Job 30-42
New King James Version
Job’s Wealth Now Poverty
30 “But now they mock at me, men [a]younger than I,
Whose fathers I disdained to put with the dogs of my flock.
2 Indeed, what profit is the strength of their hands to me?
Their vigor has perished.
3 They are gaunt from want and famine,
Fleeing late to the wilderness, desolate and waste,
4 Who pluck [b]mallow by the bushes,
And broom tree roots for their food.
5 They were driven out from among men,
They shouted at them as at a thief.
6 They had to live in the clefts of the [c]valleys,
In [d]caves of the earth and the rocks.
7 Among the bushes they brayed,
Under the nettles they nestled.
8 They were sons of fools,
Yes, sons of vile men;
They were scourged from the land.
9 “And(A) now I am their taunting song;
Yes, I am their byword.
10 They abhor me, they keep far from me;
They do not hesitate (B)to spit in my face.
11 Because (C)He has loosed [e]my bowstring and afflicted me,
They have cast off restraint before me.
12 At my right hand the rabble arises;
They push away my feet,
And (D)they raise against me their ways of destruction.
13 They break up my path,
They promote my calamity;
They have no helper.
14 They come as broad breakers;
Under the ruinous storm they roll along.
15 Terrors are turned upon me;
They pursue my honor as the wind,
And my prosperity has passed like a cloud.
16 “And(E) now my soul is (F)poured out because of my plight;
The days of affliction take hold of me.
17 My bones are pierced in me at night,
And my gnawing pains take no rest.
18 By great force my garment is disfigured;
It binds me about as the collar of my coat.
19 He has cast me into the mire,
And I have become like dust and ashes.
20 “I (G)cry out to You, but You do not answer me;
I stand up, and You regard me.
21 But You have become cruel to me;
With the strength of Your hand You (H)oppose me.
22 You lift me up to the wind and cause me to ride on it;
You spoil my success.
23 For I know that You will bring me to death,
And to the house (I)appointed for all living.
24 “Surely He would not stretch out His hand against a heap of ruins,
If they cry out when He destroys it.
25 (J)Have I not wept for him who was in trouble?
Has not my soul grieved for the poor?
26 (K)But when I looked for good, evil came to me;
And when I waited for light, then came darkness.
27 [f]My heart is in turmoil and cannot rest;
Days of affliction confront me.
28 (L)I go about mourning, but not in the sun;
I stand up in the assembly and cry out for help.
29 (M)I am a brother of jackals,
And a companion of ostriches.
30 (N)My skin grows black and falls from me;
(O)My bones burn with fever.
31 My harp is turned to mourning,
And my flute to the voice of those who weep.
Job Defends His Righteousness
31 “I have made a covenant with my eyes;
Why then should I [g]look upon a (P)young woman?
2 For what is the (Q)allotment of God from above,
And the inheritance of the Almighty from on high?
3 Is it not destruction for the wicked,
And disaster for the workers of iniquity?
4 (R)Does He not see my ways,
And count all my steps?
5 “If I have walked with falsehood,
Or if my foot has hastened to deceit,
6 [h]Let me be weighed on honest scales,
That God may know my (S)integrity.
7 If my step has turned from the way,
Or (T)my heart walked after my eyes,
Or if any spot adheres to my hands,
8 Then (U)let me sow, and another eat;
Yes, let my harvest be [i]rooted out.
9 “If my heart has been enticed by a woman,
Or if I have lurked at my neighbor’s door,
10 Then let my wife grind for (V)another,
And let others bow down over her.
11 For that would be wickedness;
Yes, (W)it would be iniquity deserving of judgment.
12 For that would be a fire that consumes to destruction,
And would root out all my increase.
13 “If I have (X)despised the cause of my male or female servant
When they complained against me,
14 What then shall I do when (Y)God rises up?
When He punishes, how shall I answer Him?
15 (Z)Did not He who made me in the womb make them?
Did not the same One fashion us in the womb?
16 “If I have kept the poor from their desire,
Or caused the eyes of the widow to (AA)fail,
17 Or eaten my morsel by myself,
So that the fatherless could not eat of it
18 (But from my youth I reared him as a father,
And from my mother’s womb I guided [j]the widow);
19 If I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing,
Or any poor man without covering;
20 If his [k]heart has not (AB)blessed me,
And if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep;
21 If I have raised my hand (AC)against the fatherless,
When I saw I had help in the gate;
22 Then let my arm fall from my shoulder,
Let my arm be torn from the socket.
23 For (AD)destruction from God is a terror to me,
And because of His magnificence I cannot endure.
24 “If(AE) I have made gold my hope,
Or said to fine gold, ‘You are my confidence’;
25 (AF)If I have rejoiced because my wealth was great,
And because my hand had gained much;
26 (AG)If I have observed the [l]sun when it shines,
Or the moon moving in brightness,
27 So that my heart has been secretly enticed,
And my mouth has kissed my hand;
28 This also would be an iniquity deserving of judgment,
For I would have denied God who is above.
29 “If(AH) I have rejoiced at the destruction of him who hated me,
Or lifted myself up when evil found him
30 (AI)(Indeed I have not allowed my mouth to sin
By asking for a curse on his [m]soul);
31 If the men of my tent have not said,
‘Who is there that has not been satisfied with his meat?’
32 (AJ)(But no sojourner had to lodge in the street,
For I have opened my doors to the [n]traveler);
33 If I have covered my transgressions (AK)as[o] Adam,
By hiding my iniquity in my bosom,
34 Because I feared the great (AL)multitude,
And dreaded the contempt of families,
So that I kept silence
And did not go out of the door—
35 (AM)Oh, that I had one to hear me!
