remembering and hoping—the language of lament, and on thinking and speaking—the language of wisdom. Speaking is especially characteristic of Wisdom literature, with its preference for dialogues and debates (as in Job and in other ancient Near Eastern texts) and for literary forms like “proverb” and “riddle.” Speaking, or its more permanent form, writing, is the way wisdom is explicated and taught. Although the Lord is mentioned by name for the first time in v. 18, it is clear that the poet has been