Job Says God Will Deal with the Wicked

21 Then Job responded,

“Listen carefully to my speech,
And let this be your way of consolation.
Bear with me that I may speak;
Then after I have spoken, you may (A)mock me.
As for me, is (B)my complaint [a]to a mortal?
Or (C)why should [b]I not be impatient?
Look at me, and be astonished,
And (D)put your hand over your mouth.
Even when I remember, I am disturbed,
And (E)horror takes hold of my flesh.
Why (F)do the wicked still live,
Grow old, and also become very [c](G)powerful?
Their [d](H)descendants endure with them in their sight,
And their offspring before their eyes,
Their houses (I)are safe from fear,
And the [e]rod of God is not on them.
10 His ox mates [f]without fail;
His cow calves and does not miscarry.
11 They send out their boys like the flock,
And their children dance.
12 They [g]sing with the tambourine and harp,
And rejoice at the sound of the flute.
13 They (J)spend their days in prosperity,
And [h]suddenly they go down to [i]Sheol.
14 Yet they say to God, ‘(K)Go away from us!
We do not even desire the knowledge of Your ways.
15 [j]Who is [k]the Almighty, that we should serve Him,
And (L)what would we gain if we plead with Him?’
16 Behold, their prosperity is not in their hand;
The (M)advice of the wicked is far from me.

17 “How often is (N)the lamp of the wicked put out,
Or does their (O)disaster fall on them?
Does [l]God apportion destruction in His anger?
18 Are they as (P)straw before the wind,
And like (Q)chaff which the storm carries away?
19 You say, ‘(R)God saves up [m]a person’s [n]wrongdoing for his sons.’
Let [o]God repay him so that he may know it.
20 Let his (S)own eyes see his destruction,
And let him (T)drink of the wrath of [p]the Almighty.
21 For what does he care about his household [q]after him,
When the number of his months is at an end?
22 Can anyone (U)teach God knowledge,
In that He (V)judges those on high?
23 One (W)dies in his full strength,
Being wholly undisturbed and at ease;
24 His [r]sides are filled with fat,
And the (X)marrow of his bones is wet,
25 While another dies with a bitter soul,
Never even [s]tasting anything good.
26 Together they (Y)lie down in the dust,
And (Z)maggots cover them.

27 “Behold, I know your thoughts,
And the plots you devise against me.
28 For you say, ‘Where is the house of (AA)the nobleman,
And where is the (AB)tent, the dwelling places of the wicked?’
29 Have you not asked travelers,
And do you not examine their [t]evidence?
30 For the (AC)wicked person is spared [u]a day of disaster;
They [v]are led away from (AD)a day of fury.
31 Who [w]confronts him with his actions,
And who repays him for what he has done?
32 When he is carried to the grave,
People will keep watch over his tomb.
33 The (AE)clods of the valley will [x]gently cover him;
Moreover, (AF)all mankind will [y]follow after him,
While countless others go before him.
34 So how dare you give me empty (AG)comfort?
For your answers remain nothing but falsehood!”

Footnotes

  1. Job 21:4 Or against
  2. Job 21:4 Lit my spirit
  3. Job 21:7 Or superior
  4. Job 21:8 Lit seed
  5. Job 21:9 I.e., punishment
  6. Job 21:10 Lit and does not fail
  7. Job 21:12 Lit lifted up the voice
  8. Job 21:13 Or in peacefulness
  9. Job 21:13 I.e., the netherworld
  10. Job 21:15 Lit What
  11. Job 21:15 Heb Shaddai
  12. Job 21:17 Lit He
  13. Job 21:19 Lit his
  14. Job 21:19 Or disaster
  15. Job 21:19 Lit Him
  16. Job 21:20 Heb Shaddai
  17. Job 21:21 I.e., after he dies
  18. Job 21:24 As in Syriac; Heb uncertain. Some render as his pails are full of milk
  19. Job 21:25 Lit eating
  20. Job 21:29 Lit signs
  21. Job 21:30 Or for the day
  22. Job 21:30 Or will be led to the day
  23. Job 21:31 Lit declares his way to his face
  24. Job 21:33 Lit be sweet to him
  25. Job 21:33 Lit draw

Eliphaz Accuses and Exhorts Job

22 Then Eliphaz the Temanite responded,

“Can a strong (A)man be of use to God,
Or a wise one be useful to himself?
Is it any pleasure to [a]the Almighty if you are righteous,
Or gain if you make your ways blameless?
Is it because of your [b]reverence that He punishes you,
That He (B)enters into judgment against you?
Is (C)your wickedness not abundant,
And is there no end to your guilty deeds?
For you have (D)seized pledges from your brothers without cause,
And [c](E)stripped people naked.
You have (F)given the weary no water to drink,
And you have (G)withheld bread from the hungry.
But the earth (H)belongs to the (I)powerful man,
And (J)the one who is honorable dwells on it.
You have sent (K)widows away empty,
And the [d]strength of (L)orphans has been crushed.
10 Therefore (M)traps surround you,
And sudden (N)dread terrifies you,
11 Or (O)darkness, so that you cannot see,
And a (P)flood of water covers you.

