Job 1-11
New American Standard Bible
Job’s Character and Wealth
1 There was a man in the (A)land of Uz whose name was (B)Job; and that man was (C)blameless, upright, (D)fearing God and (E)turning away from evil. 2 (F)Seven sons and three daughters were born to him. 3 (G)His possessions were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and very many servants; and that man was (H)the greatest of all the [a]men of the east. 4 His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send word and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 When the days of feasting had completed their cycle, Job would send word to them and consecrate them, getting up early in the morning and offering (I)burnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, “(J)Perhaps my sons have sinned and (K)cursed God in their hearts.” Job did so continually.
6 (L)Now there was a day when the [b](M)sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and [c]Satan also came among them. 7 The Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “(N)From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it.” 8 The Lord said to Satan, “Have you [d]considered (O)My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, (P)a blameless and upright man, [e]fearing God and turning away from evil.” 9 Then (Q)Satan answered the [f]Lord, “Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 (R)Have You not made a fence around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? (S)You have blessed the work of his hands, and his (T)possessions have increased in the land. 11 (U)But reach out with Your hand now and (V)touch all that he has; he will certainly curse You to Your face.” 12 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your [g]power; only do not reach out and put your hand on him.” So Satan departed from the presence of the Lord.
Satan Allowed to Test Job
13 Now on the day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 14 a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the female donkeys feeding beside them, 15 and [h]the (W)Sabeans [i]attacked and took them. They also [j]killed the servants with the edge of the sword, and [k]I alone have escaped to tell you.” 16 While he was still speaking, another came and said, “(X)The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 17 While he was still speaking, another came and said, “The (Y)Chaldeans formed three units and made a raid on the camels and took them, and [l]killed the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 18 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 19 and behold, a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people and they died, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”
20 Then Job got up, (Z)tore his robe, and shaved his head; then he fell to the ground and worshiped. 21 He said,
“(AA)Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
And naked I shall return there.
The (AB)Lord gave and the Lord has taken away.
Blessed be the name of the Lord.”
22 (AC)Despite all this, Job did not sin, nor did he [m]blame God.
Job Loses His Health
2 (AD)Again, there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and [n]Satan also came among them to present himself before the Lord. 2 The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it.” 3 The Lord said to Satan, “Have you [o]considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man [p]fearing God and turning away from evil. And he still (AE)holds firm to his integrity, although you incited Me against him to [q]ruin him without cause.” 4 Satan answered the Lord and said, “Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has, he will give for his life. 5 (AF)However, reach out with Your hand now, and (AG)touch his bone and his flesh; he will curse You to Your face!” 6 So the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your [r]power, only spare his life.”
7 Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and struck Job with (AH)severe boils from the sole of his foot to the top of his head. 8 And Job took a piece of pottery to scrape himself while (AI)he was sitting in the ashes.
9 Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold firm your integrity? Curse God and die!” 10 But he said to her, “You are speaking as one of the foolish women speaks. (AJ)Shall we actually accept good from God but not accept adversity?” (AK)Despite all this, Job did not sin with his lips.
11 Now when Job’s three friends heard about all this adversity that had come upon him, they came, each one from his own place—Eliphaz the (AL)Temanite, Bildad the (AM)Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite; and they made an appointment together to come to (AN)sympathize with him and comfort him. 12 When they [s]looked from a distance and did not recognize him, they raised their voices and wept. And each of them (AO)tore his robe, and they (AP)threw dust over their heads toward the sky. 13 (AQ)Then they sat down on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights, with no one speaking a word to him, for they saw that his pain was very great.
Job’s Lament
3 Afterward Job opened his mouth and cursed [t]the day of his birth. 2 And Job [u]said,
3 “(AR)May the day on which I was to be born perish,
As well as the night which said, ‘A [v]boy is conceived.’
4 May that day be darkness;
May God above not care for it,
Nor light shine on it.
5 May (AS)darkness and black gloom claim it;
May a cloud settle on it;
May the blackness of the day terrify it.
6 As for that night, may darkness seize it;
May it not rejoice among the days of the year;
May it not come into the number of the months.
7 Behold, may that night be barren;
May no joyful shout enter it.
8 May those curse it who curse the day,
Who are [w]prepared to (AT)disturb Leviathan.
9 May the stars of its twilight be darkened;
May it wait for light but have none,
And may it not see the [x]breaking dawn;
10 Because it did not shut the opening of my mother’s womb,
Or hide trouble from my eyes.
11 “(AU)Why did I not die [y]at birth,
Come out of the womb and pass away?
12 Why were the knees there in front of me,
And why the breasts, that I would nurse?
13 For now I (AV)would have lain down and been quiet;
I would have slept then, I would have been at rest,
14 With (AW)kings and (AX)counselors of the earth,
Who rebuilt (AY)ruins for themselves;
15 Or with (AZ)rulers (BA)who had gold,
Who were filling their houses with silver.
16 Or like a miscarriage which is [z]hidden, I would not exist,
As infants that never saw light.
17 There the wicked cease from raging,
And there the [aa]weary are at (BB)rest.
18 The prisoners are at ease together;
They do not hear the voice of the taskmaster.
19 The small and the great are there,
And the slave is free from his master.
20 “Why is (BC)light given to one burdened with grief,
And life to the bitter of soul,
21 Who [ab](BD)long for death, but there is none,
And dig for it more than for (BE)hidden treasures;
22 Who are filled with jubilation,
And rejoice when they find the grave?
23 Why is light given to a man (BF)whose way is hidden,
And whom (BG)God has shut off?
24 For (BH)my groaning comes at the sight of my food,
And (BI)my cries pour out like water.
25 For [ac](BJ)what I fear comes upon me,
And what I dread [ad]encounters me.
26 I (BK)am not at ease, nor am I quiet,
And I am not at rest, but turmoil comes.”
Eliphaz Says the Innocent Do Not Suffer
4 Then Eliphaz the Temanite responded,
2 “If one ventures a word with you, will you become impatient?
But (BL)who can refrain [ae]from speaking?
3 Behold, (BM)you have taught many,
And you have strengthened weak hands.
4 Your words have helped the stumbling to stand,
And you have strengthened [af]feeble knees.
5 But now it comes to you, and you (BN)are impatient;
It (BO)touches you, and you are horrified.
6 Is your [ag](BP)fear of God not (BQ)your confidence,
And the integrity of your ways your hope?
7 “Remember now, (BR)who ever perished being innocent?
Or where were the upright destroyed?
8 According to what I have seen, (BS)those who [ah]plow wrongdoing
And those who sow trouble harvest it.
9 By (BT)the breath of God they perish,
And (BU)by the [ai]blast of His anger they come to an end.
10 The (BV)roaring of the lion and the voice of the fierce lion,
And the teeth of the young lions are broken out.
11 The (BW)lion perishes for lack of prey,
And the (BX)cubs of the lioness are scattered.
12 “Now a word (BY)was brought to me secretly,
And my ear received a (BZ)whisper of it.
