JOB

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Fred Miller's Revised King James' Version

JOB

CHAPTERS: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] [25] [26] [27] [28] [29] [30] [31] [32] [33] [34] [35] [36] [37] [38] [39] [40] [41] [42]

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Job 1

¹There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright and one who feared God and avoided evil. ²And seven sons and three daughters were born to him. ³His substance also was seven thousand sheep and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred she asses and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.
⁴And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one on his day; and they sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. ⁵And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them and rose up early in the morning and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.
⁶Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD and Satan also came among them. ⁷And the LORD said to Satan, Where have you come from? Then Satan answered the LORD and said, From going to and fro in the earth and from walking up and down in it. ⁸And the LORD said to Satan, Have you considered my servant Job, that there is no one like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one who fears God and avoids evil? ⁹Then Satan answered the LORD and said, Does Job fear God for nothing? ¹⁰Have you not made a hedge about him and about his house and about all that he has on every side? you have blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. ¹¹But put forth your hand now and touch all that he has and he will curse you to your face. ¹²And the LORD said to Satan, Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not put forth your hand on himself. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.
¹³And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house: ¹⁴And there came a messenger to Job and said, The oxen were plowing and the asses feeding beside them: ¹⁵And the Sabeans fell on them and took them away; yes, they have killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell you. ¹⁶While he was yet speaking, another also came and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven and has burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell you. ¹⁷While he was yet speaking, another also came and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands and fell on the camels and have carried them away, yes and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell you. ¹⁸While he was still speaking, another also came and said, Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house: ¹⁹And, behold, a great wind came from the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house and it fell on the young men and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell you.
²⁰Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell down on the ground and worshipped, ²¹And said, Naked I came out of my mother's womb and naked I shall return there: the LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. ²²In all this Job did not sin, nor charge God foolishly.
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Chapter 2
¹Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD and Satan also came among them to present himself before the LORD. ²And the LORD said to Satan, Where have you come from? And Satan answered the LORD and said, From going to and fro in the earth and from walking up and down in it. ³And the LORD said to Satan, Have you considered my servant Job, that there is no one like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one who fears God and avoids evil? and still he holds fast his integrity, although you moved me against him, to destroy him without a cause. ⁴And Satan answered the LORD and said, Skin for skin, yes, all that a man has he will give for his life. ⁵But put forth your hand now and touch his bone and his flesh and he will curse you to your face. ⁶And the LORD said to Satan, Behold, he is in your hand; but save his life.
⁷So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and struck Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot to his crown. ⁸And he took a potsherd to scrape himself with it; and he sat down among the ashes. ⁹Then his wife said to him, Do you still retain your integrity? curse God and die. ¹⁰But he said to her, You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God and shall we not receive evil? In all this Job did not sin with his lips.
¹¹Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that had come on him, every one came from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him. ¹²And when they lifted up their eyes afar off and did not know him, they lifted up their voice and wept; and each one tore his robe and they sprinkled dust on their heads toward heaven. ¹³So they sat down with him on the ground seven days and seven nights and no one spoke a word to him: for they saw that his grief was very great.
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Chapter 3
¹After this Job opened his mouth and cursed his day. ²And Job spoke, and said, ³Let the day in which I was born perish and the night in which it was said, There is a man child conceived. ⁴Let that day be darkness; do not let God regard it from above, nor let the light shine on it. ⁵Let darkness and the shadow of death stain it; let a cloud dwell on it; let the blackness of the day terrify it. ⁶As for that night, let darkness seize on it; let it not be joined to the days of the year, let it not come into the number of months. ⁷Lo, let that night be solitary, let no joyful voice come there. ⁸Let them curse it who curse the day, who are ready to raise up their mourning. ⁹Let the stars of its twilight be dark; let it look for light but have none; neither let it see the dawning of the day: ¹⁰Because it did not shut up the doors of my mother's womb, nor did it hide sorrow from my eyes.
¹¹Why did I not die from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly? ¹²Why did the knees receive me? or why the breasts that I should suck? ¹³For now I would have lain still and been quiet, I would have slept: then I would have been at rest, ¹⁴With kings and counselors of the earth, who built desolate places for themselves; ¹⁵Or with princes who had gold, who filled their houses with silver: ¹⁶Or I would not have been as a hidden untimely birth; as infants who never saw light. ¹⁷There the wicked cease from troubling others; and there the weary are at rest. ¹⁸There the prisoners rest together; they do not hear the voice of the oppressor. ¹⁹The small and great are there; and the servant is free from his master.
²⁰Therefore light is given to him who is in misery and life to the bitter in soul; ²¹Who long for death and dig for it more than for hidden treasures; but it does not come; ²²Who rejoice exceedingly, and are glad, when they can find the grave? ²³Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden, and whom God has hedged in? ²⁴For my sighing comes before I eat and my roarings are poured out like water. ²⁵For the thing which I greatly feared is come on me and that which I was afraid of is come to me. ²⁶I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet; yet trouble came.
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Chapter 4
¹Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said, ²If we try to commune with you, will you be grieved? but who can withhold himself from speaking? ³Behold, you have instructed many and you have strengthened the weak hands. ⁴Your words have upheld him who was falling and you have strengthened the feeble knees. ⁵But now it has come on you and you faint; it touches you and you are troubled. ⁶Is not this your fear, your confidence, your hope and the uprightness of your ways?
⁷ I pray you, remember, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off? ⁸Even as I have seen, they who plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same. ⁹By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils they are consumed. ¹⁰The roaring of the lion and the voice of the fierce lion and the teeth of the young lions, are broken. ¹¹The old lion perishes for lack of prey and the stout lion's whelps are scattered abroad.
¹²Now a thing was secretly brought to me and my ear received a little of it. ¹³In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, ¹⁴Fear came on me and trembling, which made all my bones shake. ¹⁵Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh stood up: ¹⁶It stood still, but I could not discern the form of it: an image was before my eyes, there was silence and I heard a voice, saying, ¹⁷Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker? ¹⁸Behold, he puts no trust in his servants; and he charged his angels with folly: ¹⁹How much less in those who dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed before the moth? ²⁰They are destroyed from morning to evening: they perish forever without anyone regarding it. ²¹Does not their excellency which is in them go away? they die, even without wisdom.
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Chapter 5
¹Call now, if there is any who will answer you; and to which of the saints will you turn? ²For wrath kills the foolish man and envy slays the silly one. ³I have seen the foolish taking root: but suddenly I cursed his habitation. ⁴His children are far from safety and they are crushed in the gate, nor is there any to deliver them. ⁵Whose harvest the hungry eat up and take it even out of the thorns and the robber swallows up their substance.
⁶Affliction does not come out of the dust, nor does trouble spring out of the ground; ⁷Yet man is born to trouble, as the sparks fly upward. ⁸I would seek to God and I would commit my cause to God : ⁹Who does great things and unsearchable marvelous things without number: ¹⁰Who gives rain on the earth and sends waters on the fields: ¹¹To set up on high those who are low; that those who mourn may be exalted to safety. ¹²He disappoints the devices of the crafty, so that their hands can not perform their enterprise. ¹³He takes the wise in their own craftiness: and the counsel of the presumptuous is carried headlong. ¹⁴They meet with darkness in the daytime and grope in the noonday as in the night. ¹⁵But he saves the poor from the sword, from the mouth and the hand of the mighty. ¹⁶So the poor has hope and iniquity shuts her mouth.
¹⁷Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects: therefore despise not the chastening of the Almighty: ¹⁸For he makes sore and binds up: he wounds and his hands make whole. ¹⁹He shall deliver you in six troubles: yes, in seven no evil shall touch you. ²⁰In famine he shall redeem you from death: and in war from the power of the sword. ²¹You shall be hidden from the scourge of the tongue: nor shall you be afraid of destruction when it comes. ²² You shall laugh at destruction and famine: nor shall you be afraid of the animals of the earth. ²³For you shall be in league with the stones of the field: and the animals of the field shall be at peace with you. ²⁴And you shall know that your tabernacle shall be in peace; and you shall visit your habitation and shall not sin. ²⁵You shall know also that your seed shall be great and your offspring as the grass of the earth. ²⁶You shall come to your grave in a full age, like a shock of corn comes in his season. ²⁷Lo this, we have searched it, so it is; hear it, and know it for your good.
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Chapter 6
¹But Job answered and said, ²Oh that my grief were thoroughly weighed and my calamity laid in the balances together! ³For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my words are swallowed up. ⁴For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison of which my spirit drinks up: the terrors of God set themselves in array against me. ⁵Does the wild ass bray when he has grass? or the ox low over his fodder? ⁶Can that which is unsavory be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the white of an egg? ⁷The things that my soul refused to touch are my sorrowful meat.
⁸Oh that I might have my request; and that God would grant me the thing that I long for! ⁹Even that it would please God to destroy me; that he would let his hand loose and cut me off! ¹⁰Then I would yet have comfort; yes, I would harden myself in sorrow: let him not spare; for I have not concealed the words of the Holy One. ¹¹What is my strength, that I should hope? and what is my end, that I should prolong my life? ¹²Is my strength the strength of stones? or my flesh of brass? ¹³Is not my help in me? and is wisdom driven quite from me?
