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Job 20-22
Expanded Bible
Job 20-22
Expanded Bible
Zophar Answers
20 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered:
2 “My ·troubled thoughts [distress; worries] cause me to ·answer [respond],
because ·I am very upset [L of the agitation within me].
3 You ·correct [instruct] me and I am ·insulted [shamed],
but ·I understand how to answer you [or a spirit beyond my understanding gives me an answer].
4 “·You [L Do you not…?] know how it has been ·for a long time [since time immemorial],
ever since ·people were first put [or he put people] on the earth.
5 The ·happiness [luxuriance; enjoyment] of evil people is brief,
and the joy of the ·wicked [L godless] lasts only a moment.
6 ·Their pride may be [L They may go] as high as the heavens,
and their heads may touch the clouds,
7 but they will ·be gone [perish] forever, like their own dung.
People who ·knew [L saw] them will say, ‘Where are they?’
8 They will fly away like a dream
and not be found again;
they will be ·chased away [put to flight] like a vision in the night.
9 ·Those who [L The eye that] saw them will not see them again;
the places where they lived will see them no more.
10 Their children will ·have to pay back [or run after] the poor,
and ·they will have to give up [L their hand will return] their wealth.
11 They had the strength of their youth in their bones,
but it will lie with them in the dust of death.
12 “Evil may taste sweet in their mouths,
and they may hide it under their tongues.
13 They ·cannot stand to [L fight/linger over it and do not] let go of it;
they ·keep it in their mouths [L hide it under their tongues].
14 But their food ·will turn sour [L turns over] in their stomachs,
like the poison of a ·snake [asp] inside them.
15 They have swallowed riches, but they will ·spit [vomit] them out;
God will make them ·vomit [disgorge] ·their riches up [L it from their bellies; Prov. 11:4; 21:6].
16 They will suck the poison of ·snakes [asps],
and the ·snake’s fangs [L viper’s tongue] will kill them.
17 They will not ·admire [L look at] ·the sparkling streams [or streams of oil]
or the rivers flowing with honey and ·cream [or butter; or curds].
18 They must give back ·what they worked for [their gains] ·without eating it [unswallowed];
they will not enjoy the ·money they made from their trading [or benefit of their reward],
19 because they ·troubled the poor and left them with nothing [L crushed and abandoned the poor].
They have ·taken [stolen] houses they did not build [Prov. 28:27; 29:7].
20 “Evil people never ·lack an appetite [L experience ease/comfort in their bellies],
and nothing ·escapes their selfishness [L they covet escapes them].
21 But nothing will be left ·for them to eat [or after they eat];
their riches will not continue.
22 When they still have plenty, ·trouble will catch up to them [L they will have distress],
and ·great misery [L all the force/hand of trouble] will come down on them.
23 When the wicked fill their stomachs,
God will send his burning anger against them,
·and blows of punishment will fall on them like rain [or raining it on them like their food].
24 The wicked may run away from an iron weapon,
but a bronze ·arrow [L bow] will ·stab [pierce] them.
25 They will pull the arrows out of their backs
and pull the points out of their ·livers [L gall bladders].
·Terrors [Dread] will come over them;
26 total darkness ·waits for their treasure [or is stored up for them].
A fire not fanned by people [C perhaps lightning] will ·destroy [L consume] them
and ·burn up [L horrible things will happen to] ·what is left of [or the survivors in] their tents.
27 The heavens will ·show [reveal] their guilt,
and the earth will rise up against them.
28 ·A flood will carry their houses away [or The possessions of their house will be taken away],
·swept away [L like the torrents] on the day of God’s anger.
29 This is ·what God plans for evil [L the lot/fate of guilty] people;
·this is what he has decided they will receive [L the inheritance decreed by God].”
Job Answers Zophar
21 Then Job answered:
2 “Listen carefully to my words [C Job feels that his previous speeches have not been heard],
and let this be ·the way you comfort me [L your consolation].
3 ·Be patient [Bear with me] while I speak.
After I have finished, you may ·continue to make fun of [ridicule; mock] me.
4 “My complaint is not just against people;
I have reason to be impatient.
5 Look at me and be ·shocked [desolated];
put your hand over your mouth in shock.