Here is my mark.
Oh, (AN)that the Almighty would answer me,
That my [p]Prosecutor had written a book!
36 Surely I would carry it on my shoulder,
And bind it on me like a crown;
37 I would declare to Him the number of my steps;
Like a prince I would approach Him.
38 “If my land cries out against me,
And its furrows weep together;
39 If (AO)I have eaten its [q]fruit without money,
Or (AP)caused its owners to lose their lives;
40 Then let (AQ)thistles grow instead of wheat,
And weeds instead of barley.”
The words of Job are ended.
Elihu Contradicts Job’s Friends
32 So these three men ceased answering Job, because he was (AR)righteous in his own eyes. 2 Then the wrath of Elihu, the son of Barachel the (AS)Buzite, of the family of Ram, was aroused against Job; his wrath was aroused because he (AT)justified himself rather than God. 3 Also against his three friends his wrath was aroused, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.
4 Now because they were years older than he, Elihu had waited [r]to speak to Job. 5 When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, his wrath was aroused.
6 So Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, answered and said:
“I am (AU)young in years, and you are very old;
Therefore I was afraid,
And dared not declare my opinion to you.
7 I said, [s]‘Age should speak,
And multitude of years should teach wisdom.’
8 But there is a spirit in man,
And (AV)the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding.
9 (AW)Great[t] men are not always wise,
Nor do the aged always understand justice.
10 “Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me,
I also will declare my opinion.’
11 Indeed I waited for your words,
I listened to your reasonings, while you searched out what to say.
12 I paid close attention to you;
And surely not one of you convinced Job,
Or answered his words—
13 (AX)Lest you say,
‘We have found wisdom’;
God will vanquish him, not man.
14 Now he has not [u]directed his words against me;
So I will not answer him with your words.
15 “They are dismayed and answer no more;
Words escape them.
16 And I have waited, because they did not speak,
Because they stood still and answered no more.
17 I also will answer my part,
I too will declare my opinion.
18 For I am full of words;
The spirit within me compels me.
19 Indeed my [v]belly is like wine that has no [w]vent;
It is ready to burst like new wineskins.
20 I will speak, that I may find relief;
I must open my lips and answer.
21 Let me not, I pray, show partiality to anyone;
Nor let me flatter any man.
22 For I do not know how to flatter,
Else my Maker would soon take me (AY)away.
Elihu Contradicts Job
33 “But please, Job, hear my speech,
And listen to all my words.
2 Now, I open my mouth;
My tongue speaks in my mouth.
3 My words come from my upright heart;
My lips utter pure knowledge.
4 (AZ)The Spirit of God has made me,
And the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
5 If you can answer me,
Set your words in order before me;
Take your stand.
6 (BA)Truly I am [x]as your spokesman before God;
I also have been formed out of clay.
7 (BB)Surely no fear of me will terrify you,
Nor will my hand be heavy on you.
8 “Surely you have spoken [y]in my hearing,
And I have heard the sound of your words, saying,
9 ‘I(BC) am pure, without transgression;
I am innocent, and there is no iniquity in me.
10 Yet He finds occasions against me,
(BD)He counts me as His enemy;
11 (BE)He puts my feet in the stocks,
He watches all my paths.’
12 “Look, in this you are not righteous.
I will answer you,
For God is greater than man.
13 Why do you (BF)contend with Him?
For He does not give an accounting of any of His words.
14 (BG)For God may speak in one way, or in another,
Yet man does not perceive it.
15 (BH)In a dream, in a vision of the night,
When deep sleep falls upon men,
While slumbering on their beds,
16 (BI)Then He opens the ears of men,
And seals their instruction.
17 In order to turn man from his deed,
And conceal pride from man,
18 He keeps back his soul from the Pit,
And his life from [z]perishing by the sword.
19 “Man is also chastened with pain on his (BJ)bed,
And with strong pain in many of his bones,
20 (BK)So that his life abhors (BL)bread,
And his soul [aa]succulent food.
21 His flesh wastes away from sight,
And his bones stick out which once were not seen.
22 Yes, his soul draws near the Pit,
And his life to the executioners.
23 “If there is a messenger for him,
A mediator, one among a thousand,
To show man His uprightness,
24 Then He is gracious to him, and says,
‘Deliver him from going down to the Pit;
I have found [ab]a ransom’;
25 His flesh shall be young like a child’s,
He shall return to the days of his youth.
26 He shall pray to God, and He will delight in him,
He shall see His face with joy,
For He restores to man His righteousness.
27 Then he looks at men and (BM)says,
‘I have sinned, and perverted what was right,
And it (BN)did not profit me.’
28 He will (BO)redeem [ac]his soul from going down to the Pit,
And his life shall see the light.
29 “Behold, God works all these things,
Twice, in fact, three times with a man,
30 (BP)To bring back his soul from the Pit,
That he may be enlightened with the light of life.
31 “Give ear, Job, listen to me;
Hold your peace, and I will speak.
32 If you have anything to say, answer me;
Speak, for I desire to justify you.
33 If not, (BQ)listen to me;
[ad]Hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom.”
Elihu Proclaims God’s Justice
34 Elihu further answered and said:
2 “Hear my words, you wise men;
Give ear to me, you who have knowledge.
3 (BR)For the ear tests words
As the palate tastes food.
4 Let us choose justice for ourselves;
Let us know among ourselves what is good.
