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Job 16-19
English Standard Version
Job 16-19
English Standard Version
Job Replies: Miserable Comforters Are You
16 Then Job answered and said:
2 “I have heard (A)many such things;
(B)miserable comforters are you all.
3 Shall (C)windy words have an end?
Or what provokes you that you answer?
4 I also could speak as you do,
if you were in my place;
I could join words together against you
and (D)shake my head at you.
5 I could strengthen you with my mouth,
and the solace of my lips would assuage your pain.
6 “If I speak, my pain is not assuaged,
and if I forbear, how much of it leaves me?
7 Surely now God has worn me out;
(E)he has[a] made desolate all my company.
8 And he has shriveled me up,
which is (F)a witness against me,
and my (G)leanness has risen up against me;
it testifies to my face.
9 He has (H)torn me in his wrath (I)and hated me;
he has (J)gnashed his teeth at me;
my adversary sharpens his eyes against me.
10 Men have (K)gaped at me with their mouth;
they have (L)struck me insolently on the cheek;
they (M)mass themselves together against me.
11 God gives me up to the ungodly
and casts me into the hands of the wicked.
12 I was at ease, and he broke me apart;
he seized me by the neck and dashed me to pieces;
he set me up as his (N)target;
13 his (O)archers surround me.
He slashes open my kidneys (P)and does not spare;
he (Q)pours out my gall on the ground.
14 He breaks me with (R)breach upon breach;
he (S)runs upon me like a warrior.
15 I have sewed (T)sackcloth upon my skin
and have laid (U)my strength (V)in the dust.
16 My face is red with weeping,
and on my eyelids is (W)deep darkness,
17 although there is no (X)violence in my hands,
and my prayer is pure.
18 “O earth, (Y)cover not my blood,
and let my (Z)cry find no resting place.
19 Even now, behold, my (AA)witness is in heaven,
and he who testifies for me is (AB)on high.
20 My friends (AC)scorn me;
my eye pours out tears to God,
21 that he would (AD)argue the case of a man with God,
as[b] a son of man does with his neighbor.
22 For when a few years have come
I shall go the way (AE)from which I shall not return.
Job Continues: Where Then Is My Hope?
17 “My spirit is broken; my days are (AF)extinct;
(AG)the graveyard is ready for me.
2 Surely there are mockers about me,
and my eye dwells on their (AH)provocation.
3 “Lay down a pledge for me with you;
who is there who will put up (AI)security for me?
4 Since you have closed their hearts to understanding,
therefore you will not let them triumph.
5 He who informs against his friends to get a share of their property—
the (AJ)eyes of his children will fail.
6 “He has made me (AK)a byword of the peoples,
and I am one before whom men spit.
7 My (AL)eye has grown dim from vexation,
and all my members are like (AM)a shadow.
8 The upright are (AN)appalled at this,
and the innocent stirs himself up against the godless.
9 Yet the righteous holds to his way,
and he who has (AO)clean hands grows stronger and stronger.
10 But you, (AP)come on again, all of you,
and I shall not find a wise man among you.
11 My (AQ)days are past; my plans are broken off,
the desires of my heart.
12 They (AR)make night into day:
‘The light,’ they say, ‘is near to the darkness.’[c]
13 If I hope for (AS)Sheol as (AT)my house,
if I make my bed in darkness,
14 if I say to the pit, ‘You are my father,’
and to the worm, ‘My mother,’ or ‘My sister,’
15 where then is my hope?
Who will see my hope?
16 Will it go down to the bars of (AU)Sheol?
Shall we (AV)descend together (AW)into the dust?”[d]
Bildad Speaks: God Punishes the Wicked
18 Then (AX)Bildad the Shuhite answered and said:
2 “How long will you (AY)hunt for words?
Consider, and then we will speak.
3 Why are we counted as (AZ)cattle?
Why are we stupid in your sight?
4 You who (BA)tear yourself in your anger,
shall the earth be forsaken for you,
or (BB)the rock be removed out of its place?
5 “Indeed, (BC)the light of the wicked is put out,
and the flame of his fire does not shine.
6 The light is (BD)dark in his tent,
and his lamp above him is put out.
