Bible in 90 Days
Bildad Says Mankind Is Inferior
25 Then Bildad the Shuhite responded,
2 “(A)Dominion and awe [a]belong to Him
Who makes 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 mankind be (D)righteous with God?
Or how can anyone who is born of woman be (E)pure?
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 a son of man, that worm!”
Job Rebukes Bildad
26 Then Job responded,
2 “What a help you are to [b](J)the weak!
You have saved the arm (K)without strength!
3 What advice you have given to one without wisdom!
What helpful insight you have abundantly [c]provided!
4 To whom have you uttered words?
And whose [d]spirit was expressed through you?
The Greatness of God
5 “The [e](L)departed spirits are made to tremble
Under the waters and their inhabitants.
6 [f](M)Sheol is naked before Him,
And [g](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 [h](Q)obscures the face of the [i]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 With His power He (T)quieted the sea,
And by His (U)understanding He shattered [j](V)Rahab.
13 By His breath the (W)heavens are [k]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 Job again took up 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 [l]life is in me,
And the [m](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;
Until I die, (AF)I will not [n]give up my integrity.
6 I have (AG)kept hold of my righteousness and will not let it go.
My heart does not rebuke any of my days.
The State of the Godless
7 “May my enemy be as the wicked,
And [o]my opponent as the criminal.
8 For what is (AH)the hope of the godless when he makes an end of life,
When God requires (AI)his [p]life?
9 Will God (AJ)hear his cry
When (AK)distress comes upon him?
10 Or will he take (AL)pleasure in the Almighty?
Will he call on God at all times?
11 I will instruct you in the [q]power of God;
What is with the Almighty I will not conceal.
12 Behold, all of you have seen it;
Why then do you talk of nothing?
13 “This is (AM)the portion of a wicked person from God,
And the inheritance which (AN)tyrants receive from the Almighty:
14 Though his sons are many, [r]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 [s]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 righteous will wear it
And the innocent will divide the silver.
18 He has built his (AS)house like the [t]spider’s web,
Or a hut which the watchman has made.
19 He lies down rich, but never [u]again;
He opens his eyes, and (AT)it no longer exists.
20 (AU)Terrors overtake him like a flood;
A storm steals him away (AV)in the night.
21 The east (AW)wind carries him away, and he is gone;
For it sweeps him (AX)away from his place.
22 For it will hurl at him (AY)without mercy;
He will certainly try to (AZ)flee from its [v]power.
23 People will [w]clap their hands at him,
And will (BA)whistle at him from their places.
Job Tells of Earth’s Treasures
28 “Certainly there is a [x]mine for silver
And a place [y]for refining 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 [z]sinks a shaft away from [aa]inhabited areas,
Forgotten by the foot;
They hang and swing, away from people.
5 [ab]From the earth comes food,
And underneath, it is turned over like fire.
6 Its rocks are the [ac]source of sapphires,
And its dust contains gold.
7 No bird of prey knows the path,
Nor has the falcon’s eye caught sight of it.
8 The [ad]proud animals have not trodden it,
Nor has the lion passed over it.
9 He puts his hand on the flint;
He overturns the mountains at the [ae]base.
10 He carves out channels through the rocks,
And his eye sees anything precious.
11 He dams up the streams from [af]flowing,
And brings to light what is hidden.
The Search for Wisdom Is Harder
12 “But (BC)where can wisdom be found?
And where is the place of understanding?
13 (BD)Mankind does not know its value,
Nor is it found in the land of the living.
14 The ocean depth 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 pure gold.
18 Coral and crystal are not to be mentioned;
And the acquisition of (BG)wisdom is more valuable than pearls.
19 The topaz of [ag]Cush cannot equal it,
Nor can it be valued in (BH)pure gold.
20 (BI)Where then does wisdom come from?
And where is this place of understanding?
21 It is hidden from the eyes of every living creature,
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;
He sees everything under the heavens.
25 When He imparted (BM)weight to the wind,
And (BN)assessed the waters by measure,
26 When He made 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 mankind He said, ‘Behold, the (BQ)fear of the Lord, that is wisdom;
And to turn away from evil is understanding.’”
Job’s Past Was Glorious
29 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 Just as I was in the days of my youth,
When the (BV)protection of God was over my tent;
5 When [ai]the Almighty was still with me,
And my children were around me;
6 When my steps were bathed in (BW)cream,
And the (BX)rock poured out streams of oil for me!
7 When I went out to (BY)the gate of the city,
When I [aj]took my seat in the public square,
8 The young men saw me and hid themselves,
And the old men arose and stood.
9 The leaders (BZ)stopped talking
And (CA)put their hands on their mouths;
10 The voices of the prominent people were [ak](CB)hushed,
And their (CC)tongues stuck to their palates.
11 For when (CD)an ear heard, it called me blessed,
And when an eye saw, it testified in support of me,
12 Because I saved (CE)the poor who cried for help,
And the (CF)orphan who had no helper.
13 The blessing of the one who (CG)was about 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 headband.
15 I was (CJ)eyes to those who were blind,
And feet to those who [al]could not walk.
16 I was a father to (CK)the poor,
And I investigated the case which I did not know.
17 I (CL)broke the jaws of the wicked
And rescued the prey from his teeth.
18 Then I [am]thought, ‘I will die with my [an]family,
And I will multiply my days as the sand.
19 My (CM)root is spread out to the waters,
And (CN)dew lies on my branch all night.
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 they kept silent for my advice.
22 After my words (CQ)they did not speak again,
And (CR)my speech dropped on them.
23 They waited for me as for the rain,
And opened their mouths as for the late rain.
24 I smiled at them when they did not believe,
And they did not look at [ao]my kindness ungraciously.
25 I chose a way for them and sat as (CS)chief,
And lived as a king among the troops,
As one who (CT)comforted the mourners.
Job’s Present State Is Humiliating
30 “But now those who are younger than I (CU)mock me,
Whose fathers I refused 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 poverty and famine they are gaunt,
They who gnaw at the dry ground by night in waste and desolation,
4 Who pluck saltweed 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 live on the slopes of ravines,
In holes in the ground and among the rocks.
7 Among the bushes they [ap]cry out;
Under the weeds they are gathered together.
8 Worthless [aq]fellows, even [ar]those without a name,
They were cast out from the land.
9 “And now I have become their [as](CV)taunt,
And I have become a [at](CW)byword to them.
10 They loathe me and stand aloof from me,
And they do not [au]refrain from (CX)spitting in my face.
11 Because He has undone [av]my [aw]bowstring and (CY)afflicted me,
They have cast off (CZ)the bridle before me.
12 On the right hand their [ax]mob arises;
They (DA)push aside my feet (DB)and pile up their ways of destruction against me.
13 They (DC)break up my path,
They promote my destruction;
No one restrains them.
14 As through a wide gap they come,
[ay]Amid the storm they roll on.
15 (DD)Sudden terrors are turned upon me;
They chase away my dignity like the wind,
And my [az]prosperity has passed away (DE)like a cloud.
16 “And now (DF)my soul is poured out [ba]within me;
Days of misery have seized me.
17 At night it pierces (DG)my bones [bb]within me,
And my gnawing pains do not rest.
18 By a great force my garment is (DH)distorted;
It ties me up like the collar of my coat.
19 He has thrown 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 [bc]become cruel to me;
With the strength of Your hand You (DK)persecute me.
22 You (DL)lift me up to the wind and make me ride it;
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 one in a heap of ruins not reach out with his hand,
Or in his disaster does he not (DO)cry out for help?
25 Have I not (DP)wept for the [bd]one whose life is hard?
Was my soul not grieved for (DQ)the needy?
26 When I (DR)expected good, evil came;
When I waited for light, (DS)darkness came.
27 [be]I am seething (DT)within and cannot rest;
Days of misery confront me.
28 I go about [bf](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 [bg]on me,
And my (DY)bones burn with [bh]fever.
31 Therefore my (DZ)harp [bi]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 look at a virgin?
2 And what is (EB)the portion of God from above,
Or the inheritance of the Almighty from on high?
3 Is it not (EC)disaster to the criminal,
And misfortune to (ED)those who practice injustice?
4 Does He not (EE)see my ways,
And (EF)count all my steps?
5 “If I have (EG)walked with deception,
And my foot has hurried after deceit,
6 Let Him (EH)weigh me with [bj]accurate scales,
And let God know (EI)my integrity.
7 If my step has (EJ)turned from the way,
Or my heart [bk]followed my eyes,
Or if any (EK)spot has stuck to my hands,
8 Let me (EL)sow and another eat,
And let my [bl](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 grain for another,
And let (EP)others [bm]kneel down over her.
11 For that would be a (EQ)lustful crime;
Moreover, it would be (ER)wrongdoing punishable by judges.
12 For it would be (ES)fire that consumes to [bn](ET)Abaddon,
And would (EU)uproot all my [bo]increase.
13 “If I have (EV)rejected 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, how am I to answer Him?
15 Did (EW)He who made me in the womb not make him,
And the same one create 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 [bp]shared it
18 (But from my youth he grew up with me as with a father,
And from [bq]my 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 waist has not [br]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 [bs]I had support (FE)in the gate,
22 May my shoulder fall from its [bt]socket,
And my (FF)arm be broken off [bu]at the elbow.
23 For (FG)disaster from God is a terror to me,
And because of (FH)His 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 obtained so much;
26 If I have (FK)looked at the [bv]sun when it shone,
Or the moon going in splendor,
27 And my heart was secretly enticed,
And my hand [bw]threw a kiss from my mouth,
28 That too would have been (FL)a guilty deed calling for [bx]judgment,
For I would have (FM)denied God above.
29 “Have I (FN)rejoiced at the misfortune of my enemy,
Or become excited when evil found him?
30 [by]No, (FO)I have not [bz]allowed my mouth to sin
By asking for his life in (FP)a curse.
31 Have the people of my tent not said,
‘Who can [ca]find one who has not been (FQ)satisfied with his meat’?
32 The stranger has not spent the night outside,
For I have opened my doors to the [cb]traveler.
33 Have I (FR)covered my wrongdoings like a man,
By hiding my guilt in my shirt pocket,
34 Because I (FS)feared the great multitude
And the contempt of families terrified me,
And I kept silent and did not go out of doors?
35 Oh that I had one to hear me!
Here is my [cc]signature;
(FT)Let the Almighty answer me!
And the indictment which my (FU)adversary has written,
36 I would certainly carry it on my shoulder,
I would tie it to myself like a garland.
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 [cd]fruit without money,
Or have (FZ)caused [ce]its owners to lose their lives,
40 May the (GA)thorn-bush [cf]grow instead of wheat,
And stinkweed instead of barley.”
The words of Job are ended.
Elihu Rebukes Job in Anger
32 Then these three men stopped 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 [cg](GE)before God. 3 And his anger burned against his three friends because they had found no answer, yet they had condemned Job. 4 Now Elihu had waited [ch]to speak to Job because they were years older than he. 5 But 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 [ci]spoke out and said,
“I am young in years and you are (GF)old;
Therefore I was shy and afraid to tell you [cj]what I think.
7 I [ck]thought [cl](GG)age should speak,
And [cm]increased years should teach wisdom.
8 But it is a spirit that is in mankind,
And the (GH)breath of the Almighty gives them (GI)understanding.
9 The [cn]abundant in years may not be wise,
Nor may (GJ)elders understand justice.
10 So I [co]say, ‘Listen to me,
I too will tell [cp]what I think.’
11 “Behold, I waited for your words,
I listened to your skillful speech,
While you [cq]pondered what to say.
12 I also paid close attention to you;
But [cr]indeed, there was no one who refuted Job,
Not one of you who answered his words.
13 So do not say,
‘(GK)We have found wisdom:
God will [cs]defeat him, not man.’
14 But he has not presented his words against me,
Nor will I reply to him with your [ct]arguments.
15 “They are dismayed, they no longer answer;
Words have [cu]failed them.
16 Should I wait, because they are not speaking,
Because they have [cv]stopped and no longer answer?
17 I too will [cw]give my share of answers;
I also will tell my opinion.
18 For I am full of words;
The spirit within me compels me.
19 Behold, my belly is like unvented wine;
Like new wineskins, it is about to burst.