5 “For Job has said, (BS)‘I am righteous,
But (BT)God has taken away my justice;
6 (BU)Should I lie concerning my right?
My [ae]wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’
7 What man is like Job,
(BV)Who drinks [af]scorn like water,
8 Who goes in company with the workers of iniquity,
And walks with wicked men?
9 For (BW)he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing
That he should delight in God.’
10 “Therefore listen to me, you [ag]men of understanding:
(BX)Far be it from God to do wickedness,
And from the Almighty to commit iniquity.
11 (BY)For He repays man according to his work,
And makes man to find a reward according to his way.
12 Surely God will never do wickedly,
Nor will the Almighty (BZ)pervert justice.
13 Who gave Him charge over the earth?
Or who appointed Him over the whole world?
14 If He should set His heart on it,
If He should (CA)gather to Himself His Spirit and His breath,
15 (CB)All flesh would perish together,
And man would return to dust.
16 “If you have understanding, hear this;
Listen to the sound of my words:
17 (CC)Should one who hates justice govern?
Will you (CD)condemn Him who is most just?
18 (CE)Is it fitting to say to a king, ‘You are worthless,’
And to nobles, ‘You are wicked’?
19 Yet He (CF)is not partial to princes,
Nor does He regard the rich more than the poor;
For (CG)they are all the work of His hands.
20 In a moment they die, (CH)in the middle of the night;
The people are shaken and pass away;
The mighty are taken away without a hand.
21 “For(CI) His eyes are on the ways of man,
And He sees all his steps.
22 (CJ)There is no darkness nor shadow of death
Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
23 For He need not further consider a man,
That he should go before God in judgment.
24 (CK)He breaks in pieces mighty men without inquiry,
And sets others in their place.
25 Therefore He knows their works;
He overthrows them in the night,
And they are crushed.
26 He strikes them as wicked men
In the open sight of others,
27 Because they (CL)turned back from Him,
And (CM)would not consider any of His ways,
28 So that they (CN)caused the cry of the poor to come to Him;
For He (CO)hears the cry of the afflicted.
29 When He gives quietness, who then can make trouble?
And when He hides His face, who then can see Him,
Whether it is against a nation or a man alone?—
30 That the hypocrite should not reign,
Lest the people be ensnared.
31 “For has anyone said to God,
‘I have borne chastening;
I will offend no more;
32 Teach me what I do not see;
If I have done iniquity, I will do no more’?
33 Should He repay it according to your terms,
Just because you disavow it?
You must choose, and not I;
Therefore speak what you know.
34 “Men of understanding say to me,
Wise men who listen to me:
35 ‘Job(CP) speaks without knowledge,
His words are without wisdom.’
36 Oh, that Job were tried to the utmost,
Because his answers are like those of wicked men!
37 For he adds (CQ)rebellion to his sin;
He claps his hands among us,
And multiplies his words against God.”
Elihu Condemns Self-Righteousness
35 Moreover Elihu answered and said:
2 “Do you think this is right?
Do you say,
‘My righteousness is more than God’s’?
3 For (CR)you say,
‘What advantage will it be to You?
What profit shall I have, more than if I had sinned?’
4 “I will answer you,
And (CS)your companions with you.
5 (CT)Look to the heavens and see;
And behold the clouds—
They are higher than you.
6 If you sin, what do you accomplish (CU)against Him?
Or, if your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to Him?
7 (CV)If you are righteous, what do you give Him?
Or what does He receive from your hand?
8 Your wickedness affects a man such as you,
And your righteousness a son of man.
9 “Because(CW) of the multitude of oppressions they cry out;
They cry out for help because of the arm of the mighty.
10 But no one says, (CX)‘Where is God my Maker,
(CY)Who gives songs in the night,
11 Who (CZ)teaches us more than the beasts of the earth,
And makes us wiser than the birds of heaven?’
12 (DA)There they cry out, but He does not answer,
Because of the pride of evil men.
13 (DB)Surely God will not listen to empty talk,
Nor will the Almighty regard it.
14 (DC)Although you say you do not see Him,
Yet justice is before Him, and (DD)you must wait for Him.
15 And now, because He has not (DE)punished in His anger,
Nor taken much notice of folly,
16 (DF)Therefore Job opens his mouth in vain;
He multiplies words without knowledge.”
Elihu Proclaims God’s Goodness
36 Elihu also proceeded and said:
2 “Bear with me a little, and I will show you
That there are yet words to speak on God’s behalf.
3 I will fetch my knowledge from afar;
I will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
4 For truly my words are not false;
One who is perfect in knowledge is with you.
5 “Behold, God is mighty, but despises no one;
(DG)He is mighty in strength [ah]of understanding.
6 He does not preserve the life of the wicked,
But gives justice to the (DH)oppressed.
7 (DI)He does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous;
But (DJ)they are on the throne with kings,
For He has seated them forever,
And they are exalted.
8 And (DK)if they are bound in [ai]fetters,
Held in the cords of affliction,
9 Then He tells them their work and their transgressions—
That they have acted [aj]defiantly.
10 (DL)He also opens their ear to [ak]instruction,
And commands that they turn from iniquity.
11 If they obey and serve Him,
They shall (DM)spend their days in prosperity,
And their years in pleasures.
12 But if they do not obey,
They shall perish by the sword,
And they shall die [al]without (DN)knowledge.
13 “But the hypocrites in heart (DO)store up wrath;
They do not cry for help when He binds them.
14 (DP)They[am] die in youth,
And their life ends among the [an]perverted persons.
15 He delivers the poor in their affliction,
And opens their ears in oppression.
