21. No cause then to say: “What is the purpose of this?”Everything is chosen to satisfy a need.
22. His blessing overflows like the Nile;like the Euphrates it enriches the surface of the earth.
23. Even so, his wrath dispossesses the nationsand turns fertile land into a salt marsh.
24. For the virtuous his paths are level,to the haughty they are clogged with stones.
25. Good things for the good he provided from the beginning,but for the wicked good things and bad.
26. Chief of all needs for human lifeare water and fire, iron and salt,The heart of the wheat, milk and honey,the blood of the grape, and oil, and clothing.
27. For the good all these are good,but for the wicked they turn out evil.
28. There are stormwinds created to punish;in their fury they can dislodge mountains.In a time of destruction they hurl their forceand calm the anger of their Maker.
29. Fire and hail, famine and disease:these too were created for punishment.
30. Ravenous beasts, scorpions, vipers,and the avenging sword to exterminate the wicked:All these were created to meet a need,and are kept in his storehouse for the proper time.
31. When he commands them, they rejoice,in their assigned tasks they do not disobey his command.
32. That is why from the first I took my stand,and wrote down as my theme:
33. The works of God are all of them good;he supplies for every need in its own time.
34. There is no cause then to say: “This is not as good as that”;for each shows its worth at the proper time.
35. So now with full heart and voice proclaimand bless his name!