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"Can a man be profitable to God, Though he who is wise may be profitable to himself?
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Is it any pleasure to the Almighty that you are righteous? Or is it gain to Him that you make your ways blameless?
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"Is it because of your fear of Him that He corrects you, And enters into judgment with you?
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Is not your wickedness great, And your iniquity without end?
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For you have taken pledges from your brother for no reason, And stripped the naked of their clothing.
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You have not given the weary water to drink, And you have withheld bread from the hungry.
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But the mighty man possessed the land, And the honorable man dwelt in it.
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You have sent widows away empty, And the strength of the fatherless was crushed.
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Therefore snares are all around you, And sudden fear troubles you,
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Or darkness so that you cannot see; And an abundance of water covers you.
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"Is not God in the height of heaven? And see the highest stars, how lofty they are!
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And you say, 'What does God know? Can He judge through the deep darkness?
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Thick clouds cover Him, so that He cannot see, And He walks above the circle of heaven.'
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Will you keep to the old way Which wicked men have trod,
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Who were cut down before their time, Whose foundations were swept away by a flood?
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They said to God, 'Depart from us! What can the Almighty do to them?'
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Yet He filled their houses with good things; But the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
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"The righteous see it and are glad, And the innocent laugh at them:
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'Surely our adversaries are cut down, And the fire consumes their remnant.'
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"Now acquaint yourself with Him, and be at peace; Thereby good will come to you.
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Receive, please, instruction from His mouth, And lay up His words in your heart.