16 “Indeed He would have brought you out of dire distress,
(DQ)Into a broad place where there is no restraint;
And (DR)what is set on your table would be full of (DS)richness.
17 But you are filled with the judgment due the (DT)wicked;
Judgment and justice take hold of you.
18 Because there is wrath, beware lest He take you away with one blow;
For (DU)a large ransom would not help you avoid it.
19 (DV)Will your riches,
Or all the mighty forces,
Keep you from distress?
20 Do not desire the night,
When people are cut off in their place.
21 Take heed, (DW)do not turn to iniquity,
For (DX)you have chosen this rather than affliction.
22 “Behold, God is exalted by His power;
Who teaches like Him?
23 (DY)Who has assigned Him His way,
Or who has said, ‘You have done (DZ)wrong’?
Elihu Proclaims God’s Majesty
24 “Remember to (EA)magnify His work,
Of which men have sung.
25 Everyone has seen it;
Man looks on it from afar.
26 “Behold, God is great, and we (EB)do not know Him;
(EC)Nor can the number of His years be discovered.
27 For He (ED)draws up drops of water,
Which distill as rain from the mist,
28 (EE)Which the clouds drop down
And pour abundantly on man.
29 Indeed, can anyone understand the spreading of clouds,
The thunder from His canopy?
30 Look, He (EF)scatters His light upon it,
And covers the depths of the sea.
31 For (EG)by these He judges the peoples;
He (EH)gives food in abundance.
32 (EI)He covers His hands with lightning,
And commands it to [ao]strike.
33 (EJ)His thunder declares it,
The cattle also, concerning [ap]the rising storm.
God’s Works and Wisdom
37 “At this also my heart trembles,
And leaps from its place.
2 Hear attentively the thunder of His voice,
And the rumbling that comes from His mouth.
3 He sends it forth under the whole heaven,
His [aq]lightning to the ends of the earth.
4 After it (EK)a voice roars;
He thunders with His majestic voice,
And He does not restrain them when His voice is heard.
5 God thunders marvelously with His voice;
(EL)He does great things which we cannot comprehend.
6 For (EM)He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth’;
Likewise to the [ar]gentle rain and the heavy rain of His strength.
7 He seals the hand of every man,
(EN)That (EO)all men may know His work.
8 The beasts (EP)go into dens,
And remain in their lairs.
9 From the chamber of the south comes the whirlwind,
And cold from the scattering winds of the north.
10 (EQ)By the breath of God ice is given,
And the broad waters are frozen.
11 Also with moisture He saturates the thick clouds;
He scatters His [as]bright clouds.
12 And they swirl about, being turned by His guidance,
That they may (ER)do whatever He commands them
On the face of [at]the whole earth.
13 (ES)He causes it to come,
Whether for [au]correction,
Or (ET)for His land,
Or (EU)for mercy.
14 “Listen to this, O Job;
Stand still and (EV)consider the wondrous works of God.
15 Do you know when God [av]dispatches them,
And causes the light of His cloud to shine?
16 (EW)Do you know how the clouds are balanced,
Those wondrous works of (EX)Him who is perfect in knowledge?
17 Why are your garments hot,
When He quiets the earth by the south wind?
18 With Him, have you (EY)spread out the (EZ)skies,
Strong as a cast metal mirror?
19 “Teach us what we should say to Him,
For we can prepare nothing because of the darkness.
20 Should He be told that I wish to speak?
If a man were to speak, surely he would be swallowed up.
21 Even now men cannot look at the light when it is bright in the skies,
When the wind has passed and cleared them.
22 He comes from the north as golden splendor;
With God is awesome majesty.
23 As for the Almighty, (FA)we cannot find Him;
(FB)He is excellent in power,
In judgment and abundant justice;
He does not oppress.
24 Therefore men (FC)fear Him;
He shows no partiality to any who are (FD)wise of heart.”
The Lord Reveals His Omnipotence to Job(FE)
38 Then the Lord answered Job (FF)out of the whirlwind, and said:
2 “Who(FG) is this who darkens counsel
By (FH)words without knowledge?
3 (FI)Now [aw]prepare yourself like a man;
I will question you, and you shall answer Me.
4 “Where(FJ) were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?
Tell Me, if you have understanding.
5 Who determined its measurements?
Surely you know!
Or who stretched the [ax]line upon it?
6 To what were its foundations fastened?
Or who laid its cornerstone,
7 When the morning stars sang together,
And all (FK)the sons of God shouted for joy?
8 “Or(FL) who shut in the sea with doors,
When it burst forth and issued from the womb;
9 When I made the clouds its garment,
And thick darkness its swaddling band;
10 When (FM)I fixed My limit for it,
And set bars and doors;
11 When I said,
‘This far you may come, but no farther,
And here your proud waves (FN)must stop!’
12 “Have you (FO)commanded the morning since your days began,
And caused the dawn to know its place,
13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth,
And (FP)the wicked be shaken out of it?
14 It takes on form like clay under a seal,
And stands out like a garment.
15 From the wicked their (FQ)light is withheld,
And (FR)the [ay]upraised arm is broken.
16 “Have you (FS)entered the springs of the sea?
Or have you walked in search of the depths?
17 Have (FT)the gates of death been [az]revealed to you?
Or have you seen the doors of the shadow of death?
18 Have you comprehended the breadth of the earth?
Tell Me, if you know all this.
19 “Where is the way to the dwelling of light?
And darkness, where is its place,
20 That you may take it to its territory,
That you may know the paths to its home?