12 “Is God not (Q)in the height of heaven?
Look also at the [e]highest stars, how high they are!
13 But you say, ‘(R)What does God know?
Can He judge through the thick darkness?
14 (S)Clouds are a hiding place for Him, so that He cannot see;
And He walks on the [f]vault of heaven.’
15 Will you keep to the ancient path
Which (T)wicked people have walked,
16 Who were snatched away (U)before their time,
Whose (V)foundations were [g]washed away by a river?
17 They (W)said to God, ‘Go away from us!’
And ‘What can [h]the Almighty do to them?’
18 Yet He (X)filled their houses with good things;
But (Y)the advice of the wicked is far from me.
19 The (Z)righteous see and are glad,
And the innocent mock them, saying,
20 ‘Truly our enemies are eliminated,
And (AA)fire has consumed their [i]abundance.’

21 (AB)Be reconciled with Him, and be at peace;
Thereby good will come to you.
22 Please receive [j](AC)instruction from His mouth,
And put His words in your heart.
23 If you (AD)return to [k]the Almighty, you will be [l]restored;
If you (AE)remove injustice far from your tent,
24 And (AF)put your [m]gold in the dust,
And the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks,
25 Then [n]the Almighty will be your [o]gold
And abundant silver to you.
26 For then you will (AG)take pleasure in [p]the Almighty
And lift up your face to God.
27 You will (AH)pray to Him, and (AI)He will hear you;
And you will pay your vows.
28 You will also decide something, and it will be established for you;
And (AJ)light will shine on your ways.
29 When [q]they have brought you low, you will speak with [r]confidence,
And He will save the [s](AK)humble person.
30 He will rescue one who is not innocent,
And he will be (AL)rescued due to the cleanness of your hands.”

Footnotes

  1. Job 22:3 Heb Shaddai
  2. Job 22:4 Or fear
  3. Job 22:6 Lit stripped clothing of the naked
  4. Job 22:9 Lit arms
  5. Job 22:12 Lit head, top-most
  6. Job 22:14 Lit circle
  7. Job 22:16 Lit poured out
  8. Job 22:17 Heb Shaddai
  9. Job 22:20 Or excess
  10. Job 22:22 Or law
  11. Job 22:23 Heb Shaddai
  12. Job 22:23 Lit built up
  13. Job 22:24 Lit ore
  14. Job 22:25 Heb Shaddai
  15. Job 22:25 Lit ore
  16. Job 22:26 Heb Shaddai
  17. Job 22:29 Lit they cast you down
  18. Job 22:29 Lit pride
  19. Job 22:29 Lit lowly of eyes

Job Says He Longs for God

23 Then Job responded,

“Even today my (A)complaint is rebellion;
[a]His hand is (B)heavy despite my groaning.
Oh that I knew how to find Him,
That I might come to His home!
I would (C)present my case before Him
And fill my mouth with arguments.
I would learn the words which He would [b]answer,
And perceive what He would tell me.
Would He contend with me by (D)the greatness of His power?
No, surely He would pay attention to me.
There the upright would (E)argue with Him;
And I [c]would be (F)free of my Judge forever.

“Behold, I go forward but He is not there,
And backward, but I (G)cannot perceive Him;
When He acts on the left, I cannot see Him;
He turns to the right, but I cannot see Him.
10 But He knows the [d]way I take;
When He has (H)put me to the test, I will come out as gold.
11 My foot has (I)held on to His path;
I have kept His way and not turned aside.
12 I have not [e]failed the command of His lips;
I have treasured the (J)words of His mouth [f]more than my [g]necessary food.
13 But He is unique, and who can [h]make Him turn?
Whatever His soul desires, He does it.
14 For He carries out what is destined for me,
And many such destinies are with Him.
15 Therefore, I would be terrified at His presence;
When I consider this, I am frightened of Him.
16 It is God who has made my (K)heart faint,
And the Almighty who has terrified me,
17 But I (L)am not destroyed by darkness,
Nor by (M)deep gloom which covers me.

Footnotes

  1. Job 23:2 As in LXX and Syriac; MT My
  2. Job 23:5 Lit answer me
  3. Job 23:7 Or bring forth my justice forever
  4. Job 23:10 Lit way with me
  5. Job 23:12 Lit ceased from
  6. Job 23:12 Or with some ancient versions, in my breast
  7. Job 23:12 Lit prescribed portion
  8. Job 23:13 Or deprive Him of anything

The Bowls of Wrath

16 Then I heard a loud voice from (A)the [a]temple, saying to the (B)seven angels, “Go and (C)pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.”

So the first angel went and poured out his bowl (D)on the earth; and a harmful and painful (E)sore [b]afflicted the people (F)who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his image.

