1
There was a man in the
4 And his sons would go
and feast in their houses, each on his appointed day, and would
send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 So it was, when the days of
feasting had run their course, that Job would send and sanctify them, and he
would rise early in the morning and offer burnt
offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be
that my sons have sinned and cursed[a] God in their hearts.” Thus Job did
regularly.
6 Now there was a day when
the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan[b] also came among them. 7 And the LORD said to Satan, “From where do you
come?”
So Satan answered the LORD and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and
from walking back and forth on it.”
8 Then the LORD said to
Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him
on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?”
9 So Satan answered the
LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 Have You not made a
hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every
side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have
increased in the land. 11
But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely
curse You to Your face!”
12 And the LORD said to
Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand
on his person.”
So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.
13 Now there was a day
when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their
oldest brother’s house; 14
and a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys
feeding beside them, 15
when the Sabeans[c] raided them and took them
away—indeed they have killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I
alone have escaped to tell you!”
16 While he was
still speaking, another also came and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven
and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; and I alone have
escaped to tell you!”
17 While he was
still speaking, another also came and said, “The Chaldeans
formed three bands, raided the camels and took them away, yes, and killed the
servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
18 While he was
still speaking, another also came and said, “Your sons and daughters were
eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 19 and suddenly a great wind came from across[d] the wilderness and struck the four corners
of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead; and I alone
have escaped to tell you!”
20 Then Job arose, tore
his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped. 21 And he said:
“ Naked I came
from my mother’s womb,
And naked shall I return there.
The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away;
Blessed be the
name of the LORD.”
22 In all this Job did not
sin nor charge God with wrong.
1
Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before
the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD. 2 And the LORD said to Satan,
“From where do you come?”
Satan answered the LORD and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from
walking back and forth on it.”
3 Then the LORD said to
Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him
on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?
And still he holds fast to his integrity, although you incited Me against him, to destroy him without cause.”
4 So Satan answered the
LORD and said, “Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has he will give for his
life. 5 But stretch out
Your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will surely curse You
to Your face!”
6 And the LORD said to
Satan, “Behold, he is in your hand, but spare his life.”
7 So Satan went out from
the presence of the LORD, and struck Job with painful boils from the sole of
his foot to the crown of his head. 8
And he took for himself a potsherd with which to scrape himself while he sat in
the midst of the ashes.
9 Then his wife said to
him, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!”
10 But he said to her,
“You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.
11 Now when Job’s three
friends heard of all this adversity that had come upon him, each one came from
his own place—Eliphaz the Temanite,
Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. For they had made an appointment together to come and mourn with
him, and to comfort him. 12
And when they raised their eyes from afar, and did not recognize him, they
lifted their voices and wept; and each one tore his robe and sprinkled dust on
his head toward heaven. 13
So they sat down with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one
spoke a word to him, for they saw that his grief was very great.
1
After this Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth. 2 And Job spoke, and said:
3 “May the day
perish on which I was born,
And the night in which it was said,
‘A male child is conceived.’
4 May that day be
darkness;
May God above not seek it,
Nor the light shine upon it.
5 May darkness
and the shadow of death claim it;
May a cloud settle on it;
May the blackness of the day terrify it.
6 As for
that night, may darkness seize it;
May it not rejoice[a] among the days of the year,
May it not come into the number of the
months.
7 Oh, may that night be barren!
May no joyful shout come into it!
8 May those curse
it who curse the day,
Those who are ready to arouse Leviathan.
9 May the stars
of its morning be dark;
May it look for light, but have
none,
And not see the dawning of the day;
10 Because it did
not shut up the doors of my mother’s womb,
Nor hide sorrow
from my eyes.
11
“Why did I not die at birth?
Why did I not perish when I
came from the womb?
12 Why did the
knees receive me?
Or why the breasts, that
I should nurse?
13 For now I
would have lain still and been quiet,
I would have been asleep;
Then I would have
been at rest
14 With kings and
counselors of the earth,
Who built ruins
for themselves,
15 Or with
princes who had gold,
Who filled their
houses with silver;
16 Or why
was I not hidden like a stillborn child,
Like infants who
never saw light?
17 There the wicked
cease from troubling,
And there the
weary are at rest.
18 There
the prisoners rest together;
They do not hear
the voice of the oppressor.
19 The small and
great are there,
And the servant is
free from his master.
20 “Why is light
given to him who is in misery,
And life to the
bitter of soul,
21 Who long for
death, but it does not come,
And search for it
more than hidden treasures;
22 Who rejoice
exceedingly,
And are
glad when they can find the grave?
23 Why is
light given to a man whose way is hidden,
And whom God has
hedged in?
24 For my sighing
comes before I eat,[b]
And my groanings
pour out like water.
25 For the thing
I greatly feared has come upon me,
And what I dreaded has happened to me.
26 I am not at
ease, nor am I quiet;
I have no rest, for trouble comes.”
1
Then Eliphaz the Temanite
answered and said:
2
“If one attempts a word with you, will you become weary?
But who can withhold himself from speaking?
3 Surely you have
instructed many,
And you have
strengthened weak hands.
4 Your words have
upheld him who was stumbling,
And you have
strengthened the feeble knees;
5 But now it
comes upon you, and you are weary;
It touches you,
and you are troubled.
6 Is not
your reverence your confidence?
And the integrity of your
ways your hope?
7 “ Remember now, who ever perished being innocent?
Or where were the upright ever cut
off?
8 Even as I have
seen,
Those who plow
iniquity
And sow trouble reap the same.
9 By the blast of
God they perish,
And by the breath
of His anger they are consumed.
10 The roaring of
the lion,
The voice of the
fierce lion,
And the teeth of the young lions are
broken.
11 The old lion
perishes for lack of prey,
And the cubs of
the lioness are scattered.
12 “Now a word
was secretly brought to me,
And my ear
received a whisper of it.
13 In disquieting
thoughts from the visions of the night,
When deep sleep
falls on men,
14 Fear came upon
me, and trembling,
Which made all my
bones shake.
15 Then a spirit
passed before my face;
The hair on my
body stood up.
16 It stood
still,
But I could not
discern its appearance.
A form was before my eyes;
There
was silence;
Then I heard a voice saying:
17
‘Can a mortal be more righteous than God?
Can a man be more pure than his Maker?
18 If He puts no
trust in His servants,
If He
charges His angels with error,
19 How much more
those who dwell in houses of clay,
Whose foundation
is in the dust,
Who are crushed before a moth?
20 They are
broken in pieces from morning till evening;
They perish
forever, with no one regarding.
21 Does not their own excellence go away?
They die, even without wisdom.’
1
“Call out now;
Is there anyone
who will answer you?
And to which of the holy ones will you
turn?
2 For wrath kills
a foolish man,
And envy slays a simple one.
3 I have seen the
foolish taking root,
But suddenly I
cursed his dwelling place.
4 His sons are
far from safety,
They are crushed
in the gate,
And there is no deliverer.
5 Because the
hungry eat up his harvest,
Taking it even from the thorns,[a]
And a snare snatches their substance.[b]
6 For affliction
does not come from the dust,
Nor does trouble spring from the ground;
7 Yet man is born
to trouble,
As the sparks fly
upward.
8 “But as for me,
I would seek God,
And to God I would
commit my cause—
9 Who does great
things, and unsearchable,
Marvelous things without number.
10 He gives rain
on the earth,
And sends waters
on the fields.
11 He sets on
high those who are lowly,
And those who
mourn are lifted to safety.
12 He frustrates
the devices of the crafty,
So that their hands cannot carry out their
plans.
13 He catches the
wise in their own craftiness,
And the counsel of
the cunning comes quickly upon them.
14 They meet with
darkness in the daytime,
And grope at
noontime as in the night.
15 But He saves
the needy from the sword,
From the mouth of
the mighty,
And from their hand.
16 So the poor
have hope,
And injustice
shuts her mouth.
17 “ Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects;
Therefore do not despise the chastening of
the Almighty.
18 For He
bruises, but He binds up;
He wounds, but His hands make whole.
19 He shall
deliver you in six troubles,
Yes, in seven no
evil shall touch you.
20 In famine He
shall redeem you from death,
And in war from the power of the sword.
21 You shall be
hidden from the scourge of the tongue,
And you shall not
be afraid of destruction when it comes.
22 You shall
laugh at destruction and famine,
And you shall not
be afraid of the beasts of the earth.
23 For you shall
have a covenant with the stones of the field,
And the beasts of
the field shall be at peace with you.
24 You shall know
that your tent is in peace;
You shall visit
your dwelling and find nothing amiss.
25 You shall also
know that your descendants shall be many,
And your offspring
like the grass of the earth.
26 You shall come
to the grave at a full age,
As a sheaf of
grain ripens in its season.
27 Behold, this
we have searched out;
It is true.
Hear it, and know for yourself.”
1
Then Job answered and said:
2 “Oh, that my grief were fully weighed,
And my calamity laid with it on the
scales!
3 For then it
would be heavier than the sand of the sea—
Therefore my words
have been rash.
4 For the arrows
of the Almighty are within me;
My spirit drinks
in their poison;
The terrors of God are arrayed against me.
5 Does the wild
donkey bray when it has grass,
Or does the ox low
over its fodder?
6 Can flavorless
food be eaten without salt?
Or is there any taste in the white
of an egg?
7 My soul refuses
to touch them;
They are as
loathsome food to me.
8
“Oh, that I might have my request,
That God would grant me the thing
that I long for!
9 That it would
please God to crush me,
That He would loose His hand and cut me
off!
10 Then I would
still have comfort;
Though in anguish
I would exult,
He will not spare;
For I have not concealed the words of the
Holy One.
11 “What strength
do I have, that I should hope?
And what is my end, that I should
prolong my life?
12 Is my
strength the strength of stones?
Or is my flesh bronze?
13 Is my
help not within me?
And is success driven from me?
14 “To him who is
afflicted, kindness should be shown by his friend,
Even though he forsakes the fear of the
Almighty.
15 My brothers
have dealt deceitfully like a brook,
Like the streams
of the brooks that pass away,
16 Which are dark
because of the ice,
And into
which the snow vanishes.
17 When it is
warm, they cease to flow;
When it is hot,
they vanish from their place.
18 The paths of
their way turn aside,
They go nowhere
and perish.
19 The caravans
of Tema look,
The travelers of
20 They are
disappointed because they were confident;
They come there
and are confused.
21 For now you
are nothing,
You see terror and are afraid.
22 Did I ever
say, ‘Bring something to me’?
Or, ‘Offer a bribe for me from your
wealth’?
23 Or, ‘Deliver
me from the enemy’s hand’?