21 Do you know it, because you were born then,
Or because the number of your days is great?
22 “Have you entered (FU)the treasury of snow,
Or have you seen the treasury of hail,
23 (FV)Which I have reserved for the time of trouble,
For the day of battle and war?
24 By what way is light [ba]diffused,
Or the east wind scattered over the earth?
25 “Who (FW)has divided a channel for the overflowing water,
Or a path for the thunderbolt,
26 To cause it to rain on a land where there is no one,
A wilderness in which there is no man;
27 (FX)To satisfy the desolate waste,
And cause to spring forth the growth of tender grass?
28 (FY)Has the rain a father?
Or who has begotten the drops of dew?
29 From whose womb comes the ice?
And the (FZ)frost of heaven, who gives it birth?
30 The waters harden like stone,
And the surface of the deep is (GA)frozen.[bb]
31 “Can you bind the cluster of the (GB)Pleiades,[bc]
Or loose the belt of Orion?
32 Can you bring out [bd]Mazzaroth in its season?
Or can you guide [be]the Great Bear with its cubs?
33 Do you know (GC)the ordinances of the heavens?
Can you set their dominion over the earth?
34 “Can you lift up your voice to the clouds,
That an abundance of water may cover you?
35 Can you send out lightnings, that they may go,
And say to you, ‘Here we are!’?
36 (GD)Who has put wisdom in [bf]the mind?
Or who has given understanding to the heart?
37 Who can number the clouds by wisdom?
Or who can pour out the bottles of heaven,
38 When the dust hardens in clumps,
And the clods cling together?
39 “Can(GE) you hunt the prey for the lion,
Or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,
40 When they crouch in their dens,
Or lurk in their lairs to lie in wait?
41 (GF)Who provides food for the raven,
When its young ones cry to God,
And wander about for lack of food?
God Continues to Challenge Job
39 “Do you know the time when the wild (GG)mountain goats bear young?
Or can you mark when (GH)the deer gives birth?
2 Can you number the months that they fulfill?
Or do you know the time when they bear young?
3 They bow down,
They bring forth their young,
They deliver their [bg]offspring.
4 Their young ones are healthy,
They grow strong with grain;
They depart and do not return to them.
5 “Who set the wild donkey free?
Who loosed the bonds of the [bh]onager,
6 (GI)Whose home I have made the wilderness,
And the [bi]barren land his dwelling?
7 He scorns the tumult of the city;
He does not heed the shouts of the driver.
8 The range of the mountains is his pasture,
And he searches after (GJ)every green thing.
9 “Will the (GK)wild ox be willing to serve you?
Will he bed by your manger?
10 Can you bind the wild ox in the furrow with ropes?
Or will he plow the valleys behind you?
11 Will you trust him because his strength is great?
Or will you leave your labor to him?
12 Will you trust him to bring home your [bj]grain,
And gather it to your threshing floor?
13 “The wings of the ostrich wave proudly,
But are her wings and pinions like the kindly stork’s?
14 For she leaves her eggs on the ground,
And warms them in the dust;
15 She forgets that a foot may crush them,
Or that a wild beast may break them.
16 She (GL)treats her young harshly, as though they were not hers;
Her labor is in vain, without [bk]concern,
17 Because God deprived her of wisdom,
And did not (GM)endow her with understanding.
18 When she lifts herself on high,
She scorns the horse and its rider.
19 “Have you given the horse strength?
Have you clothed his neck with [bl]thunder?
20 Can you [bm]frighten him like a locust?
His majestic snorting strikes terror.
21 He paws in the valley, and rejoices in his strength;
(GN)He gallops into the clash of arms.
22 He mocks at fear, and is not frightened;
Nor does he turn back from the sword.
23 The quiver rattles against him,
The glittering spear and javelin.
24 He devours the distance with fierceness and rage;
Nor does he come to a halt because the trumpet has sounded.
25 At the blast of the trumpet he says, ‘Aha!’
He smells the battle from afar,
The thunder of captains and shouting.
26 “Does the hawk fly by your wisdom,
And spread its wings toward the south?
27 Does the (GO)eagle mount up at your command,
And (GP)make its nest on high?
28 On the rock it dwells and resides,
On the crag of the rock and the stronghold.
29 From there it spies out the prey;
Its eyes observe from afar.
30 Its young ones suck up blood;
And (GQ)where the slain are, there it is.”
God’s Power and Wisdom
40 Moreover the Lord (GR)answered Job, and said:
2 “Shall (GS)the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him?
He who (GT)rebukes God, let him answer it.”
Job’s Response to God
3 Then Job answered the Lord and said:
4 “Behold,(GU) I am vile;
What shall I answer You?
(GV)I lay my hand over my mouth.
5 Once I have spoken, but I will not answer;
Yes, twice, but I will proceed no further.”
God’s Challenge to Job
6 (GW)Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said:
8 “Would(GZ) you indeed [bo]annul My judgment?
Would you condemn Me that you may be justified?
9 Have you an arm like God?
Or can you thunder with (HA)a voice like His?
10 (HB)Then adorn yourself with majesty and splendor,
And array yourself with glory and beauty.
11 Disperse the rage of your wrath;
Look on everyone who is proud, and humble him.
12 Look on everyone who is (HC)proud, and bring him low;
Tread down the wicked in their place.
13 Hide them in the dust together,
Bind their faces in hidden darkness.
14 Then I will also confess to you
That your own right hand can save you.
15 “Look now at the [bp]behemoth, which I made along with you;
He eats grass like an ox.