13 Amid disquieting (CA)thoughts from visions of the night,
When deep sleep falls on people,
14 Dread came upon me, and trembling,
And made [aj]all my bones shake.
15 Then a [ak]spirit passed by my face;
The hair of my flesh stood up.
16 Something was standing still, but I could not recognize its appearance;
A form was before my eyes;
There was silence, then I heard a voice:
17 ‘Can (CB)mankind be righteous [al]before God?
Can a man be pure [am]before his (CC)Maker?
18 (CD)He puts no trust even in His servants;
And He accuses His angels of error.
19 How much more those who live in (CE)houses of clay,
Whose (CF)foundation is in the dust,
Who are crushed before the moth!
20 (CG)Between morning and evening they are broken in pieces;
Unregarded, they (CH)perish forever.
21 Is their (CI)tent-cord not pulled out within them?
They die, yet (CJ)without wisdom.’
God Is Just
5 “Call now, is there anyone who will answer you?
And to which of the (CK)holy ones will you turn?
2 For (CL)irritation kills the fool,
And jealousy brings death to the simple.
3 I have seen the (CM)fool taking root,
And I (CN)cursed his home immediately.
4 His (CO)sons are far from safety,
They are also [an]oppressed at the gate,
And there is no one to save them.
5 [ao]The hungry devour his harvest
And take it to a place of thorns,
And the [ap](CP)schemer is eager for their wealth.
6 For (CQ)disaster does not come from the dust,
Nor does trouble sprout from the ground,
7 For (CR)man is born for trouble,
As sparks fly upward.
8 “But as for me, I would (CS)seek God,
And I would make my plea before God,
9 Who (CT)does great and unsearchable things,
[aq]Wonders without number.
10 He (CU)gives rain on the earth,
And sends water on the fields,
11 So that (CV)He sets on high those who are lowly,
And those who mourn are lifted to safety.
12 He (CW)frustrates the schemes of the shrewd,
So that their hands cannot attain success.
13 He (CX)captures the wise by their own cleverness,
And the advice of the cunning is quickly thwarted.
14 By day they (CY)meet with darkness,
And grope at noon as in the night.
15 But He saves from (CZ)the sword of their mouth,
And (DA)the poor from the hand of the strong.
16 So the helpless has hope,
And (DB)injustice has shut its mouth.
17 “Behold, (DC)happy is the person whom God disciplines,
So do not reject the (DD)discipline of [ar]the Almighty.
18 For (DE)He inflicts pain, and [as]gives relief;
He wounds, but His hands also heal.
19 In six troubles (DF)He will save you;
Even in seven, (DG)evil will not touch you.
20 In (DH)famine He will redeem you from death,
And (DI)in war, from the power of the sword.
21 You will be (DJ)hidden [at]from the scourge of the tongue,
(DK)And you will not be afraid of violence when it comes.
22 You will (DL)laugh at violence and hunger,
(DM)And you will not be afraid of [au]wild animals.
23 For you will be in league with the stones of the field,
And (DN)the animals of the field will be at peace with you.
24 You will know that your (DO)tent is secure,
For you will visit your home and [av]have nothing missing.
25 You will also know that your [aw](DP)descendants will be many,
And (DQ)your offspring as the grass of the earth.
26 You will (DR)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.”
Job’s Friends Are No Help
6 Then Job responded,
2 “(DS)Oh if only my grief were actually weighed
And laid in the balances together with my disaster!
3 For then it would be (DT)heavier than the sand of the seas;
For that reason my words have been rash.
4 For the (DU)arrows of the Almighty are within me,
[ax]My spirit drinks their (DV)poison;
The (DW)terrors of God line up against me.
5 Does the (DX)wild donkey bray over his grass,
Or does the ox low over his feed?
6 Can something tasteless be eaten without salt,
Or is there any taste in the [ay]juice of an alkanet plant?
7 My soul (DY)refuses to touch them;
They are like loathsome food to me.
8 “Oh, that my request might come to pass,
And that God would grant my hope!
9 Oh, that God would (DZ)decide to crush me,
That He would let loose His hand and cut me off!
10 But it is still my comfort,
And I rejoice in unsparing pain,
That I (EA)have not [az]denied the words of the Holy One.
11 What is my strength, that I should wait?
And what is my end, that I should [ba](EB)endure?
12 Is my strength the strength of stones,
Or is my flesh bronze?
13 Is it that my (EC)help is not within me,
And that a (ED)good outcome is driven away from me?
14 “For the (EE)despairing man there should be kindness from his friend;
So that he does not (EF)abandon the [bb]fear of the Almighty.
15 My brothers have acted (EG)deceitfully like a [bc]wadi,
Like the torrents of [bd]wadis which drain away,
16 Which are darkened because of ice,
And into which the snow [be]melts.
17 When (EH)they dry up, they vanish;
When it is hot, they disappear from their place.
18 The [bf]paths of their course wind along,
They go up into wasteland and perish.
19 The caravans of (EI)Tema looked,
The travelers of (EJ)Sheba hoped for them.
20 They (EK)were put to shame, for they had trusted,
They came there and were humiliated.
21 Indeed, you have now become such,
(EL)You see terrors and are afraid.
22 Have I said, ‘Give me something,’
Or, ‘Offer a bribe for me from your wealth,’
23 Or, ‘Save me from the hand of the enemy,’
Or, ‘Redeem me from the hand of the tyrants’?
24 “Teach me, and (EM)I will be silent;
And show me how I have done wrong.
25 How painful are honest words!
But what does your argument prove?
26 Do you intend to rebuke my words,
When the (EN)words of one in despair belong to the wind?
27 You would even (EO)cast lots for (EP)the orphans,
And (EQ)barter over your friend.
28 Now please look at me,
And see if I am (ER)lying to your face.
29 Please turn away, let there be no injustice;
Turn away, (ES)my righteousness is still in it.
30 Is there injustice on my tongue?
Does (ET)my palate not discern disasters?
Job’s Life Seems Futile
7 “[bg]Is a person not (EU)forced to labor on earth,
And are his days not like the days of (EV)a hired worker?
2 As a slave pants for the shade,
And as a hired worker who eagerly waits for his wages,
3 So I am allotted worthless months,
And (EW)nights of trouble are apportioned to me.
4 When I (EX)lie down, I say,
‘When shall I arise?’
But the night continues,
And I am continually tossing until dawn.
5 My (EY)flesh is clothed with maggots and a crust of dirt,
My skin hardens and [bh]oozes.
6 My days are (EZ)swifter than a weaver’s shuttle,
And they come to an end (FA)without hope.
7 “Remember that my life (FB)is a mere breath;
My eye will (FC)not see goodness again.
8 The (FD)eye of him who sees me will no longer look at me;
Your eyes will be on me, but (FE)I will not exist.
9 When a (FF)cloud vanishes, it is gone;
In the same way (FG)one who goes down to [bi](FH)Sheol does not come up.
10 He will not return to his house again,
Nor will (FI)his place know about him anymore.
11 “Therefore (FJ)I will not restrain my mouth;
I will speak in the anguish of my spirit,
I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.
