For I have takenallthisto my heartand explainit that righteousmen,wisemen,and their deedsare in the handof God.Mandoes not knowwhether[it will be] loveorhatred;anythingawaitshim.
In whosehandis the lifeof everylivingthing,And the breathof allmankind?
"Behold,allof you have seen[it]; Whythendo you actfoolishly?
"But as for me, I would seekGod,And I would placemy causebeforeGod;
You have seen[it], for You have beheldmischiefand vexationto takeit into Your hand.The unfortunatecommits[himself] to You; You have beenthe helperof the orphan.
My lifeis continuallyin my hand,Yet I do not forgetYour law.
Into Your handI commitmy spirit;You have ransomedme, O LORD,Godof truth.
For I was enviousof the arrogant[As] I sawthe prosperityof the wicked.
Commityour worksto the LORDAnd your planswill be established.
And I setmy mindto knowwisdomand to knowmadnessand folly;I realizedthat thisalsois strivingafter wind.
Yet the foolmultiplieswords.Nomanknowswhatwill happen,and whocan tellhim whatwill comeafterhim?
I have seeneverythingduring my lifetimeof futility;thereis a righteousmanwho perishesin his righteousnessand thereis a wickedmanwho prolongs[his life] in his wickedness.
I directedmy mindto know,to investigateand to seekwisdomand an explanation,and to knowthe evilof follyand the foolishnessof madness.
Thereis futilitywhichis doneon the earth,that is, thereare righteousmento whomit happensaccording to the deedsof the wicked.On the other hand, thereare evilmento whomit happensaccording to the deedsof the righteous.I saythat thistoois futility.
WhenI gavemy heartto knowwisdomand to seethe taskwhichhas been doneon the earth(eventhoughoneshould neversleepdayor night),
Ifnooneknowswhatwill happen,whocan tellhim whenit will happen?
Indeedtheir love,their hateand their zealhave alreadyperished,and they will nolongerhavea sharein allthat is doneunderthe sun.
LORD,You will establishpeacefor us, SinceYou have alsoperformedfor us allour works.
the men,the women,the children,the king'sdaughtersand everypersonthat Nebuzaradanthe captainof the bodyguardhad leftwith Gedaliahthe sonof Ahikamand grandsonof Shaphan,together with Jeremiahthe prophetand Baruchthe sonof Neriah--
"Indeed,He lovesthe people;AllYour holyonesare in Your hand,And they followedin Your steps;[Everyone] receivesof Your words.
For thisreasonI alsosufferthese things,but I am not ashamed;for I knowwhomI have believedand I am convincedthat He is ableto guardwhat I have entrustedto Him untilthat day.
who are protectedby the powerof Godthroughfaithfor a salvationreadyto be revealedin the lasttime.
"He keepsthe feetof His godlyones,But the wickedonesare silencedin darkness;For not by mightshall a manprevail.