20 Let me speak so that I may get relief;
Let me open my lips and answer.
21 Let me (GL)be partial to no one,
Nor flatter any man.
22 For I do not know how to flatter,
Otherwise my Maker would quickly take me away.
Elihu Claims to Speak for God
33 “However, please (GM)hear my speech, Job,
And listen to all my words.
2 Behold now, I open my mouth,
My tongue in my [cx]mouth speaks.
3 My words are from the integrity of my heart,
And my lips speak (GN)knowledge sincerely.
4 The (GO)Spirit of God has made me,
And the (GP)breath of [cy]the Almighty gives me life.
5 (GQ)Refute me if you can;
Line up against me, take your stand.
6 Behold, I belong to God, like you;
I too have been [cz]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 “You have in fact spoken [da]while I listened,
And I heard the sound of your words:
9 ‘I am (GT)pure, (GU)without wrongdoing;
I am innocent and there (GV)is no guilt in me.
10 Behold, He [db]invents [dc]criticisms 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 respond to you, (GY)you are not right in this,
For God is greater than mankind.
13 “Why do you (GZ)complain to 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 deep sleep falls on people,
While they slumber in their beds,
16 Then (HC)He opens the ears of people,
And horrifies them with warnings,
17 So that He may turn a person away from bad conduct,
And [dd]keep a man from pride;
18 He (HD)keeps his soul back from the pit,
And his life from perishing by the (HE)spear.
19 “A person is also rebuked by (HF)pain in his bed,
And with constant complaint in his bones,
20 So that his life (HG)loathes bread,
And his soul, food [de]that he should crave.
21 His (HH)flesh wastes away from sight,
And his (HI)bones, which were not seen, stick out.
22 Then (HJ)his soul comes near to the pit,
And his life to those who bring death.
23 “If there is an (HK)interceding angel for him,
One out of a thousand,
To remind a person of what is [df]right for him,
24 And he is gracious to him, and says,
‘Free 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,
So that (HO)he may see His face with joy,
And He will restore His righteousness to that person.
27 He will sing to people 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 will (HR)see the light.’
29 “Behold, God does (HS)all these things for a man two or three times,
30 To (HT)bring back his soul from the pit,
So that he may be enlightened with the light of life.
31 Pay attention, Job, listen to me;
Keep silent, and let me speak.
32 Then if [dg]you have anything to say, answer me;
Speak, for I would take pleasure in justifying 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 understand.
3 For (HV)the ear tests words
As the palate tastes food.
4 Let us choose for ourselves what is right;
Let us understand among ourselves what is good.
5 For Job has said, ‘(HW)I am righteous,
But (HX)God has taken away my right;
6 [dh]Should I lie about my right?
My [di](HY)wound is incurable, though I am without wrongdoing.’
7 What man is like Job,
Who (HZ)drinks up derision like water,
8 Who goes (IA)in company with the workers of injustice,
And walks with wicked people?
9 For he has said, ‘(IB)It is of no use to a man
When he becomes friends with God.’
10 “Therefore, listen to me, you men of understanding.
Far be it from God to (IC)do evil,
And from the Almighty to do wrong.
11 For He repays a person for (ID)his work,
And lets things happen in correspondence to a man’s [dj]behavior.
12 (IE)God certainly will not act wickedly,
And the Almighty will not pervert justice.
13 Who (IF)gave Him authority over the earth?
And who (IG)has placed the whole world on Him?
14 If He were to [dk]determine to do so,
If He were to (IH)gather His [dl]spirit and His breath to Himself,
15 [dm](II)Humanity would perish together,
And mankind 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, ‘You worthless one,’
To nobles, ‘You wicked one’;
19 Who shows no (IM)partiality to the prominent,
Nor regards the rich as above the poor,
Since they are all 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 powerful are taken away without a hand.
21 “For (IQ)His eyes are upon the ways of a person,
And He sees all his steps.
22 There is (IR)no darkness or deep shadow
Where the workers of injustice can hide themselves.
23 For He does not (IS)need to consider a person further,
That he should go before God in judgment.
24 He breaks in pieces the (IT)mighty without investigation,
And sets others in their place.