The second angel poured out his bowl (G)into the sea, and it became blood like that of a dead man; and every living [c]thing in the sea died.

Then the third angel poured out his bowl into the (H)rivers and the springs of waters; and they (I)became blood. And I heard the angel of the waters saying, “(J)Righteous are You, (K)the One who is and who was, O (L)Holy One, because You (M)judged these things; for they poured out (N)the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them (O)blood to drink. They [d]deserve it.” And I heard (P)the altar saying, “Yes, (Q)Lord God, the Almighty, (R)true and righteous are Your judgments.”

And the fourth angel poured out his bowl upon (S)the sun, (T)and it was given power to scorch people with fire. And the people were scorched with [e]fierce heat; and they (U)blasphemed the name of God who has the power over these plagues, and they (V)did not repent so as to (W)give Him glory.

10 And the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the (X)throne of the beast, and his kingdom became (Y)darkened; and they gnawed their tongues because of pain, 11 and they (Z)blasphemed the (AA)God of heaven because of their pain and their (AB)sores; and they (AC)did not repent of their deeds.

12 The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the (AD)great river, the Euphrates; and (AE)its water was dried up, so that (AF)the way would be prepared for the kings (AG)from the [f]east.

Har-Magedon (Armageddon)

13 And I saw coming out of the mouth of the (AH)dragon, and out of the mouth of the (AI)beast, and out of the mouth of the (AJ)false prophet, three (AK)unclean spirits like (AL)frogs; 14 for they are (AM)spirits of demons, (AN)performing signs, which go out to the kings of the (AO)entire [g]world, to (AP)gather them together for the war of the (AQ)great day of God, the Almighty. 15 (“Behold, (AR)I am coming like a thief. (AS)Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his clothes, (AT)so that he will not walk about naked and people will not see his shame.”) 16 And they (AU)gathered them together to the place which (AV)in Hebrew is called (AW)Har-Magedon.

The Seventh Bowl of Wrath

17 Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl upon (AX)the air, and a (AY)loud voice came out of the [h](AZ)temple from the throne, saying, “(BA)It is done.” 18 And there were flashes of (BB)lightning and sounds and peals of thunder; and there was (BC)a great earthquake, (BD)such as there had not been since mankind came to be upon the earth, so great an earthquake was it, and so mighty. 19 (BE)The great city [i]was split into three parts, and the cities of the [j]nations fell. (BF)Babylon the great was (BG)remembered in the sight of God, to give her (BH)the cup of the wine of [k]His fierce wrath. 20 And (BI)every island fled, and no mountains were found. 21 And (BJ)huge [l]hailstones, weighing about [m]a talent each, *came down from heaven upon people; and people (BK)blasphemed God because of the (BL)plague of the hail, because [n]the hailstone plague *was extremely [o]severe.

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 16:1 Or sanctuary
  2. Revelation 16:2 Lit came upon
  3. Revelation 16:3 Lit soul
  4. Revelation 16:6 Lit are worthy
  5. Revelation 16:9 Lit great
  6. Revelation 16:12 Lit rising of the sun
  7. Revelation 16:14 Lit inhabited earth
  8. Revelation 16:17 Or sanctuary
  9. Revelation 16:19 Lit became three
  10. Revelation 16:19 Or Gentiles
  11. Revelation 16:19 Lit wrath of His anger
  12. Revelation 16:21 Lit hail
  13. Revelation 16:21 I.e., as a measure of weight about 100 lb. or 45 kg
  14. Revelation 16:21 Lit its plague
  15. Revelation 16:21 Lit great

The Psalmist’s Profession of Uprightness.

A Psalm of David.

101 I will (A)sing of mercy and [a]justice;
To You, Lord, I will sing praises.
I will (B)carefully attend to the [b]blameless way.
When will You come to me?
I will walk within my house in the [c](C)integrity of my heart.
I will set no (D)worthless thing before my eyes;
I hate the [d]work of those who (E)fall away;
It shall not cling to me.
A (F)perverse heart shall leave me;
I will know no evil.
Whoever secretly (G)slanders his neighbor, him I will [e]destroy;
I will not endure one who has a (H)haughty look and an arrogant heart.

My eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me;
One who walks in a [f](I)blameless way is one who will serve me.
One who (J)practices deceit shall not dwell within my house;
One who speaks lies (K)shall not [g]maintain his position before me.
(L)Every morning I will [h](M)destroy all the wicked of the land,
So as to (N)eliminate from the (O)city of the Lord all those who do injustice.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 101:1 Or judgment
  2. Psalm 101:2 Or way of integrity
  3. Psalm 101:2 Or blamelessness
  4. Psalm 101:3 Or practice of apostasy
  5. Psalm 101:5 Or silence
  6. Psalm 101:6 Or way of integrity
  7. Psalm 101:7 Lit be established before my eyes
  8. Psalm 101:8 Or silence

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