11. their children play and dancesafely by themselves.
12. These people sing and celebrateto the sound of tambourines,small harps, and flutes,
13. and they are successful,without a worry,until the day they die.
14. Those who are evil sayto God All-Powerful,“Leave us alone! Don't bother uswith your teachings.
15. What do we gain from prayingand worshipping you?
16. We succeeded all on our own.”And so, I keep away from themand their evil schemes.
17. How often does God become angryand send disaster and darknessto punish sinners?
18. How often does he strike themlike a stormthat scatters straw?
19. You say, “God will punishthose sinners' childrenin place of those sinners.”But I say, “Let him punishthose sinners themselvesuntil they really feel it.
20. Let God All-Powerful force themto drink their own destructionfrom the cup of his anger.
21. Because after they are dead,they won't care what happensto their children.”
22. Who can tell God what to do?He judges powerful rulers.
23-24. Some of us die prosperous,enjoying good health,
25. while others die in poverty,having known only pain.
26. But we all end up dead,beneath a blanket of worms.
27. My friends, I know that youare plotting against me.