Bible in 90 Days
Bildad Says Man Is Inferior
25 Then Bildad the Shuhite [a]answered,
2 “(A)Dominion and awe [b]belong to Him
Who establishes peace in (B)His heights.
3 “Is there any number to (C)His troops?
And upon whom does His light not rise?
4 “How then can a man be (D)just with God?
Or how can he be (E)clean who is born of woman?
5 “If even (F)the moon has no brightness
And the (G)stars are not pure in His sight,
6 How much less (H)man, that (I)maggot,
And the son of man, that worm!”
Job Rebukes Bildad
26 Then Job [c]responded,
2 “What a help you are to [d](J)the weak!
How you have saved the arm (K)without strength!
3 “What counsel you have given to one without wisdom!
What helpful insight you have abundantly [e]provided!
4 “To whom have you uttered words?
And whose [f]spirit was expressed through you?
The Greatness of God
5 “The [g](L)departed spirits tremble
Under the waters and their inhabitants.
6 “Naked is [h](M)Sheol before Him,
And [i](N)Abaddon has no covering.
7 “He (O)stretches out the north over empty space
And hangs the earth on nothing.
8 “He (P)wraps up the waters in His clouds,
And the cloud does not burst under them.
9 “He [j](Q)obscures the face of the [k]full moon
And spreads His cloud over it.
10 “He has inscribed a (R)circle on the surface of the waters
At the (S)boundary of light and darkness.
11 “The pillars of heaven tremble
And are amazed at His rebuke.
12 “He (T)quieted the sea with His power,
And by His (U)understanding He shattered (V)Rahab.
13 “By His breath the (W)heavens are [l]cleared;
His hand has pierced (X)the fleeing serpent.
14 “Behold, these are the fringes of His ways;
And how faint (Y)a word we hear of Him!
But His mighty (Z)thunder, who can understand?”
Job Affirms His Righteousness
27 Then Job [m]continued his (AA)discourse and said,
2 “As God lives, (AB)who has taken away my right,
And the Almighty, (AC)who has embittered my soul,
3 For as long as [n]life is in me,
And the [o](AD)breath of God is in my nostrils,
4 My lips certainly will not speak unjustly,
Nor will (AE)my tongue mutter deceit.
5 “Far be it from me that I should declare you right;
Till I die (AF)I will not put away my integrity from me.
6 “I (AG)hold fast my righteousness and will not let it go.
My heart does not reproach any of my days.
The State of the Godless
7 “May my enemy be as the wicked
And [p]my opponent as the unjust.
8 “For what is (AH)the hope of the godless [q]when he is cut off,
When God requires (AI)his [r]life?
9 “Will God (AJ)hear his cry
When (AK)distress comes upon him?
10 “Will he take (AL)delight in the Almighty?
Will he call on God at all times?
11 “I will instruct you in the [s]power of God;
What is with the Almighty I will not conceal.
12 “Behold, all of you have seen it;
Why then do you [t]act foolishly?
13 “This is (AM)the portion of a wicked man from God,
And the inheritance which (AN)tyrants receive from the Almighty.
14 “Though his sons are many, [u]they are destined (AO)for the sword;
And his (AP)descendants will not be satisfied with bread.
15 “His survivors will be buried because of the plague,
And [v]their (AQ)widows will not be able to weep.
16 “Though he piles up silver like dust
And prepares garments as plentiful as the clay,
17 He may prepare it, (AR)but the just will wear it
And the innocent will divide the silver.
18 “He has built his (AS)house like the [w]spider’s web,
Or as a hut which the watchman has made.
19 “He lies down rich, but never [x]again;
He opens his eyes, and (AT)it is no longer.
20 “(AU)Terrors overtake him like a flood;
A tempest steals him away (AV)in the night.
21 “The east (AW)wind carries him away, and he is gone,
For it whirls him (AX)away from his place.
22 “For it will hurl at him (AY)without sparing;
He will surely try to (AZ)flee from its [y]power.
23 “Men will clap their hands at him
And will (BA)hiss him from his place.
Job Tells of Earth’s Treasures
28 “Surely there is a [z]mine for silver
And a place [aa]where they refine gold.
2 “Iron is taken from the dust,
And copper is smelted from rock.
3 “Man puts an end to darkness,
And (BB)to the farthest limit he searches out
The rock in gloom and deep shadow.
4 “He [ab]sinks a shaft far from [ac]habitation,
Forgotten by the foot;
They hang and swing to and fro far from men.
5 “The earth, from it comes food,
And underneath it is turned up as fire.
6 “Its rocks are the [ad]source of sapphires,
And its dust contains gold.
7 “The path no bird of prey knows,
Nor has the falcon’s eye caught sight of it.
8 “The [ae]proud beasts have not trodden it,
Nor has the fierce lion passed over it.
9 “He puts his hand on the flint;
He overturns the mountains at the [af]base.
10 “He hews out channels through the rocks,
And his eye sees anything precious.
11 “He dams up the streams from [ag]flowing,
And what is hidden he brings out to the light.
The Search for Wisdom Is Harder
12 “But (BC)where can wisdom be found?
And where is the place of understanding?
13 “(BD)Man does not know its value,
Nor is it found in the land of the living.
14 “The deep says, ‘It is not in me’;
And the sea says, ‘It is not with me.’