Or, ‘Redeem me from the hand of
oppressors’?
24 “Teach me, and
I will hold my tongue;
Cause me to understand wherein I have
erred.
25 How forceful
are right words!
But what does your arguing prove?
26 Do you intend
to rebuke my words,
And the speeches
of a desperate one, which are as wind?
27 Yes, you
overwhelm the fatherless,
And you undermine
your friend.
28 Now therefore,
be pleased to look at me;
For I would never
lie to your face.
29 Yield now, let
there be no injustice!
Yes, concede, my righteousness still
stands!
30 Is there
injustice on my tongue?
Cannot my taste discern the unsavory?
1
“Is there not a time of hard service for man on earth?
Are not his days also like the days
of a hired man?
2 Like a servant
who earnestly desires the shade,
And like a hired
man who eagerly looks for his wages,
3 So I have been
allotted months of futility,
And wearisome
nights have been appointed to me.
4 When I lie
down, I say, ‘When shall I arise,
And the night be
ended?’
For I have had my fill of tossing till
dawn.
5 My flesh is
caked with worms and dust,
My skin is cracked
and breaks out afresh.
6 “My days are
swifter than a weaver’s shuttle,
And are spent
without hope.
7 Oh, remember
that my life is a breath!
My eye will never again see good.
8 The eye of him
who sees me will see me no more;
While your
eyes are upon me, I shall no longer be.
9 As the
cloud disappears and vanishes away,
So he who goes
down to the grave does not come up.
10 He shall never
return to his house,
Nor shall his
place know him anymore.
11 “ Therefore I will not restrain my mouth;
I will speak in the anguish of my spirit;
I will complain in the bitterness of my
soul.
12 Am I a
sea, or a sea serpent,
That You set a guard over me?
13 When I say,
‘My bed will comfort me,
My couch will ease my complaint,’
14 Then You scare me with dreams
And terrify me with visions,
15 So that my
soul chooses strangling
And death rather than my body.[a]
16 I loathe my
life;
I would not live forever.
Let me alone,
For my days are
but a breath.
17 “What is
man, that You should exalt him,
That You should set Your heart on
him,
18 That You should visit him every morning,
And test him every moment?
19 How long?
Will You not look
away from me,
And let me alone till I swallow my saliva?
20 Have I sinned?
What have I done to You, O watcher of men?
Why have You set me as Your target,
So that I am a burden to myself?[b]
21 Why then do You not pardon my transgression,
And take away my iniquity?
For now I will lie down in the dust,
And You will seek
me diligently,
But I will no longer be.”
1
Then Bildad the Shuhite
answered and said:
2 “How long will
you speak these things,
And the words of
your mouth be like a strong wind?
3 Does God
subvert judgment?
Or does the Almighty pervert justice?
4 If your sons
have sinned against Him,
He has cast them away for their
transgression.
5 If you would
earnestly seek God
And make your
supplication to the Almighty,
6 If you were
pure and upright,
Surely now He
would awake for you,
And prosper your rightful dwelling place.
7 Though your
beginning was small,
Yet your latter
end would increase abundantly.
8 “For inquire,
please, of the former age,
And consider the
things discovered by their fathers;
9 For we were
born yesterday, and know nothing,
Because our days
on earth are a shadow.
10 Will they not
teach you and tell you,
And utter words
from their heart?
11
“Can the papyrus grow up without a marsh?
Can the reeds flourish without water?
12 While it is
yet green and not cut down,
It withers before
any other plant.
13 So are
the paths of all who forget God;
And the hope of
the hypocrite shall perish,
14 Whose
confidence shall be cut off,
And whose trust is
a spider’s web.
15 He leans on
his house, but it does not stand.
He holds it fast, but it does not endure.
16 He grows green
in the sun,
And his branches
spread out in his garden.
17 His roots wrap
around the rock heap,
And look
for a place in the stones.
18 If he is
destroyed from his place,
Then it
will deny him, saying, ‘I have not seen you.’
19 “ Behold, this is the joy of His way,
And out of the earth others will grow.
20 Behold, God
will not cast away the blameless,
Nor will He uphold
the evildoers.
21 He will yet
fill your mouth with laughing,
And your lips with
rejoicing.
22 Those who hate
you will be clothed with shame,
And the dwelling
place of the wicked will come to nothing.”[a]
1
Then Job answered and said:
2 “Truly I know it
is so,
But how can a man be righteous before God?
3 If one wished
to contend with Him,
He could not answer Him one time out of a
thousand.
4 God is
wise in heart and mighty in strength.
Who has hardened himself against Him
and prospered?
5 He removes the
mountains, and they do not know
When He overturns them in His anger;
6 He shakes the
earth out of its place,
And its pillars
tremble;
7 He commands the
sun, and it does not rise;
He seals off the stars;
8 He alone
spreads out the heavens,
And treads on the
waves of the sea;
9 He made the
Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades,
And the chambers
of the south;
10 He does great
things past finding out,
Yes, wonders
without number.
11 If He goes by
me, I do not see Him;
If He moves past, I do not perceive Him;
12 If He takes
away, who can hinder Him?
Who can say to Him, ‘What are You doing?’
13 God will not
withdraw His anger,
The allies of the proud[a] lie prostrate beneath Him.
14 “How then can I
answer Him,
And choose
my words to reason with Him?
15 For though I were righteous, I could not answer Him;
I would beg mercy of my Judge.
16 If I called
and He answered me,
I would not believe that He was listening
to my voice.
17 For He crushes
me with a tempest,
And multiplies my
wounds without cause.
18 He will not
allow me to catch my breath,
But fills me with
bitterness.
19 If it is a
matter of strength, indeed He is strong;
And if of justice,
who will appoint my day in court?
20 Though I were righteous, my own mouth would condemn me;
Though I were blameless, it would
prove me perverse.
21 “I am
blameless, yet I do not know myself;
I despise my life.
22 It is
all one thing;
Therefore I say,
‘He destroys the blameless and the wicked.’
23 If the scourge
slays suddenly,
He laughs at the plight of the innocent.
24 The earth is
given into the hand of the wicked.
He covers the faces of its judges.
If it is not He, who else could it
be?
25 “Now my days
are swifter than a runner;
They flee away,
they see no good.
26 They pass by
like swift ships,
Like an eagle
swooping on its prey.
27 If I say, ‘I
will forget my complaint,
I will put off my sad face and wear a
smile,’
28 I am afraid of
all my sufferings;
I know that You
will not hold me innocent.
29 If I am
condemned,
Why then do I
labor in vain?
30 If I wash myself with snow water,
And cleanse my hands with soap,
31 Yet You will plunge me into the pit,
And my own clothes will abhor me.
32 “For He is
not a man, as I am,
That I may
answer Him,
And that we should go to court
together.
33 Nor is there
any mediator between us,
Who may lay
his hand on us both.
34 Let Him take
His rod away from me,
And do not let
dread of Him terrify me.
35 Then I
would speak and not fear Him,
But it is not so with me.
1
“My soul loathes my life;
I will give free course to my complaint,
I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.
2 I will say to
God, ‘Do not condemn me;
Show me why You
contend with me.
3 Does it
seem good to You that You should oppress,
That You should despise the work of Your
hands,
And smile on the counsel of the wicked?
4 Do You have eyes of flesh?
Or do You see as
man sees?
5 Are Your days like the days of a mortal man?
Are Your years like the days of a
mighty man,
6 That You should seek for my iniquity
And search out my sin,
7 Although You know that I am not wicked,
And there is no one who can deliver
from Your hand?
8 ‘Your hands
have made me and fashioned me,
An intricate
unity;
Yet You would destroy me.
9 Remember, I
pray, that You have made me like clay.
And will You turn
me into dust again?
10 Did You not pour me out like milk,
And curdle me like cheese,
11 Clothe me with
skin and flesh,
And knit me
together with bones and sinews?
12 You have
granted me life and favor,
And Your care has
preserved my spirit.
13 ‘And these things You have hidden in Your heart;
I know that this was with You:
14 If I sin, then
You mark me,
And will not acquit me of my iniquity.
15 If I am
wicked, woe to me;
Even if I am righteous, I cannot
lift up my head.
I am full of disgrace;
See my misery!
16 If my head
is exalted,
You hunt me like a
fierce lion,
And again You show Yourself awesome against
me.
17 You renew Your witnesses against me,
And increase Your indignation toward me;
Changes and war are ever with me.
18 ‘Why then have
You brought me out of the womb?
Oh, that I had perished and no eye had seen
me!
19 I would have
been as though I had not been.
I would have been carried from the womb to
the grave.
20 Are not my
days few?
Cease! Leave me alone, that I may take a
little comfort,
21 Before I go to
the place from which I shall not return,
To the land of
darkness and the shadow of death,
22 A land as dark
as darkness itself,
As the shadow of
death, without any order,
Where even the light is like
darkness.’”
1
Then Zophar the Naamathite
answered and said:
2 “ Should not the multitude of words be answered?
And should a man full of talk be
vindicated?
3 Should your
empty talk make men hold their peace?
And when you mock, should no one rebuke
you?
4 For you have
said,
‘My doctrine is pure,
And I am clean in
your eyes.’
5 But oh, that
God would speak,
And open His lips
against you,
6 That He would
show you the secrets of wisdom!
For they would
double your prudence.
Know therefore that God exacts from you
Less than
your iniquity deserves.
7
“Can you search out the deep things of God?
Can you find out the limits of the
Almighty?
8 They are
higher than heaven— what can you do?
Deeper than Sheol—
what can you know?
9 Their measure is
longer than the earth
And broader than
the sea.
10 “If He passes
by, imprisons, and gathers to judgment,
Then who can
hinder Him?
11 For He knows
deceitful men;
He sees wickedness also.
Will He not then consider it?
12 For an
empty-headed man will be wise,
When a wild
donkey’s colt is born a man.
13 “If you would
prepare your heart,
And stretch out
your hands toward Him;
14 If iniquity were
in your hand, and you put it far away,
And would not let
wickedness dwell in your tents;
15 Then surely
you could lift up your face without spot;
Yes, you could be
steadfast, and not fear;
16 Because you
would forget your misery,
And remember it
as waters that have passed away,
17 And your
life would be brighter than noonday.
Though you were dark, you would be
like the morning.
18 And you would
be secure, because there is hope;
Yes, you would dig
around you, and take your rest in safety.
19 You would also
lie down, and no one would make you afraid;
Yes,
many would court your favor.
20 But the eyes
of the wicked will fail,
And they shall not
escape,
And their hope—loss of life!”
1
Then Job answered and said:
2 “No doubt you are
the people,
And wisdom will
die with you!