25 Therefore He (IU)knows their deeds,
And (IV)He overthrows them in the night,
And they are crushed.
26 He (IW)strikes them like the wicked
[dn]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 would (JA)hear the cry of the afflicted—
29 When He keeps quiet, who can condemn?
And when He hides His face, who then can look at Him,
That is, regarding both nation and a person?—
30 So that (JB)godless people would not rule,
Nor be snares for the people.
31 “For has anyone said to God,
‘I have endured punishment;
I will not offend anymore;
32 Teach me what I do not see;
If I have (JC)done wrong,
I will not do it again’?
33 Shall God (JD)repay on your terms, because you have rejected His?
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 Oh that Job were tested [do]to the limit,
Because [dp]he answers (JF)like sinners.
37 For he adds (JG)rebellion to his sin;
He (JH)claps his hands among us,
And multiplies his words against God.’”
Elihu Sharply Rebukes Job
35 Then Elihu continued and said,
2 “Do you think this is in accordance with (JI)justice?
Do you say, ‘My righteousness is more than God’s’?
3 For you say, ‘(JJ)What advantage will it be to [dq]You?
(JK)What benefit 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 look at (JM)the clouds—they are higher than you.
6 If you have sinned, (JN)what do you accomplish against Him?
And if your wrongdoings 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 animals of the earth
And makes us wiser than the birds of the sky?’
12 There (JU)they cry out, but He does not answer
Because of the pride of evil people.
13 (JV)God certainly will not listen to [dr]an empty cry,
Nor will the Almighty regard it.
14 How much less when (JW)you say you do not look at Him,
The (JX)case is before Him, and you must wait for Him!
15 And now, because He has not avenged His anger,
Nor has He acknowledged [ds]wrongdoing well,
16 So Job opens his mouth with empty words;
He multiplies words (JY)without knowledge.”
Elihu Speaks of God’s Dealings with Mankind
36 Then Elihu continued and said,
2 “Wait for me a little, and I will show you
That there [dt]is still more to be said on God’s behalf.
3 I will bring my knowledge from afar,
And 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)reject anyone;
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 shackles,
And are caught in the snares of (KI)misery,
9 Then He declares to them their work
And their wrongdoings, that they have (KJ)been arrogant.
10 (KK)He opens their ears to instruction,
And (KL)commands that they return from injustice.
11 If they listen and serve Him,
They will (KM)end their days in prosperity,
And their years in (KN)happiness.
12 But if they do not listen, they will [du]perish (KO)by the sword,
And (KP)die without knowledge.
13 But the godless in heart nurture anger;
They do not call for help when He binds them.
14 [dv]They die in youth,
And their life perishes among the (KQ)cult prostitutes.
15 He rescues the afflicted in [dw]their (KR)misery,
And (KS)opens their ears in time of oppression.
16 Then indeed, He induced you away from the mouth of distress,
And instead of it, a broad place with no constraint;
And your table was full of [dx]rich food.
17 “But you were full of (KT)judgment on the wicked;
Judgment and justice take hold of you.
18 Beware that (KU)wrath does not entice you to mockery;
And do not let the greatness of the (KV)ransom turn you aside.
19 Will your cry for help keep you from distress,
Or all the exertions of your strength?
20 Do not long for (KW)the night,
When people [dy]vanish in their places.
21 Be careful, do (KX)not turn to evil,
For you preferred this to (KY)misery.
22 Behold, God is exalted in His power;
Who is a (KZ)teacher like Him?
23 Who has appointed Him His way,
And who has said, ‘(LA)You have done wrong’?
24 “Remember that you are to (LB)exalt His work,
Of which people have (LC)sung.
25 All people have seen it;
Mankind looks at it from afar.
26 Behold, God is (LD)exalted, and (LE)we do not know Him;
The (LF)number of His years is unsearchable.
27 For (LG)He draws up the drops of water;
They distill rain from its [dz]celestial stream,
28 Which clouds pour down;
They drip upon mankind abundantly.
29 Can anyone understand the (LH)spreading of the clouds,
The (LI)thundering of His [ea]pavilion?
30 Behold, He spreads His [eb]lightning about Him,
And He covers the depths of the sea.
