Job: My Complaint Is Just

Then Job answered and said:

“Oh, that my grief were fully weighed,
And my calamity laid with it on the scales!
For then it would be heavier than the sand of the sea—
Therefore my words have been rash.
(A)For the arrows of the Almighty are within me;
My spirit drinks in their poison;
(B)The terrors of God are arrayed (C)against me.
Does the (D)wild donkey bray when it has grass,
Or does the ox low over its fodder?
Can flavorless food be eaten without salt?
Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?
My soul refuses to touch them;
They are as loathsome food to me.

“Oh, that I might have my request,
That God would grant me the thing that I long for!
That it would please God to crush me,
That He would loose His hand and (E)cut me off!
10 Then I would still have comfort;
Though in anguish I would exult,
He will not spare;
For (F)I have not concealed the words of (G)the Holy One.

11 “What strength do I have, that I should hope?
And what is my end, that I should prolong my life?
12 Is my strength the strength of stones?
Or is my flesh bronze?
13 Is my help not within me?
And is success driven from me?

14 “To(H) him who is [a]afflicted, kindness should be shown by his friend,
Even though he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
15 (I)My brothers have dealt deceitfully like a brook,
(J)Like the streams of the brooks that pass away,
16 Which are dark because of the ice,
And into which the snow vanishes.
17 When it is warm, they cease to flow;
When it is hot, they vanish from their place.
18 The paths of their way turn aside,
They go nowhere and perish.
19 The caravans of (K)Tema look,
The travelers of (L)Sheba hope for them.
20 They are (M)disappointed[b] because they were confident;
They come there and are confused.
21 For now (N)you are nothing,
You see terror and (O)are afraid.
22 Did I ever say, ‘Bring something to me’?
Or, ‘Offer a bribe for me from your wealth’?
23 Or, ‘Deliver me from the enemy’s hand’?
Or, ‘Redeem me from the hand of oppressors’?

24 “Teach me, and I will hold my tongue;
Cause me to understand wherein I have erred.
25 How forceful are right words!
But what does your arguing prove?
26 Do you intend to rebuke my words,
And the speeches of a desperate one, which are as wind?
27 Yes, you overwhelm the fatherless,
And you (P)undermine your friend.
28 Now therefore, be pleased to look at me;
For I would never lie to your face.
29 (Q)Yield now, let there be no injustice!
Yes, concede, my (R)righteousness [c]still stands!
30 Is there injustice on my tongue?
Cannot my [d]taste discern the unsavory?

Job: My Suffering Is Comfortless

Is there not (S)a time of hard service for man on earth?
Are not his days also like the days of a hired man?
Like a servant who [e]earnestly desires the shade,
And like a hired man who eagerly looks for his wages,
So I have been allotted (T)months of futility,
And wearisome nights have been appointed to me.
(U)When I lie down, I say, ‘When shall I arise,
And the night be ended?’
For I have had my fill of tossing till dawn.
My flesh is (V)caked with worms and dust,
My skin is cracked and breaks out afresh.

“My(W) days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle,
And are spent without hope.
Oh, remember that (X)my life is a breath!
My eye will never again see good.
(Y)The eye of him who sees me will see me no more;
While your eyes are upon me, I shall no longer be.
As the cloud disappears and vanishes away,
So (Z)he who goes down to the grave does not come up.
10 He shall never return to his house,
(AA)Nor shall his place know him anymore.

11 “Therefore I will (AB)not restrain my mouth;
I will speak in the anguish of my spirit;
I will (AC)complain in the bitterness of my soul.
12 Am I a sea, or a sea serpent,
That You set a guard over me?
13 (AD)When I say, ‘My bed will comfort me,
My couch will ease my complaint,’
14 Then You scare me with dreams
And terrify me with visions,
15 So that my soul chooses strangling
And death rather than [f]my body.
16 (AE)I loathe my life;
I would not live forever.
(AF)Let me alone,
For (AG)my days are but [g]a breath.

