5:1 "Call now; is there any one who will answer you? To which of the holy ones will you turn?
5:1 "Call now; is there anyone who will answer you? To which of the holy ones will you turn?

5:2 Surely vexation kills the fool, and jealousy slays the simple.
5:2 Surely vexation kills the fool, and jealousy slays the simple.

5:3 I have seen the fool taking root, but suddenly I cursed his dwelling.
5:3 I have seen fools taking root, but suddenly I cursed their dwelling.

5:4 His sons are far from safety, they are crushed in the gate, and there is no one to deliver them.
5:4 Their children are far from safety, they are crushed in the gate, and there is no one to deliver them.

5:5 His harvest the hungry eat, and he takes it even out of thorns; and the thirsty pant after his wealth.
5:5 The hungry eat their harvest, and they take it even out of the thorns; and the thirsty pant after their wealth.

5:6 For affliction does not come from the dust, nor does trouble sprout from the ground;
5:6 For misery does not come from the earth, nor does trouble sprout from the ground;

5:7 but man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward.
5:7 but human beings are born to trouble just as sparks fly upward.

5:8 "As for me, I would seek God, and to God would I commit my cause;
5:8 "As for me, I would seek God, and to God I would commit my cause.

5:9 who does great things and unsearchable, marvelous things without number:
5:9 He does great things and unsearchable, marvelous things without number.

5:10 he gives rain upon the earth and sends waters upon the fields;
5:10 He gives rain on the earth and sends waters on the fields;

5:11 he sets on high those who are lowly, and those who mourn are lifted to safety.
5:11 he sets on high those who are lowly, and those who mourn are lifted to safety.

5:12 He frustrates the devices of the crafty, so that their hands achieve no success.
5:12 He frustrates the devices of the crafty, so that their hands achieve no success.

5:13 He takes the wise in their own craftiness; and the schemes of the wily are brought to a quick end.
5:13 He takes the wise in their own craftiness; and the schemes of the wily are brought to a quick end.

5:14 They meet with darkness in the daytime, and grope at noonday as in the night.
5:14 They meet with darkness in the daytime, and grope at noonday as in the night.

5:15 But he saves the fatherless from their mouth, the needy from the hand of the mighty.
5:15 But he saves the needy from the sword of their mouth, from the hand of the mighty.

5:16 So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts her mouth.
5:16 So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts its mouth.

5:17 "Behold, happy is the man whom God reproves; therefore despise not the chastening of the Almighty.
5:17 "How happy is the one whom God reproves; therefore do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.

5:18 For he wounds, but he binds up; he smites, but his hands heal.
5:18 For he wounds, but he binds up; he strikes, but his hands heal.

5:19 He will deliver you from six troubles; in seven there shall no evil touch you.
5:19 He will deliver you from six troubles; in seven no harm shall touch you.

5:20 In famine he will redeem you from death, and in war from the power of the sword.
5:20 In famine he will redeem you from death, and in war from the power of the sword.

5:21 You shall be hid from the scourge of the tongue, and shall not fear destruction when it comes.
5:21 You shall be hidden from the scourge of the tongue, and shall not fear destruction when it comes.

5:22 At destruction and famine you shall laugh, and shall not fear the beasts of the earth.
5:22 At destruction and famine you shall laugh, and shall not fear the wild animals of the earth.

5:23 For you shall be in league with the stones of the field, and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with you.
5:23 For you shall be in league with the stones of the field, and the wild animals shall be at peace with you.

5:24 You shall know that your tent is safe, and you shall inspect your fold and miss nothing.
5:24 You shall know that your tent is safe, you shall inspect your fold and miss nothing.

5:25 You shall know also that your descendants shall be many, and your offspring as the grass of the earth.
5:25 You shall know that your descendants will be many, and your offspring like the grass of the earth.

5:26 You shall come to your grave in ripe old age, as a shock of grain comes up to the threshing floor in its season.
5:26 You shall come to your grave in ripe old age, as a shock of grain comes up to the threshing floor in its season.

5:27 Lo, this we have searched out; it is true. Hear, and know it for your good."
5:27 See, we have searched this out; it is true. Hear, and know it for yourself."