"For afflictiondoes not comefrom the dust,Nordoes troublesproutfrom the ground,
"They conceivemischiefand bringforthiniquity,And their mindpreparesdeception."
When He keepsquiet,whothen can condemn?And when He hidesHis face,whothen can beholdHim, That is, in regardto bothnationand man?--
For we have beenconsumedby Your angerAnd by Your wrathwe have been dismayed.
The One forminglightand creatingdarkness,Causingwell-beingand creatingcalamity;I am the LORDwho doesallthese.
[Is it] not from the mouthof the MostHighThat both goodand illgoforth?
They speak[mere] words,With worthlessoathsthey makecovenants;And judgmentsproutslike poisonousweedsin the furrowsof the field.
Your harvest'saftergrowthyou shall not reap,and your grapesof untrimmedvinesyou shall not gather;the landshall havea sabbaticalyear.
Ifa trumpetis blownin a citywill not the peopletremble?Ifa calamityoccursin a cityhas not the LORDdoneit?
Had I not fearedthe provocationby the enemy,That their adversarieswould misjudge,That they would say,"Our handis triumphant,And the LORDhas not doneallthis."'
Seeto it that noonecomes shortof the graceof God;that norootof bitternessspringingup causes trouble,and by it manybe defiled;
"Watch,ifit goesup by the wayof its own territoryto Beth-shemesh,then He has doneus thisgreatevil.But ifnot, then we will knowthat it was not His handthat struckus; it happenedto us by chance."
