Job 8-11
Amplified Bible, Classic Edition
8 Then answered Bildad the Shuhite,
2 How long will you say these things [Job]? And how long shall the words of your mouth be as a mighty wind?
3 Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert righteousness?
4 If your children have sinned against Him, then He has delivered them into the power of their transgression.
5 If you will seek God diligently and make your supplication to the Almighty,
6 Then, if you are pure and upright, surely He will bestir Himself for you and make your righteous dwelling prosperous again.
7 And though your beginning was small, yet your latter end would greatly increase.
8 For inquire, I pray you, of the former age and apply yourself to that which their fathers have searched out,
9 For we are but of yesterday and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow.
10 Shall not [the forefathers] teach you and tell you and utter words out of their hearts (the deepest part of their nature)?
11 Can the rush or papyrus grow up without marsh? Can the flag or reed grass grow without water?
12 While it is yet green, in flower, and not cut down, it withers before any other herb [when without water].
13 So are the ways of all who forget God; and the hope of the godless shall perish.
14 For his confidence breaks, and [the object of] his trust is a spider’s web.
15 He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand; he shall hold fast to it, but it shall not last.
16 He is green before the sun, and his shoots go forth over his garden.
17 [Godless] his roots are wrapped about the [stone] heap, and see their way [promisingly] among the rocks.
18 But if [God] snatches him from his property, [then having passed into the hands of others] it [his property] will forget and deny him, [saying,] I have never seen you [before, as if ashamed of him—like his former friends].
19 See, this is the joy of going the way [of the ungodly]! And from the dust others will spring up [to take his place].
20 Behold, as surely as God will never uphold wrongdoers, He will never cast away a blameless man.
21 He will yet fill your mouth with laughter [Job] and your lips with joyful shouting.
22 Those who hate you will be clothed with shame, and the tents of the wicked shall be no more.
9 Then Job answered and said,
2 Yes, I know it is true. But how can mortal man be right before God?
3 If one should want to contend with Him, he cannot answer one [of His questions] in a thousand.
4 [God] is wise in heart and mighty in strength; who has [ever] hardened himself against Him and prospered or even been safe?
5 [God] Who removes the mountains, and they know it not when He overturns them in His anger;
6 Who shakes the earth out of its place, and the pillars of it tremble;
7 Who commands the sun, and it rises not; Who seals up the stars [from view];
8 Who alone stretches out the heavens and treads upon the waves and high places of the sea;
9 Who made [the constellations] the Bear, Orion, and the [loose cluster] Pleiades, and the [vast starry] spaces of the south;
10 Who does great things past finding out, yes, marvelous things without number.
11 Behold, He goes by me, and I see Him not; He passes on also, but I perceive Him not.
12 Behold, He snatches away; who can hinder or turn Him back? Who will say to Him, What are You doing?
13 God will not withdraw His anger; the [proud] helpers of Rahab [arrogant monster of the sea] bow under Him.
14 How much less shall I answer Him, choosing out my words to reason with Him
15 Whom, though I were righteous (upright and innocent) yet I could not answer? I must appeal for mercy to my Opponent and Judge [for my right].
16 If I called and He answered me, yet would I not believe that He listened to my voice.
17 For He overwhelms and breaks 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 I speak of strength, behold, He is mighty! And if of justice, Who, says He, will summon Me?
20 Though I am innocent and in the right, my own mouth would condemn me; though I am blameless, He would prove me perverse.
21 Though I am blameless, I regard not myself; I despise my life.
22 It is all one; therefore I say, God [does not discriminate, but] destroys the blameless and the wicked.
23 When [His] scourge slays suddenly, He mocks at the calamity and trial of the innocent.
24 The earth is given into the hands of the wicked; He covers the faces of its judges [so that they are blinded to justice]. If it is not [God], who then is it [responsible for all this inequality]?
25 Now my days are swifter than a runner; they flee away, they see no good.
26 They are passed away like the swift rowboats made of reeds, or like the eagle that swoops down on the prey.
27 If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will put off my sad countenance, and be of good cheer and brighten up,
28 I become afraid of all my pains and sorrows [yet to come], for I know You will not pronounce me innocent [by removing them].
