Should He requite it on your terms, because you reject it? But you must choose and not I; now declare what you know.
“Let him not trust in emptiness, deceiving himself; for emptiness will be his reward.
You, who tear yourself to pieces in anger, will the earth be abandoned for your sake? Or must a rock be moved from its place?
If you have anything to say, answer me. Speak, for I want to justify you.
Answer me, if you can; array yourselves before me; take your stand!
For He repays a person for what he has done, and brings on the person what he deserves.
“Men of understanding declare, wise men who hear me say to me,
Out of his mouth go flames, sparks of fire shoot out.
If He were to snatch away, who could restrain Him? Who could say to Him, ‘What are You doing?’
Whatever Adonai pleases, He does, in heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps.
These things you have done— Should I keep silent? You thought I was just like you— but I reprove you, and set the case before your eyes.
If the righteous is rewarded on earth, how much more the wicked and the sinner!
Oy , to one who quarrels with his Maker, like a pot among the pots of the earth! Shall the clay say to the potter, “What have you made?” Or does your work say, “It has no handles”?
And if they refuse to take the cup at your hand to drink, then here is what you will say to them: “Thus says Adonai-Tzva’ot, you will surely drink!
Or “who has first given to Him, that it shall be repaid to him?”
But who in the world are you, O man, who talks back to God? Will what is formed say to the one who formed it, “Why did you make me like this?”
He considered the disgrace of Messiah as greater riches than the treasures of Egypt—because he was looking ahead to the reward.
For if the word spoken through angels proved to be firm, and every violation and disobedience received a just payback,