3 But I have
understanding as well as you;
I am not inferior to you.
Indeed, who does not know such
things as these?
4 “I am one
mocked by his friends,
Who called on God,
and He answered him,
The just and blameless who is
ridiculed.
5 A lamp[a] is despised in the thought of one who is at
ease;
It is
made ready for those whose feet slip.
6 The tents of
robbers prosper,
And those who
provoke God are secure—
In what God provides by His hand.
7 “But now ask
the beasts, and they will teach you;
And the birds of
the air, and they will tell you;
8 Or speak to the
earth, and it will teach you;
And the fish of
the sea will explain to you.
9 Who among all
these does not know
That the hand of
the LORD has done this,
10 In whose hand is
the life of every living thing,
And the breath of
all mankind?
11 Does not the
ear test words
And the mouth taste its food?
12 Wisdom is
with aged men,
And with length of days, understanding.
13 “With Him are
wisdom and strength,
He has counsel and understanding.
14 If He breaks a
thing down, it cannot be rebuilt;
If He
imprisons a man, there can be no release.
15 If He
withholds the waters, they dry up;
If He sends
them out, they overwhelm the earth.
16 With Him are
strength and prudence.
The deceived and the deceiver are
His.
17 He leads
counselors away plundered,
And makes fools of
the judges.
18 He loosens the
bonds of kings,
And binds their
waist with a belt.
19 He leads
princes[b] away plundered,
And overthrows the
mighty.
20 He deprives
the trusted ones of speech,
And takes away the
discernment of the elders.
21 He pours
contempt on princes,
And disarms the
mighty.
22 He uncovers
deep things out of darkness,
And brings the shadow
of death to light.
23 He makes
nations great, and destroys them;
He enlarges nations, and guides them.
24 He takes away
the understanding[c] of the chiefs of the people of the earth,
And makes them
wander in a pathless wilderness.
25 They grope in
the dark without light,
And He makes them stagger like a drunken man.
1 “Behold, my eye
has seen all this,
My ear has heard
and understood it.
2 What you know,
I also know;
I am not inferior to you.
3 But I would
speak to the Almighty,
And I desire to
reason with God.
4 But you forgers
of lies,
You are all
worthless physicians.
5 Oh, that you
would be silent,
And it would be
your wisdom!
6 Now hear my
reasoning,
And heed the
pleadings of my lips.
7 Will you speak
wickedly for God,
And talk
deceitfully for Him?
8 Will you show
partiality for Him?
Will you contend for God?
9 Will it be well
when He searches you out?
Or can you mock Him as one mocks a man?
10 He will surely
rebuke you
If you secretly
show partiality.
11 Will not His
excellence make you afraid,
And the dread of Him fall upon you?
12 Your
platitudes are proverbs of ashes,
Your defenses are defenses of clay.
13 “Hold your
peace with me, and let me speak,
Then let come on me what may!
14 Why do I take
my flesh in my teeth,
And put my life in
my hands?
15 Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.
Even so, I will defend my own ways before
Him.
16 He also shall
be my salvation,
For a hypocrite
could not come before Him.
17 Listen
carefully to my speech,
And to my declaration with your ears.
18 See now, I
have prepared my case,
I know that I shall be vindicated.
19 Who is
he who will contend with me?
If now I hold my tongue, I perish.
20
“Only two things do not do to me,
Then I will not hide myself from You:
21 Withdraw Your hand far from me,
And let not the dread of You make me
afraid.
22 Then call, and
I will answer;
Or let me speak, then You
respond to me.
23 How many are
my iniquities and sins?
Make me know my transgression and my sin.
24 Why do You hide Your face,
And regard me as Your enemy?
25 Will You frighten a leaf driven to and fro?
And will You
pursue dry stubble?
26 For You write bitter things against me,
And make me inherit the iniquities of my
youth.
27 You put my
feet in the stocks,
And watch closely
all my paths.
You set a limit[a] for the soles of my feet.
28 “Man[b] decays like a rotten thing,
Like a garment
that is moth-eaten.
1 “Man who is
born of woman
Is of few days and
full of trouble.
2 He comes forth
like a flower and fades away;
He flees like a shadow and does not
continue.
3 And do You open Your eyes on such a one,
And bring me[a] to judgment with Yourself?
4 Who can bring a
clean thing out of an unclean?
No one!
5 Since his days are
determined,
The number of his
months is with You;
You have appointed his limits, so that he
cannot pass.
6 Look away from
him that he may rest,
Till like a hired
man he finishes his day.
7 “For there is
hope for a tree,
If it is cut down, that it will sprout
again,
And that its tender shoots will not cease.
8 Though its root
may grow old in the earth,
And its stump may
die in the ground,
9 Yet at
the scent of water it will bud
And bring forth
branches like a plant.
10 But man dies
and is laid away;
Indeed he breathes his last
And where is
he?
11 As
water disappears from the sea,
And a river becomes parched and dries up,
12 So man lies
down and does not rise.
Till the heavens are no more,
They will not
awake
Nor be roused from their sleep.
13 “Oh, that You
would hide me in the grave,
That You would conceal me until Your wrath
is past,
That You would appoint me a set time, and
remember me!
14 If a man dies,
shall he live again?
All the days of my hard service I will
wait,
Till my change
comes.
15 You shall
call, and I will answer You;
You shall desire the work of Your hands.
16 For now You number my steps,
But do not watch over my sin.
17 My
transgression is sealed up in a bag,
And You cover[b] my iniquity.
18 “But as
a mountain falls and crumbles away,
And as a
rock is moved from its place;
19 As
water wears away stones,
And as torrents wash away the soil
of the earth;
So You destroy the
hope of man.
20 You prevail
forever against him, and he passes on;
You change his
countenance and send him away.
21 His sons come
to honor, and he does not know it;
They are brought
low, and he does not perceive it.
22 But his flesh
will be in pain over it,
And his soul will
mourn over it.”
1
Then Eliphaz the Temanite
answered and said:
2 “ Should a wise man answer with empty knowledge,
And fill himself with the east wind?
3 Should he
reason with unprofitable talk,
Or by speeches with which he can do no
good?
4 Yes, you cast
off fear,
And restrain
prayer before God.
5 For your
iniquity teaches your mouth,
And you choose the tongue of the crafty.
6 Your own mouth
condemns you, and not I;
Yes, your own lips
testify against you.
7 “Are you
the first man who was born?
Or were you made before the hills?
8 Have you heard
the counsel of God?
Do you limit wisdom to yourself?
9 What do you
know that we do not know?
What do you understand that is
not in us?
10 Both the
gray-haired and the aged are among us,
Much older than
your father.
11 Are the
consolations of God too small for you,
And the word spoken
gently[a] with you?
12 Why does your
heart carry you away,
And what do your
eyes wink at,
13 That you turn
your spirit against God,
And let such
words go out of your mouth?
14 “What is
man, that he could be pure?
And he who is born of a woman, that
he could be righteous?
15 If God
puts no trust in His saints,
And the heavens
are not pure in His sight,
16 How much less
man, who is abominable and filthy,
Who drinks
iniquity like water!
17 “I will tell
you, hear me;
What I have seen I
will declare,
18 What wise men
have told,
Not hiding anything
received from their fathers,
19 To whom alone
the land was given,
And no alien
passed among them:
20 The wicked man
writhes with pain all his days,
And the number of
years is hidden from the oppressor.
21 Dreadful
sounds are in his ears;
In prosperity the
destroyer comes upon him.
22 He does not
believe that he will return from darkness,
For a sword is
waiting for him.
23 He wanders
about for bread, saying, ‘Where is it?’
He knows that a day of darkness is ready at
his hand.
24 Trouble and anguish
make him afraid;
They overpower
him, like a king ready for battle.
25 For he
stretches out his hand against God,
And acts defiantly
against the Almighty,
26 Running
stubbornly against Him
With his strong,
embossed shield.
27 “ Though he has covered his face with his fatness,
And made his waist heavy with fat,
28 He dwells in
desolate cities,
In houses which no
one inhabits,
Which are destined to become ruins.
29 He will not be
rich,
Nor will his wealth
continue,
Nor will his possessions overspread the
earth.
30 He will not
depart from darkness;
The flame will dry
out his branches,
And by the breath of His mouth he will go
away.
31 Let him not
trust in futile things, deceiving himself,
For futility will
be his reward.
32 It will be
accomplished before his time,
And his branch
will not be green.
33 He will shake
off his unripe grape like a vine,
And cast off his
blossom like an olive tree.
34 For the
company of hypocrites will be barren,
And fire will
consume the tents of bribery.
35 They conceive
trouble and bring forth futility;
Their womb
prepares deceit.”
1
Then Job answered and said:
2 “I have heard
many such things;
Miserable comforters are you all!
3 Shall words of
wind have an end?
Or what provokes you that you answer?
4 I also could
speak as you do,
If your soul were
in my soul’s place.
I could heap up words against you,
And shake my head
at you;
5 But I
would strengthen you with my mouth,
And the comfort of
my lips would relieve your grief.
6 “ Though I speak, my grief is not relieved;
And if I remain silent, how am I
eased?
7 But now He has
worn me out;
You have made
desolate all my company.
8 You have
shriveled me up,
And it is a
witness against me;
My leanness rises up against me
And bears witness to my face.
9 He tears me
in His wrath, and hates me;
He gnashes at me with His teeth;
My adversary
sharpens His gaze on me.
10 They gape at
me with their mouth,
They strike me
reproachfully on the cheek,
They gather together against me.
11 God has
delivered me to the ungodly,
And turned me over to the hands of the
wicked.
12 I was at ease,
but He has shattered me;
He also has taken me by my neck, and
shaken me to pieces;
He has set me up for His target,
13 His archers
surround me.
He pierces my heart[a] and does not pity;
He pours out my gall on the ground.
14 He breaks me
with wound upon wound;
He runs at me like a warrior.[b]
15
“I have sewn sackcloth over my skin,
And laid my head[c] in the dust.
16 My face is
flushed from weeping,
And on my eyelids is
the shadow of death;
17 Although no
violence is in my hands,
And my prayer is
pure.
18 “O earth, do
not cover my blood,
And let my cry have no resting
place!
19 Surely even
now my witness is in heaven,
And my evidence is
on high.
20 My friends
scorn me;
My eyes pour out tears
to God.
21 Oh, that one
might plead for a man with God,
As a man pleads
for his neighbor!
22 For when a few
years are finished,
I shall go the way of no return.
1
“My spirit is broken,
My days are
extinguished,
The grave is ready for me.
2 Are not
mockers with me?
And does not my eye dwell on their
provocation?
3 “Now put down a
pledge for me with Yourself.