7 His strong steps are shortened,
and his (BE)own schemes throw him down.
8 For he is cast into a net by his own feet,
and he walks on its mesh.
9 (BF)A trap seizes him by the heel;
a snare lays hold of him.
10 A rope is hidden for him in the ground,
a trap for him in the path.
11 (BG)Terrors frighten him on every side,
and chase him at his heels.
12 His strength is famished,
and calamity is (BH)ready for his stumbling.
13 It consumes the parts of his skin;
(BI)the firstborn of death consumes his limbs.
14 He is torn from the tent in which he trusted
and is brought to (BJ)the king of terrors.
15 In his tent dwells that which is none of his;
(BK)sulfur is scattered over his habitation.
16 His (BL)roots dry up beneath,
and his branches (BM)wither above.
17 His (BN)memory perishes from the earth,
and he has no name in the street.
18 (BO)He is thrust from light into darkness,
and driven out of the world.
19 He has no (BP)posterity or progeny among his people,
and no survivor where he used to live.
20 They of the west are appalled at his (BQ)day,
and (BR)horror seizes them of the east.
21 Surely such are the dwellings of the unrighteous,
such is the place of him who (BS)knows not God.”
Job Replies: My Redeemer Lives
19 Then Job answered and said:
2 “How long will you torment me
and break me in pieces with words?
3 These (BT)ten times you have cast reproach upon me;
are you not ashamed to wrong me?
4 And even if it be true that I have erred,
my error remains with myself.
5 If indeed you (BU)magnify yourselves against me
and make my disgrace an argument against me,
6 know then that God has (BV)put me in the wrong
and closed his net about me.
7 Behold, I (BW)cry out, ‘Violence!’ but I am not answered;
I call for help, but there is no justice.
8 He has (BX)walled up my way, so that I cannot pass,
and he has set darkness upon my paths.
9 He has (BY)stripped from me my glory
and taken the (BZ)crown from my head.
10 He breaks me down on every side, and I (CA)am gone,
and my hope has he pulled up like a tree.
11 He has kindled his wrath against me
and (CB)counts me as his adversary.
12 His (CC)troops come on together;
they have (CD)cast up their siege ramp[e] against me
and encamp around my tent.
13 “He has put my (CE)brothers far from me,
and (CF)those who knew me are wholly estranged from me.
14 My relatives (CG)have failed me,
my close (CH)friends have forgotten me.
15 The guests (CI)in my house and my maidservants count me as a stranger;
I have become a foreigner in their eyes.
16 I call to my servant, but he gives me no answer;
I must plead with him with my mouth for mercy.
17 My breath is strange to my (CJ)wife,
and I am a stench to the children of (CK)my own mother.
18 Even young (CL)children despise me;
when I rise they talk against me.
19 All my (CM)intimate friends abhor me,
and those whom I loved have turned against me.
20 My (CN)bones stick to my skin and to my flesh,
and I have escaped by the skin of my teeth.
21 Have mercy on me, have mercy on me, O you my friends,
for the hand of God has (CO)touched me!
22 Why do you, like God, (CP)pursue me?
Why are you not satisfied with my flesh?
23 “Oh that my words were written!
Oh that they were (CQ)inscribed in a book!
24 Oh that with an iron (CR)pen and lead
they were engraved in the rock forever!
25 For I (CS)know that my (CT)Redeemer lives,
and at the last he will stand upon the (CU)earth.[f]
26 And after my skin has been thus destroyed,
yet in[g] my flesh I shall (CV)see God,
27 whom I shall see for myself,
and my eyes shall behold, and not (CW)another.
My heart (CX)faints within me!
28 If you say, ‘How we will (CY)pursue him!’
and, ‘The root of the matter is found in him,’[h]
29 be afraid of the sword,
for wrath brings the punishment of the sword,
that you may know there is (CZ)a judgment.”
Footnotes
- Job 16:7 Hebrew you have; also verse 8
- Job 16:21 Hebrew and
- Job 17:12 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain
- Job 17:16 Or Will they go down to the bars of Sheol? Is rest to be found together in the dust?