¹⁴ Pity should be shown from his friend to him who is afflicted; but he forsakes the fear of the Almighty. ¹⁵My brothers have dealt deceitfully as a brook, and as the stream of brooks they pass away; ¹⁶Which are blackish by reason of the ice, and in which the snow is hidden: ¹⁷At what time they grow warm, they vanish: when it is hot, they are consumed out of their place. ¹⁸The paths of their way are turned aside; they go to nothing and perish. ¹⁹The troops of Teman looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them. ²⁰They were confounded because they had hoped; they came there and were ashamed. ²¹For now you are nothing; you see my casting down and are afraid.
²²Did I say, Bring to me? or, Give a reward to me of your substance? ²³Or, Deliver me from the enemy's hand? or, Redeem me from the hand of the mighty? ²⁴Teach me and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand in what I have erred. ²⁵How forcible are right words! but what does your arguing prove? ²⁶Do you imagine to prove words and the speeches of one who is desperate, which are as wind? ²⁷Yes, you overwhelm the fatherless and you dig a pit for your friend. ²⁸Now therefore be content, look on me; because it will be evident to you if I am lying. ²⁹I pray you, do not return iniquity; yes, return again my righteousness to it. ³⁰Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern perverse things?
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Chapter 7
¹Is there not an appointed time to man on earth? are not his days also like the days of a hireling? ²As a servant earnestly desires the shadow, and as a hireling looks for the reward of his work: ³So I am made to possess months of vanity and wearisome nights are appointed to me. ⁴When I lie down, I say, When shall I arise and the night be gone? and I am full of tossings to and fro toward the dawning of the day. ⁵My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken and become loathsome. ⁶My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle and are spent without hope.
⁷O remember that my life is wind: my eyes shall not see good anymore. ⁸The eyes of him who has seen me shall not see me anymore: your eyes are on me and I am not. ⁹As the cloud is consumed and vanishes away: so he who goes down to the grave shall not come up anymore. ¹⁰He shall noy return to his house anymore, neither shall his place know him any more. ¹¹Therefore I will not refrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul. ¹²Am I a sea, or a whale, that you set a watch over me? ¹³When I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaint; ¹⁴Then you scare me with dreams and terrify me through visions: ¹⁵So that my soul chooses strangling, and death rather than my life. ¹⁶I loathe it; I would not live always: let me alone; for my days are vanity.
¹⁷What is man, that you should magnify him? and that you should set your heart on him? ¹⁸And that you should visit him every morning and try him every moment? ¹⁹How long will you not depart from me, nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle? ²⁰I have sinned; what shall I do to you, O you preserver of men? why have you set me as a mark against you, so that I am a burden to myself? ²¹And why do you not pardon my transgression and take away my iniquity? for now I shall sleep in the dust; and you shall seek me in the morning, but I shall not be.
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Chapter 8
¹Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said, ²How long will you speak these things and how long shall the words of your mouth be like a strong wind? ³Does God pervert judgment? or does the Almighty pervert justice? ⁴If your children have sinned against him and he has cast them away for their transgression. ⁵If you would seek to God often and make your supplication to the Almighty; ⁶If you were pure and upright; surely now he would awake for you and make the habitation of your righteousness prosperous. ⁷Though your beginning was small, yet your latter end should greatly increase.
⁸For I pray you, inquire of the former age and prepare yourself to the search of their fathers: ⁹(For we are but of yesterday and know nothing, because our days on earth are a shadow:) ¹⁰Shall they not teach you, and tell you and utter words out of their heart? ¹¹Can the reed grow up without mire? can the flag grow without water? ¹²While it is still in its greenness and not cut down, it withers before any other herb. ¹³So are the paths of all who forget God; and the hypocrite's hope shall perish: ¹⁴Whose hope shall be cut off and whose trust shall be a spider's web. ¹⁵He shall lean on his house, but it shall not stand: he shall hold it fast, but it shall not endure. ¹⁶He is green before the sun and his branch shoots forth in his garden. ¹⁷His roots are wrapped about the heap, and sees the place of stones. ¹⁸If he destroys him from his place, then it shall deny him, saying, I have not seen you. ¹⁹Behold, this is the joy of his way and out of the earth shall others grow.
²⁰Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he help the evil doers: ²¹Till he fill your mouth with laughing and your lips with rejoicing. ²²They who hate you shall be clothed with shame; and the dwelling place of the wicked shall come to nothing.
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Chapter 9
¹Then Job answered and said, ²I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God? ³If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand. ⁴He is wise in heart and mighty in strength: who has hardened himself against him and has prospered? ⁵Who removes the mountains and they do not know: who overturns them in his anger. ⁶Who shakes the earth out of her place and its pillars tremble. ⁷Who commands the sun and it does not rise; and seals up the stars. ⁸Who alone spreads out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea. ⁹Who makes Arcturus, Orion and Pleiades and the chambers of the south. ¹⁰Who does great things past finding out; yes and wonders without number. ¹¹Lo, he goes by me and I do not see him: he passes on also, but I do not perceive him. ¹²Behold, he takes away, who can hinder him? who will say to him, What are you doing? ¹³If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers stoop under him.
¹⁴How much less shall I answer him and choose out my words to reason with him? ¹⁵To whom, though I were righteous, yet I would not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge. ¹⁶If I had called and he had answered me; yet I would not believe that he had listened to my voice. ¹⁷For he breaks me with a tempest and multiplies my wounds without cause. ¹⁸He will not suffer me to take my breath, but fills me with bitterness. ¹⁹If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead? ²⁰If I justify myself, my own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse. ²¹Though I were perfect, yet I would not know my soul: I would despise my life.
²²This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroys the perfect and the wicked. ²³If the scourge slays suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent. ²⁴The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covers the faces of the its judges; if it is not God, where and who is he that does it?
²⁵Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good. ²⁶They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hurries to the prey. ²⁷If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness and comfort myself: ²⁸I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that you will not hold me innocent. ²⁹If I am wicked, why do I then labor in vain? ³⁰If I wash myself with snow water and make my hands ever so clean; ³¹Yet you shall plunge me in the ditch and my own clothes shall abhor me. ³²For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, when we should come together in judgment. ³³Neither is there any daysman between us, who might lay his hand on us both. ³⁴Let him take his rod away from me and let not his fear terrify me: ³⁵Then I would speak and not fear him; but it is not so with me.
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Chapter 10
¹My soul is weary of my life; I will leave my complaint to myself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul. ²I will say to God, Do not condemn me; show me why you contend with me. ³Is it good for you that you should oppress, that you should despise the work of your hands and shine on the counsel of the wicked? ⁴Have you eyes of flesh? or do you see as man sees? ⁵Are your days as the days of man? are your years as man's days, ⁶That you inquire after my iniquity and search after my sin? ⁷You know that I am not wicked; yet there is no one who can deliver me out of your hand.
⁸Your hands have made me and fashioned me together round about; yet you destroy me. ⁹ I beseech you, remember that you have made me as the clay; and you will bring me into dust again. ¹⁰Have you not poured me out as milk and curdled me like cheese? ¹¹You have clothed me with skin and flesh and have fenced me with bones and sinews. ¹²You have granted me life and favor and your visitation has preserved my spirit. ¹³And these things you have hid in your heart: I know that this is with you.
¹⁴If I sin, then you mark me and you will not acquit me from my iniquity. ¹⁵If I am wicked, woe to me; and if I am righteous, yet I will not lift up my head. I am full of confusion; therefore see my affliction; ¹⁶For it increases. You hunt me as a fierce lion: and again you show yourself marvelous to me. ¹⁷You renew your witnesses against me and increase your indignation on me; changes and war are against me. ¹⁸Why then have you brought me out of the womb? Oh that I had given up the ghost and no eyes had seen me! ¹⁹I should have been as though I had not been; I should have been carried from the womb to the grave. ²⁰Are not my days few? cease then and let me alone, that I may take a little comfort, ²¹Before I go where I shall not return, even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death; ²²A land of darkness, as darkness itself; and of the shadow of death, without any order and where the light is like darkness.
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Chapter 11
¹Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said, ²Should not this multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified? ³Should your lies make men hold their peace? and when you mock, shall no man make you ashamed? ⁴For you have said, My doctrine is pure and I am clean in your eyes. ⁵But oh that God would speak and open his lips against you; ⁶And that he would show you the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacts of you less than your iniquity deserves.
⁷Can you by searching find out God? can you find out the Almighty to perfection? ⁸He is as high as heaven; what can you do? deeper than sheol; what can you know? ⁹The measure of it is longer than the earth and broader than the sea. ¹⁰If he cuts off and shuts up, or gathers together, then who can hinder him? ¹¹For he knows vain men: he sees wickedness also; will he not then consider it? ¹²For vain man wants to be wise, although man is born like a wild ass's colt.
¹³If you prepare your heart and stretch out your hands toward him; ¹⁴If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away and let not wickedness dwell in your tabernacles. ¹⁵For then you shall lift up your face without spot; yes, you shall be steadfast and shall not fear: ¹⁶Because you shall forget your misery, and remember it as water that passes away: ¹⁷And your age shall be clearer than the noonday; you shall shine forth, you shall be as the morning. ¹⁸And you shall be secure, because there is hope; yes, you shall dig about you and you shall take your rest in safety. ¹⁹Also you shall lie down and no one shall make you afraid; yes, many shall make requests of you. ²⁰But the eyes of the wicked shall fail and they shall not escape and their hope shall be as giving up the ghost.