Who is he who will shake
hands with me?
4 For You have
hidden their heart from understanding;
Therefore You will not exalt them.
5 He who speaks
flattery to his friends,
Even the eyes of
his children will fail.
6 “But He has
made me a byword of the people,
And I have become
one in whose face men spit.
7 My eye has also
grown dim because of sorrow,
And all my members
are like shadows.
8 Upright men
are astonished at this,
And the innocent
stirs himself up against the hypocrite.
9 Yet the
righteous will hold to his way,
And he who has
clean hands will be stronger and stronger.
10 “But please,
come back again, all of you,[a]
For I shall not find one wise man
among you.
11 My days are past,
My purposes are broken off,
Even the thoughts of my heart.
12 They change
the night into day;
‘The light is near,’ they say,
in the face of darkness.
13 If I wait for
the grave as my house,
If I make my bed
in the darkness,
14 If I say to
corruption, ‘You are my father,’
And to the worm,
‘You are my mother and my sister,’
15 Where then is
my hope?
As for my hope, who can see it?
16 Will
they go down to the gates of Sheol?
Shall we have rest together in the
dust?”
1
Then Bildad the Shuhite
answered and said:
2
“How long till you put an end to words?
Gain understanding, and afterward we will
speak.
3 Why are we
counted as beasts,
And
regarded as stupid in your sight?
4 You who tear
yourself in anger,
Shall the earth be forsaken for you?
Or shall the rock be removed from its
place?
5 “The light of
the wicked indeed goes out,
And the flame of
his fire does not shine.
6 The light is
dark in his tent,
And his lamp
beside him is put out.
7 The steps of
his strength are shortened,
And his own
counsel casts him down.
8 For he is cast
into a net by his own feet,
And he walks into
a snare.
9 The net takes him
by the heel,
And a snare
lays hold of him.
10 A noose is
hidden for him on the ground,
And a trap for him
in the road.
11 Terrors
frighten him on every side,
And drive him to
his feet.
12 His strength
is starved,
And destruction is
ready at his side.
13 It devours
patches of his skin;
The firstborn of
death devours his limbs.
14 He is uprooted
from the shelter of his tent,
And they parade
him before the king of terrors.
15 They dwell in
his tent who are none of his;
Brimstone is scattered on his dwelling.
16 His roots are
dried out below,
And his branch
withers above.
17 The memory of
him perishes from the earth,
And he has no name among the renowned.[a]
18 He is driven
from light into darkness,
And chased out of
the world.
19 He has neither
son nor posterity among his people,
Nor any remaining
in his dwellings.
20 Those in the
west are astonished at his day,
As those in the
east are frightened.
21 Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked,
And this is the place of him who
does not know God.”
1
Then Job answered and said:
2 “How long will
you torment my soul,
And break me in
pieces with words?
3 These ten times
you have reproached me;
You are not ashamed that you have
wronged
4 And if indeed I
have erred,
My error remains
with me.
5 If indeed you
exalt yourselves against me,
And plead my
disgrace against me,
6 Know then that
God has wronged me,
And has surrounded
me with His net.
7
“If I cry out concerning wrong, I am not heard.
If I cry aloud, there is no justice.
8 He has fenced
up my way, so that I cannot pass;
And He has set darkness in my paths.
9 He has stripped
me of my glory,
And taken the
crown from my head.
10 He breaks me
down on every side,
And I am gone;
My hope He has uprooted like a tree.
11 He has also
kindled His wrath against me,
And He counts me as one of His
enemies.
12 His troops
come together
And build up their
road against me;
They encamp all around my tent.
13 “He has
removed my brothers far from me,
And my
acquaintances are completely estranged from me.
14 My relatives
have failed,
And my close
friends have forgotten me.
15 Those who
dwell in my house, and my maidservants,
Count me as a stranger;
I am an alien in their sight.
16 I call my
servant, but he gives no answer;
I beg him with my mouth.
17 My breath is
offensive to my wife,
And I am repulsive
to the children of my own body.
18 Even young
children despise me;
I arise, and they speak against me.
19 All my close
friends abhor me,
And those whom I
love have turned against me.
20 My bone clings
to my skin and to my flesh,
And I have escaped
by the skin of my teeth.
21 “Have pity on me, have pity on me, O you my friends,
For the hand of God has struck me!
22 Why do you
persecute me as God does,
And are not
satisfied with my flesh?
23 “Oh, that my
words were written!
Oh, that they were inscribed in a book!
24 That they were
engraved on a rock
With an iron pen
and lead, forever!
25 For I know that
my Redeemer lives,
And He shall stand at last on the earth;
26 And after my
skin is destroyed, this I know,
That in my flesh I
shall see God,
27 Whom I shall
see for myself,
And my eyes shall
behold, and not another.
How my heart yearns within me!
28 If you should
say, ‘How shall we persecute him?’—
Since the root of the matter is found in
me,
29 Be afraid of the sword for yourselves;
For wrath brings the punishment of
the sword,
That you may know there is a
judgment.”
1
Then Zophar the Naamathite
answered and said:
2 “ Therefore my anxious thoughts make me answer,
Because of the turmoil within me.
3 I have heard
the rebuke that reproaches me,
And the spirit of
my understanding causes me to answer.
4 “Do you not
know this of old,
Since man was
placed on earth,
5 That the
triumphing of the wicked is short,
And the joy of the
hypocrite is but for a moment?
6 Though his
haughtiness mounts up to the heavens,
And his head
reaches to the clouds,
7 Yet he
will perish forever like his own refuse;
Those who have
seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’
8 He will fly
away like a dream, and not be found;
Yes, he will be
chased away like a vision of the night.
9 The eye that
saw him will see him no more,
Nor will his place
behold him anymore.
10 His children
will seek the favor of the poor,
And his hands will
restore his wealth.
11 His bones are
full of his youthful vigor,
But it will lie
down with him in the dust.
12 “ Though evil is sweet in his mouth,
And he hides it under his tongue,
13 Though
he spares it and does not forsake it,
But still keeps it
in his mouth,
14 Yet his
food in his stomach turns sour;
It becomes cobra
venom within him.
15 He swallows
down riches
And vomits them up
again;
God casts them out of his belly.
16 He will suck
the poison of cobras;
The viper’s tongue
will slay him.
17 He will not
see the streams,
The rivers flowing
with honey and cream.
18 He will
restore that for which he labored,
And will not
swallow it down;
From the proceeds of business
He will get no enjoyment.
19 For he has
oppressed and forsaken the poor,
He has violently seized a house which he
did not build.
20 “ Because he knows no quietness in his heart,[a]
He will not save anything he desires.
21 Nothing is
left for him to eat;
Therefore his
well-being will not last.
22 In his
self-sufficiency he will be in distress;
Every hand of
misery will come against him.
23 When he
is about to fill his stomach,
God will cast on him the fury of His
wrath,
And will rain it
on him while he is eating.
24 He will flee
from the iron weapon;
A bronze bow will
pierce him through.
25 It is drawn,
and comes out of the body;
Yes, the
glittering point comes out of his gall.
Terrors come upon him;
26
Total darkness is reserved for his treasures.
An unfanned fire will
consume him;
It shall go ill
with him who is left in his tent.
27 The heavens
will reveal his iniquity,
And the earth will
rise up against him.
28 The increase
of his house will depart,
And his
goods will flow away in the day of His wrath.
29 This is
the portion from God for a wicked man,
The heritage
appointed to him by God.”
1
Then Job answered and said:
2 “Listen
carefully to my speech,
And let this be
your consolation.
3 Bear with me
that I may speak,
And after I have
spoken, keep mocking.
4
“As for me, is my complaint against man?
And if it were, why should I not be
impatient?
5 Look at me and
be astonished;
Put your hand over your
mouth.
6 Even when I
remember I am terrified,
And trembling takes hold of my flesh.
7 Why do the
wicked live and become old,
Yes, become mighty
in power?
8 Their
descendants are established with them in their sight,
And their
offspring before their eyes.
9 Their houses are
safe from fear,
Neither is
the rod of God upon them.
10 Their bull
breeds without failure;
Their cow calves
without miscarriage.
11 They send
forth their little ones like a flock,
And their children
dance.
12 They sing to
the tambourine and harp,
And rejoice to the
sound of the flute.
13 They spend
their days in wealth,
And in a moment go down to the grave.[a]
14 Yet they say
to God, ‘Depart from us,
For we do not
desire the knowledge of Your ways.
15 Who is the
Almighty, that we should serve Him?
And what profit do we have if we pray to
Him?’
16 Indeed their
prosperity is not in their hand;
The counsel of the
wicked is far from me.
17 “How often is
the lamp of the wicked put out?
How often does their destruction
come upon them,
The sorrows God
distributes in His anger?
18 They are like
straw before the wind,
And like chaff that a storm carries away.
19 They say,
‘God lays up one’s[b] iniquity for his children’;
Let Him recompense
him, that he may know it.
20 Let his eyes
see his destruction,
And let him drink
of the wrath of the Almighty.
21 For what does
he care about his household after him,
When the number of
his months is cut in half?
22 “Can anyone
teach God knowledge,
Since He judges those on high?
23 One dies in
his full strength,
Being wholly at
ease and secure;
24 His pails[c] are full of milk,
And the marrow of
his bones is moist.
25 Another man
dies in the bitterness of his soul,
Never having eaten
with pleasure.
26 They lie down
alike in the dust,
And worms cover
them.
27 “Look, I know
your thoughts,
And the schemes with
which you would wrong me.
28 For you say,
‘ Where is the house of the prince?
And where is the tent,[d]
The dwelling place of the wicked?’
29 Have you not
asked those who travel the road?
And do you not know their signs?
30 For the wicked
are reserved for the day of doom;
They shall be
brought out on the day of wrath.
31 Who condemns
his way to his face?
And who repays him for what he has
done?
32 Yet he shall
be brought to the grave,
And a vigil kept
over the tomb.
33 The clods of
the valley shall be sweet to him;
Everyone shall
follow him,
As countless have gone before him.
34 How then can
you comfort me with empty words,
Since falsehood
remains in your answers?”
1
Then Eliphaz the Temanite
answered and said:
2 “Can a man be
profitable to God,
Though he who is
wise may be profitable to himself?
3 Is it
any pleasure to the Almighty that you are righteous?
Or is it gain to Him that you
make your ways blameless?
4 “Is it because
of your fear of Him that He corrects you,
And enters into
judgment with you?
5 Is not
your wickedness great,
And your iniquity
without end?
6 For you have
taken pledges from your brother for no reason,
And stripped the
naked of their clothing.
