Beginning
21 But Job answered, and said,
2 “Hear diligently my words. And let this be your consolation.
3 “Allow me to speak. And when I have spoken, mock on.
4 “Is my complaint to man? If it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled?
5 “Mark me and be appalled. And lay your hand upon your mouth.
6 “Even when I remember, I am afraid. And fear takes hold of my flesh.
7 “Why do the wicked live, grow old, and increase in wealth?
8 “Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their generation before their eyes.
9 “Their houses are peaceable, without fear. And the rod of God is not upon them.
10 “Their bull breeds, without fail. Their cow calves, and does not cast her calf.
11 “They send forth their children like sheep, and their sons dance.
12 “They take the tambourine and harp and rejoice in the sound of the organs.
13 “They spend their days in wealth, and suddenly they go down to the grave.
14 “They say also to God, ‘Depart from us! For we do not desire the knowledge of Your ways!
15 ‘Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what profit should we have, if we should pray to him?’
16 “Lo, their wealth is not in their hand. Let the counsel of the wicked be far from me.
17 “How often shall the candle of the wicked be put out and their destruction come upon them? He will divide their lives in His wrath.
18 “They shall be as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carries away.
19 “God will lay up sorrow for one’s children. When He rewards him, he shall know it.
20 “His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
21 “For what pleasure does he have in his house after him when the number of his months is cut off?
22 “Shall any teach God knowledge, Who judges the highest things?
23 “One dies in his full strength, being in all ease and prosperity.
24 “His breasts are full of milk, and his bones run full of marrow.
25 “And another dies in the bitterness of his soul, and never eats with pleasure.
26 “They both shall sleep in the dust. And the worms shall cover them.
27 “Behold, I know your thoughts, and the enterprises with which you do me wrong.
28 “For you say, ‘Where is the prince’s house?’ and ‘Where is the tabernacle of the wicked’s dwelling?’
29 “Have you not asked those who go by the way? And you cannot deny their signs.
30 “But the wicked are kept to the Day of Destruction. They shall be brought forth to the Day of Wrath.
31 “Who shall declare his way to His face? And who shall reward him for what he has done?
32 “Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and remain in the heap.
33 “The slimy valley shall be sweet to him, and every man shall follow him, as before him there were innumerable.
34 “How, then, can you comfort me in vain, seeing in your answer there remains but lies?”
22 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered, and said,
2 “May a man be profitable to God, as he that is wise may be profitable to himself?
3 “Is it anything to the Almighty if you are righteous? Or is it profitable if you make your ways upright?
4 “Is it because of your fear that He rebukes you, or goes with you into judgment?
5 “Is not your wickedness great, and your iniquities innumerable?
6 “For you have taken the pledge from your brother for nothing, and spoiled the clothes of the naked.
7 “To such as were weary, you have not given water to drink. And you have withdrawn bread from the hungry.
8 “But the mighty man had the Earth. And he who was in authority dwelt in it.
9 “You have cast out widows empty, and the arms of the fatherless were broken.
10 “Therefore snares are all around you, and fear shall suddenly trouble you,
11 “or darkness, so that you should not see. And abundance of waters shall cover you.
12 “Is not God on high in the heaven? And behold the height of the stars, how high they are.
13 “But you say, ‘How should God know? Can He judge through the dark cloud?
14 ‘The clouds hide Him so that He cannot see, and He walks in the circle of Heaven.’
15 “Have you marked the way of the world, wherein wicked men have walked?
16 “Who were cut down before their time? Whose foundation was as a river that overflowed?
17 “Who said to God, ‘Depart from us,’ and asked what the Almighty could do for them?
18 “Yet He filled their houses with good things. But let the counsel of the wicked be far from me.
19 “The righteous shall see them and shall rejoice and the innocent shall laugh them to scorn.
20 “Surely our substance is hidden. But the fire has devoured the remnant of them.
21 “Therefore, please acquaint yourself with Him and make peace. Thereby you shall have prosperity.
22 “Please receive the Law of His Mouth and lay up His Words in your heart.
23 “If you return to the Almighty, you shall be built up. You shall put iniquity far from your tabernacle.
24 “You shall lay up gold for dust, and the gold of Ophir, as the flints of the rivers.
25 “Yea, the Almighty shall be your defense, and you shall have plenty of silver.
26 “And you shall then delight in the Almighty, and lift up your face to God.
27 “You shall make your prayer to Him, and He shall hear you. And you shall render your vows.
28 “You shall also decree a thing, and He shall establish it to you. And the light shall shine upon your ways.
29 “When others are cast down, then shall you say, ‘I am lifted up,’ and God shall save the humble person.
30 “The innocent shall deliver the island, and it shall be preserved by the pureness of your hands.”
23 But Job answered, and said,
2 “Though my talk be in bitterness today, and my plague greater than my groaning,
3 “I wish that I knew how to find Him. I would enter into His place.
4 “I would plead the cause before Him and fill my mouth with arguments.
5 “I would know the Words He would answer me and would understand what He would say to me.
6 “Would He plead against me with His great power? No, He would surely acknowledge me.
7 “There the righteous might reason with Him. So I would be delivered forever from my Judge.
8 “Behold, if I go to the East, He is not there. If to the West, yet I cannot perceive Him.
9 “If to the North where He works, yet I cannot see Him. He will hide Himself in the South, and I cannot behold Him.
10 “But He knows my way, and tries me. I shall come forth like gold.
11 “My foot has followed His steps. I have kept His way, and have not declined.
12 “Nor have I departed from the Commandment of His Lips. I have treasured the Words of His Mouth more than my appointed food.
13 “Yet, He is One and who can turn Him? Yea, He does what His Mind desires.
14 “For He will perform that which is decreed for me. And many such things are with Him.
15 “Therefore, I am troubled at His presence. And in considering it, I am afraid of Him.
16 “For God has softened my heart. And the Almighty has terrified me.
17 “For I am not cut off in darkness. But He has hidden the darkness from my face.”
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