- Job 19:12 Hebrew their way
- Job 19:25 Hebrew dust
- Job 19:26 Or without
- Job 19:28 Many Hebrew manuscripts in me
Job 16-19
New International Version
Job 16-19
New International Version
Job
16 Then Job replied:
2 “I have heard many things like these;
you are miserable comforters,(A) all of you!(B)
3 Will your long-winded speeches never end?(C)
What ails you that you keep on arguing?(D)
4 I also could speak like you,
if you were in my place;
I could make fine speeches against you
and shake my head(E) at you.
5 But my mouth would encourage you;
comfort(F) from my lips would bring you relief.(G)
6 “Yet if I speak, my pain is not relieved;
and if I refrain, it does not go away.(H)
7 Surely, God, you have worn me out;(I)
you have devastated my entire household.(J)
8 You have shriveled me up—and it has become a witness;
my gauntness(K) rises up and testifies against me.(L)
9 God assails me and tears(M) me in his anger(N)
and gnashes his teeth at me;(O)
my opponent fastens on me his piercing eyes.(P)
10 People open their mouths(Q) to jeer at me;(R)
they strike my cheek(S) in scorn
and unite together against me.(T)
11 God has turned me over to the ungodly
and thrown me into the clutches of the wicked.(U)
12 All was well with me, but he shattered me;
he seized me by the neck and crushed me.(V)
He has made me his target;(W)
13 his archers surround me.(X)
Without pity, he pierces(Y) my kidneys
and spills my gall on the ground.
14 Again and again(Z) he bursts upon me;
he rushes at me like a warrior.(AA)
15 “I have sewed sackcloth(AB) over my skin
and buried my brow in the dust.(AC)
16 My face is red with weeping,(AD)
dark shadows ring my eyes;(AE)
17 yet my hands have been free of violence(AF)
and my prayer is pure.(AG)
18 “Earth, do not cover my blood;(AH)
may my cry(AI) never be laid to rest!(AJ)
19 Even now my witness(AK) is in heaven;(AL)
my advocate is on high.(AM)
20 My intercessor(AN) is my friend[a](AO)
as my eyes pour out(AP) tears(AQ) to God;
21 on behalf of a man he pleads(AR) with God
as one pleads for a friend.
22 “Only a few years will pass
before I take the path of no return.(AS)
17 1 My spirit(AT) is broken,
my days are cut short,(AU)
the grave awaits me.(AV)
2 Surely mockers(AW) surround me;(AX)
my eyes must dwell on their hostility.
3 “Give me, O God, the pledge you demand.(AY)
Who else will put up security(AZ) for me?(BA)
4 You have closed their minds to understanding;(BB)
therefore you will not let them triumph.
5 If anyone denounces their friends for reward,(BC)
the eyes of their children will fail.(BD)
6 “God has made me a byword(BE) to everyone,(BF)
a man in whose face people spit.(BG)
7 My eyes have grown dim with grief;(BH)
my whole frame is but a shadow.(BI)
8 The upright are appalled at this;
the innocent are aroused(BJ) against the ungodly.
9 Nevertheless, the righteous(BK) will hold to their ways,
and those with clean hands(BL) will grow stronger.(BM)
10 “But come on, all of you, try again!
I will not find a wise man among you.(BN)
11 My days have passed,(BO) my plans are shattered.
Yet the desires of my heart(BP)
12 turn night into day;(BQ)
in the face of the darkness light is near.(BR)
13 If the only home I hope for is the grave,(BS)
if I spread out my bed(BT) in the realm of darkness,(BU)
14 if I say to corruption,(BV) ‘You are my father,’
and to the worm,(BW) ‘My mother’ or ‘My sister,’
15 where then is my hope—(BX)
who can see any hope for me?(BY)
16 Will it go down to the gates of death?(BZ)
Will we descend together into the dust?”(CA)
Bildad
18 Then Bildad the Shuhite(CB) replied:
2 “When will you end these speeches?(CC)
Be sensible, and then we can talk.
3 Why are we regarded as cattle(CD)
and considered stupid in your sight?(CE)
4 You who tear yourself(CF) to pieces in your anger,(CG)
is the earth to be abandoned for your sake?
