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I will fetch my knowledge from afar; I will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
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For truly my words are not false; One who is perfect in knowledge is with you.
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"Behold, God is mighty, but despises no one; He is mighty in strength of understanding.
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He does not preserve the life of the wicked, But gives justice to the oppressed.
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He does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous; But they are on the throne with kings, For He has seated them forever, And they are exalted.
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And if they are bound in fetters, Held in the cords of affliction,
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Then He tells them their work and their transgressions-- That they have acted defiantly.
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He also opens their ear to instruction, And commands that they turn from iniquity.
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If they obey and serve Him, They shall spend their days in prosperity, And their years in pleasures.
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But if they do not obey, They shall perish by the sword, And they shall die without knowledge.
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"But the hypocrites in heart store up wrath; They do not cry for help when He binds them.
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They die in youth, And their life ends among the perverted persons.
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He delivers the poor in their affliction, And opens their ears in oppression.
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"Indeed He would have brought you out of dire distress, Into a broad place where there is no restraint; And what is set on your table would be full of richness.
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But you are filled with the judgment due the wicked; Judgment and justice take hold of you.
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Because there is wrath, beware lest He take you away with one blow; For a large ransom would not help you avoid it.
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Will your riches, Or all the mighty forces, Keep you from distress?
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Do not desire the night, When people are cut off in their place.
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Take heed, do not turn to iniquity, For you have chosen this rather than affliction.
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"Behold, God is exalted by His power; Who teaches like Him?
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Who has assigned Him His way, Or who has said, 'You have done wrong'?
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"Remember to magnify His work, Of which men have sung.
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Everyone has seen it; Man looks on it from afar.
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"Behold, God is great, and we do not know Him; Nor can the number of His years be discovered.
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For He draws up drops of water, Which distill as rain from the mist,
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Which the clouds drop down And pour abundantly on man.
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Indeed, can anyone understand the spreading of clouds, The thunder from His canopy?
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Look, He scatters his light upon it, And covers the depths of the sea.
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For by these He judges the peoples; He gives food in abundance.
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He covers His hands with lightning, And commands it to strike.
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His thunder declares it, The cattle also, concerning the rising storm.