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Chapter 12
¹And Job answered and said, ²No doubt but you are the people and wisdom will die with you. ³But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yes, who does not know such things as these? ⁴I am like one mocked by his neighbor, who calls on God and he answers him? the just and upright man is laughed to scorn. ⁵He who is ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despised in the thought of him who is at ease.
⁶The tabernacles of robbers prosper and they who provoke God are secure; into whose hand God brings abundantly. ⁷But ask now the animals, and they shall teach you; and the fowls of the air and they shall tell you: ⁸Or speak to the earth and it shall teach you: and the fish of the sea shall declare to you. ⁹Who does not know in all these that the hand of the LORD has wrought this? ¹⁰In whose hand is the soul of every living thing and the breath of all mankind? ¹¹Does not the ear try words? and the mouth taste its meat?
¹²Wisdom is with the ancient and understanding is in length of days. ¹³Wisdom and strength are with him, he has counsel and understanding. ¹⁴Behold, he breaks down and it cannot be built again: he shuts up a man and there can be no opening. ¹⁵Behold, he withholds the water, and it dries up: he also sends them out and they overturn the earth. ¹⁶Strength and wisdom> is with him: the deceived and the deceiver are his. ¹⁷He leads counselors away spoiled and makes the judges fools. ¹⁸He looses the bond of kings and girdes their loins with a girdle. ¹⁹He leads princes away spoiled and overthrows the mighty. ²⁰He takes away the speech of the steadfast and takes away the understanding of the aged. ²¹He pours contempt on princes and weakens the strength of the mighty. ²²He discovers deep things out of darkness and brings the shadow of death out to light. ²³He increases the nations and destroys them: he enlarges the nations and narrows them again. ²⁴He takes away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth and causes them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way. ²⁵They grope in the dark without light and he makes them stagger like a drunken man.
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Chapter 13
¹Lo, my eyes has seen all this, my ear has heard and understood it. ²What you know, I also know the same: I am not inferior to you. ³Surely I would speak to the Almighty and I desire to reason with God. ⁴But you are forgers of lies, you are all physicians of no value. ⁵O that you would altogether hold your peace! and that should be your wisdom. ⁶Hear now my reasoning and listen to the pleadings of my lips. ⁷Will you speak wickedly for God? and talk deceitfully for him? ⁸Will you accept his person? will you contend for God? ⁹Is it good that he should search you out? and as one man mocks another, so you mock him? ¹⁰He will surely reprove you, if you secretly accept persons. ¹¹Shall not his excellency make you afraid? and his dread fall on you? ¹²Your remembrances are like ashes, your bodies as bodies of clay.
¹³Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak and let whatever will come on me. ¹⁴Why do I take my flesh in my teeth and put my life in my hand? ¹⁵Though he slay me, I will still trust in him but I will maintain my own ways before him. ¹⁶He also shall be my salvation: for a hypocrite shall not come before him. ¹⁷Hear diligently my speech and my declaration with your ears. ¹⁸Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be justified. ¹⁹Who is he who will plead with me? for now, if I hold my tongue, I shall give up the ghost. ²⁰Only do not do two things to me: then I will not hide myself from you. ²¹Do not withdraw your hand far from me: and do not let your dread make me afraid. ²²Then call and I will answer: or let me speak and you answer me.
²³How many are my iniquities and sins? make me to know my transgression and my sin. ²⁴Why do you hide your face and hold me for your enemy? ²⁵Will you break a leaf driven to and fro and will you pursue the dry stubble? ²⁶For you write bitter things against me and make me to possess the iniquities of my youth. ²⁷You also put my feet in the stocks and look narrowly to all my paths; you set a print on the heels of my feet. ²⁸And he, consumes as a rotten thing, as a garment that is moth eaten.
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Chapter 14
¹Man who is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble. ²He comes forth like a flower and is cut down: he flees also as a shadow, and does not continue. ³And do you open your eyes on such a one and bring me into judgment with you? ⁴Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? no one. ⁵Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with you, you have appointed his bounds that he cannot pass; ⁶Turn from him, that he may rest, till he shall accomplish his day as a hireling.
⁷For there is hope of a tree, if it is cut down, that it will sprout again, and that its tender branch will not cease. ⁸Though its root grows old in the earth and its stock dies in the ground; ⁹Yet through the scent of water it will bud and bring forth boughs like a plant. ¹⁰But man dies and wastes away: yes, man gives up the ghost and where is he? ¹¹As the waters fail from the sea and the flood decays and dries up: ¹²So man lies down and rises not: till the heavens are no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep. ¹³O that you would hide me in the grave, that you would keep me secret, until your wrath is past, that you would appoint me a set time and remember me! ¹⁴If a man dies shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time I will wait until my change comes. ¹⁵You shall call and I will answer you: you will have a desire to the work of your hands.
¹⁶For now you number my steps: do you not watch over my sin? ¹⁷My transgression is sealed up in a bag and you sew up my iniquity. ¹⁸And surely the mountain falling comes to nothing and the rock is removed out of his place. ¹⁹The waters wear the stones: you wash away the things which grow out of the dust of the earth; and you destroy the hope of man. ²⁰You prevail for ever against him and he passes: you change his countenance and send him away. ²¹His sons come to honor and he does not know it; and they are brought low, but he does not perceives it of them. ²²But his flesh on him shall have pain and his soul within him shall mourn.
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Chapter 15
¹Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said, ²Should a wise man utter vain knowledge and fill his belly with the east wind? ³Should he reason with unprofitable talk? or with speeches with which he can do no good? ⁴Yes, you cast off fear and restrain prayer before God. ⁵For your mouth utters your iniquity and you choose the tongue of the crafty. ⁶Your own mouth condemns you and not I: yes, your own lips testify against you. ⁷Are you the first man who was born? or were you made before the hills? ⁸Have you heard the secret of God and do you retain wisdom to yourself? ⁹What do you know, that we do not know? what do you understand, which is not in us? ¹⁰With us are both the gray headed and very aged men, much older than your father. ¹¹Are the consolations of God small with you? is there any secret thing with you? ¹²Why does your heart carry you away and what do your eyes wink at, ¹³That you turn your spirit against God and let such words go out of your mouth? ¹⁴What is man, that he should be clean and he who is born of a woman, that he should be righteous? ¹⁵Behold, he puts no trust in his saints; yes, the heavens are not clean in his sight. ¹⁶How much more abominable and filthy is man who drinks iniquity like water?
¹⁷I will show you, hear me; and that which I have seen I will declare; ¹⁸Which wise men have told from their fathers and have not hidden it: ¹⁹To whom alone the earth was given and no stranger passed among them. ²⁰The wicked man travails with pain all his days and the number of years is hidden to the oppressor. ²¹A dreadful sound is in his ears: the destroyer shall come on him in prosperity. ²²He does not believe that he shall return out of darkness and he is waited for by the sword. ²³He wanders abroad for bread, saying, Where is it? he knows that the day of darkness is ready at his hand. ²⁴Trouble and anguish shall make him afraid; they shall prevail against him, as a king ready to the battle. ²⁵For he stretches out his hand against God and strengthens himself against the Almighty. ²⁶He runs on him, even on his neck, on the thick rims of his bucklers: ²⁷Because he covers his face with his fatness and makes excessive fat on his flanks. ²⁸And he dwells in desolate cities, and in houses which no man inhabits, which are ready to become heaps. ²⁹He shall not be rich, neither shall his substance continue, neither shall he prolong the perfection of it on the earth. ³⁰He shall not depart out of darkness; the flame shall dry up his branches and by the breath of his mouth shall he go away. ³¹Let not him who is deceived trust in vanity: for vanity shall be its recompense. ³²It shall be accomplished before his time and his branch shall not be green. ³³He shall shake off his unripe grape as the vine and shall cast off his flower as the olive. ³⁴For the congregation of hypocrites shall be desolate and fire shall consume the tabernacles of bribery. ³⁵They conceive mischief and bring forth vanity and their belly prepares deceit.
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Chapter 16
¹Then Job answered and said, ²I have heard many such things: you all are miserable comforters. ³Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldens you that you answer? ⁴I also could speak as you do: if your soul were in my soul's place, I could heap up words against you and shake my head at you. ⁵But I would strengthen you with my mouth and the moving of my lips should assuage your grief.
⁶Though I speak, my grief is not restrained: and though I forbear, what am I eased? ⁷But now he has made me weary: you have made all my company desolate. ⁸And you have filled me with wrinkles, which is a witness against me: and my leanness rising up in me bears witness to my face. ⁹He who hates me tears me in his wrath,: he gnashes on me with his teeth; my enemy sharpens his eyes on me. ¹⁰They have gaped on me with their mouth; they have struck me on the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me. ¹¹God has delivered me to the ungodly and turned me over into the hands of the wicked. ¹²I was at ease, but he has broken me apart: he has also taken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces and set me up for his target. ¹³His archers surround me round about, he splits my reins apart and does not spare; he pours out my gall on the ground. ¹⁴He breaks me with breach upon breach, he runs on me like a giant. ¹⁵I have sewn sackcloth on my skin, and defiled my horn in the dust. ¹⁶My face is foul with weeping and the shadow of death is on my eyelids;
¹⁷But not for any injustice in my hands: also my prayer is pure. ¹⁸O earth, do not cover my blood and let my cry have no place. ¹⁹Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven and my record is on high. ²⁰My friends scorn me: but my eyes pour out tears to God. ²¹O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleads for his neighbor! ²²When a few years are come, then I shall go the way from where I shall not return.
