Job 5
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Job Is Corrected by God
5 “Call now; is there anyone who will answer you?
To which of the holy ones will you turn?(A)
2 Surely vexation kills the fool,
and jealousy slays the simple.(B)
3 I have seen fools taking root,
but suddenly I cursed their dwelling.(C)
4 Their children are far from safety,
they are crushed in the gate,
and there is no one to deliver them.(D)
5 The hungry eat their harvest,
and they take it even out of the thorns,[a]
and the thirsty[b] pant after their wealth.(E)
6 For misery does not come from the earth,
nor does trouble sprout from the ground,
7 but humans are born to trouble
just as sparks[c] fly upward.(F)
8 “As for me, I would seek God,
and to God I would commit my cause.(G)
9 He does great things and unsearchable,
marvelous things without number.(H)
10 He gives rain on the earth
and sends waters on the fields;(I)
11 he sets on high those who are lowly,
and those who mourn are lifted to safety.(J)
12 He frustrates the devices of the crafty,
so that their hands achieve no success.(K)
13 He takes the wise in their own craftiness,
and the schemes of the wily are brought to a quick end.
14 They meet with darkness in the daytime
and grope at noonday as in the night.(L)
15 But he saves the needy from the sword of their mouth,
from the hand of the mighty.(M)
16 So the poor have hope,
and injustice shuts its mouth.(N)
17 “How happy is the one whom God reproves;
therefore do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.[d](O)
18 For he wounds, but he binds up;
he strikes, but his hands heal.(P)
19 He will deliver you from six troubles;
in seven no harm shall touch you.(Q)
20 In famine he will redeem you from death
and in war from the power of the sword.(R)
21 You shall be hidden from the scourge of the tongue
and shall not fear destruction when it comes.(S)
22 At destruction and famine you shall laugh
and shall not fear the wild animals of the earth.(T)
23 For you shall be in league with the stones of the field,
and the wild animals shall be at peace with you.(U)
24 You shall know that your tent is safe;
you shall inspect your fold and miss nothing.(V)
25 You shall know that your descendants will be many
and your offspring like the grass of the earth.(W)
26 You shall come to your grave in ripe old age,
as a shock of grain comes up to the threshing floor in its season.(X)
27 See, we have searched this out; it is true.
Hear, and know it for yourself.”
Job 5
Common English Bible
Life’s problems
5 Call out. Will anyone answer you?
To which holy one will you turn?
2 Surely anger can kill the foolish;
fury can kill the simple.
3 I’ve seen the foolish take root
and promptly curse their house.
4 Their children are far[a] from safety,
crushed in the gate without a deliverer.
5 The hungry devour[b] their crops;
it’s taken even from the thorns,[c]
and the thirsty pant after their yield.
6 Surely trouble doesn’t come from dust,
nor does distress sprout from the ground.
7 Surely humans are born to distress,
just as sparks rise up.
The answer is God
8 But I would seek God,
put my case to God,
9 who does great things beyond comprehension,
wonderful things without number;
10 who provides rain over the earth’s surface,
sends water to the open country,
11 exalts the lowly,
raises mourners to victory;
12 who frustrates the schemes of the clever
so that their hands achieve no success,
13 trapping the wise in their cleverness
so that the plans of the devious don’t succeed.
14 They encounter darkness during the day,
and at noon they fumble about as at night.
15 Yet he rescues the orphan[d] from the sword of their mouth,
the needy from the grip of the strong;
16 so the poor have hope
and violence shuts its mouth.
Divine favor
17 Look, happy is the person whom God corrects;
so don’t reject the Almighty’s instruction.
18 He injures, but he binds up;
he strikes, but his hands heal.
19 From six adversities he will deliver you;
from seven harm won’t touch you.
20 In famine he will ransom you from death;
in war, from the power of the sword.
21 You will be hidden from the tongue’s sting,
and you won’t fear destruction when it comes.
22 You will laugh at destruction and hunger;
you won’t be afraid of wild beasts;
23 for you will make an agreement with the stones of the field;
and the beasts of the field will be at peace with you.
24 You will know that your tent is secure.
You will examine your home and miss nothing.
25 You will know that you’ll have many children.
Your offspring will be like the grass of the earth.
26 You will come to your grave in old age
as bundles of grain stacked up at harvesttime.
27 Look, we’ve searched this out, and so it is;
listen and find out for yourself.
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible