Job Continues: Where Then Is My Hope?

17 “My spirit is broken; my days are (A)extinct;
    (B)the graveyard is ready for me.
Surely there are mockers about me,
    and my eye dwells on their (C)provocation.

“Lay down a pledge for me with you;
    who is there who will put up (D)security for me?
Since you have closed their hearts to understanding,
    therefore you will not let them triumph.
He who informs against his friends to get a share of their property—
    the (E)eyes of his children will fail.

“He has made me (F)a byword of the peoples,
    and I am one before whom men spit.
My (G)eye has grown dim from vexation,
    and all my members are like (H)a shadow.
The upright are (I)appalled at this,
    and the innocent stirs himself up against the godless.
Yet the righteous holds to his way,
    and he who has (J)clean hands grows stronger and stronger.
10 But you, (K)come on again, all of you,
    and I shall not find a wise man among you.
11 My (L)days are past; my plans are broken off,
    the desires of my heart.
12 They (M)make night into day:
    ‘The light,’ they say, ‘is near to the darkness.’[a]
13 If I hope for (N)Sheol as (O)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 (P)Sheol?
    Shall we (Q)descend together (R)into the dust?”[b]

Bildad Speaks: God Punishes the Wicked

18 Then (S)Bildad the Shuhite answered and said:

“How long will you (T)hunt for words?
    Consider, and then we will speak.
Why are we counted as (U)cattle?
    Why are we stupid in your sight?
You who (V)tear yourself in your anger,
    shall the earth be forsaken for you,
    or (W)the rock be removed out of its place?

“Indeed, (X)the light of the wicked is put out,
    and the flame of his fire does not shine.
The light is (Y)dark in his tent,
    and his lamp above him is put out.
His strong steps are shortened,
    and his (Z)own schemes throw him down.
For he is cast into a net by his own feet,
    and he walks on its mesh.
(AA)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 (AB)Terrors frighten him on every side,
    and chase him at his heels.
12 His strength is famished,
    and calamity is (AC)ready for his stumbling.
13 It consumes the parts of his skin;
    (AD)the firstborn of death consumes his limbs.
14 He is torn from the tent in which he trusted
    and is brought to (AE)the king of terrors.
15 In his tent dwells that which is none of his;
    (AF)sulfur is scattered over his habitation.
16 His (AG)roots dry up beneath,
    and his branches (AH)wither above.
17 His (AI)memory perishes from the earth,
    and he has no name in the street.
18 (AJ)He is thrust from light into darkness,
    and driven out of the world.
19 He has no (AK)posterity or progeny among his people,
    and no survivor where he used to live.
20 They of the west are appalled at his (AL)day,
    and (AM)horror seizes them of the east.
21 Surely such are the dwellings of the unrighteous,
    such is the place of him who (AN)knows not God.”

Job Replies: My Redeemer Lives

19 Then Job answered and said:

“How long will you torment me
    and break me in pieces with words?
These (AO)ten times you have cast reproach upon me;
    are you not ashamed to wrong me?
And even if it be true that I have erred,
    my error remains with myself.
If indeed you (AP)magnify yourselves against me
    and make my disgrace an argument against me,
know then that God has (AQ)put me in the wrong
    and closed his net about me.
Behold, I (AR)cry out, ‘Violence!’ but I am not answered;
    I call for help, but there is no justice.
He has (AS)walled up my way, so that I cannot pass,
    and he has set darkness upon my paths.
He has (AT)stripped from me my glory
    and taken the (AU)crown from my head.
10 He breaks me down on every side, and I (AV)am gone,
    and my hope has he pulled up like a tree.
11 He has kindled his wrath against me
    and (AW)counts me as his adversary.
12 His (AX)troops come on together;
    they have (AY)cast up their siege ramp[c] against me
    and encamp around my tent.

13 “He has put my (AZ)brothers far from me,
    and (BA)those who knew me are wholly estranged from me.
14 My relatives (BB)have failed me,
    my close (BC)friends have forgotten me.
15 The guests (BD)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 (BE)wife,
    and I am a stench to the children of (BF)my own mother.
18 Even young (BG)children despise me;
    when I rise they talk against me.
19 All my (BH)intimate friends abhor me,
    and those whom I loved have turned against me.
20 My (BI)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 (BJ)touched me!
22 Why do you, like God, (BK)pursue me?
    Why are you not satisfied with my flesh?

23 “Oh that my words were written!
    Oh that they were (BL)inscribed in a book!
24 Oh that with an iron (BM)pen and lead
    they were engraved in the rock forever!
25 For I (BN)know that my (BO)Redeemer lives,
    and at the last he will stand upon the (BP)earth.[d]
26 And after my skin has been thus destroyed,
    yet in[e] my flesh I shall (BQ)see God,
27 whom I shall see for myself,
    and my eyes shall behold, and not (BR)another.
    My heart (BS)faints within me!
28 If you say, ‘How we will (BT)pursue him!’
    and, ‘The root of the matter is found in him,’[f]
29 be afraid of the sword,
    for wrath brings the punishment of the sword,
    that you may know there is (BU)a judgment.”