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Chapter 17
¹My breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves are ready for me. ²Are there not mockers with me? and do not my eyes continue in their provocation? ³Lay down now, put me in a surety with you; who is he who will strike hands with me? ⁴For you have hid their heart from understanding: therefore you shall not exalt them. ⁵He who speaks flattery to his friends, even the eyes of his children shall fail. ⁶He has also made me a byword of the people and I was an object of contempt in their presence. ⁷My eyes also are dim by reason of sorrow and all my members are as a shadow. ⁸Upright men shall be astonished at this and the innocent shall stir up himself against the hypocrite. ⁹The righteous also shall hold to his way, and he who has clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.
¹⁰But as for you all, return and go now: for I cannot find one wise man among you. ¹¹My days are past, my purposes are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart. ¹²They change the night into day: the light is short because of darkness. ¹³If I wait, the grave is my house: I have made my bed in the darkness. ¹⁴I have said to corruption, You are my father: to the worm, You are my mother and my sister. ¹⁵And where now is my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it? ¹⁶They shall go down to the bars of the pit, when our rest together is in the dust.
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Chapter 18
¹Then answered Bildad the Shuhite and said, ²How long will it be before you make an end of words? mark and afterwards we will speak. ³Why are we counted as animals, and reputed vile in your sight? ⁴He tears himself in his anger: shall the earth be forsaken for you? and shall the rock be removed out of his place?
⁵Yes, the light of the wicked shall be put out and the spark of his fire shall not shine. ⁶The light shall be dark in his tabernacle and his candle shall be put out with him. ⁷The steps of his strength shall be narrowed, and his own counsel shall cast him down. ⁸For he is cast in a net by his own feet and he walks on a snare. ⁹The gin shall take him by the heel, and the robber shall prevail against him. ¹⁰The snare is laid for him in the ground and a trap for him in the way.
¹¹Terrors shall make him afraid on every side and shall drive him to his feet. ¹²His strength shall be hunger bitten and destruction shall be ready at his side. ¹³It shall devour the strength of his skin: even the firstborn of death shall devour his strength. ¹⁴His confidence shall be rooted out of his tabernacle and it shall bring him to the king of terrors. ¹⁵It shall dwell in his tabernacle, because it is none of his: brimstone shall be scattered on his habitation. ¹⁶His roots shall be dried up beneath and above his branch shall be cut off. ¹⁷His remembrance shall perish from the earth and he shall have no name in the street. ¹⁸He shall be driven from light into darkness and chased out of the world. ¹⁹He shall neither have son nor nephew among his people, nor any remaining in his dwellings. ²⁰Those who come after him shall be astonished at his day, as they who went before were frightened. ²¹Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked and this is the place of him who does not know God.
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Chapter 19
¹Then Job answered and said, ²How long will you vex my soul and break me in pieces with words? ³These ten times have you reproached me: you are not ashamed that you make yourselves strange to me. ⁴And if indeed it is that I have erred, my error remains with myself. ⁵If indeed you will magnify yourselves against me and plead my reproach against me: ⁶Know now that God has overthrown me and has compassed me with his net. ⁷Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard: I cry aloud, but there is no judgment.
⁸He has fenced up my way that I cannot pass and he has set darkness in my paths. ⁹He has stripped me of my glory and taken the crown from my head. ¹⁰He has destroyed me on every side and I am gone: and he has removed my hope like a tree. ¹¹He has also kindled his wrath against me and he counts me to him as one of his enemies. ¹²His troops come together and raise up their way against me and encamp around my tabernacle. ¹³He has put my brothers far from me and my acquaintances are truly estranged from me. ¹⁴My kinsfolk have failed and my familiar friends have forgotten me. ¹⁵Those who dwell in my house and my maids, count me as a stranger: I am an alien in their sight. ¹⁶I called my servant, and he gave no answer; I entreated him with my mouth. ¹⁷My breath is strange to my wife, though I entreated for the children of my own body's sake. ¹⁸Yes, young children despised me; I arose and they spoke against me. ¹⁹All my closest friends abhorred me: and those whom I love are turned against me. ²⁰My bone cleaves to my skin and to my flesh and I am escaped with the skin of my teeth. ²¹Have pity on me, have pity on me, O my friends; for the hand of God has touched me. ²²Why do you persecute me as God and are not satisfied with my flesh?
²³Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book! ²⁴That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever! ²⁵For I know that my redeemer lives and that later he shall stand on the dust: ²⁶And though after my skin, worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh I shall see God: ²⁷Whom I shall see for myself and my eyes shall behold and not another; although my reins be consumed within me. ²⁸But you should say, Why do we persecute him, seeing the root of the matter is found in me? ²⁹Be afraid of the sword: for wrath brings the punishments of the sword, that you may know there is a judgment.
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Chapter 20
¹Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said, ²Therefore do my thoughts cause me to answer and I make haste for this. ³I have heard the check of my reproach and the spirit of my understanding causes me to answer. ⁴Do you not know this of old, since man was placed on earth, ⁵That the triumphing of the wicked is short and the joy of the hypocrite is but for a moment? ⁶Though his excellency mounts up to the heavens and his head reaches to the clouds; ⁷Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung: they who have seen him shall say, Where is he? ⁸He shall fly away as a dream and shall not be found: yes, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night. ⁹The eyes also which saw him shall see him no more; nor shall his place behold him any more.
¹⁰His children shall seek to please the poor and his hands shall restore their goods. ¹¹His bones are full of the sin of his youth, which shall lie down with him in the dust. ¹²Though wickedness is sweet in his mouth, although he hides it under his tongue; ¹³Though he does not spare it, not forsake it; but keeps it still within his mouth: ¹⁴Yet his meat in his bowels is turned, it is the gall of asps within him. ¹⁵He has swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again: God shall cast them out of his belly. ¹⁶He shall suck the poison of asps: the viper's tongue shall slay him. ¹⁷He shall not see the rivers, the floods, the brooks of honey and butter. ¹⁸He shall restore that which he labored for and shall not swallow it down: According to his substance the restitution shall be and he shall not rejoice in it. ¹⁹Because he has oppressed and has forsaken the poor; because he has violently taken away a house which he did not build; ²⁰Surely he shall not feel quietness in his belly, he shall not save from that which he desired. ²¹None of his meat shall be left; therefore no man shall look for his goods. ²²In the fullness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits: every hand of the wicked shall come on him.
²³When he is about to fill his belly, God shall cast the fury of his wrath on him and shall rain it on him while he is eating. ²⁴He shall flee from the iron weapon, and the bow of steel shall strike him through. ²⁵It is drawn and comes out of the body; yes, the glittering sword comes out of his gall: terrors are on him. ²⁶All darkness shall be hidden in his secret places: a fire that is not blown shall consume him; it shall go ill with him who is left in his tabernacle. ²⁷The heaven shall reveal his iniquity; and the earth shall rise up against him. ²⁸The increase of his house shall depart, and his goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath. ²⁹This is the portion of a wicked man from God and the heritage appointed to him by God.
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Chapter 21
¹But Job answered and said, ²Hear diligently my speech and let this be your consolation. ³Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on. ⁴As for me, is my complaint to man and if it were, why should my spirit not be troubled? ⁵Mark me and be astonished and lay your hand on your mouth. ⁶Even when I remember I am afraid and trembling takes hold on my flesh.
⁷Why do the wicked live, become old, yes, are mighty in power? ⁸Their seed is established in their sight with them and their offspring before their eyes. ⁹Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God on them. ¹⁰Their bull genders and does not fail; their cow calves and does not cast her calf. ¹¹They send forth their little ones like a flock and their children dance. ¹²They take the timbrel and harp and rejoice at the sound of the organ. ¹³They spend their days in wealth and in a moment go down to the grave. ¹⁴Therefore they say to God, Depart from us; for we do not desire the knowledge of your ways. ¹⁵What is the Almighty, that we should serve him and what profit should we have if we pray to him? ¹⁶Lo, their goodness is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
¹⁷How often is the candle of the wicked put out! and how often does their destruction come on them! God distributes sorrows in his anger. ¹⁸They are as stubble before the wind and as chaff that the storm carries away. ¹⁹God lays up his iniquity for his children: he rewards him and he shall know it. ²⁰His eyes shall see his destruction and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty. ²¹For what pleasure has he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst? ²²Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judges those who are high. ²³One dies in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet. ²⁴His breasts are full of milk and his bones are moistened with marrow. ²⁵And another dies in the bitterness of his soul and never eats with pleasure. ²⁶They shall lie down alike in the dust and the worms shall cover them.
²⁷Behold, I know your thoughts and the devices which you wrongfully imagine against me. ²⁸For you say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked? ²⁹Have you not asked them who go by the way? and do you not know their tokens, ³⁰That the wicked are reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath. ³¹Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him for what he has done? ³²Yet he shall be brought to the grave and shall remain in the tomb. ³³The clods of the valley shall be sweet to him, and every man shall draw after him, as there were innumerable before him. ³⁴How then do you comfort me in vain, seeing there remains falsehood in your answers?
