son of man.

Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee that I have yet to speak on God’s behalf.

Even so would he have removed thee out of the strait into a broad place, where there is no straitness; and that which should be set on thy table should be full of fatness.

Because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee.

After it a voice roareth: he thundereth with the voice of his excellency; and he will not stay them when his voice is heard.

Hast thou with him spread out the sky, which is strong, and as a molten looking glass?

Shall it be told him that I speak? if a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up.

Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.

When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it,

It is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment.

Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder;

Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder;

Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew?

The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.

Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper? the glory of his nostrils is terrible.

Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.

Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him?

He moveth his tail like a cedar: the sinews of his stones are wrapped together.

Behold, he drinketh up a river, and hasteth not: he trusteth that he can draw up Jordan into his mouth.

Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down?

Canst thou put an hook into his nose? or bore his jaw through with a thorn?