Job 10:12-12:6

English Standard Version

¹²You have granted me life and steadfast love,
    and your care has preserved my spirit.
¹³Yet these things you hid in your heart;
    I know that ^(A)this was your purpose.
¹⁴If I sin, you ^(B)watch me
    and do not ^(C)acquit me of my iniquity.
¹⁵^(D)If I am guilty, woe to me!
    If I am ^(E)in the right, I cannot lift up my head,
for I am filled with disgrace
    and ^(F)look on my affliction.
¹⁶And were my head lifted up,^[a] you would hunt me like ^(G)a lion
    and again work ^(H)wonders against me.
¹⁷You renew your ^(I)witnesses against me
    and increase your vexation toward me;
    you ^(J)bring fresh troops against me.

¹⁸^(K)“Why did you bring me out from the womb?
    Would that I had died before any eye had seen me
¹⁹^(L)and were as though I had not been,
    carried from the womb to the grave.
²⁰^(M)Are not my days few?
    ^(N)Then cease, and leave me alone, ^(O)that I may find a little cheer
²¹before I go—and ^(P)I shall not return—
    to the land of ^(Q)darkness and ^(R)deep shadow,
²²the land of gloom like thick darkness,
    like deep shadow without any order,
    where light is as thick darkness.”

Zophar Speaks: You Deserve Worse

11 Then ^(S)Zophar the Naamathite answered and said:

²“Should ^(T)a multitude of words go unanswered,
    and a man full of talk be judged right?
³Should your babble silence men,
    and when you mock, shall no one shame you?
⁴For ^(U)you say, ‘My ^(V)doctrine is pure,
    and I am clean in God's^[b] eyes.’
⁵But oh, that God would speak
    and open his lips to you,
⁶and that he would tell you the secrets of wisdom!
    For he is manifold in ^(W)understanding.^[c]
Know then that God ^(X)exacts of you less than your guilt deserves.

⁷^(Y)“Can you find out the deep things of God?
    Can you find out the limit of the Almighty?
⁸It is ^(Z)higher than heaven^[d]—what can you do?
    Deeper than Sheol—what can you know?
⁹Its measure is longer than the earth
    and broader than the sea.
¹⁰If he ^(AA)passes through and ^(AB)imprisons
    and summons the court, who can ^(AC)turn him back?
¹¹For he knows ^(AD)worthless men;
    when he sees iniquity, will he not consider it?
¹²But a stupid man will get understanding
    when ^(AE)a wild donkey's colt is ^(AF)born a man!

¹³“If you ^(AG)prepare your heart,
    you will ^(AH)stretch out your hands toward him.
¹⁴If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away,
    and let not injustice dwell in your tents.
¹⁵Surely then you will ^(AI)lift up your face without ^(AJ)blemish;
    you will be secure and will not fear.
¹⁶You will ^(AK)forget your misery;
    you will remember it as waters that have passed away.
¹⁷And your life will be ^(AL)brighter than the noonday;
    its darkness will be like the morning.
¹⁸And you will feel secure, because there is hope;
    you will look around and ^(AM)take your rest in security.
¹⁹You will ^(AN)lie down, and none will make you afraid;
    many will ^(AO)court your favor.
²⁰But ^(AP)the eyes of the wicked will fail;
    all way of escape will be lost to them,
    and their hope is ^(AQ)to breathe their last.”

Job Replies: The Lord Has Done This

12 Then Job answered and said:

²“No doubt you are the people,
    and wisdom will die with you.
³But I have ^(AR)understanding as well as you;
    I am not inferior to you.
    Who does not know ^(AS)such things as these?
⁴I am ^(AT)a laughingstock to my friends;
    I, who ^(AU)called to God and he answered me,
    a just and blameless man, am a laughingstock.
⁵In the thought of one who is ^(AV)at ease there is contempt for misfortune;
    it is ready for those whose feet slip.
⁶^(AW)The tents of robbers are at peace,
    and those who provoke God are secure,
    who bring their god in their hand.^[e]