6 When I think about this [C the success of the wicked], I am terribly afraid
and ·my body shakes [L trembling seizes my flesh].
7 Why ·do evil people live a long time [L are evil people allowed to live]?
They grow old and ·become more powerful [increase in strength].
8 They see their children ·around [L established before] them;
they watch them grow up.
9 Their homes are safe and without fear;
·God does not punish them [L God’s rod is not on them].
10 Their bulls never fail to mate;
their cows ·have healthy calves [L calve and have no miscarriages].
11 They send out their ·children [infants] like a flock [C they will have many children, a sign of blessing];
their ·little ones [children] dance about.
12 They sing to the music of tambourines and ·harps [lyres],
and the sound of the flute makes them ·happy [rejoice].
13 Evil people ·enjoy successful lives [L live out their days in prosperity]
and then go ·peacefully [in tranquility] to ·the grave [L Sheol].
14 They say to God, ‘·Leave us alone [Get away from me]!
We don’t ·want [desire] to know your ways.
15 Who is ·the Almighty [Shaddai] that we should serve him?
What would we gain by ·praying to [interceding with] him?’
16 ·The success of the wicked is not their own doing [or Is not the success/prosperity of the wicked in their control/hand?].
Their ·way of thinking [plan; counsel] is ·different [far] from ·mine [or his; C that is, God’s].
17 Yet how often are the lamps of evil people ·turned off [extinguished; C the implied answer is not often; Job questions the type of teaching found in Proverbs; Prov. 24:19–20]?
How often does ·trouble [calamity] come to them [Prov. 24:21–22]?
How often ·do they suffer God’s angry punishment [L does he deal out pain in his anger]?
18 ·How often are they [or Let them be] like straw in the wind
or like chaff that is blown away by a storm [Ps. 1:4]?
19 It is said [C defenders of the idea that the wicked suffer for their sins], ‘God ·saves [stores] up a person’s ·punishment [guilt] for his children.’
But God should ·punish [pay back] the wicked themselves so they will know it.
20 Their eyes should see their own destruction,
and they should ·suffer [L drink from the] the anger of ·the Almighty [Shaddai].
21 They do not care about the families they leave behind
when their lives have come to an end.
22 “·No one [L Who…?] can teach knowledge to God;
he is the one who judges even the most ·important [exalted] people [C Job wants to teach God to punish the wicked but thinks his attempt will be futile].
23 One person dies ·while he still has all his strength [L in perfect vigor],
feeling completely safe and ·comfortable [untroubled].
24 His ·body [or pail] was ·well fed [L full of milk],
and ·his bones were strong and healthy [L the marrow of his bones were well lubricated].
25 But another person dies ·with an unhappy heart [L in bitterness],
never enjoying ·any happiness [or the good life].
26 They ·are buried next to each other [L lie down together in the dust],
and worms cover them both.
27 “I know very well your thoughts
and your ·plans [schemes] to ·wrong [hurt; do violence to] me.
28 You [C the friends] ask, ‘Where is this ·great man’s [L prince’s] house?
Where are the tents where the wicked live [C they don’t agree with Job that the wicked are rich and successful]?’
29 Have you never asked those who ·travel [L pass by on the road]?
Have you ·never listened to their stories [L not recognized their signs]?
30 On the day of ·God’s anger and punishment [L calamity; disaster],
it is the wicked who are spared.
31 Who will accuse them to their faces?
Who will pay them back for the evil they have done?
32 They are carried to their graves,
and someone keeps watch over their tombs [C a sign of a peaceful death and burial].
33 The dirt in the valley seems sweet to them.
Everybody follows after them,
and many people go before them.
34 “So how can you comfort me with this ·nonsense [empty/meaningless drivel]?
Your answers are ·only lies [or disloyal]!”
Eliphaz Answers
22 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered:
2 “Can anyone ·be of real use to [benefit] God?
Can even a ·wise [skilled] person ·do him good [benefit him]?
3 Does it ·help [delight; give pleasure to] ·the Almighty [Shaddai] for you to be ·good [righteous]?
·Does he gain anything [What profit is it to him] if you are ·innocent [blameless]?