Or must the rocks be moved from their place?(CH)
5 “The lamp of a wicked man is snuffed out;(CI)
the flame of his fire stops burning.(CJ)
6 The light in his tent(CK) becomes dark;(CL)
the lamp beside him goes out.(CM)
7 The vigor(CN) of his step is weakened;(CO)
his own schemes(CP) throw him down.(CQ)
8 His feet thrust him into a net;(CR)
he wanders into its mesh.
9 A trap seizes him by the heel;
a snare(CS) holds him fast.(CT)
10 A noose(CU) is hidden for him on the ground;
a trap(CV) lies in his path.(CW)
11 Terrors(CX) startle him on every side(CY)
and dog(CZ) his every step.
12 Calamity(DA) is hungry(DB) for him;
disaster(DC) is ready for him when he falls.(DD)
13 It eats away parts of his skin;(DE)
death’s firstborn devours his limbs.(DF)
14 He is torn from the security of his tent(DG)
and marched off to the king(DH) of terrors.(DI)
15 Fire resides[b] in his tent;(DJ)
burning sulfur(DK) is scattered over his dwelling.
16 His roots dry up below(DL)
and his branches wither above.(DM)
17 The memory of him perishes from the earth;(DN)
he has no name(DO) in the land.(DP)
18 He is driven from light into the realm of darkness(DQ)
and is banished(DR) from the world.(DS)
19 He has no offspring(DT) or descendants(DU) among his people,
no survivor(DV) where once he lived.(DW)
20 People of the west are appalled(DX) at his fate;(DY)
those of the east are seized with horror.
21 Surely such is the dwelling(DZ) of an evil man;(EA)
such is the place(EB) of one who does not know God.”(EC)
Job
19 Then Job replied:
2 “How long will you torment(ED) me
and crush(EE) me with words?
3 Ten times(EF) now you have reproached(EG) me;
shamelessly you attack me.
4 If it is true that I have gone astray,
my error(EH) remains my concern alone.
5 If indeed you would exalt yourselves above me(EI)
and use my humiliation against me,
6 then know that God has wronged me(EJ)
and drawn his net(EK) around me.(EL)
7 “Though I cry, ‘Violence!’ I get no response;(EM)
though I call for help,(EN) there is no justice.(EO)
8 He has blocked my way so I cannot pass;(EP)
he has shrouded my paths in darkness.(EQ)
9 He has stripped(ER) me of my honor(ES)
and removed the crown from my head.(ET)
10 He tears me down(EU) on every side till I am gone;
he uproots my hope(EV) like a tree.(EW)
11 His anger(EX) burns against me;
he counts me among his enemies.(EY)
12 His troops advance in force;(EZ)
they build a siege ramp(FA) against me
and encamp around my tent.(FB)
13 “He has alienated my family(FC) from me;
my acquaintances are completely estranged from me.(FD)
14 My relatives have gone away;
my closest friends(FE) have forgotten me.
15 My guests(FF) and my female servants(FG) count me a foreigner;
they look on me as on a stranger.
16 I summon my servant, but he does not answer,
though I beg him with my own mouth.
17 My breath is offensive to my wife;
I am loathsome(FH) to my own family.
18 Even the little boys(FI) scorn me;
when I appear, they ridicule me.(FJ)
19 All my intimate friends(FK) detest me;(FL)
those I love have turned against me.(FM)
20 I am nothing but skin and bones;(FN)
I have escaped only by the skin of my teeth.[c]
21 “Have pity on me, my friends,(FO) have pity,
for the hand of God has struck(FP) me.
22 Why do you pursue(FQ) me as God does?(FR)
Will you never get enough of my flesh?(FS)
23 “Oh, that my words were recorded,
that they were written on a scroll,(FT)
24 that they were inscribed with an iron tool(FU) on[d] lead,
or engraved in rock forever!(FV)
25 I know that my redeemer[e](FW) lives,(FX)
and that in the end he will stand on the earth.[f]
26 And after my skin has been destroyed,
yet[g] in[h] my flesh I will see God;(FY)
27 I myself will see him
with my own eyes(FZ)—I, and not another.