16 See now, his strength is in his hips,
And his power is in his stomach muscles.
17 He moves his tail like a cedar;
The sinews of his thighs are tightly knit.
18 His bones are like beams of bronze,
His ribs like bars of iron.
19 He is the first of the (HD)ways of God;
Only He who made him can bring near His sword.
20 Surely the mountains (HE)yield food for him,
And all the beasts of the field play there.
21 He lies under the lotus trees,
In a covert of reeds and marsh.
22 The lotus trees cover him with their shade;
The willows by the brook surround him.
23 Indeed the river may rage,
Yet he is not disturbed;
He is confident, though the Jordan gushes into his mouth,
24 Though he takes it in his eyes,
Or one pierces his nose with a snare.
God’s Power in the Leviathan
41 “Can you draw out (HF)Leviathan[bq] with a hook,
Or snare his tongue with a line which you lower?
2 Can you (HG)put a reed through his nose,
Or pierce his jaw with a [br]hook?
3 Will he make many supplications to you?
Will he speak softly to you?
4 Will he make a covenant with you?
Will you take him as a servant forever?
5 Will you play with him as with a bird,
Or will you leash him for your maidens?
6 Will your companions [bs]make a banquet of him?
Will they apportion him among the merchants?
7 Can you fill his skin with harpoons,
Or his head with fishing spears?
8 Lay your hand on him;
Remember the battle—
Never do it again!
9 Indeed, any hope of overcoming him is false;
Shall one not be overwhelmed at the sight of him?
10 No one is so fierce that he would dare stir him up.
Who then is able to stand against Me?
11 (HH)Who has preceded Me, that I should pay him?
(HI)Everything under heaven is Mine.
12 “I will not [bt]conceal his limbs,
His mighty power, or his graceful proportions.
13 Who can [bu]remove his outer coat?
Who can approach him with a double bridle?
14 Who can open the doors of his face,
With his terrible teeth all around?
15 His rows of [bv]scales are his pride,
Shut up tightly as with a seal;
16 One is so near another
That no air can come between them;
17 They are joined one to another,
They stick together and cannot be parted.
18 His sneezings flash forth light,
And his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning.
19 Out of his mouth go burning lights;
Sparks of fire shoot out.
20 Smoke goes out of his nostrils,
As from a boiling pot and burning rushes.
21 His breath kindles coals,
And a flame goes out of his mouth.
22 Strength dwells in his neck,
And [bw]sorrow dances before him.
23 The folds of his flesh are joined together;
They are firm on him and cannot be moved.
24 His heart is as hard as stone,
Even as hard as the lower millstone.
25 When he raises himself up, the mighty are afraid;
Because of his crashings they [bx]are beside themselves.
26 Though the sword reaches him, it cannot avail;
Nor does spear, dart, or javelin.
27 He regards iron as straw,
And bronze as rotten wood.
28 The arrow cannot make him flee;
Slingstones become like stubble to him.
29 Darts are regarded as straw;
He laughs at the threat of javelins.
30 His undersides are like sharp potsherds;
He spreads pointed marks in the mire.
31 He makes the deep boil like a pot;
He makes the sea like a pot of ointment.
32 He leaves a shining wake behind him;
One would think the deep had white hair.
33 On earth there is nothing like him,
Which is made without fear.
34 He beholds every high thing;
He is king over all the children of pride.”
Job’s Repentance and Restoration
42 Then Job answered the Lord and said:
2 “I know that You (HJ)can do everything,
And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.
3 You asked, (HK)‘Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?’
Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand,
(HL)Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.
4 Listen, please, and let me speak;
You said, (HM)‘I will question you, and you shall answer Me.’
5 “I have (HN)heard of You by the hearing of the ear,
But now my eye sees You.
6 Therefore I (HO)abhor[by] myself,
And repent in dust and ashes.”
7 And so it was, after the Lord had spoken these words to Job, that the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My wrath is aroused against you and your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has. 8 Now therefore, take for yourselves (HP)seven bulls and seven rams, (HQ)go to My servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and My servant Job shall (HR)pray for you. For I will accept [bz]him, lest I deal with you according to your folly; because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.”
9 So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did as the Lord commanded them; for the Lord had [ca]accepted Job. 10 (HS)And the Lord [cb]restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the Lord gave Job (HT)twice as much as he had before. 11 Then (HU)all his brothers, all his sisters, and all those who had been his acquaintances before, came to him and ate food with him in his house; and they consoled him and comforted him for all the adversity that the Lord had brought upon him. Each one gave him a piece of silver and each a ring of gold.
12 Now the Lord blessed (HV)the latter days of Job more than his beginning; for he had (HW)fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and one thousand female donkeys. 13 (HX)He also had seven sons and three daughters. 14 And he called the name of the first [cc]Jemimah, the name of the second [cd]Keziah, and the name of the third [ce]Keren-Happuch. 15 In all the land were found no women so beautiful as the daughters of Job; and their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers.
16 After this Job (HY)lived one hundred and forty years, and saw his children and grandchildren for four generations. 17 So Job died, old and (HZ)full of days.