31 For by them He (LJ)judges peoples;
He (LK)gives food in abundance.
32 He covers His hands with the [ec]lightning,
And (LL)commands it to strike the target.
33 Its (LM)thundering voice declares [ed]His presence;
The livestock also, concerning what is coming up.
Elihu Says God Has Authority Over the Storm
37 “At this also my heart trembles,
And leaps from its place.
2 Listen closely to the (LN)thunder of His voice,
And the rumbling that goes out from His mouth.
3 Under the whole heaven He lets it loose,
And His [ee]lightning travels to the (LO)ends of the earth.
4 After it, a voice roars;
He thunders with His majestic voice,
And He does not restrain [ef]the lightning when His voice is heard.
5 God (LP)thunders wondrously with His voice,
Doing (LQ)great things which we do not comprehend.
6 For to (LR)the snow He says, ‘Fall on the earth,’
And to the [eg](LS)downpour and the rain, ‘Be strong.’
7 He (LT)seals the hand of every person,
So that (LU)all people may know His work.
8 Then the animal goes into its (LV)lair
And remains in its [eh]den.
9 From the [ei](LW)south comes the storm,
And from the north wind the cold.
10 From the breath of God (LX)ice is made,
And the expanse of the waters is frozen.
11 He also (LY)loads the clouds with moisture;
He (LZ)disperses (MA)the cloud of His [ej]lightning.
12 It changes direction, turning around by His guidance,
That [ek]it may do whatever He (MB)commands [el]it
On the (MC)face of the inhabited earth.
13 Whether for [em](MD)correction, or for (ME)His earth,
Or for (MF)goodness, He causes it to [en]happen.
14 “Listen to this, Job;
Stand and consider the wonders of God.
15 Do you know how God establishes them,
And makes the [eo]lightning of His clouds to shine?
16 Do you know about the hovering of the clouds,
The (MG)wonders of One who is (MH)perfect in knowledge,
17 You whose garments are hot
When the land is still because of the south wind?
18 Can you, with Him, (MI)spread out the skies,
Strong as a cast metal mirror?
19 Teach us what we are to say to Him;
We (MJ)cannot present our case because of darkness.
20 Shall it be told Him that I would speak?
[ep]Or should a man say that he would be swallowed up?
21 “Now people do not see the light which is bright in the skies;
But the wind has passed and cleared them.
22 From the north comes golden splendor;
Around God is awesome majesty.
23 The Almighty—(MK)we cannot find Him;
He is (ML)exalted in power
And (MM)He will not violate (MN)justice and abundant righteousness.
24 Therefore people (MO)fear Him;
He does not (MP)regard any who are wise of heart.”
God Speaks Now to Job
38 Then the Lord (MQ)answered Job from the whirlwind and said,
2 “Who is this who (MR)darkens the divine plan
By words without knowledge?
3 Now [eq](MS)tighten the belt on your waist like a man,
And (MT)I shall ask you, and you inform Me!
4 Where were you (MU)when I laid the foundation of the earth?
Tell Me, if you [er]have understanding,
5 Who set its (MV)measurements? Since you know.
Or who stretched the measuring line over it?
6 On what (MW)were its bases sunk?
Or who laid its cornerstone,
7 When the morning stars sang together
And all the (MX)sons of God shouted for joy?
8 “Or who (MY)enclosed the sea with doors
When it went out from the womb, bursting forth;
9 When I made a cloud its garment,
And thick darkness its swaddling bands,
10 And I [es](MZ)placed boundaries on it
And set a bolt and doors,
11 And I said, ‘As far as this point you shall come, but no farther;
And here your proud waves shall stop’?
God’s Mighty Power
12 “Have you [et]ever in your life commanded the morning,
And made the dawn know its place,
13 So that it would take hold of (NA)the ends of the earth,
And (NB)the wicked would be shaken off from it?
14 It is changed like clay under the seal;
And they stand out like a garment.
15 (NC)Their light is withheld from the wicked,
And the (ND)uplifted arm is broken.
16 “Have you entered (NE)the springs of the sea,
And walked [eu]in the depth of the ocean?