17 “What(AH) is man, that You should exalt him,
That You should set Your heart on him,
18 That You should [h]visit him every morning,
And test him every moment?
19 How long?
Will You not look away from me,
And let me alone till I swallow my saliva?
20 Have I sinned?
What have I done to You, (AI)O watcher of men?
Why (AJ)have You set me as Your target,
So that I am a burden [i]to myself?
21 Why then do You not pardon my transgression,
And take away my iniquity?
For now I will lie down in the dust,
And You will seek me diligently,
But I will no longer be.

Bildad: Job Should Repent

Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said:

“How long will you speak these things,
And the words of your mouth be like a strong wind?
(AK)Does God subvert judgment?
Or does the Almighty pervert justice?
If (AL)your sons have sinned against Him,
He has cast them away [j]for their transgression.
(AM)If you would earnestly seek God
And make your supplication to the Almighty,
If you were pure and upright,
Surely now He would [k]awake for you,
And prosper your rightful dwelling place.
Though your beginning was small,
Yet your latter end would (AN)increase abundantly.

“For(AO) inquire, please, of the former age,
And consider the things discovered by their fathers;
For (AP)we were born yesterday, and know [l]nothing,
Because our days on earth are a shadow.
10 Will they not teach you and tell you,
And utter words from their heart?

11 “Can the papyrus grow up without a marsh?
Can the reeds flourish without water?
12 (AQ)While it is yet green and not cut down,
It withers before any other plant.
13 So are the paths of all who (AR)forget God;
And the hope of the (AS)hypocrite shall perish,
14 Whose confidence shall be cut off,
And whose trust is [m]a spider’s web.
15 (AT)He leans on his house, but it does not stand.
He holds it fast, but it does not endure.
16 He grows green in the sun,
And his branches spread out in his garden.
17 His roots wrap around the rock heap,
And look for a place in the stones.
18 (AU)If he is destroyed from his place,
Then it will deny him, saying, ‘I have not seen you.’

19 “Behold, this is the joy of His way,
And (AV)out of the earth others will grow.
20 Behold, (AW)God will not [n]cast away the blameless,
Nor will He uphold the evildoers.
21 He will yet fill your mouth with laughing,
And your lips with [o]rejoicing.
22 Those who hate you will be (AX)clothed with shame,
And the dwelling place of the wicked [p]will come to nothing.”

Footnotes

  1. Job 6:14 Or despairing
  2. Job 6:20 Lit. ashamed
  3. Job 6:29 Lit. is in it
  4. Job 6:30 palate
  5. Job 7:2 Lit. pants for
  6. Job 7:15 Lit. my bones
  7. Job 7:16 Without substance, futile
  8. Job 7:18 attend to
  9. Job 7:20 So with MT, Tg., Vg.; LXX, Jewish tradition to You
  10. Job 8:4 Lit. into the hand of their transgression
  11. Job 8:6 arise
  12. Job 8:9 Lit. not
  13. Job 8:14 Lit. a spider’s house
  14. Job 8:20 reject
  15. Job 8:21 Lit. shouts of joy
  16. Job 8:22 Lit. will not be

Job

Then Job replied:

“If only my anguish could be weighed
    and all my misery be placed on the scales!(A)
It would surely outweigh the sand(B) of the seas—
    no wonder my words have been impetuous.(C)
The arrows(D) of the Almighty(E) are in me,(F)
    my spirit drinks(G) in their poison;(H)
    God’s terrors(I) are marshaled against me.(J)
Does a wild donkey(K) bray(L) when it has grass,
    or an ox bellow when it has fodder?(M)
Is tasteless food eaten without salt,
    or is there flavor in the sap of the mallow[a]?(N)
I refuse to touch it;
    such food makes me ill.(O)

“Oh, that I might have my request,
    that God would grant what I hope for,(P)
that God would be willing to crush(Q) me,
    to let loose his hand and cut off my life!(R)
10 Then I would still have this consolation(S)
    my joy in unrelenting pain(T)
    that I had not denied the words(U) of the Holy One.(V)

11 “What strength do I have, that I should still hope?
    What prospects, that I should be patient?(W)
12 Do I have the strength of stone?
    Is my flesh bronze?(X)
13 Do I have any power to help myself,(Y)
    now that success has been driven from me?