Footnotes

  1. Job 17:12 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain
  2. Job 17:16 Or Will they go down to the bars of Sheol? Is rest to be found together in the dust?
  3. Job 19:12 Hebrew their way
  4. Job 19:25 Hebrew dust
  5. Job 19:26 Or without
  6. Job 19:28 Many Hebrew manuscripts in me

17 My spirit(A) is broken,
    my days are cut short,(B)
    the grave awaits me.(C)
Surely mockers(D) surround me;(E)
    my eyes must dwell on their hostility.

“Give me, O God, the pledge you demand.(F)
    Who else will put up security(G) for me?(H)
You have closed their minds to understanding;(I)
    therefore you will not let them triumph.
If anyone denounces their friends for reward,(J)
    the eyes of their children will fail.(K)

“God has made me a byword(L) to everyone,(M)
    a man in whose face people spit.(N)
My eyes have grown dim with grief;(O)
    my whole frame is but a shadow.(P)
The upright are appalled at this;
    the innocent are aroused(Q) against the ungodly.
Nevertheless, the righteous(R) will hold to their ways,
    and those with clean hands(S) will grow stronger.(T)

10 “But come on, all of you, try again!
    I will not find a wise man among you.(U)
11 My days have passed,(V) my plans are shattered.
    Yet the desires of my heart(W)
12 turn night into day;(X)
    in the face of the darkness light is near.(Y)
13 If the only home I hope for is the grave,(Z)
    if I spread out my bed(AA) in the realm of darkness,(AB)
14 if I say to corruption,(AC) ‘You are my father,’
    and to the worm,(AD) ‘My mother’ or ‘My sister,’
15 where then is my hope—(AE)
    who can see any hope for me?(AF)
16 Will it go down to the gates of death?(AG)
    Will we descend together into the dust?”(AH)

Bildad

18 Then Bildad the Shuhite(AI) replied:

“When will you end these speeches?(AJ)
    Be sensible, and then we can talk.
Why are we regarded as cattle(AK)
    and considered stupid in your sight?(AL)
You who tear yourself(AM) to pieces in your anger,(AN)
    is the earth to be abandoned for your sake?
    Or must the rocks be moved from their place?(AO)

“The lamp of a wicked man is snuffed out;(AP)
    the flame of his fire stops burning.(AQ)
The light in his tent(AR) becomes dark;(AS)
    the lamp beside him goes out.(AT)
The vigor(AU) of his step is weakened;(AV)
    his own schemes(AW) throw him down.(AX)
His feet thrust him into a net;(AY)
    he wanders into its mesh.
A trap seizes him by the heel;
    a snare(AZ) holds him fast.(BA)
10 A noose(BB) is hidden for him on the ground;
    a trap(BC) lies in his path.(BD)
11 Terrors(BE) startle him on every side(BF)
    and dog(BG) his every step.
12 Calamity(BH) is hungry(BI) for him;
    disaster(BJ) is ready for him when he falls.(BK)
13 It eats away parts of his skin;(BL)
    death’s firstborn devours his limbs.(BM)
14 He is torn from the security of his tent(BN)
    and marched off to the king(BO) of terrors.(BP)
15 Fire resides[a] in his tent;(BQ)
    burning sulfur(BR) is scattered over his dwelling.
16 His roots dry up below(BS)
    and his branches wither above.(BT)
17 The memory of him perishes from the earth;(BU)
    he has no name(BV) in the land.(BW)
18 He is driven from light into the realm of darkness(BX)
    and is banished(BY) from the world.(BZ)
19 He has no offspring(CA) or descendants(CB) among his people,
    no survivor(CC) where once he lived.(CD)
20 People of the west are appalled(CE) at his fate;(CF)
    those of the east are seized with horror.
21 Surely such is the dwelling(CG) of an evil man;(CH)
    such is the place(CI) of one who does not know God.”(CJ)

Job

19 Then Job replied:

“How long will you torment(CK) me
    and crush(CL) me with words?
Ten times(CM) now you have reproached(CN) me;
    shamelessly you attack me.
If it is true that I have gone astray,
    my error(CO) remains my concern alone.
If indeed you would exalt yourselves above me(CP)
    and use my humiliation against me,
then know that God has wronged me(CQ)
    and drawn his net(CR) around me.(CS)