17 Have the gates of death been revealed to you,
And have you seen the gates of (NF)deep darkness?
18 Have you understood the [ev]expanse of (NG)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 would take it to (NH)its territory,
And discern the paths to its [ew]home?
21 You know, for (NI)you were born then,
And the number of your days is great!
22 Have you entered the storehouses (NJ)of the snow,
And have you seen the storehouses of the (NK)hail,
23 Which I have reserved for a time of distress,
For a day of war and battle?
24 Where is the way that (NL)the light is divided,
And the east wind scattered on the earth?
25 “Who has split open a channel for the flood,
And a way for the thunderbolt,
26 To bring (NM)rain on a land without [ex]people,
On a desert without a person in it,
27 To (NN)satisfy the waste and desolate land,
And to make the [ey]seeds of grass to sprout?
28 Does (NO)the rain have a father?
Or who has fathered the drops of dew?
29 From whose womb has come the (NP)ice?
And the frost of heaven, who has given it birth?
30 Water [ez]becomes hard like stone,
And the surface of the deep is imprisoned.
31 “Can you tie up the chains of the (NQ)Pleiades,
Or untie the cords of Orion?
32 Can you bring out a [fa]constellation in its season,
And guide the Bear with her [fb]satellites?
33 Do you know the (NR)ordinances of the heavens,
Or do you establish their rule over the earth?
34 “Can you raise your voice to the clouds,
So that an (NS)abundance of water will cover you?
35 Can you (NT)send flashes of lightning, so that they may go
And say to you, ‘Here we are’?
36 Who has (NU)put wisdom in the innermost being,
Or given (NV)understanding to the [fc]mind?
37 Who can count the clouds by wisdom,
And (NW)pour out the water jars of the heavens,
38 When the dust hardens into a mass
And the clods stick together?
39 “Can you hunt the (NX)prey for the lioness,
Or satisfy the appetite of young lions,
40 When they (NY)crouch in their hiding places,
And lie in wait in their lair?
41 Who prepares [fd]feed for (NZ)the raven
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 [fe](OA)mountain goats give birth?
Do you observe the calving of the (OB)deer?
2 Can you count the months they fulfill,
Or do you know the time they give birth?
3 They kneel down, they deliver 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 the (OC)wild donkey out free?
And who opened the bonds of the swift donkey,
6 To whom I gave (OD)the wilderness as his home,
And the salt land as his dwelling place?
7 He laughs at the turmoil of the city,
He does not hear the shouting of the taskmaster.
8 He explores the mountains of his pasture,
And searches after every green thing.
9 Will the (OE)wild bull be willing to serve you,
Or will he spend the night at your feeding trough?
10 Can you tie down the wild bull in a furrow with [ff]ropes,
Or will he [fg]plow 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 [fh]grain
And gather it from your threshing floor?
13 “The wings of the ostrich flap joyously,
With the pinion and feathers of [fi]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 [fj]them,
Or that a wild animal may trample [fk]them.
16 She treats her young (OF)cruelly, as if they were not hers;
Though her labor is for nothing, she is [fl]unconcerned,
17 Because God has made her forget wisdom,
And has not given her a share of understanding.
18 When she rushes away 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 (OG)leap like locusts?
His majestic (OH)snorting is frightening.
21 [fm]He paws in the valley, and rejoices in his strength;
He (OI)goes out to meet the battle.
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 He [fn]races over the ground with a roar and fury,
And he does not stand still when he hears the sound of the trumpet.
25 As often as the trumpet sounds he says, ‘Aha!’
And he senses 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 [fo]command that the eagle flies high,
And makes (OJ)his nest on high?
28 He dwells and spends his nights on the cliff,
On the rocky cliff, an inaccessible place.
29 From there he (OK)tracks food;
His eyes look at it from afar.
30 His young ones also lick up blood greedily;
And (OL)where the slain are, there he is.”
Job Says What Can I Say?
40 Then the Lord said to Job,
2 “Will the faultfinder (OM)contend with the Almighty?
Let him who (ON)rebukes God [fp]give an answer.”
3 Then Job answered the Lord and said,
4 “Behold, I am insignificant; what can I say in response to You?
I (OO)put my hand on my mouth.
