3. Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert righteousness?
4. If your children have sinned against Him, then He has delivered them into the power of their transgression.
5. If you will seek God diligently and make your supplication to the Almighty,
6. Then, if you are pure and upright, surely He will bestir Himself for you and make your righteous dwelling prosperous again.
7. And though your beginning was small, yet your latter end would greatly increase.
8. For inquire, I pray you, of the former age and apply yourself to that which their fathers have searched out,
9. For we are but of yesterday and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow.
10. Shall not [the forefathers] teach you and tell you and utter words out of their hearts (the deepest part of their nature)?
11. Can the rush or papyrus grow up without marsh? Can the flag or reed grass grow without water?
12. While it is yet green, in flower, and not cut down, it withers before any other herb [when without water].
13. So are the ways of all who forget God; and the hope of the godless shall perish.
14. For his confidence breaks, and [the object of] his trust is a spider's web.
15. He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand; he shall hold fast to it, but it shall not last.
16. He is green before the sun, and his shoots go forth over his garden.