15 “(BE)Pure gold cannot be given in exchange for it,
Nor can silver be weighed as its price.
16 “It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir,
In precious onyx, or sapphire.
17 “(BF)Gold or glass cannot equal it,
Nor can it be exchanged for articles of fine gold.
18 “Coral and crystal are not to be mentioned;
And the acquisition of (BG)wisdom is above that of pearls.
19 “The topaz of Ethiopia cannot equal it,
Nor can it be valued in (BH)pure gold.
20 “(BI)Where then does wisdom come from?
And where is the place of understanding?
21 “Thus it is hidden from the eyes of all living
And concealed from the birds of the sky.
22 “[ah](BJ)Abaddon and Death say,
‘With our ears we have heard a report of it.’
23 “(BK)God understands its way,
And He knows its place.
24 “For He (BL)looks to the ends of the earth
And sees everything under the heavens.
25 “When He imparted (BM)weight to the wind
And (BN)meted out the waters by measure,
26 When He set a (BO)limit for the rain
And a course for the (BP)thunderbolt,
27 Then He saw it and declared it;
He established it and also searched it out.
28 “And to man He said, ‘Behold, the (BQ)fear of the Lord, that is wisdom;
And to depart from evil is understanding.’”
Job’s Past Was Glorious
29 And Job again took up his (BR)discourse and said,
2 “Oh that I were as in months gone by,
As in the days when God (BS)watched over me;
3 When (BT)His lamp shone over my head,
And (BU)by His light I walked through darkness;
4 As I was in [ai]the prime of my days,
When the [aj](BV)friendship of God was over my tent;
5 When [ak]the Almighty was yet with me,
And my children were around me;
6 When my steps were bathed in (BW)butter,
And the (BX)rock poured out for me streams of oil!
7 “When I went out to (BY)the gate of the city,
When I [al]took my seat in the square,
8 The young men saw me and hid themselves,
And the old men arose and stood.
9 “The princes (BZ)stopped talking
And (CA)put their hands on their mouths;
10 The voice of the nobles was [am](CB)hushed,
And their (CC)tongue stuck to their palate.
11 “For when (CD)the ear heard, it called me blessed,
And when the eye saw, it gave witness of me,
12 Because I delivered (CE)the poor who cried for help,
And the (CF)orphan who had no helper.
13 “The blessing of the one (CG)ready to perish came upon me,
And I made the (CH)widow’s heart sing for joy.
14 “I (CI)put on righteousness, and it clothed me;
My justice was like a robe and a turban.
15 “I was (CJ)eyes to the blind
And feet to the lame.
16 “I was a father to (CK)the needy,
And I investigated the case which I did not know.
17 “I (CL)broke the jaws of the wicked
And snatched the prey from his teeth.
18 “Then I [an]thought, ‘I shall die [ao]in my nest,
And I shall multiply my days as the sand.
19 ‘My (CM)root is spread out to the waters,
And (CN)dew lies all night on my branch.
20 ‘My glory is ever new with me,
And my (CO)bow is renewed in my hand.’
21 “To me (CP)they listened and waited,
And kept silent for my counsel.
22 “After my words they did not (CQ)speak again,
And (CR)my speech dropped on them.
23 “They waited for me as for the rain,
And opened their mouth as for the spring rain.
24 “I smiled on them when they did not believe,
And the light of my face they did not cast down.
25 “I chose a way for them and sat as (CS)chief,
And dwelt as a king among the troops,
As one who (CT)comforted the mourners.
Job’s Present State Is Humiliating
30 “But now those younger than I (CU)mock me,
Whose fathers I disdained to put with the dogs of my flock.
2 “Indeed, what good was the strength of their hands to me?
Vigor had perished from them.
3 “From want and famine they are gaunt
Who gnaw the dry ground by night in waste and desolation,
4 Who pluck [ap]mallow by the bushes,
And whose food is the root of the broom shrub.
5 “They are driven from the community;
They shout against them as against a thief,
6 So that they dwell in dreadful [aq]valleys,
In holes of the earth and of the rocks.
7 “Among the bushes they [ar]cry out;
Under the nettles they are gathered together.
8 “[as]Fools, even [at]those without a name,
They were scourged from the land.
9 “And now I have become their [au](CV)taunt,
I have even become a (CW)byword to them.
10 “They abhor me and stand aloof from me,
And they do not [av]refrain from (CX)spitting at my face.
11 “Because [aw]He has loosed [ax]His [ay]bowstring and (CY)afflicted me,
They have cast off (CZ)the bridle before me.
12 “On the right hand their [az]brood arises;
They (DA)thrust aside my feet (DB)and build up against me their ways of destruction.
13 “They (DC)break up my path,
They profit [ba]from my destruction;
No one restrains them.
14 “As through a wide breach they come,
[bb]Amid the tempest they roll on.
15 “(DD)Terrors are turned against me;
They pursue my [bc]honor as the wind,
And my [bd]prosperity has passed away (DE)like a cloud.
16 “And now (DF)my soul is poured out [be]within me;
Days of affliction have seized me.
17 “At night it pierces (DG)my bones [bf]within me,
And my gnawing pains take no rest.
18 “By a great force my garment is (DH)distorted;
It binds me about as the collar of my coat.
19 “He has cast me into the (DI)mire,
And I have become like dust and ashes.
