12. They sing along with drum and lyre,and make merry to the sound of the pipe.
13. They live out their days in prosperity,and tranquilly go down to Sheol.
14. Yet they say to God, “Depart from us,for we have no desire to know your ways!
15. What is the Almighty that we should serve him?And what do we gain by praying to him?”
16. Their happiness is not in their own hands.The designs of the wicked are far from me!
17. How often is the lamp of the wicked put out?How often does destruction come upon them,the portion God allots in his anger?
18. Let them be like straw before the wind,like chaff the storm carries away!
19. “God is storing up the man’s misery for his children”?—let him requite the man himself so that he knows it!
20. Let his own eyes behold his calamity,and the wrath of the Almighty let him drink!
21. For what interest has he in his family after him,when the number of his months is finished?
22. Can anyone teach God knowledge,seeing that he judges those on high?
23. One dies in his full vigor,wholly at ease and content;
24. His figure is full and nourished,his bones are moist with marrow.
25. Another dies with a bitter spirit,never having tasted happiness.