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Chapter 22
¹Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said, ²Can a man be profitable to God, as he who is wise may be profitable to himself? ³Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that you are righteous? or is it gain to him, that you make your ways perfect? ⁴Will he reprove you for fear of you? will he enter with you into judgment?
⁵Is not your wickedness great? and your iniquities infinite? ⁶For you have taken a pledge from your brother for nothing and stripped the naked of their clothing. ⁷You have not given water to the weary to drink and you have withheld bread from the hungry. ⁸But as for the mighty man, he had the earth; and the honorable man dwelled in it. ⁹You have sent widows away empty and the arms of the fatherless have been broken. ¹⁰Therefore snares are round about you and sudden fear troubles you; ¹¹Or darkness, so that you can not see; and abundance of waters cover you. ¹²Is not God in the height of heaven? and behold the height of the stars, how high they are! ¹³And you say, How does God know? can he judge through the dark cloud? ¹⁴Thick clouds are a covering to him, so that he does not see; and he walks in the circuit of heaven.
¹⁵Have you marked the old way which wicked men have trodden? ¹⁶Who were cut down out of time, whose foundation was overflown with a flood: ¹⁷Who said to God, Depart from us: and what can the Almighty do for them? ¹⁸Yet he filled their houses with good things: but the counsel of the wicked is far from me. ¹⁹The righteous see it and are glad: and the innocent laugh them to scorn. ²⁰But our substance is not cut down, but the fire consumes the remnant of them.
²¹Acquaint yourself with him now and be at peace: thereby good shall come to you. ²²I beg you, receive the law from his mouth and lay up his words in your heart. ²³If you return to the Almighty, you shall be built up, you shall put away iniquity far from your tabernacles. ²⁴Then you shall lay up gold as dust and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks. ²⁵Yes, the Almighty shall be your defense and you shall have plenty of silver. ²⁶For then you shall have your delight in the Almighty and shall lift up your face to God. ²⁷You shall make your prayer to him and he shall hear you and you shall pay your vows. ²⁸You shall also decree a thing and it shall be established to you: and the light shall shine on your ways. ²⁹When men are cast down, then you shall say, There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person. ³⁰He shall deliver the island of the innocent: and it shall be delivered by the pureness of your hands.
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Chapter 23
¹Then Job answered and said, ²Even today my complaint is bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning. ³Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come to his seat! ⁴I would order my cause before him and fill my mouth with arguments. ⁵I would know the words which he would answer me and understand what he would say to me. ⁶Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me. ⁷There the righteous might dispute with him; so I should be delivered from my judge for ever.
⁸Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: ⁹On the left hand, where he works, but I cannot behold him. He hides himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him: ¹⁰But he knows the way that I take: when he has tried me, I shall come forth as gold. ¹¹My foot has held his steps, I have kept his way and not declined. ¹²Nor I have gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.
¹³But he is in one mind and who can turn him? and he does even what his soul desires. ¹⁴For he performs the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him. ¹⁵Therefore I am troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid of him. ¹⁶For God makes my heart soft and the Almighty troubles me: ¹⁷Because I was not cut off before the darkness, nor has he covered the darkness from my face.
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Chapter 24
¹Why, seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty, do they who know him not see his days? ²Some remove the landmarks; they violently take away flocks and feed from them. ³They drive away the ass of the fatherless, they take the widow's ox for a pledge. ⁴They turn the needy out of the way: the poor of the earth hide themselves together. ⁵Behold, they go out to their work as wild asses in the desert, rising often for a prey: the wilderness yields food for them and for their children. ⁶They all reap their corn in the field: and they gather the vintage of the wicked. ⁷They cause the naked to lodge without clothing, so that they have no covering in the cold. ⁸They are wet with the showers of the mountains, and embrace the rock for want of a shelter. ⁹They pluck the fatherless from the breast and take a pledge of the poor. ¹⁰They cause him to go naked without clothing and they take away the sheaf from the hungry; ¹¹They make oil within their walls, and tread their winepresses and suffer thirst. ¹²Men groan from out of the city and the soul of the wounded cries out: yet God lays not this folly to them.
¹³They are of those who rebel against the light; they do not know its ways, nor abide in its paths. ¹⁴The murderer rising with the light kills the poor and needy and in the night is like a thief. ¹⁵Also the eyes of the adulterer wait for the twilight, saying, No eyes shall see me: and disguises his face. ¹⁶In the dark they dig through houses, which they had marked for themselves in the daytime: they do not know the light. ¹⁷For the morning is to them even as the shadow of death: if one knows them, they are in the terrors of the shadow of death.
¹⁸He is swift as the waters; their portion is cursed in the earth: he does not behold the way of the vineyards. ¹⁹Drought and heat consume the snow waters: so does the grave those who have sinned. ²⁰The womb shall forget him; the worm shall feed sweetly on him; he shall be remembered no more; and wickedness shall be broken as a tree. ²¹He evil entreats the barren who does not bear: and does no good to the widow. ²²He also draws the mighty with his power: he rises up and no man is sure of life. ²³Though it is given him to be in safety, on which he rests; yet his eyes are on their ways. ²⁴They are exalted for a little while, but are gone and brought low; they are taken out of the way as all others and cut off as the tops of the ears of corn. ²⁵And if it is not so now, who will make me a liar and make my speech worth nothing?
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Chapter 25
¹Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said, ²Dominion and fear are with him, he makes peace in his high places. ³Is there any number of his armies? and on whom does his light not arise? ⁴How then can man be justified with God? or how can he who is born of a woman be clean? ⁵In his eyes the moon does not shine, yes, even the stars are not bright. ⁶How much less man, who is a worm? and the son of man, who is a worm?
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Chapter 26
¹But Job answered and said, ²How have you helped him who is without power? How do you save the arm that has no strength? ³How have you counseled him who has no wisdom? and how have you plentifully declared the thing as it is? ⁴To whom have you uttered words? and whose spirit came from you?
⁵Dead things and its inhabitants are formed from under the waters. ⁶Sheol is naked before him and destruction has no covering. ⁷He stretches out the north over the empty place, and hangs the earth on nothing. ⁸He binds up the waters in his thick clouds; and the cloud is not torn under them. ⁹He holds back the face of his throne, and spreads his cloud on it. ¹⁰He has compassed the waters with bounds, until the day and night come to an end. ¹¹The pillars of heaven tremble and are astonished at his reproof. ¹²He divides the sea with his power and by his understanding he strikes through the proud. ¹³By his spirit he has garnished the heavens; his hand has formed the crooked serpent. ¹⁴Lo, these are parts of his ways: but how little a portion is heard of him? And who can understand the thunder of his power?
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Chapter 27
¹Moreover Job continued his parable and said, ²As God, who has taken away my judgment lives; and the Almighty who has vexed my soul; ³All the while my breath is in me and the spirit of God is in my nostrils; ⁴My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit. ⁵God forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will not remove my integrity from me. ⁶My righteousness I hold fast and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live.
⁷Let my enemy be as the wicked and he who rises up against me as the unrighteous. ⁸For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he has gained, when God takes away his soul? ⁹Will God hear his cry when trouble comes on him? ¹⁰Will he delight himself in the Almighty? will he always call on God?
¹¹I will teach you by the hand of God: I will not conceal that which is with the Almighty. ¹²Behold, you yourselves have seen all; why then are you thus altogether vain? ¹³This is the portion of a wicked man with God, and the heritage of oppressors, which they shall receive from the Almighty. ¹⁴If his children are multiplied, it is for the sword: and his offspring shall not be satisfied with bread. ¹⁵Those who remain of him shall be buried in death: and his widows shall not weep. ¹⁶Though he heaps up silver as the dust and prepares raiment as the clay; ¹⁷He may prepare it, but the just shall put it on and the innocent shall divide the silver. ¹⁸He builds his house as a moth and as a booth that the keeper makes. ¹⁹The rich man shall lie down, but he shall not be gathered: he opens his eyes and he is not. ²⁰Terrors take hold on him as waters, a tempest steals him away in the night. ²¹The east wind carries him away and he departs: and as a storm hurls him out of his place. ²²For God shall cast on him and not spare: he would fain flee out of his hand. ²³Men shall clap their hands at him and shall hiss him out of his place.
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Chapter 28
¹Surely there is a vein for the silver and a place for gold where they refine it. ²Iron is taken out of the earth and brass is melted out of the stone. ³He set an end to darkness and searches out all perfection: the stones of darkness and the shadow of death. ⁴A river breaks out at the foot among the dwelling of the forgotten ones: then they are dried up, they are gone away from men. ⁵As for the earth, out of it comes bread: and under it fire is turned up. ⁶Its stones are the place of sapphires: and it has gold dust. ⁷There is a path which no fowl knows, and which the vulture's eye has not seen: ⁸The lion's whelps have not trodden it, nor the fierce lion passed by it. ⁹He puts forth his hand on the rock; he overturns the mountains by the roots. ¹⁰He cuts out rivers among the rocks; and his eyes see every precious thing. ¹¹He binds the floods from overflowing; and he brings to light the thing that is hidden. ¹²But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding? ¹³Man does not know the value of it; nor is it found in the land of the living.
