Description of a Citizen of Zion.

A Psalm of David.

15 O Lord, who may [a]abide (A)in Your tent?
Who may dwell on Your (B)holy hill?
He who (C)walks with integrity, and works righteousness,
And (D)speaks truth in his heart.
He (E)does not slander [b]with his tongue,
Nor (F)does evil to his neighbor,
Nor (G)takes up a reproach against his friend;
In [c]whose eyes a reprobate is despised,
But [d]who (H)honors those who fear the Lord;
He (I)swears to his own hurt and does not change;
He (J)does not put out his money [e]at interest,
Nor (K)does he take a bribe against the innocent.
(L)He who does these things will never be shaken.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 15:1 Lit sojourn
  2. Psalm 15:3 Lit according to
  3. Psalm 15:4 Lit his
  4. Psalm 15:4 Lit he
  5. Psalm 15:5 I.e. to a fellow Israelite

Job’s Character and Wealth

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. (F)Seven sons and three daughters were born to him. (G)His possessions also were 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and very many servants; and that man was (H)the greatest of all the [a]men of the east. His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. When the days of feasting had completed their cycle, Job would send and consecrate them, rising 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.” Thus Job did continually.

(L)Now there was a day when the (M)sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and [b]Satan also came among them. The Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?” Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “(N)From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it.” The Lord said to Satan, “Have you [c]considered (O)My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, (P)a blameless and upright man, [d]fearing God and turning away from evil.” Then (Q)Satan answered the [e]Lord, “Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 (R)Have You not made a hedge about 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 put forth Your hand now and (V)touch all that he has; he will surely curse You to Your face.” 12 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your [f]power, only do not put forth 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 [g]donkeys feeding beside them, 15 and [h]the (W)Sabeans [i]attacked and took them. They also [j]slew the servants with the edge of the sword, and [k]I alone have escaped to tell you.” 16 While he was still speaking, another also 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 also came and said, “The (Y)Chaldeans formed three bands and made a raid on the camels and took them and [l]slew 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 arose and (Z)tore his robe and shaved his head, and 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)Through all this Job did not sin nor did he [m]blame God.

Job Loses His Health

(AD)Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them to present himself before the Lord. 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.” The Lord said to Satan, “Have you [n]considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man [o]fearing God and turning away from evil. And he still (AE)holds fast his integrity, although you incited Me against him to [p]ruin him without cause.” Satan answered the Lord and said, “Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life. (AF)However, put forth Your hand now, and (AG)touch his bone and his flesh; he will curse You to Your face.” So the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your [q]power, only spare his life.”

Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and smote Job with (AH)sore boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. And he took a potsherd to scrape himself while (AI)he was sitting among the ashes.

Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die!” 10 But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. (AJ)Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?” (AK)In all this Job did not sin with his lips.

11 Now when Job’s three friends heard of 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 lifted up their eyes at 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

Afterward Job opened his mouth and cursed [r]the day of his birth. And Job [s]said,

(AR)Let the day perish on which I was to be born,
And the night which said, ‘A [t]boy is conceived.’
“May that day be darkness;
Let not God above care for it,
Nor light shine on it.
“Let (AS)darkness and black gloom claim it;
Let a cloud settle on it;
Let the blackness of the day terrify it.
As for that night, let darkness seize it;
Let it not rejoice among the days of the year;
Let it not come into the number of the months.
“Behold, let that night be barren;
Let no joyful shout enter it.
“Let those curse it who curse the day,
Who are [u]prepared to (AT)rouse Leviathan.
“Let the stars of its twilight be darkened;
Let it wait for light but have none,
And let it not see the [v]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 [w]at birth,
Come forth from the womb and expire?
12 “Why did the knees receive me,
And why the breasts, that I should suck?
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 with (AX)counselors of the earth,
Who rebuilt (AY)ruins for themselves;
15 Or with (AZ)princes (BA)who had gold,
Who were filling their houses with silver.
16 “Or like a miscarriage which is [x]discarded, I would not be,
As infants that never saw light.
17 “There the wicked cease from raging,
And there the [y]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 him who suffers,
And life to the bitter of soul,
21 Who [z](BD)long for death, but there is none,
And dig for it more than for (BE)hidden treasures,
22 Who rejoice greatly,
And exult when they find the grave?
23 Why is light given to a man (BF)whose way is hidden,
And whom (BG)God has hedged in?
24 “For (BH)my groaning comes at the sight of my food,
And (BI)my cries pour out like water.
25 “For [aa](BJ)what I fear comes upon me,
And what I dread befalls me.
26 “I (BK)am not at ease, nor am I quiet,
And I am not at rest, but turmoil comes.”

Eliphaz: Innocent Do Not Suffer

Then Eliphaz the Temanite [ab]answered,

“If one ventures a word with you, will you become impatient?
But (BL)who can refrain [ac]from speaking?
“Behold (BM)you have admonished many,
And you have strengthened weak hands.
“Your words have [ad]helped the tottering to stand,
And you have strengthened [ae]feeble knees.
“But now it has come to you, and you (BN)are impatient;
It (BO)touches you, and you are dismayed.
“Is not your [af](BP)fear of God (BQ)your confidence,
And the integrity of your ways your hope?