How my heart yearns(GA) within me!
Footnotes
- Job 16:20 Or My friends treat me with scorn
- Job 18:15 Or Nothing he had remains
- Job 19:20 Or only by my gums
- Job 19:24 Or and
- Job 19:25 Or vindicator
- Job 19:25 Or on my grave
- Job 19:26 Or And after I awake, / though this body has been destroyed, / then
- Job 19:26 Or destroyed, / apart from
- Job 19:28 Many Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint and Vulgate; most Hebrew manuscripts me
- Job 19:29 Or sword, / that you may come to know the Almighty
Psalm 139
English Standard Version
Psalm 139
English Standard Version
Search Me, O God, and Know My Heart
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.
139 O Lord, you have (A)searched me and known me!
2 You (B)know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you (C)discern my thoughts from afar.
3 You search out my path and my lying down
and are acquainted with all my ways.
4 Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O Lord, (D)you know it altogether.
5 You (E)hem me in, behind and before,
and (F)lay your hand upon me.
6 (G)Such knowledge is (H)too wonderful for me;
it is high; I cannot attain it.
7 (I)Where shall I go from your Spirit?
Or where (J)shall I flee from your presence?
8 (K)If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
(L)If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
9 If I take the wings of the morning
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10 even there your hand shall (M)lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, (N)“Surely the darkness shall cover me,
and the light about me be night,”
12 (O)even the darkness is not dark to you;
the night is bright as the day,
for darkness is as light with you.
13 For you (P)formed my inward parts;
you (Q)knitted me together in my mother's womb.
14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.[a]
(R)Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.
15 (S)My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in (T)the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your (U)book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.
17 How precious to me are your (V)thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18 (W)If I would count them, they are more than (X)the sand.
I awake, and I am still with you.
19 Oh that you would (Y)slay the wicked, O God!
O (Z)men of blood, (AA)depart from me!
20 They (AB)speak against you with malicious intent;
your enemies (AC)take your name in vain.[b]
21 (AD)Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord?
And do I not (AE)loathe those who (AF)rise up against you?
22 I hate them with complete hatred;
I count them my enemies.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart!
(AG)Try me and know my thoughts![c]
24 And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and (AH)lead me in (AI)the way everlasting![d]
Footnotes
- Psalm 139:14 Or for I am fearfully set apart
- Psalm 139:20 Hebrew lacks your name
- Psalm 139:23 Or cares
- Psalm 139:24 Or in the ancient way (compare Jeremiah 6:16)
Psalm 139
New International Version
Psalm 139
New International Version
Psalm 139
For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.
1 You have searched me,(A) Lord,
and you know(B) me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise;(C)
you perceive my thoughts(D) from afar.
3 You discern my going out(E) and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.(F)
4 Before a word is on my tongue
you, Lord, know it completely.(G)
5 You hem me in(H) behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,(I)
too lofty(J) for me to attain.
7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee(K) from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens,(L) you are there;
if I make my bed(M) in the depths, you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me,(N)
your right hand(O) will hold me fast.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,”
12 even the darkness will not be dark(P) to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
13 For you created my inmost being;(Q)
you knit me together(R) in my mother’s womb.(S)
14 I praise you(T) because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,(U)
I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made(V) in the secret place,
when I was woven together(W) in the depths of the earth.(X)
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained(Y) for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
17 How precious to me are your thoughts,[a](Z) God!(AA)
How vast is the sum of them!
18 Were I to count them,(AB)
they would outnumber the grains of sand(AC)—
when I awake,(AD) I am still with you.
19 If only you, God, would slay the wicked!(AE)
Away from me,(AF) you who are bloodthirsty!(AG)
20 They speak of you with evil intent;
your adversaries(AH) misuse your name.(AI)
21 Do I not hate those(AJ) who hate you, Lord,
and abhor(AK) those who are in rebellion against you?
22 I have nothing but hatred for them;
I count them my enemies.(AL)
23 Search me,(AM) God, and know my heart;(AN)
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way(AO) in me,
and lead me(AP) in the way everlasting.
Footnotes
- Psalm 139:17 Or How amazing are your thoughts concerning me
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.