¹⁴The depth says, It is not in me: and the sea says, It is not with me. ¹⁵It cannot be gotten for gold, nor can silver be weighed for its price. ¹⁶It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire. ¹⁷The gold and the crystal cannot equal it: and its exchange shall not be for jewels of fine gold. ¹⁸No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls: for the price of wisdom is above rubies. ¹⁹The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, nor shall it be valued with pure gold.
²⁰Where then comes wisdom? and where is the place of understanding? ²¹Seeing it is hidden from the eyes of all living and kept close from the fowls of the air. ²²Destruction and death say, We have heard of its fame with our ears. ²³God understands its way and he knows its place. ²⁴For he looks to the ends of the earth, and sees under the whole heaven; ²⁵To take the weight for the winds; and he weighs the waters by measure. ²⁶When he made a decree for the rain and a way for the lightning of the thunder: ²⁷Then he saw it and declared it; he prepared it, yes and searched it out. ²⁸And to man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord: that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.
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Chapter 29
¹Moreover Job continued his parable and said, ²Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me; ³When his candle shined on my head, and when I walked through darkness by his light; ⁴As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was on my tabernacle; ⁵When the Almighty was still with me, when my children were about me; ⁶When I washed my steps with butter and the rock poured out rivers of oil for me ;
⁷When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street! ⁸The young men saw me and hid themselves: and the aged arose, and stood up. ⁹The princes refrained talking and laid their hand on their mouth. ¹⁰The nobles held their peace and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth. ¹¹When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eyes saw me, it gave witness to me: ¹²Because I delivered the poor who cried and the fatherless and him who had no one to help him. ¹³The blessing of him who was ready to perish came on me: and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy. ¹⁴I put on righteousness and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem. ¹⁵I was eyes to the blind, and I was feet to the lame. ¹⁶I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I did not know I searched out. ¹⁷And I broke the jaws of the wicked and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.
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Chapter 30
¹But now those who are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my flock. ²Yes, how might the strength of their hands profit me, in whom old age was perished? ³For want and famine they were alone; fleeing into the wilderness in former time desolate and waste. ⁴Who cut up salt herbs by the bushes and juniper roots for their meat. ⁵They were driven out from among men, (they cried after them as after a thief;) ⁶To dwell in the clefts of the valleys, in caves of the earth and in the rocks. ⁷ They were gathered together under the nettles, they brayed; among the bushes. ⁸They were children of fools, yes, children of base men: they were viler than the earth. ⁹And now I am their song, yes, I am their byword. ¹⁰They abhor me, they flee far from me and do not spare to spit in my face. ¹¹Because he has loosed my cord and afflicted me, they have also let loose the bridle before me. ¹²On my right hand the youths rise; they push away my feet, and they raise up the ways of their destruction against me. ¹³They mar my path, they set forward my calamity, they have no helper. ¹⁴They came on me as a wide breaking in of waters: in the desolation they rolled themselves on me.
¹⁵Terrors are turned on me: they pursue my soul as the wind: and my welfare passes away as a cloud. ¹⁶And now my soul is poured out on me; the days of affliction have taken hold on me. ¹⁷My bones are pierced in me in the night season: and my sinews take no rest. ¹⁸My garment is changed by the great force of my disease: it binds me about as the collar of my coat. ¹⁹He has cast me into the mire and I am become like dust and ashes. ²⁰I cry to you and you do not hear me: I stand up and you do not regard me. ²¹You are become cruel to me: with your strong hand you oppose yourself against me. ²²You lift me up to the wind; you cause me to ride on it and dissolve my substance. ²³For I know that you will bring me to death and to the house appointed for all living. ²⁴But he will not stretch out his hand to the grave, though they cry in his destruction. ²⁵Did I not weep for him who was in trouble? was not my soul grieved for the poor? ²⁶When I looked for good, then evil came to me: and when I waited for light, darkness came. ²⁷My bowels boiled and did not rest: the days of affliction went before me. ²⁸I went mourning without the sun: I stood up, and I cried in the congregation. ²⁹I am a brother to dragons, and a companion of owls. ³⁰My skin is black on me and my bones are burned with heat. ³¹My harp also is turned to mourning and my organ into the voice of those who weep.
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Chapter 31
¹I made a covenant with my eyes; why then should I diligently think on a maid? ²For what portion of God is there from above? and what inheritance of the Almighty from on high? ³Is not destruction for the wicked? and a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity? ⁴Does he not see my ways, and count all my steps? ⁵If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot has hurried to deceit; ⁶Let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know my integrity. ⁷If my step has turned out of the way and my heart walked after my eyes and if any blot has cleaved to my hands; ⁸Then let me sow and let another eat; yes, let my offspring be rooted out.
⁹If my heart has been deceived by a woman, or if I have laid wait at my neighbor's door; ¹⁰Then let my wife grind to another and let others bow down on her. ¹¹For this is a heinous crime; yes, it is an iniquity to be punished by the judges. ¹²For it is a fire that consumes to destruction, and would root out all my increase. ¹³If I despised the cause of my manservant or of my maidservant, when they contended with me; ¹⁴What then shall I do when God rises up? and when he visits, what shall I answer him? ¹⁵Did not he who made me in the womb make him and did not one fashion us in the womb?
¹⁶If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail; ¹⁷Or have eaten my morsel myself alone and the fatherless has not eaten of it; ¹⁸(For from my youth he was brought up with me, as with a father and I have guided her from my mother's womb;) ¹⁹If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or any poor without covering; ²⁰If his loins have not blessed me and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep; ²¹If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, when I saw my help in the gate: ²²Then let my arm fall from my shoulder blade and my arm be broken from the bone. ²³For destruction from God was a terror to me and by reason of his highness I could not endure.
²⁴If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, You are my confidence; ²⁵If I rejoiced because my wealth was great and because my hand had gotten much; ²⁶If I beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness; ²⁷And my heart has been secretly enticed, or my mouth has kissed my hand: ²⁸This also is an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have denied the God who is above. ²⁹If I rejoiced at the destruction of him who hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found him: ³⁰Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by wishing a curse to his soul. ³¹Have not the men of my tabernacle said, Who has been given of his meat and not been satisfied! ³²The stranger did not lodge in the street: but I opened my doors to the traveler.
³³If I covered my transgressions like Adam, by hiding my iniquity in my bosom: ³⁴Did I fear a great multitude, or did the contempt of families terrify me, so that I kept silence, and did not go out of the door? ³⁵Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me and that my adversary had written a book. ³⁶Surely I would take it on my shoulder, and bind it as a crown to me. ³⁷I would declare to him the number of my steps; I would go near to him as a prince. ³⁸If my land cries against me, or that the furrows of it likewise complain; ³⁹If I have eaten its fruits without money, or have caused its owners to lose their life: ⁴⁰Let thistles grow instead of wheat and noxious weeds instead of barley. The words of Job are ended.
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Chapter 32
¹So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. ²Then the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram was kindled against Job. His wrath was kindled, because he justified himself rather than God. ³Also his wrath was kindled against his three friends, because they had found no answer and still had condemned Job. ⁴Now Elihu had waited till Job had spoken, because they were older than he. ⁵When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, then his wrath was kindled.
⁶And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said, I am young and you are very old; therefore I was afraid and I did not dare to show you my opinion. ⁷I said, Days should speak and multitude of years should teach wisdom. ⁸But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty gives them understanding. ⁹Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand judgment. ¹⁰Therefore I said, Listen to me; I will also show my opinion. ¹¹Behold, I waited for your words; I gave ear to your reasons, while you searched out what to say. ¹²Yes, I attended to you and behold, there was not one of you who convinced Job, or who answered his words: ¹³Lest you should say, We have found out wisdom: God can thrust him down, man not has not confuted him. ¹⁴Now he has not directed his words against me: neither will I answer him with your speeches.
¹⁵They were amazed, they answered no more: they left off speaking. ¹⁶When I had waited, (for they did not speak, but stood still, and answered no more;) ¹⁷I said, I will answer also my part, I also will show my opinion. ¹⁸For I am full of the matter, the spirit within me constrains me. ¹⁹Behold, my belly is as wine which has no vent; it is ready to burst like new bottles. ²⁰I will speak, that I may be refreshed: I will open my lips and answer. ²¹ I pray you, do not let me accept any man's person, neither let me give flattering titles to man. ²²For I do not know how to give flattering titles; in so doing my maker would soon take me away.
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Chapter 33
¹Therefore, I pray you Job, hear my speeches and listen to all my words. ²Behold, I have now opened my mouth, my tongue has spoken in my mouth. ³My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart: and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly. ⁴The Spirit of God has made me and the breath of the Almighty has given me life. ⁵If you can answer me, set your words in order before me, stand up. ⁶Behold, I am in God's place according to your wish: I also am formed out of the clay. ⁷Behold, my terror shall not make you afraid, neither shall my hand be heavy on you.
⁸Surely you have spoken in my hearing and I have heard the voice of your words, saying, ⁹I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me. ¹⁰Behold, he finds occasions against me, he counts me for his enemy, ¹¹He puts my feet in the stocks, he marks all my paths. ¹²Behold, in this you are not just: I will answer you, that God is greater than man. ¹³Why do you strive against him for he gives no account of any of his matters?
¹⁴For God speaks once, yes twice, yet man does not perceive it. ¹⁵In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, in slumberings on the bed; ¹⁶Then he opens the ears of men and seals their instruction, ¹⁷That he may withdraw man from his purpose and hide pride from man. ¹⁸He keeps his soul back from the pit and his life from perishing by the sword.
