12. But if they do not listen,they will die by the sword.And they will die without knowing better.
13. “People who have wicked hearts hold on to anger.Even when God ties them down with trouble, they do not cry for help.
14. They die while they are still young.They die among the male prostitutes at the places of worship.
15. But God will save suffering people by their suffering.He gets them to listen through their pain.
16. “God is gently calling you from the jaws of trouble.He is calling you to an open place of freedom.There he has set your table full of the best food.
17. But now you are given the punishment evil people should have.Now you are being punished.
18. Be careful! Don’t be led away from God by riches.Don’t let a promise of much money turn you away.
19. Neither your wealth nor all your great strengthwill keep you out of trouble.
20. Don’t wish for the night.That is when people are taken from their homes.
21. Be careful not to turn to evil,which you seem to want more than suffering.
22. “God does great things by his power.No other teacher is like him.
23. No one has planned his ways for him.No one has said to God, ‘You have done wrong.’
24. Remember to praise his work.Men sing about it.
25. Everybody has seen it.People look at it from far off.
26. God is so great! He is greater than we can understand!No one can discover how many years he has been alive.
27. “God takes up the drops of water from the earth.And he turns them into drops of rain.
28. Then the rain pours down from the clouds.And showers fall on people.