12 Am I the sea, or (FK)the sea monster,
That You set a guard over me?
13 If I say, ‘(FL)My couch will comfort me,
My bed will [bj]ease my complaint,’
14 Then You frighten me with dreams,
And terrify me by visions,
15 So that my soul would choose suffocation,
Death rather than my [bk]pains.
16 I [bl](FM)waste away; I will not live forever.
Leave me alone, (FN)for my days are only a breath.
17 (FO)What is man that You exalt him,
And that You [bm]are concerned about him,
18 That (FP)You examine him every morning
And put him to the test every moment?
19 [bn](FQ)Will You never turn Your gaze away from me,
Nor leave me alone until I swallow my spittle?
20 (FR)Have I sinned? What have I done to You,
(FS)Watcher of mankind?
Why have You made me Your target,
So that I am a burden to myself?
21 Why then (FT)do You not forgive my wrongdoing
And take away my [bo]guilt?
For now I will (FU)lie down in the dust;
And You will search for me, (FV)but I will no longer exist.”
Bildad Says God Rewards the Good
8 Then Bildad the Shuhite responded,
2 “How long will you say these things,
And the (FW)words of your mouth be a mighty wind?
3 Does (FX)God pervert justice?
Or does [bp]the Almighty pervert what is right?
4 (FY)If your sons sinned against Him,
Then He turned them over to the [bq]power of their wrongdoing.
5 If you will (FZ)search for God
And implore the compassion of [br]the Almighty,
6 If you are pure and upright,
Surely now (GA)He will stir Himself for you
And restore your righteous [bs](GB)estate.
7 Though your beginning was insignificant,
Yet your (GC)end will increase greatly.
8 “Please (GD)inquire of past generations,
And consider the things searched out by their fathers.
9 For we are only of yesterday and know nothing,
Because (GE)our days on earth are as a shadow.
10 Will they not teach you and tell you,
And bring forth words from their minds?
11 “Can papyrus grow tall without a marsh?
Can the rushes grow without water?
12 While it is still green and not cut down,
Yet it withers before any other [bt]plant.
13 So are the paths of (GF)all who forget God;
And the (GG)hope of the godless will perish,
14 His confidence is fragile,
And his trust is a (GH)spider’s [bu]web.
15 He depends on his (GI)house, but it does not stand;
He holds on to it, but it does not endure.
16 He (GJ)flourishes before the sun,
And his (GK)shoots spread out over his garden.
17 His roots wrap around a rock pile,
He [bv]grasps a house of stones.
18 If he is [bw]removed from (GL)his place,
Then it will deny him, saying, ‘(GM)I never saw you.’
19 Behold, (GN)this is the joy of His way;
And out of the dust others will spring.
20 Behold, (GO)God will not reject a person of integrity,
Nor (GP)will He [bx]help evildoers.
21 He will yet fill (GQ)your mouth with laughter,
And your lips with joyful shouting.
22 Those who hate you will be (GR)clothed with shame,
And the (GS)tent of the wicked will no longer exist.”
Job Says There Is No Arbitrator between God and Mankind
9 Then Job responded,
2 “In truth I know that this is so;
But how can a (GT)person be in the right with God?
3 If one wished to (GU)dispute with Him,
He could not answer Him once in a thousand times.
4 (GV)Wise in heart and (GW)mighty in strength,
Who has [by](GX)defied Him [bz]without harm?
5 (GY)It is God who removes the mountains, and they do not know how,
When He overturns them in His anger.
6 It is He who (GZ)shakes the earth from its place,
And its (HA)pillars tremble;
7 Who commands the (HB)sun [ca]not to shine,
And puts a seal on the stars;
8 Who alone (HC)stretches out the heavens,
And [cb](HD)tramples down the waves of the sea;
9 Who makes the (HE)Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades,
And the [cc](HF)constellations of the south.
10 It is He who (HG)does great things, [cd]the unfathomable,
And wondrous works without number.
11 If He were to pass by me, (HH)I would not see Him;
Were He to move past me, I would not perceive Him.
12 If He were to snatch away, who could (HI)restrain Him?
Who could say to Him, ‘(HJ)What are You doing?’
13 “God will not turn back His anger;
Beneath Him the helpers of [ce](HK)Rahab cower.
14 How then can (HL)I [cf]answer Him,
And choose my words [cg]before Him?
15 For (HM)though I were right, I could not [ch]answer;
I would have to (HN)implore the mercy of my Judge.
16 If I called and He answered me,
I could not believe that He was listening to my voice.
17 For He (HO)bruises me with a storm
And multiplies my wounds without cause.
18 He will (HP)not allow me to get my breath,
But He saturates me with (HQ)bitterness.
19 If it is a matter of power, (HR)behold, He is the strong one!
And if it is a matter of justice, who can summon [ci]Him?
20 (HS)Though I am righteous, my mouth will (HT)condemn me;
Though I am guiltless, He will declare me guilty.
21 I am (HU)guiltless;
I do not take notice of myself;
I (HV)reject my life.
22 It is all one; therefore I say,
‘He (HW)destroys the guiltless and the wicked.’
23 If the whip kills suddenly,
He (HX)mocks the despair of the innocent.
24 The earth (HY)is handed over to the wicked;
He (HZ)covers the faces of its judges.
If it is not He, then who is it?
25 “Now (IA)my days are swifter than a runner;
They flee away, (IB)they see no good.
26 They slip by like (IC)reed boats,
Like an (ID)eagle that swoops on [cj]its prey.
27 Though I say, ‘I will forget (IE)my complaint,
I will [ck]put my face in order and be cheerful,’
28 I am (IF)afraid of all my pains,
I know that (IG)You will not acquit me.
29 I am (IH)guilty,
Why then should I struggle in vain?
30 If I (II)washed myself with snow,
And cleansed (IJ)my hands with lye,
31 Then You would plunge me into the pit,
And my own clothes would loathe me.
32 For (IK)He is not a man, as I am, that (IL)I may answer Him—
That we may go to [cl]court together!
33 There is no (IM)arbitrator between us,
Who can place his hand upon us both.
34 Let Him (IN)remove His rod from me,
And let not the dread of Him terrify me.
35 Then I (IO)would speak and not fear Him;
But I am not like that in myself.
Job Despairs of God’s Dealings
10 “[cm](IP)I am disgusted with my own life;
I will express (IQ)my complaint freely;
I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.
2 I will say to God, ‘(IR)Do not condemn me;
Let me know why You contend with me.
3 Is it [cn]right for You indeed to (IS)oppress,
To reject (IT)the work of Your hands,
And [co]to look favorably on (IU)the plan of the wicked?
4 Do You have eyes of flesh?
Or do You (IV)see as mankind sees?
5 Are Your days like the days of a mortal,
Or (IW)Your years like a man’s year,
6 That (IX)You should search for my guilt
And carefully seek my sin?
7 According to Your knowledge (IY)I am indeed not guilty,
Yet there is (IZ)no one to save me from Your hand.
