## The Discipline of the Almighty 

###### 1
"Call now, is there anyone who will answer you? And to which of the holy ones will you turn? 

###### 2
For vexation kills the ignorant fool, And jealousy puts to death the simple. 

###### 3
I have seen the ignorant fool taking root, And I cursed his abode suddenly. 

###### 4
His sons are far from salvation, They are even crushed in the gate, And there is no deliverer. 

###### 5
His harvest the hungry devour And take it to a _place of_ thorns, And the schemer pants after their wealth. 

###### 6
For wickedness does not come out from the dust, Nor does trouble sprout from the ground, 

###### 7
For man is born for trouble, As sparks fly upward. 

###### 8
"But as for me, I would seek God, And I would set my cause before God, 

###### 9
Who does great and unsearchable things, Wonders without number. 

###### 10
He gives rain on the earth And sends water on the _fields_ outside, 

###### 11
So that He sets on high those who are lowly, And those who mourn are lifted to salvation. 

###### 12
He frustrates the thoughts of the crafty, So that their hands cannot attain _success_ of sound wisdom. 

###### 13
He catches the wise by their own craftiness, And the counsel of the twisted is quickly thwarted. 

###### 14
By day they meet with darkness And grope at noon as in the night. 

###### 15
But He saves from the sword of their mouth, And the needy from the hand of the strong. 

###### 16
So the poor has hope, And unrighteousness must shut its mouth. 

###### 17
"Behold, how blessed is the man whom God reproves, So do not reject the discipline of the Almighty. 

###### 18
For He inflicts pain and gives relief; He wounds, and His hands _also_ heal. 

###### 19
From six distresses He will deliver you, Even in seven evil will not touch you. 

###### 20
In famine He will redeem you from death, And in war from hands with swords. 

###### 21
You will be hidden from the scourge of the tongue, And you will not be afraid of devastation when it comes. 

###### 22
You will laugh at devastation and starvation, And you will not be afraid of the beasts of the earth. 

###### 23
For your covenant will be with the stones of the field, And the beasts of the field will be at peace with you. 

###### 24
You will know that your tent is at peace, For you will visit your abode and fear no loss. 

###### 25
You will know also that your seed will be many, And your offspring as the vegetation of the land. 

###### 26
You will come to the grave in full vigor, Like the stacking of grain in its season. 

###### 27
Behold this; we have investigated it, _and_ so it is. Hear it, and know for yourself."