7 You have not
given the weary water to drink,
And you have
withheld bread from the hungry.
8 But the mighty
man possessed the land,
And the honorable
man dwelt in it.
9 You have sent
widows away empty,
And the strength
of the fatherless was crushed.
10 Therefore
snares are all around you,
And sudden fear
troubles you,
11 Or darkness so
that you cannot see;
And an abundance
of water covers you.
12 “Is not God in
the height of heaven?
And see the highest stars, how lofty they
are!
13 And you say,
‘What does God know?
Can He judge through the deep darkness?
14 Thick clouds
cover Him, so that He cannot see,
And He walks above the circle of heaven.’
15 Will you keep
to the old way
Which wicked men
have trod,
16 Who were cut
down before their time,
Whose foundations
were swept away by a flood?
17 They said to
God, ‘Depart from us!
What can the Almighty do to them?’[a]
18 Yet He filled
their houses with good things;
But the counsel of
the wicked is far from me.
19 “The righteous
see it and are glad,
And the innocent laugh at them:
20 ‘Surely our
adversaries[b] are cut down,
And the fire
consumes their remnant.’
21 “Now acquaint
yourself with Him, and be at peace;
Thereby good will
come to you.
22 Receive,
please, instruction from His mouth,
And lay up His words in your heart.
23 If you return
to the Almighty, you will be built up;
You will remove
iniquity far from your tents.
24 Then you will
lay your gold in the dust,
And the gold
of Ophir among the stones of the brooks.
25 Yes, the
Almighty will be your gold[c]
And your precious
silver;
26 For then you
will have your delight in the Almighty,
And lift up your
face to God.
27 You will make
your prayer to Him,
He will hear you,
And you will pay
your vows.
28 You will also
declare a thing,
And it will be
established for you;
So light will shine on your ways.
29 When they cast
you down, and you say, ‘Exaltation will come!’
Then He will save the humble person.
30 He will even
deliver one who is not innocent;
Yes, he will be
delivered by the purity of your hands.”
1
Then Job answered and said:
2 “Even today my
complaint is bitter;
My[a] hand is listless because of my groaning.
3 Oh, that I knew
where I might find Him,
That I might come to His
seat!
4 I would present
my case before Him,
And fill my mouth
with arguments.
5 I would know
the words which He would answer me,
And understand
what He would say to me.
6 Would He
contend with me in His great power?
No! But He would take note of me.
7 There the
upright could reason with Him,
And I would be
delivered forever from my Judge.
8 “Look, I go forward,
but He is not there,
And backward, but I cannot perceive Him;
9 When He works
on the left hand, I cannot behold Him;
When He turns to the right hand, I cannot
see Him.
10 But He knows
the way that I take;
When He has
tested me, I shall come forth as gold.
11 My foot has
held fast to His steps;
I have kept His way and not turned aside.
12 I have not
departed from the commandment of His lips;
I have treasured the words of His mouth
More than my
necessary food.
13 “But He is
unique, and who can make Him change?
And whatever His soul desires, that
He does.
14 For He
performs what is appointed for me,
And many such things
are with Him.
15 Therefore I am
terrified at His presence;
When I consider this,
I am afraid of Him.
16 For God made
my heart weak,
And the Almighty
terrifies me;
17 Because I was
not cut off from the presence of darkness,
And He did not hide deep darkness
from my face.
1
“Since times are not hidden from the Almighty,
Why do those who know Him see not His days?
2 “Some
remove landmarks;
They seize flocks
violently and feed on them;
3 They drive away
the donkey of the fatherless;
They take the
widow’s ox as a pledge.
4 They push the
needy off the road;
All the poor of
the land are forced to hide.
5 Indeed, like
wild donkeys in the desert,
They go out to
their work, searching for food.
The wilderness yields food for them and
for their children.
6 They gather
their fodder in the field
And glean in the
vineyard of the wicked.
7 They spend the
night naked, without clothing,
And have no
covering in the cold.
8 They are wet
with the showers of the mountains,
And huddle around
the rock for want of shelter.
9 “Some
snatch the fatherless from the breast,
And take a pledge
from the poor.
10 They cause the
poor to go naked, without clothing;
And they take away
the sheaves from the hungry.
11 They press out
oil within their walls,
And tread
winepresses, yet suffer thirst.
12 The dying
groan in the city,
And the souls of
the wounded cry out;
Yet God does not charge them with
wrong.
13 “There are
those who rebel against the light;
They do not know
its ways
Nor abide in its paths.
14 The murderer
rises with the light;
He kills the poor and needy;
And in the night
he is like a thief.
15 The eye of the
adulterer waits for the twilight,
Saying, ‘No eye will see me’;
And he disguises his
face.
16 In the dark
they break into houses
Which they marked
for themselves in the daytime;
They do not know the light.
17 For the
morning is the same to them as the shadow of death;
If someone recognizes them,
They are in the terrors of the
shadow of death.
18 “They should
be swift on the face of the waters,
Their portion should be cursed in
the earth,
So that no one would turn
into the way of their vineyards.
19 As drought and
heat consume the snow waters,
So the
grave[a]consumes those who have sinned.
20 The womb should
forget him,
The worm should
feed sweetly on him;
He should be remembered no more,
And wickedness should be broken like
a tree.
21 For he preys
on the barren who do not bear,
And does no good for the widow.
22 “But God
draws the mighty away with His power;
He rises up, but no man is sure of
life.
23 He gives them
security, and they rely on it;
Yet His eyes are
on their ways.
24 They are
exalted for a little while,
Then they are
gone.
They are brought low;
They are taken out
of the way like all others;
They dry out like the heads of grain.
25 “Now if it
is not so, who will prove me a liar,
And make my speech
worth nothing?”
1
Then Bildad the Shuhite
answered and said:
2 “ Dominion and fear belong to Him;
He makes peace in His high places.
3 Is there any
number to His armies?
Upon whom does His light not rise?
4 How then can
man be righteous before God?
Or how can he be pure who is born of
a woman?
5 If even the
moon does not shine,
And the stars are
not pure in His sight,
6 How much less
man, who is a maggot,
And a son of man, who
is a worm?”
1
But Job answered and said:
2
“How have you helped him who is without power?
How have you saved the arm that
has no strength?
3 How have you
counseled one who has no wisdom?
And how have you declared sound
advice to many?
4 To whom have you uttered words?
And whose spirit came from you?
5 “The dead
tremble,
Those under the
waters and those inhabiting them.
6 Sheol is naked before Him,
And Destruction has no covering.
7 He stretches
out the north over empty space;
He hangs the earth on nothing.
8 He binds up the
water in His thick clouds,
Yet the clouds are
not broken under it.
9 He covers the
face of His throne,
And spreads
His cloud over it.
10 He drew a
circular horizon on the face of the waters,
At the boundary of
light and darkness.
11 The pillars of
heaven tremble,
And are astonished
at His rebuke.
12 He stirs up
the sea with His power,
And by His
understanding He breaks up the storm.
13 By His Spirit
He adorned the heavens;
His hand pierced the fleeing serpent.
14 Indeed these are
the mere edges of His ways,
And how small a
whisper we hear of Him!
But the thunder of His
power who can understand?”
1
Moreover Job continued his discourse, and said:
2 “As God
lives, who has taken away my justice,
And the Almighty, who has made my
soul bitter,
3 As long as my
breath is in me,
And the breath of
God in my nostrils,
4 My lips will
not speak wickedness,
Nor my tongue utter deceit.
5 Far be it from
me
That I should say you are right;
Till I die I will not put away my integrity
from me.
6 My
righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go;
My heart shall not
reproach me as long as I live.
7 “May my enemy
be like the wicked,
And he who rises up against me like the
unrighteous.
8 For what is the
hope of the hypocrite,
Though he may gain
much,
If God takes away his life?
9 Will God hear
his cry
When trouble comes
upon him?
10 Will he
delight himself in the Almighty?
Will he always call on God?
11 “I will teach
you about the hand of God;
What is
with the Almighty I will not conceal.
12 Surely all of
you have seen it;
Why then do you
behave with complete nonsense?
13 “This is the
portion of a wicked man with God,
And the heritage of oppressors, received
from the Almighty:
14 If his
children are multiplied, it is for the sword;
And his offspring
shall not be satisfied with bread.
15 Those who
survive him shall be buried in death,
And their[a] widows shall not weep,
16 Though he
heaps up silver like dust,
And piles up
clothing like clay—
17 He may pile it
up, but the just will wear it,
And the innocent
will divide the silver.
18 He builds his
house like a moth,[b]
Like a booth which a watchman makes.
19 The rich man
will lie down,
But not be gathered up;[c]
He opens his eyes,
And he is no more.
20 Terrors
overtake him like a flood;
A tempest steals
him away in the night.
21 The east wind
carries him away, and he is gone;
It sweeps him out
of his place.
22 It hurls
against him and does not spare;
He flees desperately from its power.
23 Men
shall clap their hands at him,
And shall hiss him
out of his place.
1
“Surely there is a mine for silver,
And a place where
gold is refined.
2 Iron is taken
from the earth,
And copper is
smelted from ore.
3 Man puts
an end to darkness,
And searches every recess
For ore in the
darkness and the shadow of death.
4 He breaks open
a shaft away from people;
In
places forgotten by feet
They hang far away from men;
They swing to and fro.
5 As for
the earth, from it comes bread,
But underneath it
is turned up as by fire;
6 Its stones are
the source of sapphires,
And it contains
gold dust.
7 That
path no bird knows,
Nor has the
falcon’s eye seen it.
8 The proud lions[a] have not trodden it,
Nor has the fierce
lion passed over it.
9 He puts his
hand on the flint;
He overturns the mountains at the roots.
10 He cuts out
channels in the rocks,
And his eye sees
every precious thing.
11 He dams up the
streams from trickling;
What is
hidden he brings forth to light.
12
“But where can wisdom be found?
And where is the place of
understanding?
13 Man does not
know its value,
Nor is it found in the land of the living.
14 The deep says,
‘It is not in me’;
And the sea says, ‘It is not with
me.’
15 It cannot be
purchased for gold,
Nor can silver be
weighed for its price.
16 It cannot be
valued in the gold of Ophir,
In precious onyx
or sapphire.
17 Neither gold
nor crystal can equal it,
Nor can it be
exchanged for jewelry of fine gold.
18 No mention
shall be made of coral or quartz,
For the price of
wisdom is above rubies.
19 The topaz of
Nor can it be
valued in pure gold.
20
“From where then does wisdom come?
And where is the place of
understanding?
21 It is hidden
from the eyes of all living,
And concealed from
the birds of the air.
