Beginning
Zophar: God Sees Iniquity
11 Then, Zophar the Naamathite answered and said:
2 “Should so many words go unanswered?
Is a man justified by his lips?
3 Will your idle talk silence men
and will no one rebuke you when you mock?
4 For you have said,
‘My teaching is flawless’
and ‘I am pure in Your eyes!’
5 But if only God would speak
and open His lips against you,
6 and show you the secrets of wisdom—
for sound wisdom has two sides.
Know that God has forgotten some of your iniquity.
7 “Can you discover the mysteries of God?
Can you find the limits of Shaddai?
8 They are higher than the heavens
—what can you do?
They are deeper than Sheol
—what can you know?
9 Its measure is longer than the earth
and wider than the sea.
10 “If He comes by and imprisons, or convenes a court,
who can prevent Him?
11 For He knows deceitful men;
when He sees wickedness, does he not consider it?
12 But a witless man will gain understanding
when a wild donkey’s colt is born a human being?
13 “If you devote your heart to Him
and spread out your hands to Him,
14 if you put away the wickedness that is in your hand,
and allow no iniquity to abide in your tent,
15 then you will lift up your face without reproach;
you will stand firm and without fear.
16 You will forget your trouble;
you will remember it like water that has flowed away.
17 Life will be brighter than noonday;
darkness like the morning.
18 You will be confident, because there is hope;
you will look about you and lie down in safety.
19 You will lie down with no one to make you afraid,
many will seek your favor.
20 But the eyes of the wicked will fail,
and escape will elude them;
their only hope is their dying breath.”[a]
Job: Everything is in His Hand
12 Job responded and said:
2 “Without a doubt you are the people
and wisdom will die with you!
3 But I have a mind as well as you;
I am not inferior to you.
Who does not know these things?
4 “I have become a laughingstock to my friend,
though I called on God and He answered—
a righteous and blameless man is a laughingstock!
5 Contempt for calamity is the thought of one at ease,
prepared for those whose foot slips.
6 The tents of marauders prosper,
and there is security for those who provoke God—
for those whom God brings in His hand.
7 But now ask the animals and they will teach you,
or the birds of the sky and they will tell you,
8 or speak to the earth and it will teach you,
or the fish of the sea and they will inform you.
9 Which of these does not know
that the hand of Adonai has done this?
10 In His hand is the life of every creature,
and the breath of all the human race.
11 Does not the ear test words
as the palate tastes food?
12 Is not wisdom with the aged
and understanding bring long life?
13 “With Him are wisdom and power;
counsel and understanding are His.
14 If He tears down, it cannot be rebuilt;
one He imprisons cannot be released.
15 If He holds back the waters, they dry up;
if He releases them, they destroy the earth.
16 With Him are power and sound wisdom;
both deceived and deceiver are His.
17 He leads counselors away stripped
and makes judges into fools.
18 He loosens the bonds of the kings,
and binds a loincloth around their waists.
19 He leads priests away stripped
and overthrows the rulers.
20 He silences the lips of trusted advisors
and removes the discernment of elders.
21 He pours contempt on nobles
and loosens the belts of the mighty.
22 He reveals the deep things of darkness[b]
and brings utter darkness into light.
23 He makes nations great
and destroys them.
He enlarges the nations
and leads them away.
24 He deprives the heads of the people of earth of understanding,
and causes them to wander in a pathless wasteland.
25 They grope in darkness with no light;
He makes them stagger like a drunkard.
Job Challenges God
13 “Indeed, my eye has seen it all,
my ears have heard and understood it.
2 What you know, I also know;
I am not inferior to you.
3 Still, I desire to speak to Shaddai
and to argue my case with God.
4 You, however, smear me with lies;
you are worthless doctors—all of you!
5 If only you would keep completely silent!
For you, that would be wisdom.
6 Hear now my argument;
listen to the contentions of my lips.
7 Will you speak unjustly on God’s behalf?
Will you speak deceitfully for Him?
8 Will you show Him partiality?
Will you argue the case for God?
9 Would it turn out well if He examined you?
Could you deceive Him as you deceive a man?
10 He would surely rebuke you
if you secretly showed favoritism.
11 Would not His majesty terrify you
and the dread of Him fall on you?
12 Your maxims are proverbs of ashes;
your defenses are defenses of clay.
13 Be silent and let me speak;
then let come to me what may.
14 Why should I take my flesh in my teeth
and take my life in my hands?
15 Even if He slays me, I will wait for Him;
I will surely defend my ways before Him.
16 This, too, will be my salvation
for no godless can come before Him.
17 “Listen carefully to my words,
and let my declaration be in your ears.
18 See now, I have prepared my case;
I know that I will be vindicated.
19 Who will contend with me?
If so, I will be silent and die.
20 “Only two things do not do to me;
then I will not hide from Your face:
21 withdraw Your hand far from me,
and do not assail me with Your terror.
22 Then call, and I will answer,
or I will speak, and You respond to me.
23 How many are my iniquities and sins?
Show me my transgressions and sin.
24 Why do You hide Your face
and consider me Your enemy?
25 Will You frighten a windblown leaf
and chase after dry chaff?
26 For You write bitter things against me
and make me inherit the iniquities of my youth.
27 You put my feet in shackles and watch all my paths;
You put marks on the soles of my feet.
28 “So he wastes away
like something rotten,
like a moth-eaten garment.
Tree of Life (TLV) Translation of the Bible. Copyright © 2015 by The Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society.