“Call out if you want to, Job.
    But who will answer you?
    Which one of the holy angels will you turn to?
² Anger kills foolish people.
    Jealousy destroys those who are childish.
³ I saw that foolish people were having success.
    But suddenly harm came to their homes.
⁴ Their children aren’t safe at all.
    They lose their case in court.
    No one speaks up for them.
⁵ Hungry people eat up the crops of the foolish.
    They even take the food that grows among thorns.
    Thirsty people long for the wealth of the foolish.
⁶ Hard times don’t just grow out of the soil.
    Trouble doesn’t jump out of the ground.
⁷ People are born to have trouble.
    And that’s just as sure as sparks fly up.

⁸ “If I were you, I’d make my appeal to God.
    I’d bring my case to be judged by him.
⁹ He does wonderful things that can’t be understood.
    He does miracles that can’t even be counted.
¹⁰ He sends rain on the earth.
    He sends water on the countryside.
¹¹ He lifts up people who are lowly in spirit.
    He lifts up those who are sad.
    He keeps them safe.
¹² He stops the evil plans of those who are clever.
    The work of their hands doesn’t succeed.
¹³ Some people think they are so wise.
    But God catches them in their own tricks.
    He sweeps away the evil plans of sinful people.
¹⁴ Darkness covers them in the daytime.
    At noon they feel their way around as if it were night.
¹⁵ God saves needy people from the cutting words of their enemies.
    He saves them from their power.
¹⁶ So poor people have hope.
    And God shuts the mouths of those who don’t treat others fairly.

¹⁷ “Blessed is the person God corrects.
    So don’t hate the Mighty One’s training.
¹⁸ He wounds. But he also bandages up those he wounds.
    He harms. But his hands also heal those he harms.
¹⁹ From six troubles he will save you.
    Even if you are in trouble seven times, no harm will come to you.
²⁰ When there isn’t enough food, God will keep you from dying.
    When you go into battle, he won’t let a sword strike you down.
²¹ He will keep you safe from words that can hurt you.
    You won’t need to be afraid
    when everything is being destroyed.
²² You will laugh when things are being destroyed.
    You will enjoy life even when there isn’t enough food.
    You won’t be afraid of wild animals.
²³ You will make a covenant with the stones in the fields.
    They won’t keep your crops from growing.
    Even wild animals will be at peace with you.
²⁴ You will know that the tent you live in is secure.
    You will check out your property.
    You will see that nothing is missing.
²⁵ You can be sure you will have a lot of children.
    They will be as many as the blades of grass on the earth.
²⁶ You will go down to the grave
    while you are still very strong.
    You will be like a crop that is gathered at the right time.

²⁷ “We have carefully studied all these things.
    And they are true.
So pay attention to them.
    Apply them to yourself.”