20 “I (DJ)cry out to You for help, but You do not answer me;
I stand up, and You turn Your attention against me.
21 “You have [bg]become cruel to me;
With the might of Your hand You (DK)persecute me.
22 “You (DL)lift me up to the wind and cause me to ride;
And You dissolve me in a storm.
23 “For I know that You (DM)will bring me to death
And to the (DN)house of meeting for all living.
24 “Yet does not one in a heap of ruins stretch out his hand,
Or in his disaster therefore (DO)cry out for help?
25 “Have I not (DP)wept for the [bh]one whose life is hard?
Was not my soul grieved for (DQ)the needy?
26 “When I (DR)expected good, then evil came;
When I waited for light, (DS)then darkness came.
27 “[bi]I am seething (DT)within and cannot relax;
Days of affliction confront me.
28 “I go about [bj](DU)mourning without comfort;
I stand up in the assembly and (DV)cry out for help.
29 “I have become a brother to (DW)jackals
And a companion of ostriches.
30 “My (DX)skin turns black [bk]on me,
And my (DY)bones burn with [bl]fever.
31 “Therefore my (DZ)harp [bm]is turned to mourning,
And my flute to the sound of those who weep.
Job Asserts His Integrity
31 “I have made a covenant with my (EA)eyes;
How then could I gaze at a virgin?
2 “And what is (EB)the portion of God from above
Or the heritage of the Almighty from on high?
3 “Is it not (EC)calamity to the unjust
And disaster to (ED)those who work iniquity?
4 “Does He not (EE)see my ways
And (EF)number all my steps?
5 “If I have (EG)walked with falsehood,
And my foot has hastened after deceit,
6 Let Him (EH)weigh me with [bn]accurate scales,
And let God know (EI)my integrity.
7 “If my step has (EJ)turned from the way,
Or my heart [bo]followed my eyes,
Or if any (EK)spot has stuck to my hands,
8 Let me (EL)sow and another eat,
And let my [bp](EM)crops be uprooted.
9 “If my heart has been (EN)enticed by a woman,
Or I have lurked at my neighbor’s doorway,
10 May my wife (EO)grind for another,
And let (EP)others [bq]kneel down over her.
11 “For that would be a (EQ)lustful crime;
Moreover, it would be (ER)an iniquity punishable by judges.
12 “For it would be (ES)fire that consumes to [br](ET)Abaddon,
And would (EU)uproot all my [bs]increase.
13 “If I have (EV)despised the claim of my male or female slaves
When they filed a complaint against me,
14 What then could I do when God arises?
And when He calls me to account, what will I answer Him?
15 “Did not (EW)He who made me in the womb make him,
And the same one fashion us in the womb?
16 “If I have kept (EX)the poor from their desire,
Or have caused the eyes of (EY)the widow to fail,
17 Or have (EZ)eaten my morsel alone,
And (FA)the orphan has not [bt]shared it
18 (But from my youth he grew up with me as with a father,
And from [bu]infancy I guided her),
19 If I have seen anyone perish (FB)for lack of clothing,
Or that (FC)the needy had no covering,
20 If his loins have not [bv]thanked me,
And if he has not been warmed with the fleece of my sheep,
21 If I have lifted up my hand against (FD)the orphan,
Because I saw [bw]I had support (FE)in the gate,
22 Let my shoulder fall from the [bx]socket,
And my (FF)arm be broken off [by]at the elbow.
23 “For (FG)calamity from God is a terror to me,
And because of (FH)His [bz]majesty I can do nothing.
24 “If I have put my confidence in (FI)gold,
And called fine gold my trust,
25 If I have (FJ)gloated because my wealth was great,
And because my hand had secured so much;
26 If I have (FK)looked at the [ca]sun when it shone
Or the moon going in splendor,
27 And my heart became secretly enticed,
And my hand [cb]threw a kiss from my mouth,
28 That too would have been (FL)an iniquity calling for [cc]judgment,
For I would have (FM)denied God above.
29 “Have I (FN)rejoiced at the extinction of my enemy,
Or [cd]exulted when evil befell him?
30 “[ce]No, (FO)I have not [cf]allowed my mouth to sin
By asking for his life in (FP)a curse.
31 “Have the men of my tent not said,
‘Who can [cg]find one who has not been (FQ)satisfied with his meat’?
32 “The alien has not lodged outside,
For I have opened my doors to the [ch]traveler.
33 “Have I (FR)covered my transgressions like [ci]Adam,
By hiding my iniquity in my bosom,
34 Because I (FS)feared the great multitude,
And the contempt of families terrified me,
And kept silent and did not go out of doors?
35 “Oh that I had one to hear me!
Behold, here is my [cj]signature;
(FT)Let the Almighty answer me!
And the indictment which my (FU)adversary has written,
36 Surely I would carry it on my shoulder,
I would bind it to myself like a crown.
37 “I would declare to Him (FV)the number of my steps;
Like (FW)a prince I would approach Him.
38 “If my (FX)land cries out against me,
And its furrows weep together;
39 If I have (FY)eaten its [ck]fruit without money,
Or have (FZ)caused [cl]its owners to lose their lives,
40 Let (GA)briars [cm]grow instead of wheat,
And stinkweed instead of barley.”
The words of Job are ended.
