17 “I will tell you, hear me;

What I have seen I will declare,

18 What wise men have told,

Not hiding anything received kfrom their fathers,

19 To whom alone the 5land was given,

And lno alien passed among them:

20 The wicked man writhes with pain all his days,

mAnd the number of years is hidden from the oppressor.

21 6Dreadful sounds are in his ears;

nIn prosperity the destroyer comes upon him.

22 He does not believe that he will oreturn from darkness,

For a sword is waiting for him.

23 He pwanders about for bread, saying, ‘Where is it?’

He knows qthat a day of darkness is ready at his hand.

24 Trouble and anguish make him afraid;

They overpower him, like a king ready for 7battle.

25 For he stretches out his hand against God,

And acts defiantly against the Almighty,

26 Running stubbornly against Him

With his strong, embossed shield.

27 “Though rhe has covered his face with his fatness,

And made his waist heavy with fat,

28 He dwells in desolate cities,

In houses which no one inhabits,

Which are destined to become ruins.

29 He will not be rich,

Nor will his wealth scontinue,

Nor will his possessions overspread the earth.

30 He will not depart from darkness;

The flame will dry out his branches,

And tby the breath of His mouth he will go away.

31 Let him not utrust in futile things, deceiving himself,

For futility will be his reward.

32 It will be accomplished vbefore his time,

And his branch will not be green.

33 He will shake off his unripe grape like a vine,

And cast off his blossom like an olive tree.

34 For the company of hypocrites will be barren,

And fire will consume the tents of bribery.

35 wThey conceive trouble and bring forth futility;

Their womb prepares deceit.”