¹² Behold, all of you have seen it yourselves; Why then have you become altogether vain?

²⁵ How forcible are words of uprightness! But your reproof, what does it reprove?

²⁶ Do you intend to reprove words, Seeing that the speeches of one who is desperate are as wind?

²⁷ Yes, you would even cast lots for the fatherless, And make merchandise of your friend.

²⁸ Now therefore be pleased to look at me, For surely I shall not lie to your face.

²⁹ Please return. Let there be no injustice; Yes, return again, my cause is righteous.

¹⁴ There is a vanity which is done on the earth, that there are righteous men to whom it happens according to the work of the wicked. Again, there are wicked men to whom it happens according to the work of the righteous. I said that this also is vanity.

² "How have you helped him who is without power! How have you saved the arm that has no strength!

³ How have you counseled him who has no wisdom, And plentifully declared sound knowledge!

⁴ To whom have you uttered words? Whose spirit came forth from you?

²⁸ For you say, 'Where is the house of the prince? Where is the tent in which the wicked lived?'

²⁹ Haven't you asked wayfaring men? Don't you know their evidences,

³⁰ That the evil man is reserved to the day of calamity? That they are led forth to the day of wrath?

³ Allow me, and I also will speak; After I have spoken, mock on.

² "How long will you torment me, And crush me with words?

³ You have reproached me ten times. You aren't ashamed that you attack me.

² Surely there are mockers with me, My eye dwells on their provocation.

³ Shall vain words have an end? Or what provokes you that you answer?

⁴ But you are forgers of lies. You are all physicians of no value.

⁵ Oh that you would be completely silent! Then you would be wise.

⁶ Hear now my reasoning. Listen to the pleadings of my lips.

⁷ Will you speak unrighteously for God, And talk deceitfully for him?

⁸ Will you show partiality to him? Will you contend for God?

⁹ Is it good that he should search you out? Or as one deceives a man, will you deceive him?

¹ For all this I laid to my heart, even to explore all this: that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God; whether it is love or hatred, man doesn't know it; all is before them.

² All things come alike to all. There is one event to the righteous and to the wicked; to the good, to the clean, to the unclean, to him who sacrifices, and to him who doesn't sacrifice. As is the good, so is the sinner; he who takes an oath, as he who fears an oath.

³ This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that there is one event to all: yes also, the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead.