Job's Three Friends

11 Now when Job's three (A)friends heard of all this evil that had come upon him, they came each from his own place, Eliphaz (B)the Temanite, Bildad (C)the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. They made an appointment together to come to (D)show him sympathy and comfort him. 12 And when they saw him from a distance, they did not recognize him. And they raised their voices and wept, and they (E)tore their robes and sprinkled (F)dust on their heads toward heaven. 13 And they sat with him on the ground (G)seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great.

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Eliphaz Speaks: The Innocent Prosper

Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said:

“If one ventures a word with you, will you be impatient?
    Yet who can keep from speaking?
Behold, you have instructed many,
    and you have (A)strengthened the weak hands.
Your words have upheld him who was stumbling,
    and you have (B)made firm the feeble knees.
But now it has come to you, and you are impatient;
    it touches you, and you are dismayed.
(C)Is not your fear of God[a] your (D)confidence,
    and the integrity of your ways your hope?

“Remember: (E)who that was innocent ever perished?
    Or where were the upright cut off?
As I have seen, those who (F)plow iniquity
    and sow trouble reap the same.
By (G)the breath of God they perish,
    and by (H)the blast of his anger they are consumed.
10 The roar of the lion, the voice of the fierce lion,
    (I)the teeth of the young lions are broken.
11 The strong lion perishes for lack of prey,
    and the cubs of the lioness are scattered.

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Footnotes

  1. Job 4:6 Hebrew lacks of God

Job Continues: I Will Maintain My Integrity

27 And Job again (A)took up his discourse, and said:

“As God lives, who has (B)taken away my right,
    and the Almighty, who has (C)made my soul bitter,
as long as my breath is in me,
    and (D)the spirit of God is in my nostrils,
my lips will not speak (E)falsehood,
    and my tongue will not utter (F)deceit.
Far be it from me to say that you are right;
    till I die I will not put away my (G)integrity from me.
I (H)hold fast my righteousness and will not let it go;
    my heart does not (I)reproach me for any of my days.

“Let my enemy be as the wicked,
    and let him who rises up against me be as the unrighteous.
(J)For what is the hope of the godless (K)when God cuts him off,
    when God takes away his life?
(L)Will God hear his cry
    when distress comes upon him?
10 Will he (M)take delight in the Almighty?
    Will he call upon God at all times?

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