Footnotes
- Job 30:1 Lit. of fewer days
- Job 30:4 A plant of the salty marshes
- Job 30:6 wadis
- Job 30:6 Lit. holes
- Job 30:11 So with MT, Syr., Tg.; LXX, Vg. His
- Job 30:27 I seethe inside
- Job 31:1 look intently or gaze
- Job 31:6 Lit. Let Him weigh me
- Job 31:8 uprooted
- Job 31:18 Lit. her
- Job 31:20 Lit. loins
- Job 31:26 Lit. light
- Job 31:30 Or life
- Job 31:32 So with LXX, Syr., Tg., Vg.; MT road
- Job 31:33 Or as men do
- Job 31:35 Lit. Accuser
- Job 31:39 Lit. strength
- Job 32:4 Vg. till Job had spoken
- Job 32:7 Lit. Days, i.e., years
- Job 32:9 Or Men of many years
- Job 32:14 ordered
- Job 32:19 bosom
- Job 32:19 opening
- Job 33:6 Lit. as your mouth
- Job 33:8 Lit. in my ears
- Job 33:18 Lit. passing
- Job 33:20 desirable
- Job 33:24 an atonement
- Job 33:28 Kt. my
- Job 33:33 Keep silent
- Job 34:6 Lit. arrow
- Job 34:7 derision
- Job 34:10 men of heart
- Job 36:5 of heart
- Job 36:8 chains
- Job 36:9 proudly
- Job 36:10 discipline
- Job 36:12 MT as one without knowledge
- Job 36:14 Lit. Their soul dies
- Job 36:14 Heb. qedeshim, those practicing sodomy or prostitution in religious rituals
- Job 36:32 strike the mark
- Job 36:33 Lit. what is rising
- Job 37:3 Or light
- Job 37:6 Lit. shower of rain
- Job 37:11 clouds of light
- Job 37:12 Lit. the world of the earth
- Job 37:13 Lit. a rod
- Job 37:15 places them
- Job 38:3 Lit. gird up your loins like
- Job 38:5 measuring line
- Job 38:15 Lit. high
- Job 38:17 Lit. opened
- Job 38:24 Lit. divided
- Job 38:30 Lit. imprisoned
- Job 38:31 Or the Seven Stars
- Job 38:32 Lit. Constellations
- Job 38:32 Or Arcturus
- Job 38:36 Lit. the inward parts
- Job 39:3 Lit. pangs
- Job 39:5 A species of wild donkey
- Job 39:6 Lit. salt land
- Job 39:12 Lit. seed
- Job 39:16 Lit. fear
- Job 39:19 Or a mane
- Job 39:20 make him spring
- Job 40:7 Lit. gird up your loins
- Job 40:8 nullify
- Job 40:15 A large animal, exact identity unknown
- Job 41:1 A large sea creature, exact identity unknown
- Job 41:2 thorn
- Job 41:6 Or bargain over him
- Job 41:12 Lit. keep silent about
- Job 41:13 Lit. take off the face of his garment
- Job 41:15 Lit. shields
- Job 41:22 despair
- Job 41:25 Or purify themselves
- Job 42:6 despise
- Job 42:8 Lit. his face
- Job 42:9 Lit. lifted up the face of Job
- Job 42:10 Lit. turned the captivity of Job, what was captured from Job
- Job 42:14 Lit. Handsome as the Day
- Job 42:14 Cassia, a fragrance
- Job 42:14 Lit. The Horn of Color or The Colorful Ray
Exodus 1-3
New King James Version
Israel’s Suffering in Egypt
1 Now (A)these are the names of the children of Israel who came to Egypt; each man and his household came with Jacob: 2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah; 3 Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin; 4 Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. 5 All those [a]who were descendants of Jacob were (B)seventy[b] persons (for Joseph was in Egypt already). 6 And (C)Joseph died, all his brothers, and all that generation. 7 (D)But the children of Israel were fruitful and increased abundantly, multiplied and [c]grew exceedingly mighty; and the land was filled with them.
8 Now there arose a new king over Egypt, (E)who did not know Joseph. 9 And he said to his people, “Look, the people of the children of Israel are more and (F)mightier than we; 10 (G)come, let us (H)deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and it happen, in the event of war, that they also join our enemies and fight against us, and so go up out of the land.” 11 Therefore they set taskmasters over them (I)to afflict them with their (J)burdens. And they built for Pharaoh (K)supply cities, Pithom (L)and Raamses. 12 But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were in dread of the children of Israel. 13 So the Egyptians made the children of Israel (M)serve with [d]rigor. 14 And they (N)made their lives bitter with hard bondage—(O)in mortar, in brick, and in all manner of service in the field. All their service in which they made them serve was with rigor.
15 Then the king of Egypt spoke to the (P)Hebrew midwives, of whom the name of one was Shiphrah and the name of the other Puah; 16 and he said, “When you do the duties of a midwife for the Hebrew women, and see them on the birthstools, if it is a (Q)son, then you shall kill him; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live.” 17 But the midwives (R)feared God, and did not do (S)as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the male children alive. 18 So the king of Egypt called for the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this thing, and saved the male children alive?”
19 And (T)the midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women; for they [e]are lively and give birth before the midwives come to them.”
20 (U)Therefore God dealt well with the midwives, and the people multiplied and [f]grew very mighty. 21 And so it was, because the midwives feared God, (V)that He [g]provided households for them.
22 So Pharaoh commanded all his people, saying, (W)“Every son who is [h]born you shall cast into the river, and every daughter you shall save alive.”
Moses Is Born(X)
2 And (Y)a man of the house of Levi went and took as wife a daughter of Levi. 2 So the woman conceived and bore a son. And (Z)when she saw that he was a beautiful child, she hid him three months. 3 But when she could no longer hide him, she took an ark of (AA)bulrushes for him, daubed it with (AB)asphalt and (AC)pitch, put the child in it, and laid it in the reeds (AD)by the river’s bank. 4 (AE)And his sister stood afar off, to know what would be done to him.