“Though I cry, ‘Violence!’ I get no response;(CT)
    though I call for help,(CU) there is no justice.(CV)
He has blocked my way so I cannot pass;(CW)
    he has shrouded my paths in darkness.(CX)
He has stripped(CY) me of my honor(CZ)
    and removed the crown from my head.(DA)
10 He tears me down(DB) on every side till I am gone;
    he uproots my hope(DC) like a tree.(DD)
11 His anger(DE) burns against me;
    he counts me among his enemies.(DF)
12 His troops advance in force;(DG)
    they build a siege ramp(DH) against me
    and encamp around my tent.(DI)

13 “He has alienated my family(DJ) from me;
    my acquaintances are completely estranged from me.(DK)
14 My relatives have gone away;
    my closest friends(DL) have forgotten me.
15 My guests(DM) and my female servants(DN) 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(DO) to my own family.
18 Even the little boys(DP) scorn me;
    when I appear, they ridicule me.(DQ)
19 All my intimate friends(DR) detest me;(DS)
    those I love have turned against me.(DT)
20 I am nothing but skin and bones;(DU)
    I have escaped only by the skin of my teeth.[b]

21 “Have pity on me, my friends,(DV) have pity,
    for the hand of God has struck(DW) me.
22 Why do you pursue(DX) me as God does?(DY)
    Will you never get enough of my flesh?(DZ)

23 “Oh, that my words were recorded,
    that they were written on a scroll,(EA)
24 that they were inscribed with an iron tool(EB) on[c] lead,
    or engraved in rock forever!(EC)
25 I know that my redeemer[d](ED) lives,(EE)
    and that in the end he will stand on the earth.[e]
26 And after my skin has been destroyed,
    yet[f] in[g] my flesh I will see God;(EF)
27 I myself will see him
    with my own eyes(EG)—I, and not another.
    How my heart yearns(EH) within me!

28 “If you say, ‘How we will hound(EI) him,
    since the root of the trouble lies in him,[h]
29 you should fear the sword yourselves;
    for wrath will bring punishment by the sword,(EJ)
    and then you will know that there is judgment.[i](EK)

Footnotes

  1. Job 18:15 Or Nothing he had remains
  2. Job 19:20 Or only by my gums
  3. Job 19:24 Or and
  4. Job 19:25 Or vindicator
  5. Job 19:25 Or on my grave
  6. Job 19:26 Or And after I awake, / though this body has been destroyed, / then
  7. Job 19:26 Or destroyed, / apart from
  8. Job 19:28 Many Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint and Vulgate; most Hebrew manuscripts me
  9. Job 19:29 Or sword, / that you may come to know the Almighty

Jesus Before Pilate

23 (A)Then the whole company of them arose and brought him before Pilate. And they began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man (B)misleading our nation and (C)forbidding us to give tribute to (D)Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, (E)a king.” (F)And Pilate asked him, (G)“Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, (H)“You have said so.” Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, (I)“I find no guilt in this man.” But they were urgent, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, (J)from Galilee even to this place.”

Jesus Before Herod

When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. And when he learned that he belonged to (K)Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him over to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, (L)for he had long desired to see him, (M)because he had heard about him, and he was hoping (N)to see some sign done by him. So he questioned him at some length, but he made no answer. 10 The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. 11 And Herod with his soldiers (O)treated him with contempt and (P)mocked him. Then, (Q)arraying him in splendid clothing, he sent him back to Pilate. 12 And (R)Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other.

13 Pilate then called together the chief priests and (S)the rulers and the people, 14 and said to them, “You brought me this man (T)as one who was misleading the people. And (U)after examining him before you, behold, I (V)did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him. 15 Neither did Herod, for (W)he sent him back to us. Look, nothing deserving death has been done by him. 16 (X)I will therefore punish and release him.”[a]

Pilate Delivers Jesus to Be Crucified

18 (Y)But they all cried out together, (Z)“Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas”— 19 a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city and (AA)for murder. 20 Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus, 21 but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” 22 A third time he said to them, “Why? (AB)What evil has he done? (AC)I have found in him no guilt deserving death. (AD)I will therefore punish and release him.” 23 But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed. 24 So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. 25 He released the man who had been thrown into prison (AE)for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, (AF)but he delivered Jesus over to their will.

The Crucifixion

26 (AG)And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus. 27 And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were (AH)mourning and lamenting for him. 28 But turning to them Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For behold, (AI)the days are coming when they will say, (AJ)‘Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ 30 (AK)Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ 31 For (AL)if they do these things when (AM)the wood is green, what will happen (AN)when it is dry?”

32 (AO)Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. 33 (AP)And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, (AQ)one on his right and one on his left. 34 And Jesus said, “Father, (AR)forgive them, (AS)for they know not what they do.”[b] And they cast lots (AT)to divide his garments. 35 And (AU)the people stood by, watching, (AV)but (AW)the rulers (AX)scoffed at him, saying, (AY)“He saved others; (AZ)let him save himself, (BA)if he is (BB)the Christ of God, (BC)his Chosen One!” 36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and (BD)offering him sour wine 37 and saying, (BE)“If you are (BF)the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 (BG)There was also an inscription over him,[c] “This is (BH)the King of the Jews.”

