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“Call if you like, but will anyone answer?
To which of the holy ones will you turn?
For anger kills the fool,
and envy slays the silly.
I watch as a fool establishes roots,
but I curse his home with sudden [destruction] —
his children are far from help,
publicly humiliated, with no one to rescue;
the hungry eat up his harvest,
taking it even from among thorns,
while the thirsty are panting,
eager to swallow his wealth.
For misery does not come from the dust
or trouble spring from the ground.
No, people are born for trouble
as surely as sparks fly upward.

“If I were you, I would seek God;
I would make my plea to him.
For God does great deeds beyond investigation,
wonders beyond all reckoning.
10 He gives rain to the earth,
pours water down on the fields.
11 He raises the lowly on high
and lifts mourners to safety.
12 He frustrates the schemes of the cunning,
so that they achieve no success;
13 trapping the crafty in their own tricks
and foiling quickly the plans of the false.
14 They meet with darkness during the day,
groping at noon like at night.
15 But he saves the poor from the sword, their mouth,
and from the clutches of the strong;
16 so the poor can hope again;
and injustice shuts its mouth.

17 “How happy the person whom God corrects!
So don’t despise Shaddai’s discipline.
18 For he wounds, but he bandages the sore;
his hands may strike, but they also heal.
19 He will rescue you from six disasters;
yes, in seven no harm will touch you.
20 In famine, he will save you from death,
and in war, from the power of the sword.
21 You will be shielded from the lash of the tongue,
and you won’t have to fear destruction when it comes —
22 you’ll be able to laugh at destruction and famine.
Also you won’t have to fear wild animals,
23 for you will be in league with the stones in the field,
and the wild animals will be at peace with you.
24 You will know that your tent is safe;
you will look round your home and miss nothing.
25 You will know that your descendants are many,
your offspring like grass [growing thick] in the fields.
26 You will come to your grave at a ripe old age,
like a pile of grain that arrives in season.

27 “We’ve looked into this, and that’s how it is;
listen, and know that it’s for your own good.”

God Is Just

“Call now, is there anyone who will answer you?
And to which of the (A)holy ones will you turn?
For (B)irritation kills the fool,
And jealousy brings death to the simple.
I have seen the (C)fool taking root,
And I (D)cursed his home immediately.
His (E)sons are far from safety,
They are also [a]oppressed at the gate,
And there is no one to save them.
[b]The hungry devour his harvest
And take it to a place of thorns,
And the [c](F)schemer is eager for their wealth.
For (G)disaster does not come from the dust,
Nor does trouble sprout from the ground,
For (H)man is born for trouble,
As sparks fly upward.

“But as for me, I would (I)seek God,
And I would make my plea before God,
Who (J)does great and unsearchable things,
[d]Wonders without number.
10 He (K)gives rain on the earth,
And sends water on the fields,
11 So that (L)He sets on high those who are lowly,
And those who mourn are lifted to safety.
12 He (M)frustrates the schemes of the shrewd,
So that their hands cannot attain success.
13 He (N)captures the wise by their own cleverness,
And the advice of the cunning is quickly thwarted.
14 By day they (O)meet with darkness,
And grope at noon as in the night.
15 But He saves from (P)the sword of their mouth,
And (Q)the poor from the hand of the strong.
16 So the helpless has hope,
And (R)injustice has shut its mouth.

17 “Behold, (S)happy is the person whom God disciplines,
So do not reject the (T)discipline of [e]the Almighty.
18 For (U)He inflicts pain, and [f]gives relief;
He wounds, but His hands also heal.
19 In six troubles (V)He will save you;
Even in seven, (W)evil will not touch you.
20 In (X)famine He will redeem you from death,
And (Y)in war, from the power of the sword.
21 You will be (Z)hidden [g]from the scourge of the tongue,
(AA)And you will not be afraid of violence when it comes.
22 You will (AB)laugh at violence and hunger,
(AC)And you will not be afraid of [h]wild animals.
23 For you will be in league with the stones of the field,
And (AD)the animals of the field will be at peace with you.
24 You will know that your (AE)tent is secure,
For you will visit your home and [i]have nothing missing.
25 You will also know that your [j](AF)descendants will be many,
And (AG)your offspring as the grass of the earth.
26 You will (AH)come to the grave at a ripe age,
Like the stacking of grain in its season.
27 Behold this; we have investigated it, and so it is.
Hear it, and know for yourself.”

Footnotes

  1. Job 5:4 Lit crushed
  2. Job 5:5 Lit Whose harvest the hungry devour
  3. Job 5:5 Ancient versions thirsty
  4. Job 5:9 Or Miracles
  5. Job 5:17 Heb Shaddai, and so throughout ch 6
  6. Job 5:18 Lit binds
  7. Job 5:21 Lit at
  8. Job 5:22 Lit animals of the earth
  9. Job 5:24 Lit not miss
  10. Job 5:25 Lit seed

“Call if you will, but who will answer you?(A)
    To which of the holy ones(B) will you turn?
Resentment(C) kills a fool,
    and envy slays the simple.(D)
I myself have seen(E) a fool taking root,(F)
    but suddenly(G) his house was cursed.(H)
His children(I) are far from safety,(J)
    crushed in court(K) without a defender.(L)
The hungry consume his harvest,(M)
    taking it even from among thorns,
    and the thirsty pant after his wealth.
For hardship does not spring from the soil,
    nor does trouble sprout from the ground.(N)
Yet man is born to trouble(O)
    as surely as sparks fly upward.

“But if I were you, I would appeal to God;
    I would lay my cause before him.(P)
He performs wonders(Q) that cannot be fathomed,(R)
    miracles that cannot be counted.(S)
10 He provides rain for the earth;(T)
    he sends water on the countryside.(U)
11 The lowly he sets on high,(V)
    and those who mourn(W) are lifted(X) to safety.
12 He thwarts the plans(Y) of the crafty,
    so that their hands achieve no success.(Z)
13 He catches the wise(AA) in their craftiness,(AB)
    and the schemes of the wily are swept away.(AC)
14 Darkness(AD) comes upon them in the daytime;
    at noon they grope as in the night.(AE)
15 He saves the needy(AF) from the sword in their mouth;
    he saves them from the clutches of the powerful.(AG)
16 So the poor(AH) have hope,
    and injustice shuts its mouth.(AI)

17 “Blessed is the one whom God corrects;(AJ)
    so do not despise the discipline(AK) of the Almighty.[a](AL)
18 For he wounds, but he also binds up;(AM)
    he injures, but his hands also heal.(AN)
19 From six calamities he will rescue(AO) you;
    in seven no harm will touch you.(AP)
20 In famine(AQ) he will deliver you from death,
    and in battle from the stroke of the sword.(AR)
21 You will be protected from the lash of the tongue,(AS)
    and need not fear(AT) when destruction comes.(AU)
22 You will laugh(AV) at destruction and famine,(AW)
    and need not fear the wild animals.(AX)
23 For you will have a covenant(AY) with the stones(AZ) of the field,
    and the wild animals will be at peace with you.(BA)
24 You will know that your tent is secure;(BB)
    you will take stock of your property and find nothing missing.(BC)
25 You will know that your children will be many,(BD)
    and your descendants like the grass of the earth.(BE)
26 You will come to the grave in full vigor,(BF)
    like sheaves gathered in season.(BG)

27 “We have examined this, and it is true.
    So hear it(BH) and apply it to yourself.”(BI)

Footnotes

  1. Job 5:17 Hebrew Shaddai; here and throughout Job