8 ‘(JA)Your hands fashioned and made me [cp]altogether,
(JB)Yet would You destroy me?
9 Remember that You have made me as (JC)clay;
Yet would You (JD)turn me into dust again?
10 Did You not pour me out like milk,
And curdle me like cheese,
11 Clothe me with skin and flesh,
And intertwine me with bones and tendons?
12 You have (JE)granted me life and [cq]goodness;
And Your care has guarded my spirit.
13 Yet You have concealed (JF)these things in Your heart;
I know that this is within You:
14 If I have sinned, You will (JG)take note of me,
And (JH)will not acquit me of my guilt.
15 If (JI)I am wicked, woe to me!
But if (JJ)I am righteous, I dare not lift up my head.
I am full of shame, and [cr]conscious of my misery.
16 And should my head be high, (JK)You would hunt me like a lion;
And You would show Your (JL)power against me again.
17 You renew (JM)Your witnesses against me
And increase Your anger toward me;
[cs](JN)Hardship after hardship is with me.
18 ‘(JO)Why then did You bring me out of the womb?
If only I had died and no eye had seen me!
19 I should have been as though I had not been,
Brought from womb to tomb.’
20 Would He not leave (JP)my few days alone?
[ct](JQ)Withdraw from me so that I may have a little cheerfulness
21 Before I go—(JR)and I shall not return—
(JS)To the land of darkness and (JT)deep shadow,
22 The land of utter gloom like darkness itself,
Of deep shadow without order,
And it shines like darkness.”
Zophar Rebukes Job
11 Then Zophar the Naamathite responded,
2 “Shall a multitude of words go unanswered,
And a (JU)talkative man be acquitted?
3 Shall your boasts silence people?
And will you (JV)scoff, and no one rebuke?
4 For (JW)you have said, ‘My teaching is pure,
And (JX)I am innocent in your eyes.’
5 But if only God would speak,
And open His lips against you,
6 And show you the secrets of wisdom!
For sound wisdom [cu](JY)has two sides.
Know then that God [cv]forgets part of (JZ)your guilt.
7 “(KA)Can you discover the depths of God?
Can you discover the limits of the Almighty?
8 They are as (KB)high as [cw]the heavens; what can you do?
Deeper than [cx](KC)Sheol; what can you know?
9 Its measurement is longer than the earth
And broader than the sea.
10 If He passes by or apprehends people,
Or calls an assembly, (KD)who can restrain Him?
11 For (KE)He knows false people,
And He (KF)sees injustice [cy]without investigating.
12 [cz](KG)An idiot will become intelligent
When a (KH)wild donkey is born a human.
13 “(KI)If you would (KJ)direct your heart rightly
And (KK)spread out your hands to Him,
14 If wrongdoing is in your hand, (KL)put it far away,
And do not let malice dwell in your tents;
15 Then, indeed, you could (KM)lift up your face without moral blemish,
And you would be firmly established and (KN)not fear.
16 For you would (KO)forget your trouble;
Like (KP)waters that have passed by, you would remember it.
17 Your [da]life would [db]be (KQ)brighter than noonday;
Darkness would be like the morning.
18 Then you would trust, because there is hope;
And you would look around and rest securely.
19 You would (KR)lie down and none would disturb you,
And many would [dc](KS)flatter you.
20 But the (KT)eyes of the wicked will fail,
And [dd]there will (KU)be no escape for them;
And their (KV)hope is [de](KW)to breathe their last.”
Footnotes
- Job 1:3 Lit sons
- Job 1:6 I.e., prob. angels
- Job 1:6 Heb ha-satan; i.e., the adversary, and so throughout the ch
- Job 1:8 Lit set your heart on
- Job 1:8 Or revering
- Job 1:9 Lit Lord and said
- Job 1:12 Lit hand
- Job 1:15 Lit Sheba
- Job 1:15 Lit fell upon
- Job 1:15 Lit struck
- Job 1:15 Lit only I alone, and so also vv 16, 17, 19
- Job 1:17 Lit struck
- Job 1:22 Lit ascribe unseemliness to
- Job 2:1 Heb ha-satan; i.e., the adversary, and so throughout the ch
- Job 2:3 Lit set your heart to
- Job 2:3 Or revering
- Job 2:3 Lit swallow him up
- Job 2:6 Lit hand
- Job 2:12 Lit raised their eyes
- Job 3:1 Lit his day
- Job 3:2 Lit answered and said
- Job 3:3 Lit man-child
- Job 3:8 Or skillful
- Job 3:9 Lit eyelids of dawn
- Job 3:11 Lit from the womb
- Job 3:16 I.e., buried
- Job 3:17 Lit weary of strength
- Job 3:21 Lit wait
- Job 3:25 Lit I fear a fear, and it comes
- Job 3:25 Lit comes to me
- Job 4:2 Lit in words
- Job 4:4 Lit knees giving way
- Job 4:6 Or reverence for
- Job 4:8 I.e., devise
- Job 4:9 Lit wind
- Job 4:14 Lit the multitude of
- Job 4:15 Or wind passed over
- Job 4:17 Lit from
- Job 4:17 Lit from
- Job 5:4 Lit crushed
- Job 5:5 Lit Whose harvest the hungry devour
- Job 5:5 Ancient versions thirsty
- Job 5:9 Or Miracles
- Job 5:17 Heb Shaddai, and so throughout ch 6
- Job 5:18 Lit binds
- Job 5:21 Lit at
- Job 5:22 Lit animals of the earth
- Job 5:24 Lit not miss
- Job 5:25 Lit seed
- Job 6:4 Lit Whose poison my spirit drinks
- Job 6:6 Heb hallamuth, meaning uncertain
- Job 6:10 Lit hidden
- Job 6:11 Lit prolong my soul
- Job 6:14 Or reverence for
- Job 6:15 I.e., dry stream bed(s), except in the rainy season
- Job 6:15 I.e., dry stream bed(s), except in the rainy season
- Job 6:16 Lit hides itself
- Job 6:18 Or caravans turn from their course, they go up into the waste and perish
- Job 7:1 Lit Has not man compulsory labor
- Job 7:5 Lit melts
- Job 7:9 I.e., the netherworld
- Job 7:13 Lit bear
- Job 7:15 Lit bones
- Job 7:16 Or loathe
- Job 7:17 Lit set Your heart on
- Job 7:19 Lit How long will You not
- Job 7:21 Or unjust deed
- Job 8:3 Heb Shaddai
- Job 8:4 Lit hand
- Job 8:5 Heb Shaddai
- Job 8:6 Lit place
- Job 8:12 Lit reed
- Job 8:14 Lit house
- Job 8:17 Heb sees
- Job 8:18 Lit swallowed up
- Job 8:20 Lit strengthen the hand of
- Job 9:4 Lit stiffened his neck against
- Job 9:4 Lit and remained safe
- Job 9:7 Lit and it does not shine
- Job 9:8 Lit treads upon the heights of
- Job 9:9 Lit chambers
- Job 9:10 Lit until there is no searching out
- Job 9:13 I.e., a sea monster, not to be confused with Rahab in Joshua 2
- Job 9:14 Or plead my case
- Job 9:14 Lit with
- Job 9:15 Or plead my case
- Job 9:19 As in LXX; Heb me
- Job 9:26 Lit food
- Job 9:27 I.e., improve the look
- Job 9:32 Lit judgment
- Job 10:1 Lit My soul loathes
- Job 10:3 Lit good
- Job 10:3 Lit You shine forth
- Job 10:8 Lit together round about
- Job 10:12 See Job 1:1-2
- Job 10:15 Lit see
- Job 10:17 Lit Changes and warfare are with me
- Job 10:20 Lit Put
- Job 11:6 Lit is double
- Job 11:6 Lit causes to be forgotten for you
- Job 11:8 Lit the heights of heaven
- Job 11:8 I.e., the netherworld
- Job 11:11 Or and does not investigate
- Job 11:12 Lit A hollow man
- Job 11:17 Lit lifespan
- Job 11:17 Lit rise above noonday
- Job 11:19 Lit soften your face
- Job 11:20 Lit escape has perished from them
- Job 11:20 Lit the expiring of the soul
Job 1-11
New American Standard Bible
Job’s Character and Wealth
1 There was a man in the (A)land of Uz whose name was (B)Job; and that man was (C)blameless, upright, (D)fearing God and (E)turning away from evil. 2 (F)Seven sons and three daughters were born to him. 3 (G)His possessions were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and very many servants; and that man was (H)the greatest of all the [a]men of the east. 4 His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send word and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 When the days of feasting had completed their cycle, Job would send word to them and consecrate them, getting up early in the morning and offering (I)burnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, “(J)Perhaps my sons have sinned and (K)cursed God in their hearts.” Job did so continually.