4 Does God ·punish [reprimand; reprove] you for ·respecting him [L your fear; C in the sense of piety]?
Does he ·bring you into court for this [L enter into judgment with you]?
5 No! It is because your evil is ·without limits [L abundant]
and your ·sins have [guilt has] no end.
6 You ·took your brothers’ things for a debt they didn’t owe [L exacted pledges from your brothers for no reason; Ex. 21:25–27];
you took clothes from people and left them naked.
7 You did not give water to ·tired [weary] people,
and you kept food from the ·hungry [famished; starving].
8 ·You were a powerful man who [L The powerful] owned land;
·you were honored and [L the favored] lived in the land.
9 But you sent widows away empty-handed,
and you ·mistreated [L crushed the arms/strength of the] orphans.
10 That is why traps are all around you
and sudden danger frightens you.
11 That is why it is so dark you cannot see
and a flood of water covers you.
12 “·God is [L Is not God…?] in the highest part of heaven.
See how high the highest stars are [C God is even higher]!
13 But you ask, ‘What does God know?
Can he judge us through the ·dark clouds [thick darkness]?
14 Thick clouds ·cover [hide] him so he cannot see us
as he ·walks [wanders] around ·high up in the sky [L the vault/dome of heaven; C Eliphaz suspects Job denies God knows what is going on in human affairs].’
15 Are you going to ·stay on [guard] the ·old [ancient] path
where ·evil [guilty] people ·walk [tread]?
16 They were ·carried away [or bound up] before their time was up,
and their foundations were washed away by a ·flood [L river].
17 They said to God, ‘·Leave us alone [Get away from us; 21:14]!
·The Almighty can do nothing [L What can the Almighty/Shaddai do…?] to us.’
18 But ·it was God [L was it not he…?] who filled their houses with good things.
Their ·way of thinking [plan; counsel] is ·different [far] from mine [21:16].
19 “·Good [Righteous] people can watch and be glad;
the innocent can ·laugh at [mock; ridicule] them and say,
20 ‘Surely our enemies are destroyed,
and fire burns up ·their wealth [or what is left of theirs].’
21 “·Obey God [L Get along with him] and be at peace with him;
this is the way to ·happiness [or prosperity; C Eliphaz calls on Job to repent].
22 Accept ·teaching [instruction] from his mouth,
and ·keep [put] his words in your heart.
23 If you return to ·the Almighty [Shaddai], you will be ·blessed again [L restored].
So remove ·evil [iniquity] from your ·house [L tent].
24 ·Throw [Put] your gold nuggets into the dust
and ·your fine gold [L Ophir; C referring to the fine gold of the region of Ophir, perhaps southern Arabia] among the rocks in the ·ravines [wadis].
25 Then ·the Almighty [Shaddai] will be your gold
and the ·best [choice] silver for you.
26 You will ·find pleasure [delight] in ·the Almighty [Shaddai],
and you will ·look up [show favor] to him.
27 You will ·pray to [entreat] him, and he will hear you,
and you will keep your ·promises [vows; C made in anticipation of answered prayer] to him.
28 Anything you decide will be done,
and light will ·shine on [illuminate] your ways.
29 When people are made humble and you say, ‘·Have courage [or It is pride],’
then ·the humble [L those with downcast eyes] will be saved.
30 ·Even a guilty person will escape [or He rescues the innocent]
and ·be saved [or and saves you] because your hands are ·clean [pure].”
Job 20-22
New International Version
Job 20-22
New International Version
Zophar
20 Then Zophar the Naamathite(A) replied:
2 “My troubled thoughts prompt me to answer
because I am greatly disturbed.(B)
3 I hear a rebuke(C) that dishonors me,
and my understanding inspires me to reply.
4 “Surely you know how it has been from of old,(D)
ever since mankind[a] was placed on the earth,
5 that the mirth of the wicked(E) is brief,
the joy of the godless(F) lasts but a moment.(G)
6 Though the pride(H) of the godless person reaches to the heavens(I)
and his head touches the clouds,(J)
7 he will perish forever,(K) like his own dung;
those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’(L)
8 Like a dream(M) he flies away,(N) no more to be found,
banished(O) like a vision of the night.(P)
9 The eye that saw him will not see him again;
his place will look on him no more.(Q)
10 His children(R) must make amends to the poor;
his own hands must give back his wealth.(S)
11 The youthful vigor(T) that fills his bones(U)
will lie with him in the dust.(V)
12 “Though evil(W) is sweet in his mouth
and he hides it under his tongue,(X)
13 though he cannot bear to let it go
and lets it linger in his mouth,(Y)
14 yet his food will turn sour in his stomach;(Z)
it will become the venom of serpents(AA) within him.
