Beginning
11 1 Job is unjustly reprehended of Zophar. 7 God is incomprehensible. 14 He is merciful to the repentant. 18 Their assurance that live godly.
1 Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,
2 Should not the multitude of words be answered? or should a great [a]talker be justified?
3 Should men hold their peace at thy lies? and when thou mockest others, shall none make thee ashamed?
4 For thou hast said, [b]My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes.
5 But, oh that God would speak and open his lips against thee!
6 That he might show thee the [c]secrets of wisdom how thou hast deserved double, according to right: know therefore that God hath forgotten thee for thine iniquity.
7 Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty to his perfection?
8 The heavens are high, what canst thou do? [d]it is deeper than the hell, how canst thou know it?
9 The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and it is broader than the Sea.
10 If he cut off and [e]shut up, or gather together, who can turn him back?
11 For he knoweth vain men, and seeth iniquity, and him that understandeth nothing.
12 Yet vain man would be wise, though man newborn is like a wild [f]ass colt.
13 If thou [g]prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him:
14 If iniquity be in thine [h]hand, put it far away, and let no wickedness dwell in thy Tabernacle.
15 Then truly shalt thou lift up thy [i]face without spot, and shalt be stable, and shalt not fear.
16 But thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters that are past.
17 Thine age also shall appear more clear than the noon day: thou shalt shine and be as the morning.
18 And thou shalt be bold, because there is hope: and thou shalt dig pits, and shalt lie down safely.
19 (A)For when thou takest thy rest, none shall make thee afraid: yea, many shall make suit unto thee.
20 But the eyes [j]of the wicked shall fail, and their refuge shall perish, and their hope shall be sorrow of mind.
12 2 Job accuseth his friends of ignorance. 7 He declareth the might, and power of God. 17 And how he changeth the course of things.
1 Then Job answered, and said,
2 Indeed because that ye are the people only, [k]wisdom must die with you.
3 But I have understanding as well as you, and am not inferior unto you: yea, who knoweth not such things?
4 (B)I am [l]as one mocked of his neighbor, who calleth upon God, and he [m]heareth him: the just and the upright is laughed to scorn.
5 [n]He that is ready to fall, is as a lamp despised in the opinion of the rich.
6 The tabernacles of robbers do prosper, and they are in safety, that provoke God, [o]whom God hath enriched with his hand.
7 Ask now the beasts, [p]and they shall teach thee, and the fowls of the heaven, and they shall tell thee:
8 Or speak to the earth, and it shall show thee: or the fishes of the sea, and they shall declare unto thee.
9 Who is ignorant of all these, but that the hand of the Lord hath made these?
10 In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all [q]mankind.
11 Doth not the ears [r]discern the words, and the mouth taste meat for itself?
12 Among the [s]ancient is wisdom, and in the length of days is understanding.
13 With him is wisdom and strength: he hath counsel and understanding.
14 Behold, he will break down, and it cannot be built: he shutteth a man up, and he cannot be loosed.
15 Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up: but when he sendeth them out, they destroy the earth.
16 With him is strength and wisdom: he that is deceived, and that [t]deceiveth, are his.
17 He causeth the counselors to go as spoiled, and maketh the judges fools.
18 [u]He looseth [v]the collar of kings, and girdeth their loins with a girdle.
19 He leadeth away the princes as a prey, and overthroweth the mighty.
20 He taketh away the speech from the [w]faithful counselors, and taketh away the judgment of the ancient.
21 He poureth contempt upon princes, and maketh the strength of the mighty weak.
22 He discovereth the deep places from their darkness, and bringeth forth the shadow of death to light.
23 He [x]increaseth the people, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and bringeth them in again.
24 He taketh away the hearts of them that are the chief over the people of the earth, and maketh them to wander in the wilderness out of the way.
25 They grope in the dark without light: and he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.
13 3 Job compareth his knowledge with the experience of his friends. 16 The penitent shall be saved, and the hypocrite condemned, 20 He prayeth unto God, that he would not handle him rigorously.
1 Lo, mine eye hath seen all this: mine ear hath heard, and understood it.
2 I know also as much as you know: I am not inferior unto you.
3 But I will speak to the Almighty, and I desire [y]to dispute with God.
4 For indeed ye forge lies, and all you are [z]physicians of no value.
5 Oh, that you would hold your tongue, that it might be imputed to you for wisdom!
6 Now hear my disputation, and give ear to the arguments of my lips.
7 Will ye speak [aa]wickedly for God’s defense, and talk deceitfully for his cause?
8 Will ye accept his person? or will ye contend for God?
9 Is it well that he should seek of you? will you make a lie for him, as one lieth for a man?
10 He will surely reprove you, if ye do secretly accept any person.
11 Shall not his excellency make you afraid? and his fear fall upon you?
12 Your [ab]memories may be compared unto ashes, and your bodies unto bodies of clay.
13 Hold your tongues in my presence, that I may speak, and let come upon what will.
14 Wherefore do I [ac]take my flesh in my teeth, and put my soul in my hand?
15 Lo, though he slay me, yet will I trust in him, and I will reprove my ways in his sight.
16 He shall be my salvation also: for the [ad]hypocrite shall not come before him.
17 Hear diligently my words, and mark my talk.
18 Behold now: if I prepare me to judgment, I know that I shall be [ae]justified.
19 Who is he that will plead [af]with me? for if I now hold my tongue, I [ag]die.
20 But do not these two things unto me: then will I not hide myself from thee.
21 [ah]Withdraw thine hand from me, and let not thy fear make me afraid.
22 Then call thou, and I will answer: or let me speak, and answer thou me.
23 How many are [ai]mine iniquities and sins, show me my rebellion and my sin.
24 Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and takest me for thine enemy?
25 Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro? and wilt thou pursue the dry stubble?
26 For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the [aj]iniquities of my youth.
27 Thou puttest my feet also in the [ak]stocks, and lookest narrowly unto all my paths, and makest the print thereof in the [al]heels of my feet.
28 Such a one consumeth like a rotten thing, and as a garment that is moth-eaten.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.