“Remember now, (BR)who ever perished being innocent?
Or where were the upright destroyed?
“According to what I have seen, (BS)those who plow iniquity
And those who sow trouble harvest it.
“By (BT)the breath of God they perish,
And (BU)by the [ag]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.
11 “The (BW)lion perishes for lack of prey,
And the (BX)whelps of the lioness are scattered.

12 “Now a word (BY)was brought to me stealthily,
And my ear received a (BZ)whisper of it.
13 “Amid disquieting (CA)thoughts from the visions of the night,
When deep sleep falls on men,
14 Dread came upon me, and trembling,
And made [ah]all my bones shake.
15 “Then a [ai]spirit passed by my face;
The hair of my flesh bristled up.
16 “It stood still, but I could not discern its appearance;
A form was before my eyes;
There was silence, then I heard a voice:
17 ‘Can (CB)mankind be just [aj]before God?
Can a man be pure [ak]before his (CC)Maker?
18 (CD)He puts no trust even in His servants;
And against His angels He charges error.
19 ‘How much more those who dwell 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;
Unobserved, they (CH)perish forever.
21 ‘Is not their (CI)tent-cord plucked up within them?
They die, yet (CJ)without wisdom.’

God Is Just

“Call now, is there anyone who will answer you?
And to which of the (CK)holy ones will you turn?
“For (CL)anger slays the foolish man,
And jealousy kills the simple.
“I have seen the (CM)foolish taking root,
And I (CN)cursed his abode immediately.
“His (CO)sons are far from safety,
They are even [al]oppressed in the gate,
And there is no deliverer.
[am]His harvest the hungry devour
And take it to a place of thorns,
And the [an](CP)schemer is eager for their wealth.
“For (CQ)affliction does not come from the dust,
Nor does trouble sprout from the ground,
For (CR)man is born for trouble,
As sparks fly upward.

“But as for me, I would (CS)seek God,
And I would place my cause before God;
Who (CT)does great and unsearchable things,
[ao]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 plotting of the shrewd,
So that their hands cannot attain success.
13 “He (CX)captures the wise by their own shrewdness,
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 mighty.
16 “So the helpless has hope,
And (DB)unrighteousness must shut its mouth.

17 “Behold, how (DC)happy is the man whom God reproves,
So do not despise the (DD)discipline of [ap]the Almighty.
18 “For (DE)He inflicts pain, and [aq]gives relief;
He wounds, and His hands also heal.
19 [ar]From six troubles (DF)He will deliver 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 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 famine,
(DM)And you will not be afraid of [as]wild beasts.
23 “For you will be in league with the stones of the field,
And (DN)the beasts of the field will be at peace with you.
24 “You will know that your (DO)tent is secure,
For you will visit your abode and fear no loss.
25 “You will know also that your [at](DP)descendants will be many,
And (DQ)your offspring as the grass of the earth.
26 “You will (DR)come to the grave in full vigor,
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.”

Footnotes

  1. Job 1:3 Lit sons
  2. Job 1:6 I.e. the adversary, and so throughout chs 1 and 2
  3. Job 1:8 Lit set your heart to
  4. Job 1:8 Or revering
  5. Job 1:9 Lit Lord and said
  6. Job 1:12 Lit hand
  7. Job 1:14 Lit female donkeys
  8. Job 1:15 Lit Sheba
  9. Job 1:15 Lit fell upon
  10. Job 1:15 Lit smote
  11. Job 1:15 Lit only I alone, and so also vv 16, 17, 19
  12. Job 1:17 Lit smote
  13. Job 1:22 Lit ascribe unseemliness to
  14. Job 2:3 Lit set your heart to
  15. Job 2:3 Or revering
  16. Job 2:3 Lit swallow him up
  17. Job 2:6 Lit hand
  18. Job 3:1 Lit his day
  19. Job 3:2 Lit answered and said
  20. Job 3:3 Lit man-child
  21. Job 3:8 Or skillful
  22. Job 3:9 Lit eyelids
  23. Job 3:11 Lit from the womb
  24. Job 3:16 Lit hidden
  25. Job 3:17 Lit weary of strength
  26. Job 3:21 Lit wait
  27. Job 3:25 Lit the fear I fear and
  28. Job 4:1 Lit answered and said
  29. Job 4:2 Lit in words
  30. Job 4:4 Lit caused
  31. Job 4:4 Lit bowing
  32. Job 4:6 Or reverence
  33. Job 4:9 Lit wind
  34. Job 4:14 Lit the multitude of
  35. Job 4:15 Or breath passed over
  36. Job 4:17 Lit from
  37. Job 4:17 Lit from
  38. Job 5:4 Lit crushed
  39. Job 5:5 Lit Whose
  40. Job 5:5 Ancient versions read thirsty
  41. Job 5:9 Or Miracles
  42. Job 5:17 Heb Shaddai, and so throughout ch 6
  43. Job 5:18 Lit binds
  44. Job 5:19 Lit In
  45. Job 5:22 Lit beasts of the earth
  46. Job 5:25 Lit seed