14 “Anyone who withholds kindness from a friend(Z)
    forsakes the fear of the Almighty.(AA)
15 But my brothers are as undependable as intermittent streams,(AB)
    as the streams that overflow
16 when darkened by thawing ice
    and swollen with melting snow,(AC)
17 but that stop flowing in the dry season,
    and in the heat(AD) vanish from their channels.
18 Caravans turn aside from their routes;
    they go off into the wasteland and perish.
19 The caravans of Tema(AE) look for water,
    the traveling merchants of Sheba(AF) look in hope.
20 They are distressed, because they had been confident;
    they arrive there, only to be disappointed.(AG)
21 Now you too have proved to be of no help;
    you see something dreadful and are afraid.(AH)
22 Have I ever said, ‘Give something on my behalf,
    pay a ransom(AI) for me from your wealth,(AJ)
23 deliver me from the hand of the enemy,
    rescue me from the clutches of the ruthless’?(AK)

24 “Teach me, and I will be quiet;(AL)
    show me where I have been wrong.(AM)
25 How painful are honest words!(AN)
    But what do your arguments prove?
26 Do you mean to correct what I say,
    and treat my desperate words as wind?(AO)
27 You would even cast lots(AP) for the fatherless(AQ)
    and barter away your friend.

28 “But now be so kind as to look at me.
    Would I lie to your face?(AR)
29 Relent, do not be unjust;(AS)
    reconsider, for my integrity(AT) is at stake.[b](AU)
30 Is there any wickedness on my lips?(AV)
    Can my mouth not discern(AW) malice?

“Do not mortals have hard service(AX) on earth?(AY)
    Are not their days like those of hired laborers?(AZ)
Like a slave longing for the evening shadows,(BA)
    or a hired laborer waiting to be paid,(BB)
so I have been allotted months of futility,
    and nights of misery have been assigned to me.(BC)
When I lie down I think, ‘How long before I get up?’(BD)
    The night drags on, and I toss and turn until dawn.(BE)
My body is clothed with worms(BF) and scabs,
    my skin is broken and festering.(BG)

“My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle,(BH)
    and they come to an end without hope.(BI)
Remember, O God, that my life is but a breath;(BJ)
    my eyes will never see happiness again.(BK)
The eye that now sees me will see me no longer;
    you will look for me, but I will be no more.(BL)
As a cloud vanishes(BM) and is gone,
    so one who goes down to the grave(BN) does not return.(BO)
10 He will never come to his house again;
    his place(BP) will know him no more.(BQ)

11 “Therefore I will not keep silent;(BR)
    I will speak out in the anguish(BS) of my spirit,
    I will complain(BT) in the bitterness of my soul.(BU)
12 Am I the sea,(BV) or the monster of the deep,(BW)
    that you put me under guard?(BX)
13 When I think my bed will comfort me
    and my couch will ease my complaint,(BY)
14 even then you frighten me with dreams
    and terrify(BZ) me with visions,(CA)
15 so that I prefer strangling and death,(CB)
    rather than this body of mine.(CC)
16 I despise my life;(CD) I would not live forever.(CE)
    Let me alone;(CF) my days have no meaning.(CG)

17 “What is mankind that you make so much of them,
    that you give them so much attention,(CH)
18 that you examine them every morning(CI)
    and test them(CJ) every moment?(CK)
19 Will you never look away from me,(CL)
    or let me alone even for an instant?(CM)
20 If I have sinned, what have I done to you,(CN)
    you who see everything we do?
Why have you made me your target?(CO)
    Have I become a burden to you?[c](CP)
21 Why do you not pardon my offenses
    and forgive my sins?(CQ)
For I will soon lie down in the dust;(CR)
    you will search for me, but I will be no more.”(CS)