39 (BI)One of the criminals who were hanged (BJ)railed at him,[d] saying, “Are you not (BK)the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me (BL)when you come into your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in (BM)paradise.”

The Death of Jesus

44 (BN)It was now about the sixth hour,[e] and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour,[f] 45 while the sun's light failed. And (BO)the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Then Jesus, (BP)calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, (BQ)into your hands I (BR)commit my spirit!” And having said this (BS)he breathed his last. 47 Now (BT)when the centurion saw what had taken place, (BU)he praised God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent!” 48 And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home (BV)beating their breasts. 49 And all (BW)his acquaintances and (BX)the women who had followed him from Galilee (BY)stood at a distance watching these things.

Jesus Is Buried

50 (BZ)Now there was a man named Joseph, from the Jewish town of Arimathea. He was a member of the council, a good and righteous man, 51 who had not consented to their decision and action; and he (CA)was looking for the kingdom of God. 52 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53 Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud and (CB)laid him in a tomb cut in stone, (CC)where no one had ever yet been laid. 54 It was the day of (CD)Preparation, and the Sabbath was beginning.[g] 55 (CE)The women (CF)who had come with him from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how his body was laid. 56 Then they returned and (CG)prepared spices and ointments.

On the Sabbath they rested (CH)according to the commandment.

Footnotes

  1. Luke 23:16 Here, or after verse 19, some manuscripts add verse 17: Now he was obliged to release one man to them at the festival
  2. Luke 23:34 Some manuscripts omit the sentence And Jesus… what they do
  3. Luke 23:38 Some manuscripts add in letters of Greek and Latin and Hebrew
  4. Luke 23:39 Or blasphemed him
  5. Luke 23:44 That is, noon
  6. Luke 23:44 That is, 3 p.m.
  7. Luke 23:54 Greek was dawning

23 Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate.(A) And they began to accuse him, saying, “We have found this man subverting our nation.(B) He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar(C) and claims to be Messiah, a king.”(D)

So Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

“You have said so,” Jesus replied.

Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.”(E)

But they insisted, “He stirs up the people all over Judea by his teaching. He started in Galilee(F) and has come all the way here.”

On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean.(G) When he learned that Jesus was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod,(H) who was also in Jerusalem at that time.

When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him.(I) From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform a sign of some sort. He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer.(J) 10 The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him. 11 Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe,(K) they sent him back to Pilate. 12 That day Herod and Pilate became friends(L)—before this they had been enemies.

13 Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, 14 and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him.(M) 15 Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. 16 Therefore, I will punish him(N) and then release him.” [17] [a]

18 But the whole crowd shouted, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!”(O) 19 (Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.)

20 Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. 21 But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”

22 For the third time he spoke to them: “Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him.”(P)

23 But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. 24 So Pilate decided to grant their demand. 25 He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.

The Crucifixion of Jesus(Q)

26 As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene,(R) who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.(S) 27 A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed(T) for him. 28 Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children.(U) 29 For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’(V) 30 Then

“‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!”
    and to the hills, “Cover us!”’[b](W)

31 For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”(X)

32 Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed.(Y) 33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father,(Z) forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”[c](AA) And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.(AB)

35 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him.(AC) They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”(AD)

36 The soldiers also came up and mocked him.(AE) They offered him wine vinegar(AF) 37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews,(AG) save yourself.”

38 There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews.(AH)

39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”(AI)

40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”(AJ)

42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.[d](AK)

43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”(AL)

The Death of Jesus(AM)

44 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon,(AN) 45 for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple(AO) was torn in two.(AP) 46 Jesus called out with a loud voice,(AQ) “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”[e](AR) When he had said this, he breathed his last.(AS)

47 The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God(AT) and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” 48 When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts(AU) and went away. 49 But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee,(AV) stood at a distance,(AW) watching these things.

The Burial of Jesus(AX)

50 Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, 51 who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea, and he himself was waiting for the kingdom of God.(AY) 52 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body. 53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. 54 It was Preparation Day,(AZ) and the Sabbath was about to begin.

55 The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee(BA) followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. 56 Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes.(BB) But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.(BC)

Footnotes

  1. Luke 23:17 Some manuscripts include here words similar to Matt. 27:15 and Mark 15:6.
  2. Luke 23:30 Hosea 10:8
  3. Luke 23:34 Some early manuscripts do not have this sentence.
  4. Luke 23:42 Some manuscripts come with your kingly power
  5. Luke 23:46 Psalm 31:5