Elihu in Anger Rebukes Job
32 Then these three men ceased answering Job, because he was (GB)righteous in his own eyes. 2 But the anger of Elihu the son of Barachel the (GC)Buzite, of the family of Ram burned; against Job his anger burned (GD)because he justified himself [cn](GE)before God. 3 And his anger burned against his three friends because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job. 4 Now Elihu had waited [co]to speak to Job because they were years older than he. 5 And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of the three men his anger burned.
6 So Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite [cp]spoke out and said,
“I am young in years and you are (GF)old;
Therefore I was shy and afraid to tell you [cq]what I think.
7 “I [cr]thought [cs](GG)age should speak,
And [ct]increased years should teach wisdom.
8 “But it is a spirit in man,
And the (GH)breath of the Almighty gives them (GI)understanding.
9 “The [cu]abundant in years may not be wise,
Nor may (GJ)elders understand justice.
10 “So I [cv]say, ‘Listen to me,
I too will tell [cw]what I think.’
11 “Behold, I waited for your words,
I listened to your reasonings,
While you [cx]pondered what to say.
12 “I even paid close attention to you;
[cy]Indeed, there was no one who refuted Job,
Not one of you who answered his words.
13 “Do not say,
‘(GK)We have found wisdom;
God will [cz]rout him, not man.’
14 “For he has not arranged his words against me,
Nor will I reply to him with your [da]arguments.
15 “They are dismayed, they no longer answer;
Words have [db]failed them.
16 “Shall I wait, because they do not speak,
Because they [dc]stop and no longer answer?
17 “I too will answer my share,
I also will tell my opinion.
18 “For I am full of words;
The spirit within me constrains me.
19 “Behold, my belly is like unvented wine,
Like new wineskins it is about to burst.
20 “Let me speak that I may get relief;
Let me open my lips and answer.
21 “Let me now (GL)be partial to no one,
Nor flatter any man.
22 “For I do not know how to flatter,
Else my Maker would soon take me away.
Elihu Claims to Speak for God
33 “However now, Job, please (GM)hear my speech,
And listen to all my words.
2 “Behold now, I open my mouth,
My tongue in my [dd]mouth speaks.
3 “My words are from the uprightness of my heart,
And my lips speak (GN)knowledge sincerely.
4 “The (GO)Spirit of God has made me,
And the (GP)breath of [de]the Almighty gives me life.
5 “(GQ)Refute me if you can;
Array yourselves before me, take your stand.
6 “Behold, I belong to God like you;
I too have been [df]formed out of the (GR)clay.
7 “Behold, (GS)no fear of me should terrify you,
Nor should my pressure weigh heavily on you.
8 “Surely you have spoken in my hearing,
And I have heard the sound of your words:
9 ‘I am (GT)pure, (GU)without transgression;
I am innocent and there (GV)is no guilt in me.
10 ‘Behold, He [dg]invents pretexts against me;
He (GW)counts me as His enemy.
11 ‘He (GX)puts my feet in the stocks;
He watches all my paths.’
12 “Behold, let me [dh]tell you, (GY)you are not right in this,
For God is greater than man.
13 “Why do you (GZ)complain against Him
That He does not give an account of all His doings?
14 “Indeed (HA)God speaks once,
Or twice, yet no one notices it.
15 “In a (HB)dream, a vision of the night,
When sound sleep falls on men,
While they slumber in their beds,
16 Then (HC)He opens the ears of men,
And seals their instruction,
17 That He may turn man aside from his conduct,
And [di]keep man from pride;
18 He (HD)keeps back his soul from the pit,
And his life from [dj]passing over (HE)into Sheol.
19 “[dk]Man is also chastened with (HF)pain on his bed,
And with unceasing complaint in his bones;
20 So that his life (HG)loathes bread,
And his soul favorite food.
21 “His (HH)flesh wastes away from sight,
And his (HI)bones which were not seen stick out.
22 “Then (HJ)his soul draws near to the pit,
And his life to those who bring death.
23 “If there is an angel as (HK)mediator for him,
One out of a thousand,
To remind a man what is [dl]right for him,
24 Then let him be gracious to him, and say,
‘Deliver him from (HL)going down to the pit,
I have found a (HM)ransom’;
25 Let his flesh become fresher than in youth,
Let him return to the days of his youthful vigor;
26 Then he will (HN)pray to God, and He will accept him,
That (HO)he may see His face with joy,
And He may restore His righteousness to man.
27 “He will sing to men and say,
‘I (HP)have sinned and perverted what is right,
And it is not (HQ)proper for me.
28 ‘He has redeemed my soul from going to the pit,
And my life shall (HR)see the light.’
29 “Behold, God does (HS)all these [dm]oftentimes with men,
30 To (HT)bring back his soul from the pit,
That he may be enlightened with the light of life.
31 “Pay attention, O Job, listen to me;
Keep silent, and let me speak.
32 “Then if [dn]you have anything to say, answer me;
Speak, for I desire to justify you.
33 “If not, (HU)listen to me;
Keep silent, and I will teach you wisdom.”
Elihu Vindicates God’s Justice
34 Then Elihu continued and said,
2 “Hear my words, you wise men,
And listen to me, you who know.
3 “For (HV)the ear tests words
As the palate tastes food.
4 “Let us choose for ourselves what is right;
Let us know among ourselves what is good.