22 Destruction
and Death say,
‘We have heard a report about it with our
ears.’
23 God
understands its way,
And He knows its place.
24 For He looks
to the ends of the earth,
And sees
under the whole heavens,
25 To establish a
weight for the wind,
And apportion the
waters by measure.
26 When He made a
law for the rain,
And a path for the
thunderbolt,
27 Then He saw wisdom[b] and declared it;
He prepared it, indeed, He searched it out.
28 And to man He
said,
‘ Behold, the fear
of the Lord, that is wisdom,
And to depart from evil is
understanding.’”
1
Job further continued his discourse, and said:
2 “Oh, that I
were as in months past,
As in the
days when God watched over me;
3 When His lamp
shone upon my head,
And when by His light I walked through
darkness;
4 Just as I was
in the days of my prime,
When the friendly
counsel of God was over my tent;
5 When the
Almighty was yet with me,
When my
children were around me;
6 When my steps
were bathed with cream,[a]
And the rock poured out rivers of oil for
me!
7 “When I went
out to the gate by the city,
When I took
my seat in the open square,
8 The young men
saw me and hid,
And the aged arose
and stood;
9 The princes
refrained from talking,
And put their
hand on their mouth;
10 The voice of nobles
was hushed,
And their tongue
stuck to the roof of their mouth.
11 When the ear
heard, then it blessed me,
And when the eye
saw, then it approved me;
12 Because I
delivered the poor who cried out,
The fatherless and
the one who had no helper.
13 The blessing
of a perishing man came upon me,
And I caused the
widow’s heart to sing for joy.
14 I put on
righteousness, and it clothed me;
My justice was
like a robe and a turban.
15 I was
eyes to the blind,
And I was
feet to the lame.
16 I was a
father to the poor,
And I searched out
the case that I did not know.
17 I broke the
fangs of the wicked,
And plucked the
victim from his teeth.
18 “Then I said,
‘I shall die in my nest,
And multiply my
days as the sand.
19 My root is
spread out to the waters,
And the dew lies
all night on my branch.
20 My glory is
fresh within me,
And my bow is
renewed in my hand.’
21 “Men
listened to me and waited,
And kept silence
for my counsel.
22 After my words
they did not speak again,
And my speech
settled on them as dew.
23 They waited
for me as for the rain,
And they opened
their mouth wide as for the spring rain.
24 If I
mocked at them, they did not believe it,
And the light of
my countenance they did not cast down.
25 I chose the
way for them, and sat as chief;
So I dwelt as a
king in the army,
As one who comforts mourners.
1 “But now they mock at me, men younger than I,
Whose fathers I disdained to put with the
dogs of my flock.
2 Indeed, what profit
is the strength of their hands to me?
Their vigor has perished.
3 They are
gaunt from want and famine,
Fleeing late to
the wilderness, desolate and waste,
4 Who pluck
mallow by the bushes,
And broom tree
roots for their food.
5 They were
driven out from among men,
They shouted at
them as at a thief.
6 They had
to live in the clefts of the valleys,
In caves of
the earth and the rocks.
7 Among the
bushes they brayed,
Under the nettles
they nestled.
8 They were
sons of fools,
Yes, sons of vile men;
They were scourged
from the land.
9 “And now I am
their taunting song;
Yes, I am their byword.
10 They abhor me,
they keep far from me;
They do not
hesitate to spit in my face.
11 Because He has
loosed my[a] bowstring and afflicted me,
They have cast off
restraint before me.
12 At my
right hand the rabble arises;
They push away my
feet,
And they raise against me their ways of
destruction.
13 They break up
my path,
They promote my
calamity;
They have no helper.
14 They come as
broad breakers;
Under the ruinous
storm they roll along.
15 Terrors are
turned upon me;
They pursue my
honor as the wind,
And my prosperity has passed like a cloud.
16 “And now my
soul is poured out because of my plight;
The days of
affliction take hold of me.
17 My bones are
pierced in me at night,
And my gnawing
pains take no rest.
18 By great force
my garment is disfigured;
It binds me about
as the collar of my coat.
19 He has cast me
into the mire,
And I have become
like dust and ashes.
20 “I cry out to You, but You do not answer me;
I stand up, and You regard me.
21 But You have become cruel to me;
With the strength of Your hand You oppose
me.
22 You lift me up
to the wind and cause me to ride on it;
You spoil my
success.
23 For I know that
You will bring me to death,
And to the house appointed for all
living.
24 “Surely He
would not stretch out His hand against a heap of ruins,
If they cry out
when He destroys it.
25 Have I not
wept for him who was in trouble?
Has not my soul grieved for the
poor?
26 But when I
looked for good, evil came to me;
And when I waited
for light, then came darkness.
27 My heart is in
turmoil and cannot rest;
Days of affliction confront me.
28 I go about
mourning, but not in the sun;
I stand up in the assembly and cry
out for help.
29 I am a brother
of jackals,
And a companion of
ostriches.
30 My skin grows
black and falls from me;
My bones burn with
fever.
31 My harp is turned
to mourning,
And my flute to
the voice of those who weep.
1 “I made a covenant with my eyes
not to look with lust at a young woman.
2 For what has God
above chosen for us?
What is our inheritance from the Almighty
on high?
3 Isn’t it calamity
for the wicked
and misfortune for those who do evil?
4 Doesn’t he see
everything I do
and every step I take?
5
“Have I lied to anyone
or deceived anyone?
6 Let God weigh me on
the scales of justice,
for he knows my integrity.
7 If I have strayed
from his pathway,
or if my heart has lusted for what my eyes
have seen,
or if I am guilty of any other sin,
8 then let someone
else eat the crops I have planted.
Let all that I have planted be uprooted.
9 “If my heart has
been seduced by a woman,
or if I have lusted for my neighbor’s wife,
10 then let my wife
belong to[a] another man;
let other men sleep with her.
11 For lust is a
shameful sin,
a crime that should be punished.
12 It is a fire that
burns all the way to hell.[b]
It would wipe out everything I own.
13 “If I have been
unfair to my male or female servants
when they brought their complaints to me,
14 how could I face God?
What could I say when he questioned me?
15 For God created
both me and my servants.
He created us both in the womb.
16
“Have I refused to help the poor,
or crushed the hopes of widows?
17 Have I been stingy
with my food
and refused to share it with orphans?
18 No, from childhood
I have cared for orphans like a father,
and all my life I have cared for widows.
19 Whenever I saw the
homeless without clothes
and the needy with nothing to wear,
20 did they not
praise me
for providing wool clothing to keep them
warm?
21 “If I raised my
hand against an orphan,
knowing the judges would take my side,
22 then let my
shoulder be wrenched out of place!
Let my arm be torn from its socket!
23 That would be
better than facing God’s judgment.
For if the majesty of God opposes me, what
hope is there?
24 “Have I put my
trust in money
or felt secure because of my gold?
25 Have I gloated
about my wealth
and all that I own?
26 “Have I looked
at the sun shining in the skies,
or the moon walking down its silver
pathway,
27 and been secretly
enticed in my heart
to throw kisses at them in worship?
28 If so, I should be
punished by the judges,
for it would mean I had denied the God of
heaven.
29
“Have I ever rejoiced when disaster struck my enemies,
or become excited when harm came their way?
30 No, I have never
sinned by cursing anyone
or by asking for revenge.
31 “My servants
have never said,
‘He let others go hungry.’
32 I have never
turned away a stranger
but have opened my doors to everyone.
33 “Have I tried
to hide my sins like other people do,
concealing my guilt in my heart?
34 Have I feared the
crowd
or the contempt of the masses,
so that I kept quiet and stayed indoors?
35 “If only
someone would listen to me!
Look, I will sign my name to my defense.
Let the Almighty answer me.
Let my accuser write out the charges
against me.
36 I would face the
accusation proudly.
I would wear it like a crown.
37 For I would tell
him exactly what I have done.
I would come before him like a prince.
38 “If my land
accuses me
and all its
furrows cry out together,
39 or if I have
stolen its crops
or murdered its owners,
40 then let thistles
grow on that land instead of wheat,
and weeds instead of barley.”
Job’s words are ended.
Job’s three friends refused to reply
further to him because he kept insisting on his innocence.
2 Then Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite, of the clan of Ram, became angry. He was angry
because Job refused to admit that he had sinned and that God was right in
punishing him. 3 He was
also angry with Job’s three friends, for they made God[a] appear to be wrong by their inability to
answer Job’s arguments. 4 Elihu had waited for the others to speak to Job because
they were older than he. 5
But when he saw that they had no further reply, he spoke out angrily. 6 Elihu
son of Barakel the Buzite
said,
“I am young and you are old,
so I held back from telling you what I
think.
7 I thought, ‘Those
who are older should speak,
for wisdom comes with age.’
8 But there is a
spirit[b] within people,
the breath of the Almighty within them,
that makes them intelligent.
9 Sometimes the
elders are not wise.
Sometimes the aged do not understand
justice.
10 So listen to me,
and let me tell you what I think.
11 “I have waited
all this time,
listening very carefully to your arguments,
listening to you grope for words.
12 I have listened,
but not one of you has refuted Job
or answered his arguments.
13 And don’t tell me,
‘He is too wise for us.
Only God can convince him.’
14 If Job had been
arguing with me,
I would not answer with your kind of logic!
15 You sit there
baffled,
with nothing more to say.
16 Should I continue
to wait, now that you are silent?
Must I also remain silent?
17 No, I will say my
piece.
I will speak my mind.
18 For I am full of
pent-up words,
and the spirit within me urges me on.
19 I am like a cask
of wine without a vent,
like a new wineskin ready to burst!
20 I must speak to
find relief,
so let me give my answers.
21 I won’t play
favorites
or try to flatter anyone.
22 For if I tried
flattery,
my Creator would soon destroy me.
1
“Listen to my words, Job;
pay attention to what I have to say.
2 Now that I have
begun to speak,
let me continue.
3 I speak with all
sincerity;
I speak the truth.
4 For the Spirit of
God has made me,
and the breath of the Almighty gives me
life.
5 Answer me, if you
can;
make your case and take your stand.
6 Look, you and I
both belong to God.
I, too, was formed from clay.
7 So you don’t need
to be afraid of me.
I won’t come down hard on you.
8 “You have spoken
in my hearing,
and I have heard your very words.
9 You said, ‘I am
pure; I am without sin;
I am innocent; I have no guilt.
10 God is picking a
quarrel with me,
and he considers me his enemy.
11 He puts my feet in
the stocks
and watches my every move.’
12 “But you are
wrong, and I will show you why.
For God is greater than any human being.
13 So why are you
bringing a charge against him?
Why say he does not respond to people’s
complaints?
