37 

he seats them beside kings,

high on a throne.

8 

When they are fettered,

fast bound in misery,

9 

he lets them see what they have done,

so proudly, so rebelliously;

10 

he makes them listen to sense then,

bidding them turn from sin.

11 

If they will hear him and submit,

they spend a life of prosperous days,

and pleasant years.

12 

But if not, then they die a violent death,

perishing in their folly;

13 

godless at heart, they are enraged with him,

they will not cry for help when he confines them;

14 

they die an early death,

like men, debased by vice.

15 

God saves the sufferer by suffering,

and by adversity gets them to listen;

16 

but your wide freedom has beguiled you,

your life so undisturbed,

With never trouble to haunt you,

with rich food on your table.

17 

And so you meet the full doom of the wicked;

God’s judgment grips you.

18 

Let not his chastening make you rage at him;

let not the cost of discipline deter you.

19 

Would your wealth save you without suffering,

or all the strength you have at your command?

20 

Let not your folly tempt you to be proud,

like men who think that they know everything.

21 

Beware, banish all evil thoughts

--you prefer sin to suffering!

22 

God’s power has a high hand;

who calls him to account?

23 

Who ever tells him what to do?

Who says, ‘Thou hast done wrong’?

24 

Remember to extol him for his creation,

that has moved men to song,

25 

that all men love to see,

though man beholds it only from afar,

27 

He draws up water from the sea,

distils it from his vapours,

28 

and pours the rain down from the clouds,

dropping in showers on man;

31 

therewith he sustains the nations,

arid provides food for mankind.

29 

Who knows how the clouds are spread,

or how he thunders out of his pavilion?

30 

Lo, he surrounds himself with clouds,

and shrouds the mountain-tops;

32 

he hurls the lightning from an unseen hand,

and bids it strike the mark;

33 

the thunder tells of him,

of anger blazing at iniquity.