5 I have spoken once, and (OP)I will not reply;
Or twice, and I will add nothing more.”
God Questions Job
6 Then the (OQ)Lord answered Job from the whirlwind and said,
7 “Now [fq](OR)tighten the belt on your waist like a man;
I will (OS)ask you, and you instruct Me.
8 Will you really (OT)nullify My judgment?
Will you (OU)condemn Me (OV)so that you may be justified?
9 Or do you have an arm like God,
And can you (OW)thunder with a voice like His?
10 “(OX)Adorn yourself with pride and dignity,
And clothe yourself with honor and majesty.
11 Let out your (OY)outbursts of anger,
And look at everyone who is (OZ)arrogant, and humble him.
12 Look at everyone who is arrogant, and (PA)humble him,
And (PB)trample down the wicked [fr]where they stand.
13 (PC)Hide them together in the dust;
Imprison [fs]them in the hidden place.
14 Then I will also [ft]confess to you,
That your own right hand can save you.
God’s Power Shown in Creatures
15 “Behold, [fu]Behemoth, which (PD)I made [fv]as well as you;
He eats grass like an ox.
16 Behold, his strength in his waist,
And his power in the muscles of his belly.
17 He hangs his tail like a cedar;
The tendons of his thighs are knit together.
18 His bones are tubes of bronze;
His [fw]limbs are like bars of iron.
19 “He is the (PE)first of the ways of God;
Let his (PF)Maker bring His sword near.
20 Indeed the [fx]mountains (PG)bring him food,
And all the animals of the field (PH)play there.
21 He lies down under the lotus plants,
In the hiding place of the reeds and the marsh.
22 The lotus plants cover him with [fy]shade;
The willows of the brook surround him.
23 If a river [fz]rages, he is not alarmed;
He is confident, though the (PI)Jordan rushes to his mouth.
24 Can anyone capture him [ga]when he is on watch,
Can anyone pierce his nose with barbs?
God’s Power Shown in Creatures
41 “[gb]Can you drag out [gc](PJ)Leviathan with a fishhook,
And press down his tongue with a rope?
2 Can you (PK)put a [gd]rope in his nose,
And pierce his jaw with a [ge]hook?
3 Will he make many pleas to you,
Or will he speak to you gentle words?
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,
And tie him down for your young girls?
6 Will the [gf]traders bargain for 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; [gg]you will not do it again!
9 [gh]Behold, [gi]your expectation is false;
Will [gj]you be hurled down even at the sight of him?
10 No one is so reckless that he dares to (PL)stir him;
Who then is he who opposes Me?
11 Who has (PM)been first to give to Me, that I should repay him?
Whatever is (PN)under the entire heaven is Mine.
12 “I will not be silent about his limbs,
Or his mighty strength, or his graceful frame.
13 Who can [gk]strip off his outer covering?
Who can [gl]pierce his double [gm]armor?
14 Who can open the doors of his face?
Around his teeth there is terror.
15 His [gn]strong scales are his pride,
Locked as with a tight seal.
16 One is so close 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 (PO)eye of dawn.
19 From his mouth go burning torches;
Sparks of fire leap forth.
20 From his nostrils smoke goes out
As from a boiling pot and burning reeds.
21 His breath sets coals aglow,
And a flame goes forth from his mouth.
22 In his neck dwells strength,
And dismay leaps before him.
23 The folds of his flesh are joined together,
Firm and immovable on him.
24 His heart is as firm as a stone,
And as firm as a lower millstone.
25 When he rises up, the [go]mighty are afraid;
Because of the crashing they are bewildered.
26 The sword that reaches him cannot [gp]prevail,
Nor the spear, the dart, or the javelin.
27 He regards iron as straw,
Bronze as rotten wood.
28 The [gq]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 pieces of pottery;
He [gr]spreads out like a threshing sledge on the mud.
31 He makes the depths boil like a pot;
He makes the sea like a jar of ointment.
32 Behind him he illuminates a pathway;
One would think the deep to be gray-haired.
33 (PP)Nothing on [gs]earth is like him,
One made without fear.
34 [gt]He looks on everything that is high;
He is king over all the (PQ)sons of pride.”
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