6 (L)Now there was a day when the [b](M)sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and [c]Satan also came among them. 7 The Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “(N)From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it.” 8 The Lord said to Satan, “Have you [d]considered (O)My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, (P)a blameless and upright man, [e]fearing God and turning away from evil.” 9 Then (Q)Satan answered the [f]Lord, “Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 (R)Have You not made a fence around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? (S)You have blessed the work of his hands, and his (T)possessions have increased in the land. 11 (U)But reach out with Your hand now and (V)touch all that he has; he will certainly curse You to Your face.” 12 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your [g]power; only do not reach out and put your hand on him.” So Satan departed from the presence of the Lord.
Satan Allowed to Test Job
13 Now on the day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 14 a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the female donkeys feeding beside them, 15 and [h]the (W)Sabeans [i]attacked and took them. They also [j]killed the servants with the edge of the sword, and [k]I alone have escaped to tell you.” 16 While he was still speaking, another came and said, “(X)The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 17 While he was still speaking, another came and said, “The (Y)Chaldeans formed three units and made a raid on the camels and took them, and [l]killed the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 18 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 19 and behold, a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people and they died, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”
20 Then Job got up, (Z)tore his robe, and shaved his head; then he fell to the ground and worshiped. 21 He said,
“(AA)Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
And naked I shall return there.
The (AB)Lord gave and the Lord has taken away.
Blessed be the name of the Lord.”
22 (AC)Despite all this, Job did not sin, nor did he [m]blame God.
Job Loses His Health
2 (AD)Again, there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and [n]Satan also came among them to present himself before the Lord. 2 The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it.” 3 The Lord said to Satan, “Have you [o]considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man [p]fearing God and turning away from evil. And he still (AE)holds firm to his integrity, although you incited Me against him to [q]ruin him without cause.” 4 Satan answered the Lord and said, “Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has, he will give for his life. 5 (AF)However, reach out with Your hand now, and (AG)touch his bone and his flesh; he will curse You to Your face!” 6 So the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your [r]power, only spare his life.”
7 Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and struck Job with (AH)severe boils from the sole of his foot to the top of his head. 8 And Job took a piece of pottery to scrape himself while (AI)he was sitting in the ashes.
9 Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold firm your integrity? Curse God and die!” 10 But he said to her, “You are speaking as one of the foolish women speaks. (AJ)Shall we actually accept good from God but not accept adversity?” (AK)Despite all this, Job did not sin with his lips.
11 Now when Job’s three friends heard about all this adversity that had come upon him, they came, each one from his own place—Eliphaz the (AL)Temanite, Bildad the (AM)Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite; and they made an appointment together to come to (AN)sympathize with him and comfort him. 12 When they [s]looked from a distance and did not recognize him, they raised their voices and wept. And each of them (AO)tore his robe, and they (AP)threw dust over their heads toward the sky. 13 (AQ)Then they sat down on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights, with no one speaking a word to him, for they saw that his pain was very great.
Job’s Lament
3 Afterward Job opened his mouth and cursed [t]the day of his birth. 2 And Job [u]said,
3 “(AR)May the day on which I was to be born perish,
As well as the night which said, ‘A [v]boy is conceived.’
4 May that day be darkness;
May God above not care for it,
Nor light shine on it.
5 May (AS)darkness and black gloom claim it;
May a cloud settle on it;
May the blackness of the day terrify it.
6 As for that night, may darkness seize it;
May it not rejoice among the days of the year;
May it not come into the number of the months.
7 Behold, may that night be barren;
May no joyful shout enter it.
8 May those curse it who curse the day,
Who are [w]prepared to (AT)disturb Leviathan.
9 May the stars of its twilight be darkened;
May it wait for light but have none,
And may it not see the [x]breaking dawn;
10 Because it did not shut the opening of my mother’s womb,
Or hide trouble from my eyes.
11 “(AU)Why did I not die [y]at birth,
Come out of the womb and pass away?
12 Why were the knees there in front of me,
And why the breasts, that I would nurse?
13 For now I (AV)would have lain down and been quiet;
I would have slept then, I would have been at rest,
14 With (AW)kings and (AX)counselors of the earth,
Who rebuilt (AY)ruins for themselves;
15 Or with (AZ)rulers (BA)who had gold,
Who were filling their houses with silver.
16 Or like a miscarriage which is [z]hidden, I would not exist,
As infants that never saw light.
17 There the wicked cease from raging,
And there the [aa]weary are at (BB)rest.
18 The prisoners are at ease together;
They do not hear the voice of the taskmaster.
19 The small and the great are there,
And the slave is free from his master.
20 “Why is (BC)light given to one burdened with grief,
And life to the bitter of soul,
21 Who [ab](BD)long for death, but there is none,
And dig for it more than for (BE)hidden treasures;
22 Who are filled with jubilation,
And rejoice when they find the grave?
23 Why is light given to a man (BF)whose way is hidden,
And whom (BG)God has shut off?
24 For (BH)my groaning comes at the sight of my food,
And (BI)my cries pour out like water.
25 For [ac](BJ)what I fear comes upon me,
And what I dread [ad]encounters me.
26 I (BK)am not at ease, nor am I quiet,
And I am not at rest, but turmoil comes.”
Eliphaz Says the Innocent Do Not Suffer
4 Then Eliphaz the Temanite responded,
2 “If one ventures a word with you, will you become impatient?