5 “For Job has said, ‘(HW)I am righteous,
But (HX)God has taken away my right;
6 [do]Should I lie concerning my right?
My [dp](HY)wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’
7 “What man is like Job,
Who (HZ)drinks up derision like water,
8 Who goes (IA)in company with the workers of iniquity,
And walks with wicked men?
9 “For he has said, ‘(IB)It profits a man nothing
When he [dq]is pleased with God.’
10 “Therefore, listen to me, you men of understanding.
Far be it from God to (IC)do wickedness,
And from the Almighty to do wrong.
11 “For He pays a man according to (ID)his work,
And makes [dr]him find it according to his way.
12 “Surely, (IE)God will not act wickedly,
And the Almighty will not pervert justice.
13 “Who (IF)gave Him authority over the earth?
And who (IG)has laid on Him the whole world?
14 “If He should [ds]determine to do so,
If He should (IH)gather to Himself His spirit and His breath,
15 All (II)flesh would perish together,
And man would (IJ)return to dust.
16 “But if you have understanding, hear this;
Listen to the sound of my words.
17 “Shall (IK)one who hates justice rule?
And (IL)will you condemn the righteous mighty One,
18 Who says to a king, ‘Worthless one,’
To nobles, ‘Wicked ones’;
19 Who shows no (IM)partiality to princes
Nor regards the rich above the poor,
For they all are the (IN)work of His hands?
20 “In a moment they die, and (IO)at midnight
People are shaken and pass away,
And (IP)the mighty are taken away without a hand.
21 “For (IQ)His eyes are upon the ways of a man,
And He sees all his steps.
22 “There is (IR)no darkness or deep shadow
Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
23 “For He does not (IS)need to consider a man further,
That he should go before God in judgment.
24 “He breaks in pieces (IT)mighty men without inquiry,
And sets others in their place.
25 “Therefore He (IU)knows their works,
And (IV)He overthrows them in the night,
And they are crushed.
26 “He (IW)strikes them like the wicked
[dt]In a public place,
27 Because they (IX)turned aside from following Him,
And (IY)had no regard for any of His ways;
28 So that they caused (IZ)the cry of the poor to come to Him,
And that He might (JA)hear the cry of the afflicted—
29 When He keeps quiet, who then can condemn?
And when He hides His face, who then can behold Him,
That is, in regard to both nation and man?—
30 So that (JB)godless men would not rule
Nor be snares of the people.
31 “For has anyone said to God,
‘I have borne chastisement;
I will not offend anymore;
32 Teach me what I do not see;
If I have (JC)done iniquity,
I will not do it again’?
33 “Shall He (JD)recompense on your terms, because you have rejected it?
For you must choose, and not I;
Therefore declare what you know.
34 “Men of understanding will say to me,
And a wise man who hears me,
35 ‘Job (JE)speaks without knowledge,
And his words are without wisdom.
36 ‘Job ought to be tried [du]to the limit,
Because he answers (JF)like wicked men.
37 ‘For he adds (JG)rebellion to his sin;
He (JH)claps his hands among us,
And multiplies his words against God.’”
Elihu Sharply Reproves Job
35 Then Elihu continued and said,
2 “Do you think this is according to (JI)justice?
Do you say, ‘My righteousness is more than God’s’?
3 “For you say, ‘(JJ)What advantage will it be to [dv]You?
(JK)What profit will I have, more than if I had sinned?’
4 “I will answer you,
And your friends with you.
5 “(JL)Look at the heavens and see;
And behold (JM)the clouds—they are higher than you.
6 “If you have sinned, (JN)what do you accomplish against Him?
And if your transgressions are many, what do you do to Him?
7 “If you are righteous, (JO)what do you give to Him,
Or what does He receive from your hand?
8 “Your wickedness is for a man like yourself,
And your righteousness is for a son of man.
9 “Because of the (JP)multitude of oppressions they cry out;
They cry for help because of the arm (JQ)of the mighty.
10 “But (JR)no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker,
Who (JS)gives songs in the night,
11 Who (JT)teaches us more than the beasts of the earth
And makes us wiser than the birds of the heavens?’
12 “There (JU)they cry out, but He does not answer
Because of the pride of evil men.
13 “Surely (JV)God will not listen to [dw]an empty cry,
Nor will the Almighty regard it.
14 “How much less when (JW)you say you do not behold Him,
The (JX)case is before Him, and you must wait for Him!
15 “And now, because He has not visited in His anger,
Nor has He acknowledged [dx]transgression well,
16 So Job opens his mouth [dy]emptily;
He multiplies words (JY)without knowledge.”
Elihu Speaks of God’s Dealings with Men
36 Then Elihu continued and said,
2 “Wait for me a little, and I will show you
That there [dz]is yet more to be said in God’s behalf.
3 “I will fetch my knowledge from afar,
And I will ascribe (JZ)righteousness to my Maker.
4 “For truly (KA)my words are not false;
One who is (KB)perfect in knowledge is with you.
5 “Behold, God is mighty but does not (KC)despise any;
He is (KD)mighty in strength of understanding.
6 “He does not (KE)keep the wicked alive,
But gives justice to (KF)the afflicted.
7 “He does not (KG)withdraw His eyes from the righteous;
But (KH)with kings on the throne
He has seated them forever, and they are exalted.