Bildad

Then Bildad the Shuhite(CT) replied:

“How long will you say such things?(CU)
    Your words are a blustering wind.(CV)
Does God pervert justice?(CW)
    Does the Almighty pervert what is right?(CX)
When your children sinned against him,
    he gave them over to the penalty of their sin.(CY)
But if you will seek God earnestly
    and plead(CZ) with the Almighty,(DA)
if you are pure and upright,
    even now he will rouse himself on your behalf(DB)
    and restore you to your prosperous state.(DC)
Your beginnings will seem humble,
    so prosperous(DD) will your future be.(DE)

“Ask the former generation(DF)
    and find out what their ancestors learned,
for we were born only yesterday and know nothing,(DG)
    and our days on earth are but a shadow.(DH)
10 Will they not instruct(DI) you and tell you?
    Will they not bring forth words from their understanding?(DJ)
11 Can papyrus grow tall where there is no marsh?(DK)
    Can reeds(DL) thrive without water?
12 While still growing and uncut,
    they wither more quickly than grass.(DM)
13 Such is the destiny(DN) of all who forget God;(DO)
    so perishes the hope of the godless.(DP)
14 What they trust in is fragile[d];
    what they rely on is a spider’s web.(DQ)
15 They lean on the web,(DR) but it gives way;
    they cling to it, but it does not hold.(DS)
16 They are like a well-watered plant in the sunshine,
    spreading its shoots(DT) over the garden;(DU)
17 it entwines its roots around a pile of rocks
    and looks for a place among the stones.
18 But when it is torn from its spot,
    that place disowns(DV) it and says, ‘I never saw you.’(DW)
19 Surely its life withers(DX) away,
    and[e] from the soil other plants grow.(DY)

20 “Surely God does not reject one who is blameless(DZ)
    or strengthen the hands of evildoers.(EA)
21 He will yet fill your mouth with laughter(EB)
    and your lips with shouts of joy.(EC)
22 Your enemies will be clothed in shame,(ED)
    and the tents(EE) of the wicked will be no more.”(EF)

Footnotes

  1. Job 6:6 The meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.
  2. Job 6:29 Or my righteousness still stands
  3. Job 7:20 A few manuscripts of the Masoretic Text, an ancient Hebrew scribal tradition and Septuagint; most manuscripts of the Masoretic Text I have become a burden to myself.
  4. Job 8:14 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
  5. Job 8:19 Or Surely all the joy it has / is that

What Was Heard, Seen, and Touched(A)

That (B)which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have (C)seen with our eyes, (D)which we have looked upon, and (E)our hands have handled, concerning the (F)Word of life— (G)the life (H)was manifested, and we have seen, (I)and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was (J)with the Father and was manifested to us— that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is (K)with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you (L)that [a]your joy may be full.

Fellowship with Him and One Another

(M)This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that (N)God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. (O)If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we (P)walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and (Q)the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we (R)confess our sins, He is (S)faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to (T)cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we (U)make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

Footnotes

  1. 1 John 1:4 NU, M our

The Incarnation of the Word of Life

That which was from the beginning,(A) which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes,(B) which we have looked at and our hands have touched(C)—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared;(D) we have seen it and testify to it,(E) and we proclaim to you the eternal life,(F) which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard,(G) so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.(H) We write this(I) to make our[a] joy complete.(J)

Light and Darkness, Sin and Forgiveness

This is the message we have heard(K) from him and declare to you: God is light;(L) in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness,(M) we lie and do not live out the truth.(N) But if we walk in the light,(O) as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all[b] sin.(P)

If we claim to be without sin,(Q) we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.(R) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins(S) and purify us from all unrighteousness.(T) 10 If we claim we have not sinned,(U) we make him out to be a liar(V) and his word is not in us.(W)

Footnotes

  1. 1 John 1:4 Some manuscripts your
  2. 1 John 1:7 Or every