2“If one attempts a word with you, will you become weary?
But who can withhold himself from speaking?
3Surely you have instructed many,
And you have strengthened weak hands.
4Your words have upheld him who was stumbling,
And you have strengthened the [a]feeble knees;
5But now it comes upon you, and you are weary;
It touches you, and you are troubled.
6Is not your reverence your confidence?
And the integrity of your ways your hope?

7“Remember now, who ever perished being innocent?
Or where were the upright ever cut off?
8Even as I have seen,
Those who plow iniquity
And sow trouble reap the same.
9By the blast of God they perish,
And by the breath of His anger they are consumed.
10The roaring of the lion,
The voice of the fierce lion,
And the teeth of the young lions are broken.
11The old lion perishes for lack of prey,
And the cubs of the lioness are scattered.

12“Now a word was secretly brought to me,
And my ear received a whisper of it.
13In disquieting thoughts from the visions of the night,
When deep sleep falls on men,
14Fear came upon me, and trembling,
Which made all my bones shake.
15Then a spirit passed before my face;
The hair on my body stood up.
16It stood still,
But I could not discern its appearance.
A form was before my eyes;
There was silence;
Then I heard a voice saying:
17‘Can a mortal be more righteous than God?
Can a man be more pure than his Maker?
18If He puts no trust in His servants,
If He charges His angels with error,
19How much more those who dwell in houses of clay,
Whose foundation is in the dust,
Who are crushed before a moth?
20They are broken in pieces from morning till evening;
They perish forever, with no one regarding.
21Does not their own excellence go away?
They die, even without wisdom.’