"Wisein heartand mightyin strength,Whohas defiedHim withoutharm?
"Behold,Godis mightybut does not despise[any]; [He is] mightyin strengthof understanding.
Nowto Him who is ableto dofar more abundantlybeyondallthat we askorthink,accordingto the powerthat workswithinus,
sothat the manifoldwisdomof Godmight nowbe made knownthroughthe churchto the rulersand the authoritiesin the heavenly[places].
A manwho hardens[his] neckafter much reproofWill suddenlybe brokenbeyondremedy.
"If[it is a matter] of power,behold,[He is] the strongone!And if[it is a matter] of justice,whocan summonHim?
and whatis the surpassinggreatnessof His powertowardus who believe.[These are] in accordancewith the workingof the strengthof His might
whichHe lavishedon us. In allwisdomand insight
Ordo we provokethe Lordto jealousy?We are not strongerthan He, are we?
Oh,the depthof the richesbothof the wisdomand knowledgeof God!Howunsearchableare His judgmentsand unfathomableHis ways!
Danielsaid,"Let the nameof Godbe blessedforeverand ever,For wisdomand powerbelong to Him.
How blessedis the manwho fearsalways,But he who hardenshis heartwill fallinto calamity.
To Him who madethe heavenswith skill,For His lovingkindnessis everlasting;
O LORD,howmanyare Your works!In wisdomYou have madethem all;The earthis fullof Your possessions.
"Ordo you have an armlike God,And can you thunderwith a voicelikeHis?
"With Him are wisdomand might;To Him belong counseland understanding.
And showyou the secretsof wisdom!For soundwisdomhas twosides.Knowthen that Godforgetsa part of your iniquity.
"But it is stillmy consolation,And I rejoicein unsparingpain,That I have not deniedthe wordsof the HolyOne.
"Now behold,Godis with us at [our] headand His priestswith the signaltrumpetsto soundthe alarmagainstyou. O sonsof Israel,do not fightagainstthe LORDGodof your fathers,for you will not succeed."
"Would He contendwith me by the greatnessof [His] power?No,surelyHe would payattentionto me.
"But He dragsoff the valiantby His power;He rises,but noone hasassuranceof life.
"Dominionand awebelong to Him Who establishespeacein His heights.
"Godunderstandsits way,And He knowsits place.
"The Almighty--we cannotfindHim; He is exaltedin powerAnd He will not doviolenceto justiceand abundantrighteousness.
"Whohas putwisdomin the innermostbeingOrgivenunderstandingto the mind?
"Whocan countthe cloudsby wisdom,Or tipthe waterjarsof the heavens,
"I seta snarefor you and you were alsocaught,O Babylon,While you yourselfwere not aware;You have been foundand alsoseizedBecauseyou have engagedin conflictwith the LORD."
Pharaohsent,and behold,there was not evenoneof the livestockof Israeldead.But the heartof Pharaohwas hardened,and he did not letthe peoplego.
"And in the greatnessof Your excellenceYou overthrowthose who riseup against You; You sendforth Your burninganger,[and] it consumesthem as chaff.
and he said,"O LORD,the Godof our fathers,are You not Godin the heavens?And are You not ruleroverallthe kingdomsof the nations?Powerand mightare in Your handso that noonecan standagainstYou.
That you should turnyour spiritagainstGodAnd allow [such] wordsto goout of your mouth?
"Can you puta ropein his noseOr piercehis jawwith a hook?
"Woeto [the one] who quarrelswith his Maker--An earthenwarevesselamongthe vesselsof earth!Will the claysayto the potter,'Whatare you doing?'Or the thingyou are making[say], 'He hasnohands'?
The LORDis slowto angerand greatin power,And the LORDwill by nomeansleave[the guilty] unpunished.In whirlwindand stormis His way,And cloudsare the dustbeneath His feet.
