2 “If one attempts a word with you, will you become weary?
But who can withhold himself from speaking?

3 Surely you have instructed many,
And you ^ahave strengthened weak hands. ‡

4 Your words have upheld him who was stumbling,
And you ^ahave strengthened the feeble knees; ‡

5 But now it comes upon you, and you are weary;
It touches you, and you are troubled.

6 Is not ^ayour reverence ^byour confidence?
And the integrity of your ways your hope? ‡

7 “Remember now, ^awho ever perished being innocent?
Or where were the upright ever cut off? ‡

8 Even as I have seen,
^aThose who plow iniquity
And sow trouble reap the same. ‡

9 By the blast of God they perish,
And by the breath of His anger they are consumed.

10 The roaring of the lion,
The voice of the fierce lion,
And ^athe teeth of the young lions are broken. ‡

11 ^aThe 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.

13 ^aIn disquieting thoughts from the visions of the night,
When deep sleep falls on men, ‡

14 Fear came upon me, and ^atrembling,
Which made all my bones shake. ‡

15 Then a spirit passed before my face;
The hair on my body stood up.

16 It 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?

18 If He ^aputs no trust in His servants,
If He charges His angels with error, ‡

19 How much more those who dwell in houses of clay,
Whose foundation is in the dust,
Who are crushed before a moth?

20 ^aThey are broken in pieces from morning till evening;
They perish forever, with no one regarding. ‡

21 Does not their own excellence go away?
They die, even without wisdom.’