1“Call if you want, but who is going to answer you? Which angel are you going to turn to?

2Surely anger slays the fool and jealousy kills the simple.

3I have seen a fool growing strong, ¹⁷but I immediately cursed his house.

4His sons are never safe; ¹⁸they are crushed in court ¹⁹with no one to defend them.

5The hungry eat everything he has harvested, taking even that protected by a thorn hedge, ²⁰while others look to steal his wealth.

6For evil doesn't come from the dust; neither does trouble grow from the earth.

7But human beings are born for trouble just as certainly as sparks from a fire fly upwards.

8If it were me, I would go to God and put my case before him.

9He is the one who does amazing, incredible things; miracles that can't be counted!

10He gives rain to the earth and sends water to the fields.

11He exalts the humble, and rescues those who mourn.

12He frustrates the plans of the cunning so that they are unsuccessful.

13He traps the wise in their own clever thinking, and the schemes of twisted people are cut short.

14In the daytime they're in the dark, and they stumble around at noon like it's night.

15But God is the one who saves from their cutting remarks, ²¹and the poor from the actions of the powerful.

16As a result those who are helpless have hope, and the wicked have to shut their mouths!

17See how happy is the person God corrects—so don't despise the Almighty's discipline.

18For he causes pain but he provides relief; he wounds but his hands heal.

19He will save you from many disasters; a multitude of evils will not affect you. ²²

20In times of famine he will rescue you from death, and in times of war he will save you from the power of the sword.

21You will be protected from sharp-tongued slander; and when violence comes you will not be afraid.

22You will laugh at violence and famine; you won't be afraid of wild animals—

23for you will be at peace with the stones of the field ²³and the wild animals will be at peace with you.

24You will be certain that your home is safe, for you will go to where you live and find nothing missing.

25You will also be sure that you will have many children; your descendants will be like the grass ²⁴of the earth.

26You will live to a ripe old age like a sheaf of grain when it is harvested.

27Look, we've examined it, and it's true! Listen to what I'm saying and apply it to yourself!”