8 “And if they are bound in fetters,
And are caught in the cords of (KI)affliction,
9 Then He declares to them their work
And their transgressions, that they have (KJ)magnified themselves.
10 “(KK)He opens their ear to instruction,
And (KL)commands that they return from evil.
11 “If they hear and serve Him,
They will (KM)end their days in prosperity
And their years in (KN)pleasures.
12 “But if they do not hear, they shall [ea]perish (KO)by the sword
And they will (KP)die without knowledge.
13 “But the godless in heart lay up anger;
They do not cry for help when He binds them.
14 “[eb]They die in youth,
And their life perishes among the (KQ)cult prostitutes.
15 “He delivers the afflicted in [ec]their (KR)affliction,
And (KS)opens their ear [ed]in time of oppression.
16 “Then indeed, He (KT)enticed you from the mouth of distress,
Instead of it, a broad place with no constraint;
And that which was set on your table was full of [ee]fatness.
17 “But you were full of (KU)judgment on the wicked;
Judgment and justice take hold of you.
18 “Beware that (KV)wrath does not entice you to scoffing;
And do not let the greatness of the (KW)ransom turn you aside.
19 “Will your [ef]riches keep you from distress,
Or all the forces of your strength?
20 “Do not long for (KX)the night,
When people [eg]vanish in their place.
21 “Be careful, do (KY)not turn to evil,
For you have preferred this to (KZ)affliction.
22 “Behold, God is exalted in His power;
Who is a (LA)teacher like Him?
23 “Who has appointed Him His way,
And who has said, ‘(LB)You have done wrong’?
24 “Remember that you should (LC)exalt His work,
Of which men have (LD)sung.
25 “All men have seen it;
Man beholds from afar.
26 “Behold, God is (LE)exalted, and (LF)we do not know Him;
The (LG)number of His years is unsearchable.
27 “For (LH)He draws up the drops of water,
They distill rain from [eh]the [ei]mist,
28 Which the clouds pour down,
They drip upon man abundantly.
29 “Can anyone understand the (LI)spreading of the clouds,
The (LJ)thundering of His [ej]pavilion?
30 “Behold, He spreads His [ek]lightning about Him,
And He covers the depths of the sea.
31 “For by these He (LK)judges peoples;
He (LL)gives food in abundance.
32 “He covers His hands with the [el]lightning,
And (LM)commands it to strike the mark.
33 “Its (LN)noise declares [em]His presence;
The cattle also, concerning what is coming up.
Elihu Says God Is Back of the Storm
37 “At this also my heart trembles,
And leaps from its place.
2 “Listen closely to the (LO)thunder of His voice,
And the rumbling that goes out from His mouth.
3 “Under the whole heaven He lets it loose,
And His [en]lightning to the (LP)ends of the earth.
4 “After it, a voice roars;
He thunders with His majestic voice,
And He does not restrain [eo]the lightnings when His voice is heard.
5 “God (LQ)thunders with His voice wondrously,
Doing (LR)great things which we cannot comprehend.
6 “For to (LS)the snow He says, ‘Fall on the earth,’
And to the [ep](LT)downpour and the rain, ‘Be strong.’
7 “He (LU)seals the hand of every man,
That (LV)all men may know His work.
8 “Then the beast goes into its (LW)lair
And remains in its [eq]den.
9 “Out of the [er](LX)south comes the storm,
And out of the [es]north the cold.
10 “From the breath of God (LY)ice is made,
And the expanse of the waters is frozen.
11 “Also with moisture He (LZ)loads the thick cloud;
He (MA)disperses (MB)the cloud of His [et]lightning.
12 “It changes direction, turning around by His guidance,
That [eu]it may do whatever He (MC)commands [ev]it
On the (MD)face of the inhabited earth.
13 “Whether for [ew](ME)correction, or for (MF)His world,
Or for (MG)lovingkindness, He causes it to [ex]happen.
14 “Listen to this, O Job,
Stand and consider the wonders of God.
15 “Do you know how God establishes them,
And makes the [ey]lightning of His cloud to shine?
16 “Do you know about the layers of the thick clouds,
The (MH)wonders of one (MI)perfect in knowledge,
17 You whose garments are hot,
When the land is still because of the south wind?
18 “Can you, with Him, (MJ)spread out the skies,
Strong as a molten mirror?
19 “Teach us what we shall say to Him;
We (MK)cannot arrange our case because of darkness.
20 “Shall it be told Him that I would speak?
[ez]Or should a man say that he would be swallowed up?
21 “Now [fa]men do not see the light which is bright in the skies;
But the wind has passed and cleared them.
22 “Out of the north comes golden splendor;
Around God is awesome majesty.
23 “The Almighty—(ML)we cannot find Him;
He is (MM)exalted in power
And (MN)He will not do violence (MO)to justice and abundant righteousness.
24 “Therefore men (MP)fear Him;
He does not (MQ)regard any who are wise of heart.”
God Speaks Now to Job
38 Then the Lord (MR)answered Job out of the whirlwind and said,
2 “Who is this that (MS)darkens counsel
By words without knowledge?
3 “Now (MT)gird up your loins like a man,
And (MU)I will ask you, and you instruct Me!
4 “Where were you (MV)when I laid the foundation of the earth?
Tell Me, if you [fb]have understanding,
5 Who set its (MW)measurements? Since you know.
Or who stretched the line on it?