But (BL)who can refrain [ae]from speaking?
3 Behold, (BM)you have taught many,
And you have strengthened weak hands.
4 Your words have helped the stumbling to stand,
And you have strengthened [af]feeble knees.
5 But now it comes to you, and you (BN)are impatient;
It (BO)touches you, and you are horrified.
6 Is your [ag](BP)fear of God not (BQ)your confidence,
And the integrity of your ways your hope?
7 “Remember now, (BR)who ever perished being innocent?
Or where were the upright destroyed?
8 According to what I have seen, (BS)those who [ah]plow wrongdoing
And those who sow trouble harvest it.
9 By (BT)the breath of God they perish,
And (BU)by the [ai]blast of His anger they come to an end.
10 The (BV)roaring of the lion and the voice of the fierce lion,
And the teeth of the young lions are broken out.
11 The (BW)lion perishes for lack of prey,
And the (BX)cubs of the lioness are scattered.
12 “Now a word (BY)was brought to me secretly,
And my ear received a (BZ)whisper of it.
13 Amid disquieting (CA)thoughts from visions of the night,
When deep sleep falls on people,
14 Dread came upon me, and trembling,
And made [aj]all my bones shake.
15 Then a [ak]spirit passed by my face;
The hair of my flesh stood up.
16 Something was standing still, but I could not recognize its appearance;
A form was before my eyes;
There was silence, then I heard a voice:
17 ‘Can (CB)mankind be righteous [al]before God?
Can a man be pure [am]before his (CC)Maker?
18 (CD)He puts no trust even in His servants;
And He accuses His angels of error.
19 How much more those who live in (CE)houses of clay,
Whose (CF)foundation is in the dust,
Who are crushed before the moth!
20 (CG)Between morning and evening they are broken in pieces;
Unregarded, they (CH)perish forever.
21 Is their (CI)tent-cord not pulled out within them?
They die, yet (CJ)without wisdom.’
God Is Just
5 “Call now, is there anyone who will answer you?
And to which of the (CK)holy ones will you turn?
2 For (CL)irritation kills the fool,
And jealousy brings death to the simple.
3 I have seen the (CM)fool taking root,
And I (CN)cursed his home immediately.
4 His (CO)sons are far from safety,
They are also [an]oppressed at the gate,
And there is no one to save them.
5 [ao]The hungry devour his harvest
And take it to a place of thorns,
And the [ap](CP)schemer is eager for their wealth.
6 For (CQ)disaster does not come from the dust,
Nor does trouble sprout from the ground,
7 For (CR)man is born for trouble,
As sparks fly upward.
8 “But as for me, I would (CS)seek God,
And I would make my plea before God,
9 Who (CT)does great and unsearchable things,
[aq]Wonders without number.
10 He (CU)gives rain on the earth,
And sends water on the fields,
11 So that (CV)He sets on high those who are lowly,
And those who mourn are lifted to safety.
12 He (CW)frustrates the schemes of the shrewd,
So that their hands cannot attain success.
13 He (CX)captures the wise by their own cleverness,
And the advice of the cunning is quickly thwarted.
14 By day they (CY)meet with darkness,
And grope at noon as in the night.
15 But He saves from (CZ)the sword of their mouth,
And (DA)the poor from the hand of the strong.
16 So the helpless has hope,
And (DB)injustice has shut its mouth.
17 “Behold, (DC)happy is the person whom God disciplines,
So do not reject the (DD)discipline of [ar]the Almighty.
18 For (DE)He inflicts pain, and [as]gives relief;
He wounds, but His hands also heal.
19 In six troubles (DF)He will save you;
Even in seven, (DG)evil will not touch you.
20 In (DH)famine He will redeem you from death,
And (DI)in war, from the power of the sword.
21 You will be (DJ)hidden [at]from the scourge of the tongue,
(DK)And you will not be afraid of violence when it comes.
22 You will (DL)laugh at violence and hunger,
(DM)And you will not be afraid of [au]wild animals.
23 For you will be in league with the stones of the field,
And (DN)the animals of the field will be at peace with you.
24 You will know that your (DO)tent is secure,
For you will visit your home and [av]have nothing missing.
25 You will also know that your [aw](DP)descendants will be many,
And (DQ)your offspring as the grass of the earth.
26 You will (DR)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.”
Job’s Friends Are No Help
6 Then Job responded,
2 “(DS)Oh if only my grief were actually weighed
And laid in the balances together with my disaster!
3 For then it would be (DT)heavier than the sand of the seas;
For that reason my words have been rash.
4 For the (DU)arrows of the Almighty are within me,
[ax]My spirit drinks their (DV)poison;
The (DW)terrors of God line up against me.
5 Does the (DX)wild donkey bray over his grass,
Or does the ox low over his feed?
6 Can something tasteless be eaten without salt,
Or is there any taste in the [ay]juice of an alkanet plant?
7 My soul (DY)refuses to touch them;
They are like loathsome food to me.
8 “Oh, that my request might come to pass,
And that God would grant my hope!
9 Oh, that God would (DZ)decide to crush me,
That He would let loose His hand and cut me off!
10 But it is still my comfort,
And I rejoice in unsparing pain,
That I (EA)have not [az]denied the words of the Holy One.
11 What is my strength, that I should wait?
And what is my end, that I should [ba](EB)endure?
12 Is my strength the strength of stones,
Or is my flesh bronze?
13 Is it that my (EC)help is not within me,
And that a (ED)good outcome is driven away from me?
14 “For the (EE)despairing man there should be kindness from his friend;
So that he does not (EF)abandon the [bb]fear of the Almighty.
15 My brothers have acted (EG)deceitfully like a [bc]wadi,
Like the torrents of [bd]wadis which drain away,
16 Which are darkened because of ice,
And into which the snow [be]melts.
17 When (EH)they dry up, they vanish;
When it is hot, they disappear from their place.
18 The [bf]paths of their course wind along,
They go up into wasteland and perish.
19 The caravans of (EI)Tema looked,
The travelers of (EJ)Sheba hoped for them.
20 They (EK)were put to shame, for they had trusted,
They came there and were humiliated.
21 Indeed, you have now become such,
(EL)You see terrors and are afraid.
22 Have I said, ‘Give me something,’
Or, ‘Offer a bribe for me from your wealth,’
23 Or, ‘Save me from the hand of the enemy,’
Or, ‘Redeem me from the hand of the tyrants’?
24 “Teach me, and (EM)I will be silent;
And show me how I have done wrong.
25 How painful are honest words!
But what does your argument prove?
26 Do you intend to rebuke my words,
When the (EN)words of one in despair belong to the wind?
27 You would even (EO)cast lots for (EP)the orphans,
And (EQ)barter over your friend.
28 Now please look at me,
And see if I am (ER)lying to your face.
29 Please turn away, let there be no injustice;
Turn away, (ES)my righteousness is still in it.
30 Is there injustice on my tongue?
Does (ET)my palate not discern disasters?