14 For God speaks again and again,
though people do not recognize it.
15 He speaks in
dreams, in visions of the night,
when deep sleep falls on people
as they lie in their beds.
16 He whispers in
their ears
and terrifies them with warnings.
17 He makes them turn
from doing wrong;
he keeps them from pride.
18 He protects them
from the grave,
from crossing over the river of death.
19 “Or God
disciplines people with pain on their sickbeds,
with ceaseless aching in their bones.
20 They lose their
appetite
for even the most delicious food.
21
Their flesh wastes away,
and their bones stick out.
22 They are at
death’s door;
the angels of death wait for them.
23 “But if an
angel from heaven appears—
a special messenger to intercede for a
person
and declare that he is upright—
24 he will be
gracious and say,
‘Rescue him from the grave,
for I have found a ransom for his life.’
25 Then his body will
become as healthy as a child’s,
firm and youthful again.
26 When he prays to
God,
he will be accepted.
And God will receive him with joy
and restore him to good standing.
27 He will declare to
his friends,
‘I sinned and twisted the truth,
but it was not worth it.[a]
28 God rescued me
from the grave,
and now my life is filled with light.’
29 “Yes, God does
these things
again and again for people.
30 He rescues them
from the grave
so they may enjoy the light of life.
31
Mark this well, Job. Listen to me,
for I have more to say.
32 But if you have
anything to say, go ahead.
Speak, for I am anxious to see you
justified.
33 But if not, then
listen to me.
Keep silent and I will teach you wisdom!”
1
Then Elihu said:
2 “Listen to me,
you wise men.
Pay attention, you who have knowledge.
3 Job said, ‘The ear
tests the words it hears
just as the mouth distinguishes between
foods.’
4 So let us discern
for ourselves what is right;
let us learn together what is good.
5 For Job also said,
‘I am innocent,
but God has taken away my rights.
6 I am innocent, but
they call me a liar.
My suffering is incurable, though I have
not sinned.’
7 “Tell me, has
there ever been a man like Job,
with his thirst for irreverent talk?
8 He chooses evil
people as companions.
He spends his time with wicked men.
9 He has even said,
‘Why waste time
trying to please God?’
10 “Listen to me,
you who have understanding.
Everyone knows that God doesn’t sin!
The Almighty can do no wrong.
11 He repays people
according to their deeds.
He treats people as they deserve.
12 Truly, God will
not do wrong.
The Almighty will not twist justice.
13 Did someone else
put the world in his care?
Who set the whole world in place?
14 If God were to
take back his spirit
and withdraw his breath,
15 all life would
cease,
and humanity would turn again to dust.
16 “Now listen to
me if you are wise.
Pay attention to what I say.
17 Could God govern
if he hated justice?
Are you going to condemn the almighty
judge?
18 For he says to
kings, ‘You are wicked,’
and to nobles, ‘You are unjust.’
19 He doesn’t care
how great a person may be,
and he pays no more attention to the rich
than to the poor.
He made them all.
20 In a moment they
die.
In the middle of the night they pass away;
the mighty are removed without human hand.
21 “For God
watches how people live;
he sees everything they do.
22 No darkness is
thick enough
to hide the wicked from his eyes.
23 We don’t set the
time
when we will come before God in judgment.
24 He brings the
mighty to ruin without asking anyone,
and he sets up others in their place.
25 He knows what they
do,
and in the night he overturns and destroys
them.
26 He strikes them
down because they are wicked,
doing it openly for all to see.
27 For they turned
away from following him.
They have no respect for any of his ways.
28 They cause the
poor to cry out, catching God’s attention.
He hears the cries of the needy.
29 But if he chooses
to remain quiet,
who can criticize him?
When he hides his face, no one can find him,
whether an individual or a nation.
30 He prevents the
godless from ruling
so they cannot be a snare to the people.
31 “Why don’t
people say to God, ‘I have sinned,
but I will sin no more’?
32 Or ‘I don’t know
what evil I have done—tell me.
If I have done wrong, I will stop at once’?
33 “Must God tailor his justice to your demands?
But you have rejected him!
The choice is yours, not mine.
Go ahead, share
your wisdom with us.
34 After all, bright
people will tell me,
and wise people will hear me say,
35 ‘Job speaks out of
ignorance;
his words lack insight.’
36 Job, you deserve
the maximum penalty
for the wicked way you have talked.
37 For
you have added rebellion to your sin;
you show no respect,
and you speak many angry words against God.”
1
Then Elihu said:
2 “Do you think it
is right for you to claim,
‘I am righteous before God’?
3 For you also ask,
‘What’s in it for me?
What’s the use of living a righteous life?’
4
“I will answer you
and all your friends, too.
5 Look up into the
sky,
and see the clouds high above you.
6 If you sin, how
does that affect God?
Even if you sin again and again,
what effect will it have on him?
7 If you are good, is
this some great gift to him?
What could you possibly give him?
8 No, your sins
affect only people like yourself,
and your good deeds also affect only
humans.
9 “People cry out
when they are oppressed.
They groan beneath the power of the mighty.
10 Yet they don’t
ask, ‘Where is God my Creator,
the one who gives songs in the night?
11 Where is the one
who makes us smarter than the animals
and wiser than the birds of the sky?’
12 And when they cry
out, God does not answer
because of their pride.
13 But it is wrong to
say God doesn’t listen,
to say the Almighty isn’t concerned.
14 You say you can’t
see him,
but he will bring justice if you will only
wait.[a]
15 You say he does
not respond to sinners with anger
and is not greatly concerned about
wickedness.[b]
16 But you are
talking nonsense, Job.
You have spoken like a fool.”
Elihu continued speaking:
2 “Let me go on, and I will show you the truth.
For I have not finished defending God!
3 I will present
profound arguments
for the righteousness of my Creator.
4 I am telling you
nothing but the truth,
for I am a man of great knowledge.
5 “God is mighty,
but he does not despise anyone!
He is mighty in both power and
understanding.
6 He does not let the
wicked live
but gives justice to the afflicted.
7 He never takes his
eyes off the innocent,
but he sets them on thrones with kings
and exalts them forever.
8 If they are bound
in chains
and caught up in a web of trouble,
9 he shows them the
reason.
He shows them their sins of pride.
10 He gets their
attention
and commands that they turn from evil.
11
“If they listen and obey God,
they will be blessed with prosperity
throughout their lives.
All their years will be pleasant.
12 But if they refuse
to listen to him,
they will be killed by the sword[a]
and die from lack of understanding.
13 For the godless
are full of resentment.
Even when he punishes them,
they refuse to cry out to him for help.
14 They die when they
are young,
after wasting their lives in immoral
living.
15 But by means of
their suffering, he rescues those who suffer.
For he gets their
attention through adversity.
16 “God is leading
you away from danger, Job,
to a place free from distress.
He is setting your table with the best
food.
17 But you are
obsessed with whether the godless will be judged.
Don’t worry, judgment and justice will be upheld.
18 But watch out, or
you may be seduced by wealth.[b]
Don’t let yourself be bribed into sin.
19 Could all your
wealth[c]
or all your mighty efforts
keep you from distress?
20 Do not long for
the cover of night,
for that is when people will be destroyed.[d]
21 Be on guard! Turn
back from evil,
for God sent this suffering
to keep you from a life of evil.
22
“Look, God is all-powerful.
Who is a teacher like him?
23 No one can tell
him what to do,
or say to him, ‘You have done wrong.’
24 Instead, glorify
his mighty works,
singing songs of praise.
25 Everyone has seen
these things,
though only from a distance.
26 “Look, God is
greater than we can understand.
His years cannot be counted.
27 He draws up the
water vapor
and then distills it into rain.
28 The rain pours
down from the clouds,
and everyone benefits.
29 Who can understand
the spreading of the clouds
and the thunder that rolls forth from
heaven?
30 See how he spreads
the lightning around him
and how it lights up the depths of the sea.
31 By these mighty
acts he nourishes[e] the people,
giving them food in abundance.
32 He fills his hands
with lightning bolts
and hurls each at its target.
33 The thunder
announces his presence;
the storm announces his indignant anger.[f]
1 “My heart pounds
as I think of this.
It trembles within me.
2 Listen carefully to
the thunder of God’s voice
as it rolls from his mouth.
3 It rolls across the
heavens,
and his lightning flashes in every
direction.
4 Then comes the
roaring of the thunder—
the tremendous voice of his majesty.
He does not restrain it when he speaks.
5 God’s voice is
glorious in the thunder.
We can’t even imagine the greatness of his
power.
6 “He directs the
snow to fall on the earth
and tells the rain to pour down.
7 Then everyone stops
working
so they can watch his power.
8 The wild animals
take cover
and stay inside their dens.
9 The stormy wind
comes from its chamber,
and the driving winds bring the cold.
10 God’s breath sends
the ice,
freezing wide expanses of water.
11 He loads the
clouds with moisture,
and they flash with his lightning.
12 The clouds churn
about at his direction.
They do whatever he commands throughout the
earth.
13 He makes these
things happen either to punish people
or to show his unfailing love.
14
“Pay attention to this, Job.
Stop and consider the wonderful miracles of
God!
15 Do you know how
God controls the storm
and causes the lightning to flash from his
clouds?
16 Do you understand
how he moves the clouds
with wonderful perfection and skill?
17 When you are
sweltering in your clothes
and the south wind dies down and everything
is still,
18 he makes the skies
reflect the heat like a bronze mirror.
Can you do that?
19
“So teach the rest of us what to say to God.
We are too ignorant to make our own
arguments.
20 Should God be
notified that I want to speak?
Can people even speak when they are confused?[a]
21 We cannot look at
the sun,
for it shines brightly in the sky
when the wind clears away the clouds.
22 So also, golden
splendor comes from the
He is clothed in dazzling splendor.
23 We cannot imagine
the power of the Almighty;
but even though he is just and righteous,
he does not destroy us.
24 No wonder people
everywhere fear him.
All who are wise show him reverence.”
1
Then the Lord answered Job from
the whirlwind:
2
“Who is this that questions my wisdom
with such ignorant words?
3 Brace yourself like
a man,
because I have some questions for you,
and you must answer them.
4 “Where were you
when I laid the foundations of the earth?
Tell me, if you know so much.
5 Who determined its
dimensions
and stretched out the surveying line?
6 What supports its
foundations,
and who laid its cornerstone
7 as the morning
stars sang together
and all the angels[a] shouted for joy?
8
“Who kept the sea inside its boundaries
as it burst from the womb,
9 and as I clothed it
with clouds
and wrapped it in thick darkness?
10 For I locked it
behind barred gates,
limiting its shores.