¹⁹He is chastened also with pain on his bed and the multitude of his bones with strong pain: ²⁰So that his life abhors bread and his soul dainty meat. ²¹His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones that were not seen stick out. ²²Yes, his soul draws near to the grave and his life to the destroyers. ²³If there is a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show to man his uprightness: ²⁴Then he is gracious to him and says, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom. ²⁵His flesh shall be fresher than a child's: he shall return to the days of his youth: ²⁶He shall pray to God and he will be favorable to him: and he shall see his face with joy: for he will render to man his righteousness. ²⁷He looks on men and if any say, I have sinned and perverted that which was right and it did not profit me; ²⁸He will deliver his soul from going into the pit and his life shall see the light.
²⁹Lo, all these things God works oftentimes with man, ³⁰To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living. ³¹Mark well, O Job, listen to me: hold your peace and I will speak. ³²If you have anything to say, answer me: speak, for I desire to justify you. ³³If not, listen to me: hold your peace and I shall teach you wisdom.
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Chapter 34
¹Furthermore Elihu answered and said, ²Hear my words, O you wise men; and give ear to me, you who have knowledge. ³For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tastes meat. ⁴Let us choose judgment for us, let us know among ourselves what is good. ⁵For Job has said, I am righteous: and God has taken away my judgment. ⁶Should I lie against my right? my wound is incurable without transgression. ⁷What man is like Job, who drinks up scorning like water? ⁸Who goes in company with the workers of iniquity and walks with wicked men. ⁹For he has said, It profits a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.
¹⁰Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity. ¹¹Heshall render to him for the work of a man, and cause every man to find according to his ways. ¹²Yes, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment. ¹³Who has given him a charge over the earth? or who has disposed the whole world? ¹⁴If he sets his heart on man, if he gathers to himself his spirit and his breath; ¹⁵All flesh shall perish together and man shall turn again to dust.
¹⁶If now you have understanding, hear this: listen to the voice of my words. ¹⁷Shall even he who hates right govern? and will you condemn him who is most just? ¹⁸Is it fit to say to a king, You are wicked? and to princes, You are ungodly? ¹⁹How much less to him who accepts not the persons of princes, nor regards the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands. ²⁰In a moment they shall die and the people shall be troubled at midnight and pass away: and the mighty shall be taken away without hand. ²¹For his eyes are on the ways of man and he sees all his goings. ²²There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves. ²³For he will not lay on man more than right; that he should enter into judgment with God. ²⁴He shall break mighty men in pieces without number and set others in their place. ²⁵Therefore he knows their works and he overturns them in the night, so that they are destroyed. ²⁶He strikes them as wicked men in the open sight of others; ²⁷Because they turned back from him and would not consider any of his ways: ²⁸So that they cause the cry of the poor to come to him and he hears the cry of the afflicted. ²⁹When he gives quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hides his face, who then can behold him? whether it is done against a nation, or only against a man: ³⁰So that the hypocrite does not reign. lest the people are ensnared.
³¹Surely it is fitting to be said to God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more: ³²That which I do not see teaches me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more. ³³Should it be according to your mind? he will recompense it, whether you refuse, or whether you choose; and not I: therefore speak what you know. ³⁴Let men of understanding tell me and let a wise man listen to me. ³⁵Job has spoken without knowledge and his words were without wisdom. ³⁶My desire is that Job may be tried to the end because of his answers for wicked men. ³⁷For he adds rebellion to his sin, he claps his hands among us and multiplies his words against God.
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Chapter 35
¹Elihu spoke moreover and said, ²Do you think this is right, that you said, My righteousness is more than God's? ³For you said, What advantage will it be to you? and, What profit shall I have, if I am cleansed from my sin? ⁴I will answer you and your companions with you. ⁵Look to the heavens and see; and behold the clouds which are higher than you. ⁶If you sin, what do you do against him? or if your transgressions be multiplied, what do you do to him? ⁷If you are righteous, what do you give to him? or what does he receive of your hand? ⁸Your wickedness may hurt a man as you are; and your righteousness may profit the son of man.
⁹By reason of the multitude of oppressions they make the oppressed to cry: they cry out by reason of the arm of the mighty. ¹⁰But no one says, Where is God my maker, who gives songs in the night; ¹¹Who teaches us more than the animals of the earth and makes us wiser than the fowls of heaven? ¹²They cry there but no one gives an answer, because of the pride of evil men. ¹³Surely God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it.
¹⁴Although you say you shall not see him, yet judgment is before him; therefore trust in him. ¹⁵But now, because it is not so, he has visited in his anger; yet he does not know it in great extremity: ¹⁶Therefore Job opens his mouth in vain; he multiplies words without knowledge.
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Chapter 36
¹Elihu also proceeded and said, ²Suffer me a little and I will show you that I have yet to speak on God's behalf. ³I will fetch my knowledge from afar and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker. ⁴For truly my words shall not be false: he who is perfect in knowledge is with you.
⁵Behold, God is mighty and despises no one he is mighty in strength and wisdom. ⁶He does not preserve the life of the wicked: but gives right to the poor. ⁷He does not withdraw his eyes from the righteous: but they are on the throne with kings, yes, he does not establish them for ever and they are exalted. ⁸And if they are bound in fetters, and are held in cords of affliction; ⁹Then he shows them their work and their transgressions that they have exceeded. ¹⁰He opens also their ear to discipline and commands that they return from iniquity. ¹¹If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity and their years in pleasures. ¹²But if they do not obey, they shall perish by the sword and they shall die without knowledge. ¹³But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they do not cry when he binds them. ¹⁴They die in youth and their life is among the unclean.
¹⁵He delivers the poor in his affliction and opens their ears in oppression. ¹⁶Even so he would have removed you out of the narrow place into a broad place, where there is no straitness; and that which would be set on your table would be full of fatness. ¹⁷But you have fulfilled the judgment of the wicked: so judgment and justice take hold on you. ¹⁸Because there is wrath, beware lest he take you away with his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver you. ¹⁹Will he esteem your riches? no, not gold, nor all the forces of strength. ²⁰Do notdesire the night, when people are cut off in their place. ²¹Take heed, do not regard iniquity: for you have chosen this rather than affliction. ²²Behold, God exalts by his power: who teaches like him? ²³Who has appointed his way to him? or who can say, You have worked iniquity?
²⁴Remember that you magnify his work, which men behold. ²⁵Every man may see it; man may behold it afar off. ²⁶Behold, God is great and we do not know him, neither can the number of his years be searched out. ²⁷For he makes the drops of water small: they pour down rain according to its vapor: ²⁸Which the clouds drop and distill on man abundantly. ²⁹Also can any one understand the spreading of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle? ³⁰Behold, he spreads his light on it and covers the bottom of the sea. ³¹For by them he judges the people; he gives meat in abundance. ³²With clouds he covers the light; and commands it not to shine by the cloud that comes between. ³³Its noise tells about it, the cattle also about the vapor.
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Chapter 37
¹My heart also trembles at this and is moved out of its place. ²Hear the noise of his voice attentively and the sound that goes out of his mouth. ³He directs it under the whole heaven and his lightning to the ends of the earth. ⁴A voice roars after it: he thunders with the voice of his excellency; and he will not stay them when his voice is heard. ⁵God thunders marvelously with his voice; he does great things, which we cannot comprehend.
⁶For he says to the snow, Be on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength. ⁷He seals up the hand of every man; that all men may know his work. ⁸Then the animals go into dens and remain in their places. ⁹Out of the south the whirlwind comes: and cold out of the north. ¹⁰By the breath of God frost is given: and the breadth of the waters is straitened. ¹¹Also by watering he wearies the thick cloud: he scatters his bright cloud: ¹²And it is turned round about by his counsels: that they may do what ever he commands them on the face of the world in the earth. ¹³He causes it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy.
¹⁴Listen to this, O Job: stand still and consider the wondrous works of God. ¹⁵Do you know when God disposed them and caused the light of his cloud to shine? ¹⁶Do you know the balancing of the clouds, the wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge? ¹⁷How your garments are warm, when he quiets the earth with the south wind? ¹⁸Have you spread out the sky with him, which is strong, and as a molten looking glass? ¹⁹Teach us what we shall say to him; for we cannot order our speech by reason of darkness. ²⁰Shall it be told to him that I speak? if a man speaks, surely he shall be swallowed up.
²¹And now men do not see the bright light which is in the clouds: but the wind passes and cleanses them. ²²Fair weather comes out of the north. With God is terrible majesty. ²³Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power and in judgment and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict. ²⁴Therefore men fear him: he does not respect any who are wise of heart.
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Chapter 38
¹Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said, ²Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? ³Gird up now your loins like a man; for I will demand of you and you will answer me.
⁴Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if you have understanding. ⁵Who has laid the measures of it. if you know? or who has stretched the line on it? ⁶Where are the foundations of it fastened? or who laid its corner stone, ⁷When the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy? ⁸Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it broke forth, as if it had issued out of the womb? ⁹When I made the cloud its garment and thick darkness a swaddling band for it, ¹⁰And broke up for it my decreed place and set bars and doors, ¹¹And said, You shall come to here but no further: and here shall your proud waves be stayed?
