Whois the Almighty,that we should serveHim, And whatwould we gainifwe entreatHim?'
"They saidto God,'Departfrom us!' And 'Whatcan the Almightydoto them?'
"Is there any pleasureto the Almightyifyou are righteous,Orprofitifyou makeyour waysperfect?
"For he has said,It profitsa mannothingWhen he is pleasedwith God.'
"For you say,Whatadvantagewill it be to You? Whatprofitwill I have, morethanif I had sinned?'
Whohave said,"With our tonguewe will prevail;Our lipsare our own; whois lordover us?"
Surelyin vainI have keptmy heartpureAnd washedmy handsin innocence;
But Pharaohsaid,"Whois the LORDthat I should obeyHis voiceto letIsraelgo?I do not knowthe LORD,and besides,I will not letIsraelgo."
That I not be fulland deny[You] and say,"Whois the LORD?"Or that I not be in wantand steal,And profanethe nameof my God.
"Getout of the way,turnasidefrom the path,Let us hearnomoreabout the HolyOneof Israel."
"I have not spokenin secret,In somedarkland;I did not sayto the offspringof Jacob,SeekMe in a wasteplace;I, the LORD,speakrighteousness,Declaringthingsthat are upright.
"Your dwellingis in the midstof deceit;Through deceitthey refuseto knowMe," declaresthe LORD.
As [they had] their pasture,they becamesatisfied,And beingsatisfied,their heartbecameproud;Thereforethey forgotMe.
"You have said,It is vainto serveGod;and whatprofitis it that we have keptHis charge,and that we have walkedin mourningbeforethe LORDof hosts?
"Ask,and it will be givento you; seek,and you will find;knock,and it will be openedto you.
"Untilnowyou have askedfor nothingin My name;askand you will receive,sothat your joymay be made full.