15 He will spit out the riches(AB) he swallowed;
God will make his stomach vomit(AC) them up.
16 He will suck the poison(AD) of serpents;
the fangs of an adder will kill him.(AE)
17 He will not enjoy the streams,
the rivers(AF) flowing with honey(AG) and cream.(AH)
18 What he toiled for he must give back uneaten;(AI)
he will not enjoy the profit from his trading.(AJ)
19 For he has oppressed the poor(AK) and left them destitute;(AL)
he has seized houses(AM) he did not build.
20 “Surely he will have no respite from his craving;(AN)
he cannot save himself by his treasure.(AO)
21 Nothing is left for him to devour;
his prosperity will not endure.(AP)
22 In the midst of his plenty, distress will overtake him;(AQ)
the full force of misery will come upon him.(AR)
23 When he has filled his belly,(AS)
God will vent his burning anger(AT) against him
and rain down his blows on him.(AU)
24 Though he flees(AV) from an iron weapon,
a bronze-tipped arrow pierces him.(AW)
25 He pulls it out of his back,
the gleaming point out of his liver.
Terrors(AX) will come over him;(AY)
26 total darkness(AZ) lies in wait for his treasures.
A fire(BA) unfanned will consume him(BB)
and devour what is left in his tent.(BC)
27 The heavens will expose his guilt;
the earth will rise up against him.(BD)
28 A flood will carry off his house,(BE)
rushing waters[b] on the day of God’s wrath.(BF)
29 Such is the fate God allots the wicked,
the heritage appointed for them by God.”(BG)
Job
21 Then Job replied:
2 “Listen carefully to my words;(BH)
let this be the consolation you give me.(BI)
3 Bear with me while I speak,
and after I have spoken, mock on.(BJ)
4 “Is my complaint(BK) directed to a human being?
Why should I not be impatient?(BL)
5 Look at me and be appalled;
clap your hand over your mouth.(BM)
6 When I think about this, I am terrified;(BN)
trembling seizes my body.(BO)
7 Why do the wicked live on,
growing old and increasing in power?(BP)
8 They see their children established around them,
their offspring before their eyes.(BQ)
9 Their homes are safe and free from fear;(BR)
the rod of God is not on them.(BS)
10 Their bulls never fail to breed;
their cows calve and do not miscarry.(BT)
11 They send forth their children as a flock;(BU)
their little ones dance about.
12 They sing to the music of timbrel and lyre;(BV)
they make merry to the sound of the pipe.(BW)
13 They spend their years in prosperity(BX)
and go down to the grave(BY) in peace.[c](BZ)
14 Yet they say to God, ‘Leave us alone!(CA)
We have no desire to know your ways.(CB)
15 Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him?
What would we gain by praying to him?’(CC)
16 But their prosperity is not in their own hands,
so I stand aloof from the plans of the wicked.(CD)
17 “Yet how often is the lamp of the wicked snuffed out?(CE)
How often does calamity(CF) come upon them,
the fate God allots in his anger?(CG)
18 How often are they like straw before the wind,
like chaff(CH) swept away(CI) by a gale?(CJ)
19 It is said, ‘God stores up the punishment of the wicked for their children.’(CK)
Let him repay the wicked, so that they themselves will experience it!(CL)
20 Let their own eyes see their destruction;(CM)
let them drink(CN) the cup of the wrath of the Almighty.(CO)
21 For what do they care about the families they leave behind(CP)
when their allotted months(CQ) come to an end?(CR)
22 “Can anyone teach knowledge to God,(CS)
since he judges even the highest?(CT)
23 One person dies in full vigor,(CU)
completely secure and at ease,(CV)
24 well nourished(CW) in body,[d]
bones(CX) rich with marrow.(CY)
25 Another dies in bitterness of soul,(CZ)
never having enjoyed anything good.