6 “On what (MX)were its bases sunk?
Or who laid its cornerstone,
7 When the morning stars sang together
And all the (MY)sons of God shouted for joy?
8 “Or who (MZ)enclosed the sea with doors
When, bursting forth, it went out from the womb;
9 When I made a cloud its garment
And thick darkness its swaddling band,
10 And I [fc](NA)placed boundaries on it
And set a bolt and doors,
11 And I said, ‘Thus far you shall come, but no farther;
And here shall your proud waves stop’?
God’s Mighty Power
12 “Have you [fd]ever in your life commanded the morning,
And caused the dawn to know its place,
13 That it might take hold of (NB)the ends of the earth,
And (NC)the wicked be shaken out of it?
14 “It is changed like clay under the seal;
And they stand forth like a garment.
15 “(ND)From the wicked their light is withheld,
And the (NE)uplifted arm is broken.
16 “Have you entered into (NF)the springs of the sea
Or walked [fe]in the recesses of the deep?
17 “Have the gates of death been revealed to you,
Or have you seen the gates of (NG)deep darkness?
18 “Have you understood the [ff]expanse of (NH)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 (NI)its territory
And that you may discern the paths to its [fg]home?
21 “You know, for (NJ)you were born then,
And the number of your days is great!
22 “Have you entered the storehouses (NK)of the snow,
Or have you seen the storehouses of the (NL)hail,
23 Which I have reserved for the time of distress,
For the day of war and battle?
24 “Where is the way that (NM)the light is divided,
Or the east wind scattered on the earth?
25 “Who has cleft a channel for the flood,
Or a way for the thunderbolt,
26 To bring (NN)rain on a land without [fh]people,
On a desert without a man in it,
27 To (NO)satisfy the waste and desolate land
And to make the [fi]seeds of grass to sprout?
28 “Has (NP)the rain a father?
Or who has begotten the drops of dew?
29 “From whose womb has come the (NQ)ice?
And the frost of heaven, who has given it birth?
30 “Water [fj]becomes hard like stone,
And the surface of the deep is imprisoned.
31 “Can you bind the chains of the (NR)Pleiades,
Or loose the cords of Orion?
32 “Can you lead forth a [fk]constellation in its season,
And guide the Bear with her [fl]satellites?
33 “Do you know the (NS)ordinances of the heavens,
Or fix their rule over the earth?
34 “Can you lift up your voice to the clouds,
So that an (NT)abundance of water will cover you?
35 “Can you (NU)send forth lightnings that they may go
And say to you, ‘Here we are’?
36 “Who has (NV)put wisdom in the innermost being
Or given (NW)understanding to the [fm]mind?
37 “Who can count the clouds by wisdom,
Or (NX)tip the water jars of the heavens,
38 When the dust hardens into a mass
And the clods stick together?
39 “Can you hunt the (NY)prey for the lion,
Or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,
40 When they (NZ)crouch in their dens
And lie in wait in their lair?
41 “Who prepares for (OA)the raven its nourishment
When its young cry to God
And wander about without food?
God Speaks of Nature and Its Beings
39 “Do you know the time the [fn](OB)mountain goats give birth?
Do you observe the calving of the (OC)deer?
2 “Can you count the months they fulfill,
Or do you know the time they give birth?
3 “They kneel down, they bring forth their young,
They get rid of their labor pains.
4 “Their offspring become strong, they grow up in the open field;
They leave and do not return to them.
5 “Who sent out the (OD)wild donkey free?
And who loosed the bonds of the swift donkey,
6 To whom I gave (OE)the wilderness for a home
And the salt land for his dwelling place?
7 “He scorns the tumult of the city,
The shoutings of the driver he does not hear.
8 “He explores the mountains for his pasture
And searches after every green thing.
9 “Will the (OF)wild ox consent to serve you,
Or will he spend the night at your manger?
10 “Can you bind the wild ox in a furrow with [fo]ropes,
Or will he harrow the valleys after you?
11 “Will you trust him because his strength is great
And leave your labor to him?
12 “Will you have faith in him that he will return your [fp]grain
And gather it from your threshing floor?
13 “The ostriches’ wings flap joyously
With the pinion and plumage of [fq]love,
14 For she abandons her eggs to the earth
And warms them in the dust,
15 And she forgets that a foot may crush [fr]them,
Or that a wild beast may trample [fs]them.
16 “She treats her young (OG)cruelly, as if they were not hers;
Though her labor be in vain, she is [ft]unconcerned;
17 Because God has made her forget wisdom,
And has not given her a share of understanding.
18 “When she lifts herself [fu]on high,
She laughs at the horse and his rider.
19 “Do you give the horse his might?
Do you clothe his neck with a mane?
20 “Do you make him (OH)leap like the locust?
His majestic (OI)snorting is terrible.
21 “[fv]He paws in the valley, and rejoices in his strength;
He (OJ)goes out to meet the weapons.
22 “He laughs at fear and is not dismayed;
And he does not turn back from the sword.
23 “The quiver rattles against him,
The flashing spear and javelin.
24 “With shaking and rage he [fw]races over the ground,
And he does not stand still at the voice of the trumpet.
25 “As often as the trumpet sounds he says, ‘Aha!’
And he scents the battle from afar,
And the thunder of the captains and the war cry.
