God

the water wears away its stones, and the floods wash away its soil, so you destroy a person's hope.

You overpower him, and he passes on; you change his appearance and send him away.

"Why, you are abolishing fear of God and hindering prayer to him!

Do you listen in on God's secrets? Do you limit wisdom to yourself?

Are the comfortings of God not enough for you, or a word that deals gently with you?

so that you turn your spirit against God and let such words escape your mouth?

God doesn't trust even his holy ones; no, even the heavens are not innocent in his view.

"He raises his hand against God and boldly defies Shaddai,

running against him with head held high and thickly ornamented shield.

"God delivers me to the perverse, throws me into the hands of the wicked.

I was at peace, and he shook me apart. Yes, he grabbed me by the neck and dashed me to pieces. He set me up as his target

his archers surrounded me. He slashes my innards and shows no mercy, he pours my gall on the ground.

He breaks in on me again and again, attacking me like a warrior.

With friends like these as intercessors, my eyes pour out tears to God,

that he would arbitrate between a man and God, just as one does for his fellow human being.

Be my guarantor, yourself! Who else will put up a pledge for me?

For you have shut their minds to common sense; therefore you will not let them triumph.

"This is how things are in the homes of the wicked, and this is the place of those who don't know God."

but know that it's God who has put me in the wrong and closed his net around me.

"He has fenced off my way, so that I can't pass; he has covered my paths with darkness.

He tears every part of me down - I am gone; he uproots my hope like a tree.

"Inflamed with anger against me, he counts me as one of his foes.

"Pity me, friends of mine, pity me! For the hand of God has struck me!

Must you pursue me as God does, never satisfied with my flesh?

so that after my skin has been thus destroyed, then even without my flesh, I will see God.