26 Side by side they lie in the dust,(DA)
and worms(DB) cover them both.(DC)
27 “I know full well what you are thinking,
the schemes by which you would wrong me.
28 You say, ‘Where now is the house of the great,(DD)
the tents where the wicked lived?’(DE)
29 Have you never questioned those who travel?
Have you paid no regard to their accounts—
30 that the wicked are spared from the day of calamity,(DF)
that they are delivered from[e] the day of wrath?(DG)
31 Who denounces their conduct to their face?
Who repays them for what they have done?(DH)
32 They are carried to the grave,
and watch is kept over their tombs.(DI)
33 The soil in the valley is sweet to them;(DJ)
everyone follows after them,
and a countless throng goes[f] before them.(DK)
34 “So how can you console me(DL) with your nonsense?
Nothing is left of your answers but falsehood!”(DM)
Eliphaz
22 Then Eliphaz the Temanite(DN) replied:
2 “Can a man be of benefit to God?(DO)
Can even a wise person benefit him?(DP)
3 What pleasure(DQ) would it give the Almighty if you were righteous?(DR)
What would he gain if your ways were blameless?(DS)
4 “Is it for your piety that he rebukes you
and brings charges against you?(DT)
5 Is not your wickedness great?
Are not your sins(DU) endless?(DV)
6 You demanded security(DW) from your relatives for no reason;(DX)
you stripped people of their clothing, leaving them naked.(DY)
7 You gave no water(DZ) to the weary
and you withheld food from the hungry,(EA)
8 though you were a powerful man, owning land(EB)—
an honored man,(EC) living on it.(ED)
9 And you sent widows(EE) away empty-handed(EF)
and broke the strength of the fatherless.(EG)
10 That is why snares(EH) are all around you,(EI)
why sudden peril terrifies you,(EJ)
11 why it is so dark(EK) you cannot see,
and why a flood of water covers you.(EL)
12 “Is not God in the heights of heaven?(EM)
And see how lofty are the highest stars!
13 Yet you say, ‘What does God know?(EN)
Does he judge through such darkness?(EO)
14 Thick clouds(EP) veil him, so he does not see us(EQ)
as he goes about in the vaulted heavens.’(ER)
15 Will you keep to the old path
that the wicked(ES) have trod?(ET)
16 They were carried off before their time,(EU)
their foundations(EV) washed away by a flood.(EW)
17 They said to God, ‘Leave us alone!
What can the Almighty do to us?’(EX)
18 Yet it was he who filled their houses with good things,(EY)
so I stand aloof from the plans of the wicked.(EZ)
19 The righteous see their ruin and rejoice;(FA)
the innocent mock(FB) them, saying,
20 ‘Surely our foes are destroyed,(FC)
and fire(FD) devours their wealth.’
21 “Submit to God and be at peace(FE) with him;(FF)
in this way prosperity will come to you.(FG)
22 Accept instruction from his mouth(FH)
and lay up his words(FI) in your heart.(FJ)
23 If you return(FK) to the Almighty, you will be restored:(FL)
If you remove wickedness far from your tent(FM)
24 and assign your nuggets(FN) to the dust,
your gold(FO) of Ophir(FP) to the rocks in the ravines,(FQ)
25 then the Almighty will be your gold,(FR)
the choicest silver for you.(FS)
26 Surely then you will find delight in the Almighty(FT)
and will lift up your face(FU) to God.(FV)
27 You will pray to him,(FW) and he will hear you,(FX)
and you will fulfill your vows.(FY)
28 What you decide on will be done,(FZ)
and light(GA) will shine on your ways.(GB)
29 When people are brought low(GC) and you say, ‘Lift them up!’
then he will save the downcast.(GD)
30 He will deliver even one who is not innocent,(GE)
who will be delivered through the cleanness of your hands.”(GF)
Footnotes
- Job 20:4 Or Adam
- Job 20:28 Or The possessions in his house will be carried off, / washed away
- Job 21:13 Or in an instant
- Job 21:24 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
- Job 21:30 Or wicked are reserved for the day of calamity, / that they are brought forth to
- Job 21:33 Or them, / as a countless throng went
Expanded Bible (EXB)
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