Job’s Life Seems Futile
7 “[bg]Is a person not (EU)forced to labor on earth,
And are his days not like the days of (EV)a hired worker?
2 As a slave pants for the shade,
And as a hired worker who eagerly waits for his wages,
3 So I am allotted worthless months,
And (EW)nights of trouble are apportioned to me.
4 When I (EX)lie down, I say,
‘When shall I arise?’
But the night continues,
And I am continually tossing until dawn.
5 My (EY)flesh is clothed with maggots and a crust of dirt,
My skin hardens and [bh]oozes.
6 My days are (EZ)swifter than a weaver’s shuttle,
And they come to an end (FA)without hope.
7 “Remember that my life (FB)is a mere breath;
My eye will (FC)not see goodness again.
8 The (FD)eye of him who sees me will no longer look at me;
Your eyes will be on me, but (FE)I will not exist.
9 When a (FF)cloud vanishes, it is gone;
In the same way (FG)one who goes down to [bi](FH)Sheol does not come up.
10 He will not return to his house again,
Nor will (FI)his place know about him anymore.
11 “Therefore (FJ)I will not restrain my mouth;
I will speak in the anguish of my spirit,
I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.
12 Am I the sea, or (FK)the sea monster,
That You set a guard over me?
13 If I say, ‘(FL)My couch will comfort me,
My bed will [bj]ease my complaint,’
14 Then You frighten me with dreams,
And terrify me by visions,
15 So that my soul would choose suffocation,
Death rather than my [bk]pains.
16 I [bl](FM)waste away; I will not live forever.
Leave me alone, (FN)for my days are only a breath.
17 (FO)What is man that You exalt him,
And that You [bm]are concerned about him,
18 That (FP)You examine him every morning
And put him to the test every moment?
19 [bn](FQ)Will You never turn Your gaze away from me,
Nor leave me alone until I swallow my spittle?
20 (FR)Have I sinned? What have I done to You,
(FS)Watcher of mankind?
Why have You made me Your target,
So that I am a burden to myself?
21 Why then (FT)do You not forgive my wrongdoing
And take away my [bo]guilt?
For now I will (FU)lie down in the dust;
And You will search for me, (FV)but I will no longer exist.”
Bildad Says God Rewards the Good
8 Then Bildad the Shuhite responded,
2 “How long will you say these things,
And the (FW)words of your mouth be a mighty wind?
3 Does (FX)God pervert justice?
Or does [bp]the Almighty pervert what is right?
4 (FY)If your sons sinned against Him,
Then He turned them over to the [bq]power of their wrongdoing.
5 If you will (FZ)search for God
And implore the compassion of [br]the Almighty,
6 If you are pure and upright,
Surely now (GA)He will stir Himself for you
And restore your righteous [bs](GB)estate.
7 Though your beginning was insignificant,
Yet your (GC)end will increase greatly.
8 “Please (GD)inquire of past generations,
And consider the things searched out by their fathers.
9 For we are only of yesterday and know nothing,
Because (GE)our days on earth are as a shadow.
10 Will they not teach you and tell you,
And bring forth words from their minds?
11 “Can papyrus grow tall without a marsh?
Can the rushes grow without water?
12 While it is still green and not cut down,
Yet it withers before any other [bt]plant.
13 So are the paths of (GF)all who forget God;
And the (GG)hope of the godless will perish,
14 His confidence is fragile,
And his trust is a (GH)spider’s [bu]web.
15 He depends on his (GI)house, but it does not stand;
He holds on to it, but it does not endure.
16 He (GJ)flourishes before the sun,
And his (GK)shoots spread out over his garden.
17 His roots wrap around a rock pile,
He [bv]grasps a house of stones.
18 If he is [bw]removed from (GL)his place,
Then it will deny him, saying, ‘(GM)I never saw you.’
19 Behold, (GN)this is the joy of His way;
And out of the dust others will spring.
20 Behold, (GO)God will not reject a person of integrity,
Nor (GP)will He [bx]help evildoers.
21 He will yet fill (GQ)your mouth with laughter,
And your lips with joyful shouting.
22 Those who hate you will be (GR)clothed with shame,
And the (GS)tent of the wicked will no longer exist.”
Job Says There Is No Arbitrator between God and Mankind
9 Then Job responded,
2 “In truth I know that this is so;
But how can a (GT)person be in the right with God?
3 If one wished to (GU)dispute with Him,
He could not answer Him once in a thousand times.
4 (GV)Wise in heart and (GW)mighty in strength,
Who has [by](GX)defied Him [bz]without harm?
5 (GY)It is God who removes the mountains, and they do not know how,
When He overturns them in His anger.
6 It is He who (GZ)shakes the earth from its place,
And its (HA)pillars tremble;
7 Who commands the (HB)sun [ca]not to shine,
And puts a seal on the stars;
8 Who alone (HC)stretches out the heavens,
And [cb](HD)tramples down the waves of the sea;
9 Who makes the (HE)Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades,
And the [cc](HF)constellations of the south.
10 It is He who (HG)does great things, [cd]the unfathomable,
And wondrous works without number.
11 If He were to pass by me, (HH)I would not see Him;
Were He to move past me, I would not perceive Him.
12 If He were to snatch away, who could (HI)restrain Him?
Who could say to Him, ‘(HJ)What are You doing?’
13 “God will not turn back His anger;
Beneath Him the helpers of [ce](HK)Rahab cower.
14 How then can (HL)I [cf]answer Him,
And choose my words [cg]before Him?
15 For (HM)though I were right, I could not [ch]answer;
I would have to (HN)implore the mercy of my Judge.
16 If I called and He answered me,
I could not believe that He was listening to my voice.
17 For He (HO)bruises me with a storm
And multiplies my wounds without cause.
18 He will (HP)not allow me to get my breath,
But He saturates me with (HQ)bitterness.
19 If it is a matter of power, (HR)behold, He is the strong one!
And if it is a matter of justice, who can summon [ci]Him?
20 (HS)Though I am righteous, my mouth will (HT)condemn me;
Though I am guiltless, He will declare me guilty.
21 I am (HU)guiltless;
I do not take notice of myself;
I (HV)reject my life.
22 It is all one; therefore I say,
‘He (HW)destroys the guiltless and the wicked.’
23 If the whip kills suddenly,
He (HX)mocks the despair of the innocent.
24 The earth (HY)is handed over to the wicked;
He (HZ)covers the faces of its judges.
If it is not He, then who is it?
25 “Now (IA)my days are swifter than a runner;
They flee away, (IB)they see no good.
26 They slip by like (IC)reed boats,
Like an (ID)eagle that swoops on [cj]its prey.
27 Though I say, ‘I will forget (IE)my complaint,
I will [ck]put my face in order and be cheerful,’
28 I am (IF)afraid of all my pains,
I know that (IG)You will not acquit me.
29 I am (IH)guilty,
Why then should I struggle in vain?
30 If I (II)washed myself with snow,
And cleansed (IJ)my hands with lye,
31 Then You would plunge me into the pit,
And my own clothes would loathe me.