5 Then the (AF)daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river. And her maidens walked along the riverside; and when she saw the ark among the reeds, she sent her maid to get it. 6 And when she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the baby wept. So she had compassion on him, and said, “This is one of the Hebrews’ children.”
7 Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and call a nurse for you from the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for you?”
8 And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Go.” So the maiden went and called the child’s mother. 9 Then Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this child away and nurse him for me, and I will give you your wages.” So the woman took the child and nursed him. 10 And the child grew, and she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became (AG)her son. So she called his name [i]Moses, saying, “Because I drew him out of the water.”
Moses Flees to Midian(AH)
11 Now it came to pass in those days, (AI)when Moses was grown, that he went out to his brethren and looked at their burdens. And he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his brethren. 12 So he looked this way and that way, and when he saw no one, he (AJ)killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. 13 And (AK)when he went out the second day, behold, two Hebrew men (AL)were fighting, and he said to the one who did the wrong, “Why are you striking your companion?”
14 Then he said, (AM)“Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you intend to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?”
So Moses (AN)feared and said, “Surely this thing is known!” 15 When Pharaoh heard of this matter, he sought to kill Moses. But (AO)Moses fled from [j]the face of Pharaoh and dwelt in the land of (AP)Midian; and he sat down by (AQ)a well.
16 (AR)Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters. (AS)And they came and drew water, and they filled the (AT)troughs to water their father’s flock. 17 Then the (AU)shepherds came and (AV)drove them away; but Moses stood up and helped them, and (AW)watered their flock.
18 When they came to (AX)Reuel[k] their father, (AY)he said, “How is it that you have come so soon today?”
19 And they said, “An Egyptian delivered us from the hand of the shepherds, and he also drew enough water for us and watered the flock.”
20 So he said to his daughters, “And where is he? Why is it that you have left the man? Call him, that he may (AZ)eat bread.”
21 Then Moses was content to live with the man, and he gave (BA)Zipporah his daughter to Moses. 22 And she bore him a son. He called his name (BB)Gershom,[l] for he said, “I have been (BC)a [m]stranger in a foreign land.”
23 Now it happened (BD)in the process of time that the king of Egypt died. Then the children of Israel (BE)groaned because of the bondage, and they cried out; and (BF)their cry came up to God because of the bondage. 24 So God (BG)heard their groaning, and God (BH)remembered His (BI)covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25 And God (BJ)looked upon the children of Israel, and God (BK)acknowledged them.
Moses at the Burning Bush(BL)
3 Now Moses was tending the flock of (BM)Jethro his father-in-law, (BN)the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to the back of the desert, and came to (BO)Horeb, (BP)the mountain of God. 2 And (BQ)the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed. 3 Then Moses said, “I will now turn aside and see this (BR)great sight, why the bush does not burn.”
4 So when the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called (BS)to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!”
And he said, “Here I am.”
5 Then He said, “Do not draw near this place. (BT)Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.” 6 Moreover He said, (BU)“I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for (BV)he was afraid to look upon God.
7 And the Lord said: (BW)“I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry (BX)because of their taskmasters, (BY)for I know their [n]sorrows. 8 So (BZ)I have come down to (CA)deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land (CB)to a good and large land, to a land (CC)flowing with milk and honey, to the place of (CD)the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites. 9 Now therefore, behold, (CE)the cry of the children of Israel has come to Me, and I have also seen the (CF)oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. 10 (CG)Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”
11 But Moses said to God, (CH)“Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?”
12 So He said, (CI)“I will certainly be with you. And this shall be a (CJ)sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”
13 Then Moses said to God, “Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?”
14 And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, (CK)‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ” 15 Moreover God said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: ‘The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is (CL)My name forever, and this is My memorial to all generations.’ 16 Go and (CM)gather the elders of Israel together, and say to them, ‘The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared to me, saying, (CN)“I have surely visited you and seen what is done to you in Egypt; 17 and I have said (CO)I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites, to a land flowing with milk and honey.” ’ 18 Then (CP)they will heed your voice; and (CQ)you shall come, you and the elders of Israel, to the king of Egypt; and you shall say to him, ‘The Lord God of the Hebrews has (CR)met with us; and now, please, let us go three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God.’ 19 But I am sure that the king of Egypt (CS)will not let you go, no, not even by a mighty hand. 20 So I will (CT)stretch out My hand and strike Egypt with (CU)all My wonders which I will do in its midst; and (CV)after that he will let you go. 21 And (CW)I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and it shall be, when you go, that you shall not go empty-handed. 22 (CX)But every woman shall ask of her neighbor, namely, of her who dwells near her house, (CY)articles of silver, articles of gold, and clothing; and you shall put them on your sons and on your daughters. So (CZ)you shall plunder the Egyptians.”
Footnotes
- Exodus 1:5 Lit. who came from the loins of
- Exodus 1:5 DSS, LXX seventy-five; cf. Acts 7:14
- Exodus 1:7 became very numerous
- Exodus 1:13 harshness
- Exodus 1:19 have vigor of life, bear quickly, easily
- Exodus 1:20 became very numerous
- Exodus 1:21 gave them families
- Exodus 1:22 Sam., LXX, Tg. add to the Hebrews
- Exodus 2:10 Heb. Mosheh, lit. Drawn Out
- Exodus 2:15 the presence of Pharaoh
- Exodus 2:18 Jethro, Ex. 3:1
- Exodus 2:22 Lit. Stranger There
- Exodus 2:22 sojourner, temporary resident
- Exodus 3:7 pain
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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