26 “Is it by your understanding that the hawk soars,
Stretching his wings toward the south?
27 “Is it at your [fx]command that the eagle mounts up
And makes (OK)his nest on high?
28 “On the cliff he dwells and lodges,
Upon the rocky crag, an inaccessible place.
29 “From there he (OL)spies out food;
His eyes see it from afar.
30 “His young ones also suck up blood;
And (OM)where the slain are, there is he.”
Job: What Can I Say?
40 Then the Lord said to Job,
3 Then Job answered the Lord and said,
4 “Behold, I am insignificant; what can I reply to You?
I (OP)lay my hand on my mouth.
5 “Once I have spoken, and (OQ)I will not answer;
Even twice, and I will add nothing more.”
God Questions Job
6 Then the (OR)Lord answered Job out of the storm and said,
7 “Now (OS)gird up your loins like a man;
I will (OT)ask you, and you instruct Me.
8 “Will you really (OU)annul My judgment?
Will you (OV)condemn Me (OW)that you may be justified?
9 “Or do you have an arm like God,
And can you (OX)thunder with a voice like His?
10 “(OY)Adorn yourself with eminence and dignity,
And clothe yourself with honor and majesty.
11 “Pour out (OZ)the overflowings of your anger,
And look on everyone who is (PA)proud, and make him low.
12 “Look on everyone who is proud, and (PB)humble him,
And (PC)tread down the wicked [fy]where they stand.
13 “(PD)Hide them in the dust together;
Bind [fz]them in the hidden place.
14 “Then I will also [ga]confess to you,
That your own right hand can save you.
God’s Power Shown in Creatures
15 “Behold now, [gb]Behemoth, which (PE)I made [gc]as well as you;
He eats grass like an ox.
16 “Behold now, his strength in his loins
And his power in the muscles of his belly.
17 “He bends his tail like a cedar;
The sinews of his thighs are knit together.
18 “His bones are tubes of bronze;
His [gd]limbs are like bars of iron.
19 “He is the (PF)first of the ways of God;
Let his (PG)maker bring near his sword.
20 “Surely the mountains (PH)bring him food,
And all the beasts of the field (PI)play there.
21 “Under the lotus plants he lies down,
In the covert of the reeds and the marsh.
22 “The lotus plants cover him with [ge]shade;
The willows of the brook surround him.
23 “If a river [gf]rages, he is not alarmed;
He is confident, though the (PJ)Jordan rushes to his mouth.
24 “Can anyone capture him [gg]when he is on watch,
With [gh]barbs can anyone pierce his nose?
God’s Power Shown in Creatures
41 “[gi]Can you draw out [gj](PK)Leviathan with a fishhook?
Or press down his tongue with a cord?
2 “Can you (PL)put a [gk]rope in his nose
Or pierce his jaw with a [gl]hook?
3 “Will he make many supplications to you,
Or will he speak to you soft words?
4 “Will he make a covenant with you?
Will you take him for a servant forever?
5 “Will you play with him as with a bird,
Or will you bind him for your maidens?
6 “Will the [gm]traders bargain over him?
Will they divide 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; [gn]you will not do it again!
9 “[go]Behold, [gp]your expectation is false;
Will [gq]you be laid low even at the sight of him?
10 “No one is so fierce that he dares to (PM)arouse him;
Who then is he that can stand before Me?
11 “Who has [gr](PN)given to Me that I should repay him?
Whatever is (PO)under the whole heaven is Mine.
12 “I will not keep silence concerning his limbs,
Or his mighty strength, or his [gs]orderly frame.
13 “Who can [gt]strip off his outer armor?
Who can come within his double [gu]mail?
14 “Who can open the doors of his face?
Around his teeth there is terror.
15 “His [gv]strong scales are his pride,
Shut up as with a tight seal.
16 “One is so near to another
That no air can come between them.
17 “They are joined one to another;
They clasp each other and cannot be separated.
18 “His sneezes flash forth light,
And his eyes are like the (PP)eyelids of the morning.
19 “Out of his mouth go burning torches;
Sparks of fire leap forth.
20 “Out of his nostrils smoke goes forth
As from a boiling pot and burning rushes.
21 “His breath kindles coals,
And a flame goes forth from his mouth.
22 “In his neck lodges strength,
And dismay leaps before him.
23 “The folds of his flesh are joined together,
Firm on him and immovable.
24 “His heart is as hard as a stone,
Even as hard as a lower millstone.
25 “When he raises himself up, the [gw]mighty fear;
Because of the crashing they are bewildered.
26 “The sword that reaches him cannot avail,
Nor the spear, the dart or the javelin.
27 “He regards iron as straw,
Bronze as rotten wood.
28 “The [gx]arrow cannot make him flee;
Slingstones are turned into stubble for him.
29 “Clubs are regarded as stubble;
He laughs at the rattling of the javelin.
30 “His underparts are like sharp potsherds;
He [gy]spreads out like a threshing sledge on the mire.
31 “He makes the depths boil like a pot;
He makes the sea like a jar of ointment.
32 “Behind him he makes a wake to shine;
One would think the deep to be gray-haired.
33 “(PQ)Nothing on [gz]earth is like him,
One made without fear.
34 “[ha]He looks on everything that is high;
He is king over all the (PR)sons of pride.”
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.