32 For (IK)He is not a man, as I am, that (IL)I may answer Him—
That we may go to [cl]court together!
33 There is no (IM)arbitrator between us,
Who can place his hand upon us both.
34 Let Him (IN)remove His rod from me,
And let not the dread of Him terrify me.
35 Then I (IO)would speak and not fear Him;
But I am not like that in myself.
Job Despairs of God’s Dealings
10 “[cm](IP)I am disgusted with my own life;
I will express (IQ)my complaint freely;
I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.
2 I will say to God, ‘(IR)Do not condemn me;
Let me know why You contend with me.
3 Is it [cn]right for You indeed to (IS)oppress,
To reject (IT)the work of Your hands,
And [co]to look favorably on (IU)the plan of the wicked?
4 Do You have eyes of flesh?
Or do You (IV)see as mankind sees?
5 Are Your days like the days of a mortal,
Or (IW)Your years like a man’s year,
6 That (IX)You should search for my guilt
And carefully seek my sin?
7 According to Your knowledge (IY)I am indeed not guilty,
Yet there is (IZ)no one to save me from Your hand.
8 ‘(JA)Your hands fashioned and made me [cp]altogether,
(JB)Yet would You destroy me?
9 Remember that You have made me as (JC)clay;
Yet would You (JD)turn me into dust again?
10 Did You not pour me out like milk,
And curdle me like cheese,
11 Clothe me with skin and flesh,
And intertwine me with bones and tendons?
12 You have (JE)granted me life and [cq]goodness;
And Your care has guarded my spirit.
13 Yet You have concealed (JF)these things in Your heart;
I know that this is within You:
14 If I have sinned, You will (JG)take note of me,
And (JH)will not acquit me of my guilt.
15 If (JI)I am wicked, woe to me!
But if (JJ)I am righteous, I dare not lift up my head.
I am full of shame, and [cr]conscious of my misery.
16 And should my head be high, (JK)You would hunt me like a lion;
And You would show Your (JL)power against me again.
17 You renew (JM)Your witnesses against me
And increase Your anger toward me;
[cs](JN)Hardship after hardship is with me.
18 ‘(JO)Why then did You bring me out of the womb?
If only I had died and no eye had seen me!
19 I should have been as though I had not been,
Brought from womb to tomb.’
20 Would He not leave (JP)my few days alone?
[ct](JQ)Withdraw from me so that I may have a little cheerfulness
21 Before I go—(JR)and I shall not return—
(JS)To the land of darkness and (JT)deep shadow,
22 The land of utter gloom like darkness itself,
Of deep shadow without order,
And it shines like darkness.”
Zophar Rebukes Job
11 Then Zophar the Naamathite responded,
2 “Shall a multitude of words go unanswered,
And a (JU)talkative man be acquitted?
Footnotes
- Job 1:3 Lit sons
- Job 1:6 I.e., prob. angels
- Job 1:6 Heb ha-satan; i.e., the adversary, and so throughout the ch
- Job 1:8 Lit set your heart on
- Job 1:8 Or revering
- Job 1:9 Lit Lord and said
- Job 1:12 Lit hand
- Job 1:15 Lit Sheba
- Job 1:15 Lit fell upon
- Job 1:15 Lit struck
- Job 1:15 Lit only I alone, and so also vv 16, 17, 19
- Job 1:17 Lit struck
- Job 1:22 Lit ascribe unseemliness to
- Job 2:1 Heb ha-satan; i.e., the adversary, and so throughout the ch
- Job 2:3 Lit set your heart to
- Job 2:3 Or revering
- Job 2:3 Lit swallow him up
- Job 2:6 Lit hand
- Job 2:12 Lit raised their eyes
- Job 3:1 Lit his day
- Job 3:2 Lit answered and said
- Job 3:3 Lit man-child
- Job 3:8 Or skillful
- Job 3:9 Lit eyelids of dawn
- Job 3:11 Lit from the womb
- Job 3:16 I.e., buried
- Job 3:17 Lit weary of strength
- Job 3:21 Lit wait
- Job 3:25 Lit I fear a fear, and it comes
- Job 3:25 Lit comes to me
- Job 4:2 Lit in words
- Job 4:4 Lit knees giving way
- Job 4:6 Or reverence for
- Job 4:8 I.e., devise
- Job 4:9 Lit wind
- Job 4:14 Lit the multitude of
- Job 4:15 Or wind passed over
- Job 4:17 Lit from
- Job 4:17 Lit from
- Job 5:4 Lit crushed
- Job 5:5 Lit Whose harvest the hungry devour
- Job 5:5 Ancient versions thirsty
- Job 5:9 Or Miracles
- Job 5:17 Heb Shaddai, and so throughout ch 6
- Job 5:18 Lit binds
- Job 5:21 Lit at
- Job 5:22 Lit animals of the earth
- Job 5:24 Lit not miss
- Job 5:25 Lit seed
- Job 6:4 Lit Whose poison my spirit drinks
- Job 6:6 Heb hallamuth, meaning uncertain
- Job 6:10 Lit hidden
- Job 6:11 Lit prolong my soul
- Job 6:14 Or reverence for
- Job 6:15 I.e., dry stream bed(s), except in the rainy season
- Job 6:15 I.e., dry stream bed(s), except in the rainy season
- Job 6:16 Lit hides itself
- Job 6:18 Or caravans turn from their course, they go up into the waste and perish
- Job 7:1 Lit Has not man compulsory labor
- Job 7:5 Lit melts
- Job 7:9 I.e., the netherworld
- Job 7:13 Lit bear
- Job 7:15 Lit bones
- Job 7:16 Or loathe
- Job 7:17 Lit set Your heart on
- Job 7:19 Lit How long will You not
- Job 7:21 Or unjust deed
- Job 8:3 Heb Shaddai
- Job 8:4 Lit hand
- Job 8:5 Heb Shaddai
- Job 8:6 Lit place
- Job 8:12 Lit reed
- Job 8:14 Lit house
- Job 8:17 Heb sees
- Job 8:18 Lit swallowed up
- Job 8:20 Lit strengthen the hand of
- Job 9:4 Lit stiffened his neck against
- Job 9:4 Lit and remained safe
- Job 9:7 Lit and it does not shine
- Job 9:8 Lit treads upon the heights of
- Job 9:9 Lit chambers
- Job 9:10 Lit until there is no searching out
- Job 9:13 I.e., a sea monster, not to be confused with Rahab in Joshua 2
- Job 9:14 Or plead my case
- Job 9:14 Lit with
- Job 9:15 Or plead my case
- Job 9:19 As in LXX; Heb me
- Job 9:26 Lit food
- Job 9:27 I.e., improve the look
- Job 9:32 Lit judgment
- Job 10:1 Lit My soul loathes
- Job 10:3 Lit good
- Job 10:3 Lit You shine forth
- Job 10:8 Lit together round about
- Job 10:12 See Job 1:1-2
- Job 10:15 Lit see
- Job 10:17 Lit Changes and warfare are with me
- Job 10:20 Lit Put
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