God

If thou dost seek early unto God, And unto the Mighty makest supplication,

If pure and upright thou art , Surely now He waketh for thee, And hath completed The habitation of thy righteousness.

So are the paths of all forgetting God, And the hope of the profane doth perish,

Lo, God doth not reject the perfect, Nor taketh hold on the hand of evil doers.

While he filleth with laughter thy mouth, And thy lips with shouting,

Truly I have known that it is so, And what--is man righteous with God?

If he delight to strive with Him--He doth not answer him one of a thousand.

Wise in heart and strong in power--Who hath hardened toward Him and is at peace?

Who is removing mountains, And they have not known, Who hath overturned them in His anger.

Lo, He goeth over by me, and I see not, And He passeth on, and I attend not to it.

Lo, He snatches away, who bringeth it back? Who saith unto Him, `What dost Thou?'

God doth not turn back His anger, Under Him bowed have proud helpers.

How much less do I--I answer Him? Choose out my words with Him?

Though I had called and He answereth me, I do not believe that He giveth ear to my voice.

Because with a tempest He bruiseth me, And hath multiplied my wounds for nought.

If of power, lo, the Strong One; And if of judgment--who doth convene me?

If a scourge doth put to death suddenly, At the trial of the innocent He laugheth.

Earth hath been given Into the hand of the wicked one. The face of its judges he covereth, If not--where, who is he?

I have been afraid of all my griefs, I have known that Thou dost not acquit me.

Then in corruption Thou dost dip me, And my garments have abominated me.

But if a man like myself--I answer him, We come together into judgment.

He doth turn aside from off me his rod, And His terror doth not make me afraid,

I speak, and do not fear Him, But I am not right with myself.

I say unto God, `Do not condemn me, Let me know why Thou dost strive with me.

Is it good for Thee that Thou dost oppress? That Thou despisest the labour of Thy hands, And on the counsel of the wicked hast shone?