¹²Have you commanded the morning since your days; and caused the dayspring to know his place; ¹³That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it? ¹⁴It is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment. ¹⁵And from the wicked their light is withheld and the high arm shall be broken. ¹⁶Have you entered into the springs of the sea? or have you walked in the search of the depth? ¹⁷Have the gates of death been opened to you? or have you seen the doors of the shadow of death? ¹⁸Have you perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if you know it all. ¹⁹Where is the way where light dwells? and as for darkness, where is its place, ²⁰That you should take it to its bound and that you should know the paths to its house? ²¹Do you know it, because you were born then or because the number of your days is great? ²²Have you entered into the treasures of the snow or have you seen the treasures of the hail, ²³Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war? ²⁴By what way is the light parted, which scatters the east wind on the earth?
²⁵Who has divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder; ²⁶To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, in which there is no man; ²⁷To satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth? ²⁸Has the rain a father? or who has begotten the drops of dew? ²⁹Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who has gendered it? ³⁰The waters are hidden as with a stone and the face of the deep is frozen. ³¹Can you bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion? ³²Can you bring forth the Zodiac in his season? or can you guide Arcturus with his sons? ³³Do you know the ordinances of heaven? can you set their dominion in the earth? ³⁴Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover you? ³⁵Can you send lightnings, that they may go and say to you, Here we are? ³⁶Who has put wisdom in the inward parts? or who has given understanding to the heart? ³⁷Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven, ³⁸When the dust grows into hardness, and the clods cleave fast together? ³⁹Will you hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions, ⁴⁰When they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait? ⁴¹Who provides food for the raven? when his young ones cry to God, they wander for lack of meat.
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Chapter 39
¹Do you know the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? or can you mark when the hinds calve? ²Can you number the months that they fulfill? or do you know the time when they bring forth? ³They bow themselves, they bring forth their young ones, they cast out their sorrows. ⁴Their young ones are in good liking, they grow up with corn; they go forth and do not return to them. ⁵Who has sent out the wild ass free? or who has loosed the bands of the wild ass? ⁶Whose house I have made the wilderness and the barren land his dwellings. ⁷He scorns the multitude of the city, neither does he regard the crying of the driver. ⁸The range of the mountains is his pasture and he searches after every green thing. ⁹Will the wild goat be willing to serve you, or abide in your crib? ¹⁰Can you bind the wild goat with his band in the furrow? or will he harrow the valleys after you? ¹¹Will you trust him, because his strength is great? or will you leave your labor to him? ¹²Will you believe him, that he will bring home your seed and gather it into your barn?
¹³ Did you give the goodly wings to the peacocks? or wings and feathers to the ostrich? ¹⁴Which leaves her eggs in the earth and warms them in dust, ¹⁵And forgets that the foot may crush them, or that the wild beast may break them. ¹⁶She is hardened against her young ones, as though they were not hers: her labor is in vain without fear; ¹⁷Because God has deprived her of wisdom, neither has he imparted to her understanding. ¹⁸At the time that she lifts up herself on high, she scorns the horse and his rider.
¹⁹Have you given the horse strength? have you clothed his neck with thunder? ²⁰Can you make him afraid as a grasshopper? the glory of his nostrils is terrible. ²¹He paws in the valley and rejoices in his strength: he goes on to meet the armed men. ²²He mocks at fear and is not afraid; nor does he turn back from the sword. ²³The quiver rattles against him, the glittering spear and the shield. ²⁴He swallows the ground with fierceness and rage: nor does he believe that it is the sound of the trumpet. ²⁵He says among the trumpets, Ha, ha; and he smells the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains and the shouting.
²⁶Does the hawk fly by your wisdom, and stretch her wings toward the south? ²⁷Does the eagle mount up at your command and make her nest on high? ²⁸She dwells and abides on the rock, on the crag of the rock and the strong place. ²⁹From there she seeks the prey, and her eyes behold afar off. ³⁰Her young ones also suck up blood and where the killed are, there she is.
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Chapter 40
¹Moreover the LORD answered Job and said, ²Shall he who contends with the Almighty instruct him? he who reproves God, let him answer it. ³Then Job answered the LORD and said, ⁴Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer you? I will lay my hand on my mouth. ⁵I have spoken once; but I will not answer: yes, twice; but I will proceed no further.
⁶Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said, ⁷Gird up your loins now like a man: I will demand of you and you will declare to me. ⁸Will you also annul my judgment? will you condemn me, that you may be righteous? ⁹Have you an arm like God? or can you thunder with a voice like him? ¹⁰Deck yourself now with majesty and excellency; and array yourself with glory and beauty. ¹¹Cast abroad the rage of your wrath: and behold every one who is proud and abase him. ¹²Look on every one who is proud, and bring him low; and tread down the wicked in their place. ¹³Hide them in the dust together; and bind their faces in secret. ¹⁴Then I will also confess to you that your own right hand can save you.
¹⁵Behold now behemoth, which I made with you; he eats grass as an ox. ¹⁶Lo now, his strength is in his loins and his force is in the navel of his belly. ¹⁷He moves his tail like a cedar: the sinews of his stones are wrapped together. ¹⁸His bones are as strong pieces of brass; his bones are like bars of iron. ¹⁹He is the chief of the ways of God: he who made him can make his sword to approach to him. ²⁰Surely the mountains bring forth food for him, where all the animals of the field play. ²¹He lies under the shady trees, in the covert of the reed and fens. ²²The shady trees cover him with their shadow; the willows of the brook compass him about. ²³Behold, he drinks up a river, and does not hurry: he trusts that he can draw up Jordan into his mouth. ²⁴He takes it with his eyes: his nose pierces through snares.
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Chapter 41
¹Can you draw out leviathan with a hook? or his tongue with a cord which you let down? ²Can you put a hook into his nose? or bore his jaw through with a thorn? ³Will he make many supplications to you? will he speak soft words to you? ⁴Will he make a covenant with you? will you take him for a servant forever? ⁵Will you play with him as with a bird? or will you bind him for your maidens? ⁶Shall the companions make a banquet of him? shall they part him among the merchants? ⁷Can you fill his skin with barbed irons? or his head with fish spears? ⁸Lay your hand on him, remember the battle, do no more. ⁹Behold, the hope of him is in vain: shall not one be cast down even at the sight of him? ¹⁰No one is so fierce who dares to stir him up: who then is able to stand before me?
¹¹Who has gone before me, that I should repay him? what ever is under the whole heaven is mine. ¹²I will not conceal his parts, nor his power, nor his comely proportion. ¹³Who can discover the face of his garment? or who can come to him with his double bridle? ¹⁴Who can open the doors of his face? his teeth are terrible round about. ¹⁵His scales are his pride, shut up together as with a close seal. ¹⁶One is so near to another, that no air can come between them. ¹⁷They are joined to one another, they stick together, so that they cannot be divided. ¹⁸By his neesings a light shines and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning. ¹⁹Out of his mouth go burning lamps, and sparks of fire leap out. ²⁰Out of his nostrils goes smoke, as out of a seething pot or caldron. ²¹His breath kindles coals, and a flame goes out of his mouth. ²²Strength remains in his neck and dismay dances before him. ²³The flakes of his flesh are joined together: they are firm in themselves; they cannot be moved. ²⁴His heart is as firm as a stone; yes, as hard as a piece of the lower millstone. ²⁵When he raises himself up, the mighty are afraid: by reason of breakings they purify themselves. ²⁶The sword of him who lays at him cannot hold: the spear, the dart, nor the habergeon. ²⁷He esteems iron as straw, and brass as rotten wood. ²⁸The arrow cannot make him flee: slingstones are turned into stubble by him. ²⁹Darts are counted as stubble: he laughs at the shaking of a spear. ³⁰Sharp stones are under him: he spreads sharp pointed things on the mire. ³¹He makes the deep to boil like a pot: he makes the sea like a pot of ointment. ³²He makes a path to shine after him; one would think the deep to be ancient. ³³On earth there is not his like, who is made without fear. ³⁴He beholds all high things: he is a king over all the children of pride.
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Chapter 42
¹Then Job answered the LORD and said, ²I know that you can do every thing and that no thought can be withheld from you. ³Who is he who hides counsel without knowledge? therefore I have uttered what I did not understand; things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. ⁴Hear, I beseech you and I will speak: I will demand of you and you will declare to me. ⁵I have heard of you by the hearing of the ear: but now my eyes see you. ⁶Therefore I abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes.
⁷And it was so, that after the LORD had spoken these words to Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against you, and against your two friends: for you have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job has. ⁸Therefore take now seven bullocks and seven rams and go to my servant Job and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for I will accept him: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that you have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job. ⁹So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did according as the LORD commanded them: the LORD also accepted Job.
¹⁰And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before. ¹¹Then all his brothers came to him and all his sisters and all those who had been of his acquaintance before and ate bread with him in his house: and they bemoaned him and comforted him over all the evil that the LORD had brought on him: every man also gave him a piece of money and every one an earring of gold. ¹²So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep and six thousand camels and a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand she asses. ¹³He had also seven sons and three daughters. ¹⁴And he called the name of the first, Jemima; and the name of the second, Kezia; and the name of the third, Kerenhappuch. ¹⁵And in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job: and their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers. ¹⁶After this Job lived a hundred forty years and saw his sons and his sons' sons, even four generations. ¹⁷So Job died, being old and full of days.
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