11 I said, ‘This far
and no farther will you come.
Here your proud waves must stop!’
12
“Have you ever commanded the morning to appear
and caused the dawn to rise in the east?
13 Have you made
daylight spread to the ends of the earth,
to bring an end to the night’s wickedness?
14 As the light
approaches,
the earth takes shape like clay pressed
beneath a seal;
it is robed in brilliant colors.[b]
15 The light disturbs
the wicked
and stops the arm that is raised in
violence.
16 “Have you
explored the springs from which the seas come?
Have you explored their depths?
17 Do you know where
the gates of death are located?
Have you seen the gates of utter gloom?
18 Do you realize the
extent of the earth?
Tell me about it if you know!
19
“Where does light come from,
and where does darkness go?
20 Can you take each
to its home?
Do you know how to get there?
21 But of course you
know all this!
For you were born before it was all created,
and you are so very experienced!
22 “Have you
visited the storehouses of the snow
or seen the storehouses of hail?
23 (I have reserved
them as weapons for the time of trouble,
for the day of battle and war.)
24 Where is the path
to the source of light?
Where is the home of the east wind?
25
“Who created a channel for the torrents of rain?
Who laid out the path for the lightning?
26 Who makes the rain
fall on barren land,
in a desert where no one lives?
27 Who sends rain to
satisfy the parched ground
and make the tender grass spring up?
28
“Does the rain have a father?
Who gives birth to the dew?
29 Who is the mother
of the ice?
Who gives birth to the frost from the
heavens?
30 For the water
turns to ice as hard as rock,
and the surface of the water freezes.
31
“Can you direct the movement of the stars—
binding the cluster of the Pleiades
or loosening the cords of Orion?
32 Can you direct the
sequence of the seasons
or guide the Bear with her cubs across the
heavens?
33 Do you know the
laws of the universe?
Can you use them to regulate the earth?
34 “Can you shout
to the clouds
and make it rain?
35 Can you make
lightning appear
and cause it to strike as you direct?
36 Who gives
intuition to the heart
and instinct to the mind?
37 Who is wise enough
to count all the clouds?
Who can tilt the water jars of heaven
38 when the parched ground
is dry
and the soil has hardened into clods?
39 “Can you stalk
prey for a lioness
and satisfy the young lions’ appetites
40 as they lie in
their dens
or crouch in the thicket?
41 Who provides food
for the ravens
when their young cry out to God
and wander about in hunger?
1
“Do you know when the wild goats give birth?
Have you watched as deer are born in the
wild?
2 Do you know how
many months they carry their young?
Are you aware of the time of their
delivery?
3 They crouch down to
give birth to their young
and deliver their offspring.
4 Their young grow up
in the open fields,
then leave home and never return.
5
“Who gives the wild donkey its freedom?
Who untied its ropes?
6 I have placed it in
the wilderness;
its home is the wasteland.
7 It hates the noise
of the city
and has no driver to shout at it.
8 The mountains are
its pastureland,
where it searches for every blade of grass.
9 “Will the wild
ox consent to being tamed?
Will it spend the night in your stall?
10 Can you hitch a
wild ox to a plow?
Will it plow a field for you?
11 Given its
strength, can you trust it?
Can you leave and trust the ox to do your
work?
12 Can you rely on it
to bring home your grain
and deliver it to your threshing floor?
13 “The ostrich
flaps her wings grandly,
but they are no match for the feathers of
the stork.
14 She lays her eggs
on top of the earth,
letting them be warmed in the dust.
15 She doesn’t worry
that a foot might crush them
or a wild animal might destroy them.
16 She is harsh
toward her young,
as if they were not her own.
She doesn’t care if they die.
17 For God has
deprived her of wisdom.
He has given her no understanding.
18 But whenever she
jumps up to run,
she passes the swiftest horse with its
rider.
19
“Have you given the horse its strength
or clothed its neck with a flowing mane?
20 Did you give it
the ability to leap like a locust?
Its majestic snorting is terrifying!
21 It paws the earth
and rejoices in its strength
when it charges out to battle.
22 It laughs at fear
and is unafraid.
It does not run from the sword.
23 The arrows rattle
against it,
and the spear and javelin flash.
24 It paws the ground
fiercely
and rushes forward into battle when the
ram’s horn blows.
25 It snorts at the
sound of the horn.
It senses the battle in the distance.
It quivers at the captain’s commands and
the noise of battle.
26 “Is it your
wisdom that makes the hawk soar
and spread its wings toward the south?
27 Is it at your
command that the eagle rises
to the heights to make its nest?
28 It lives on the
cliffs,
making its home on a distant, rocky crag.
29 From there it
hunts its prey,
keeping watch with piercing eyes.
30 Its young gulp
down blood.
Where there’s a carcass, there you’ll find
it.”
1 Then the Lord said to Job,
2
“Do you still want to argue with the Almighty?
You are God’s critic, but do you have the
answers?”
3
Then Job replied to the Lord,
4 “I am
nothing—how could I ever find the answers?
I will cover my mouth with my hand.
5 I have said too
much already.
I have nothing more to say.”
6
Then the Lord answered Job from
the whirlwind:
7 “Brace yourself
like a man,
because I have some questions for you,
and you must answer them.
8 “Will you
discredit my justice
and condemn me just to prove you are right?
9 Are you as strong
as God?
Can you thunder with a voice like his?
10 All right, put on
your glory and splendor,
your honor and majesty.
11
Give vent to your anger.
Let it overflow against the proud.
12 Humiliate the
proud with a glance;
walk on the wicked where they stand.
13 Bury them in the
dust.
Imprison them in the world of the dead.
14 Then even I would
praise you,
for your own strength would save you.
15 “Take a look at
Behemoth,[a]
which I made, just as I made you.
It eats grass like an ox.
16 See its powerful
loins
and the muscles of its belly.
17 Its tail is as
strong as a cedar.
The sinews of its thighs are knit tightly
together.
18 Its bones are
tubes of bronze.
Its limbs are bars of iron.
19 It is a prime
example of God’s handiwork,
and only its Creator can threaten it.
20 The mountains
offer it their best food,
where all the wild animals play.
21 It lies under the
lotus plants,[b]
hidden by the reeds in the marsh.
22 The lotus plants
give it shade
among the willows beside the stream.
23 It is not disturbed
by the raging river,
not concerned when the swelling
24 No one can catch
it off guard
or put a ring in its nose and lead it away.
1 [a]“Can you catch Leviathan[b] with a hook
or put a noose around its jaw?
2 Can you tie it with
a rope through the nose
or pierce its jaw with a spike?
3 Will it beg you for
mercy
or implore you for pity?
4 Will it agree to
work for you,
to be your slave for life?
5 Can you make it a
pet like a bird,
or give it to your little girls to play
with?
6 Will merchants try
to buy it
to sell it in their shops?
7 Will its hide be
hurt by spears
or its head by a harpoon?
8 If you lay a hand
on it,
you will certainly remember the battle that
follows.
You won’t try that again!
9 [c]No, it is useless to try to capture it.
The hunter who attempts it will be knocked
down.
10 And since no one
dares to disturb it,
who then can stand
up to me?
11 Who has given me
anything that I need to pay back?
Everything under heaven is mine.
12
“I want to emphasize Leviathan’s limbs
and its enormous strength and graceful
form.
13 Who can strip off
its hide,
and who can penetrate its double layer of
armor?[d]
14 Who could pry open
its jaws?
For its teeth are terrible!
15 Its scales are
like rows of shields
tightly sealed together.
16 They are so close
together
that no air can get between them.
17 Each scale sticks
tight to the next.
They interlock and cannot be penetrated.
18
“When it sneezes, it flashes light!
Its eyes are like the red of dawn.
19 Lightning leaps
from its mouth;
flames of fire flash out.
20 Smoke streams from
its nostrils
like steam from a pot heated over burning
rushes.
21 Its breath would
kindle coals,
for flames shoot from its mouth.
22
“The tremendous strength in Leviathan’s neck
strikes terror wherever it goes.
23 Its flesh is hard
and firm
and cannot be penetrated.
24 Its heart is hard
as rock,
hard as a millstone.
25 When it rises, the
mighty are afraid,
gripped by terror.
26
No sword can stop it,
no spear, dart, or javelin.
27 Iron is nothing
but straw to that creature,
and bronze is like rotten wood.
28 Arrows cannot make
it flee.
Stones shot from a sling are like bits of
grass.
29 Clubs are like a
blade of grass,
and it laughs at the swish of javelins.
30 Its belly is
covered with scales as sharp as glass.
It plows up the ground as it drags through
the mud.
31 “Leviathan
makes the water boil with its commotion.
It stirs the depths like a pot of ointment.
32 The water glistens
in its wake,
making the sea look white.
33 Nothing on earth
is its equal,
no other creature so fearless.
34 Of all the
creatures, it is the proudest.
It is the king of beasts.”
1
Then Job replied to the Lord:
2
“I know that you can do anything,
and no one can stop you.
3 You asked, ‘Who is
this that questions my wisdom with such ignorance?’
It is I—and I was talking about things I
knew nothing about,
things far too wonderful for me.
4 You said, ‘Listen
and I will speak!
I have some questions for you,
and you must answer them.’
5 I had only heard
about you before,
but now I have seen you with my own eyes.
6 I take back
everything I said,
and I sit in dust and ashes to show my
repentance.”
7
After the Lord had finished
speaking to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite: “I am angry with you and your two friends, for
you have not spoken accurately about me, as my servant Job has. 8 So take seven bulls and seven
rams and go to my servant Job and offer a burnt offering for yourselves. My
servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer on your behalf. I
will not treat you as you deserve, for you have not spoken accurately about me,
as my servant Job has.” 9
So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite did as the
Lord commanded them, and the Lord accepted Job’s prayer.
10 When Job prayed
for his friends, the Lord restored
his fortunes. In fact, the Lord
gave him twice as much as before! 11
Then all his brothers, sisters, and former friends came and feasted with him in
his home. And they consoled him and comforted him because of all the trials the
Lord had brought against him. And
each of them brought him a gift of money[a] and a gold ring.
12 So the Lord blessed Job in the second half of
his life even more than in the beginning. For now he had 14,000 sheep, 6,000
camels, 1,000 teams of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys. 13 He also gave Job seven more sons and three more
daughters. 14 He named his
first daughter Jemimah, the second Keziah, and the third Keren-happuch.
15 In all the land no women
were as lovely as the daughters of Job. And their father put them into his will
along with their brothers.
16 Job lived 140
years after that, living to see four generations of his children and
grandchildren. 17 Then he died, an old man who had lived a long, full life.