12. They sing to the music of tambourines and harps.The sound of the flute makes them happy.
13. Evil people enjoy success during their lives.Then they go down in peace to where the dead are.
14. But they say to God, ‘Leave us alone!We don’t want to know your ways.
15. Who is God All-Powerful that we should serve him?We would gain nothing by praying to him.’
16. But the wicked think they succeed by their own strength.Their way of thinking is not godly.
17. Yet how often is the lamp of evil people turned off?How often does trouble come to them?How often do they suffer the punishment God plans in his anger?
18. How often are they like straw in the windor like chaff that is blown away by a storm?
19. It is said, ‘God saves up a man’s punishment for the man’s children.’God should punish the evil person himself so he will know it.
20. His eyes should see his own destruction.He should suffer the anger of God All-Powerful.
21. He does not care about the family he leaves behindwhen his life has come to an end.
22. “No one can teach knowledge to God.He is the one who judges even the most important people.
23. One man dies while he still has all his strength.He feels completely safe and comfortable.
24. His body was well fed.And his bones were strong and healthy.
25. But another man dies with an unhappy heart.He never had any happiness.
26. These two men are buried next to each other.And worms cover both of them.
27. “I know very well what you are thinking.I know your plans to do wrong to me.
28. You say about me, ‘Now where is this great man’s house?And where are the tents where the evil men lived?’