He hath fenced up my way that I cannot pass, and he hath set darkness in my paths.

He hath hedged me about, that I cannot get out: he hath made my chain heavy.

{Why is light given} to a man whose way is hid, and whom God hath hedged in?

For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side,

And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.

Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.

I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,

He hath fenced up my way that I cannot pass, and he hath set darkness in my paths.

And I will bring the blind by a way {that} they knew not; I will lead them in paths {that} they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them. {straight: Heb. into straightness}

And the angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place, where {was} no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.

But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not take hold of your fathers? and they returned and said, Like as the LORD of hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with us. {take...: or, overtake}

He hath hedged me about, that I cannot get out: he hath made my chain heavy.

And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.

And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed {be} the LORD, that hath pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and hath kept his servant from evil: for the LORD hath returned the wickedness of Nabal upon his own head. And David sent and communed with Abigail, to take her to him to wife.

{Why is light given} to a man whose way is hid, and whom God hath hedged in?

That he may withdraw man {from his} purpose, and hide pride from man. {purpose: Heb. work}

He hath inclosed my ways with hewn stone, he hath made my paths crooked.

And they shall burn thine houses with fire, and execute judgments upon thee in the sight of many women: and I will cause thee to cease from playing the harlot, and thou also shalt give no hire any more.

In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him. {set: Heb. made}