29 I shall be held guilty and be condemned; why then should I labor in vain [to appear innocent]?
30 If I wash myself with snow and cleanse my hands with lye,
31 Yet You will plunge me into the ditch, and my own clothes will abhor me [and refuse to cover so foul a body].
32 For [God] is not a [mere] man, as I am, that I should answer Him, that we should come together in court.
33 There is no umpire between us, who might lay his hand upon us both, [would that there were!](A)
34 That He might take His rod away from [threatening] me, and that the fear of Him might not terrify me.
35 [Then] would I speak and not fear Him, but I am not so in myself [to make me afraid, were only a fair trial given me].
10 I am weary of my life and loathe it! I will give free expression to my complaint; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.
2 I will say to God, Do not condemn me [do not make me guilty]! Show me why You contend with me.
3 Does it seem good to You that You should oppress, that You should despise and reject the work of Your hands, and favor the schemes of the wicked?
4 Have You eyes of flesh? Do You see as man sees?
5 Are Your days as the days of man, are Your years as man’s [years],
6 That You inquire after my iniquity and search for my sin—
7 Although You know that I am not wicked or guilty and that there is none who can deliver me out of Your hand?
8 Your hands have formed me and made me. Would You turn around and destroy me?
9 Remember [earnestly], I beseech You, that You have fashioned me as clay [out of the same earth material, exquisitely and elaborately]. And will You bring me into dust again?
10 Have You not poured me out like milk and curdled me like cheese?
11 You have clothed me with skin and flesh and have knit me together with bones and sinews.
12 You have granted me life and favor, and Your providence has preserved my spirit.
13 Yet these [the present evils] have You hid in Your heart [for me since my creation]; I know that this was with You [in Your purpose and thought].
14 If I sin, then You observe me, and You will not acquit me from my iniquity and guilt.
15 If I am wicked, woe unto me! And if I am righteous, yet must I not lift up my head, for I am filled with disgrace and the sight of my affliction.
16 If I lift myself up, You hunt me like a lion and again show Yourself [inflicting] marvelous [trials] upon me.
17 You renew Your witnesses against me and increase Your indignation toward me; I am as if attacked by a troop time after time.
18 Why then did You bring me forth out of the womb? Would that I had perished and no eye had seen me!
19 I should have been as though I had not existed; I should have been carried from the womb to the grave.
20 Are not my days few? Cease then and let me alone, that I may take a little comfort and cheer up
21 Before I go whence I shall not return, even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death,
22 The land of sunless gloom as intense darkness, [the land] of the shadow of death, without any order, and where the light is as thick darkness.
11 Then Zophar the Naamathite replied,
2 Should not the multitude of words be answered? And should a man full of talk [and making such great professions] be pronounced free from guilt or blame?
3 Should your boastings and babble make men keep silent? And when you mock and scoff, shall no man make you ashamed?
4 For you have said, My doctrine [that God afflicts the righteous knowingly] is pure, and I am clean in [God’s] eyes.(B)
5 But oh, that God would speak, and open His lips against you,
6 And that He would show you the secrets of wisdom! For He is manifold in understanding! Know therefore that God exacts of you less than your guilt and iniquity [deserve].
7 Can you find out the deep things of God, or can you by searching find out the limits of the Almighty [explore His depths, ascend to His heights, extend to His breadths, and comprehend His infinite perfection]?
8 His wisdom is as high as the heights of heaven! What can you do? It is deeper than Sheol (the place of the dead)! What can you know?
9 Longer in measure [and scope] is it than the earth, and broader than the sea.
10 If [God] sweeps in and arrests and calls into judgment, who can hinder Him? [If He is against a man, who shall call Him to account for it?]
11 For He recognizes and knows hollow, wicked, and useless men (men of falsehood); when He sees iniquity, will He not consider it?
12 But a stupid man will get wisdom [only] when a wild donkey’s colt is born a man [as when he thinks himself free because he is lifted up in pride].
13 If you set your heart aright and stretch out your hands to [God],
14 If you put sin out of your hand and far away from you and let not evil dwell in your tents;
15 Then can you lift up your face to Him without stain [of sin, and unashamed]; yes, you shall be steadfast and secure; you shall not fear.
16 For you shall forget your misery; you shall remember it as waters that pass away.
17 And [your] life shall be clearer than the noonday and rise above it; though there be darkness, it shall be as the morning.
18 And you shall be secure and feel confident because there is hope; yes, you shall search about you, and you shall take your rest in safety.
19 You shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid; yes, many shall sue for your favor.
20 But the eyes of the wicked shall look [for relief] in vain, and they shall not escape [the justice of God]; and their hope shall be to give up the ghost.
Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
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