Job 4:1-23:11
International Standard Version
Eliphaz: the Innocent Don’t Suffer
4 In reply, Eliphaz from Teman answered:
2 “Will you get offended if somebody tries to talk to you?
Who can keep from speaking at a time like this?[a]
3 Look! You’ve admonished many people,[b]
and you’ve strengthened feeble hands.
4 A word from you has supported those who have stumbled,
and has strengthened faltering knees.
5 “But now it’s your turn,
and you’re the one who is worn out![c]
Now it’s striking you,
and you’re dismayed!
6 “Your fear of God has been your confidence, hasn’t it?
The integrity of your life has been your hope, hasn’t it?
7 Now please think:
Who has ever perished when they’re innocent?
Where have the upright been destroyed?
8 It’s been my experience that those who plow the soil of[d] iniquity
and those who sow the seed of[e] trouble will reap their harvest![f]
9 They perish by the breath of God;
they are consumed by the storm that is[g] his anger.[h]
10 “The lioness may roar,
and the lion cub may growl;
but even the ivory teeth of the full grown lion are broken.
11 Full grown lions die when they cannot find prey;
that’s when the lion cubs are scattered.
12 “A message was confided[i] to me;
my ear caught a whisper of it.
13 Disquieting thoughts from dreams at night;
when deep sleep falls on everyone.[j]
14 A fear fell upon me, along with trembling
that caused all my bones to shake in terror.[k]
15 A spirit glided past me
and made the hair on my skin[l] to bristle.
16 It remained standing,
but I couldn’t recognize its appearance.
A form appeared before my eyes;
At first there was[m] silence, and then this voice:
17 ‘Can a mortal person[n] be more righteous than God?
Or can the purity of the valiant exceed that of his maker?’[o]
18 “Indeed, since he doesn’t trust his servants,[p]
since he charges[q] his angels with error,
19 how much less confidence[r] does he have
in those who dwell in houses of clay;
who were formed from a foundation in dust
and can perish[s] like a moth?
20 They are defeated between morning and evening;
they perish forever—and no one notices!
21 Their wealth[t] perishes with them, doesn’t it?
They die, and do so without having wisdom, don’t they?”
Eliphaz: God Blesses those who Seek Him
5 “Cry out, won’t you!
Is there anyone who will answer you?
To whom will you turn among the holy ones?
2 For wrath will slay a fool;
zealous anger will kill the naïve.
3 “I myself saw a fool becoming established,
but I suddenly cursed where he lived.[u]
4 His children are far from deliverance;
they’ll be maltreated before they leave home,[v]
with no one to rescue them.
5 Then the hungry will devour his harvest,
snatching it even from the midst of thorns,
while the thirsty covet their wealth.
6 For wickedness doesn’t crop up from dust,
nor does trouble sprout out of the ground;
7 But mankind is born headed for trouble,
just as sparks soar skyward.”
God Can be Trusted in Adversity
8 “Now as for me, I would seek God if I were you;[w]
I would commit my case to God.
9 He is always doing great things that cannot be explained,
countless awesome deeds.
10 He sends rain on the surface of the earth,
and waters the surface of the open country.
11 He sets the lowly on high,
and lifts those who mourn to safety.[x]
12 He frustrates the plans of the crafty;
so that what they work for never succeeds.
13 He captures the wise in their own craftiness,
bringing a quick end to their cunning advice.
14 They meet with darkness in broad daylight;
at noonday they grope around as if it were night.
15 So he delivers from the sword of their mouth—
the poor from the power[y] of the mighty.
16 Therefore there is hope for those who are poor,
and iniquity shuts its mouth.
17 “Indeed, how blessed is the person whom God reproves!
So never disrespect the discipline of the Almighty,
18 because though he wounds, but then applies bandages;
though he strikes, his hands still heal.
19 “He will deliver you through six calamities;
and calamity won’t touch you throughout the seventh.
20 He will deliver you from death by famine;
in war from the power[z] of the sword.
21 You’ll be protected from the accusing[aa] tongue;
you need not fear destruction when it heads your way.
22 You’ll laugh at destruction and famine;
and you need not fear the beasts of the earth.
23 For you’ll have a pact[ab] with the stones in the field;
and the beasts of the field will be at peace with you.
24 You’ll know that your home[ac] is secure;
when you search your possessions, and nothing will be missing.
25 You’ll know that you’ll have many children;
and that your offspring will be like the grass of the earth.
26 You’ll go to your grave at a ripe old age;
like a stack of grain that’s harvested at just the right time.
27 “Look! We have thought all this through,
and what we’ve said is true;[ad]
So please listen and learn for your own good!”
Job’s Suffering is Grave
6 In rebuttal, Job replied:
2 “If only my grief could be weighed;
or my calamity piled together on a balance scale!
3 It would weigh more than the sand on the seashore![ae]
Here’s why I’ve talked so rashly:
4 “The arrows of the Almighty have pierced me;
my spirit absorbs[af] their poison;[ag]
God’s terrors have been arranged just for me!
5 “Will the wild donkey bray from hunger[ah] if fresh grass is beside him?
Will the ox low from distress[ai] if it is near its feed?
6 Tasteless food isn’t eaten without salt, is it?
Is there any taste in an egg white?
7 I cannot bring myself to touch them;[aj]
food like this makes me sick.”
Job Desires Death
8 “Who will grant my wish?[ak]
I wish God would grant what I’m hoping for:
9 that God would just be willing[al] to crush me;
that he would let loose[am] and eliminate me!
10 At least I could still take comfort
and rejoice in unceasing anguish,
for I didn’t conceal what the Holy One has to say.
11 “Do I have the strength to wait?
And why[an] should I be patient?
12 Am I as strong as a rock?
Am I some kind of iron man?[ao]
13 There is no help within me, is there?
My resources have been driven away from me, haven’t they?
Job Accuses His Friends of Treachery
14 The friend shows gracious love for his friend,
even if he has forsaken the fear of the Almighty.
15 But my brothers have acted treacherously like a cascading river,
like torrential rivers that overflow.
16 Filled with waters made cold[ap] by ice,
they are where the snow goes to hide.
17 But then the snow melts, and they disappear;
when warmed, they evaporate from their stream beds.[aq]
18 Travelers divert[ar] in their route;
they go into a wasteland and die.
19 Travelers from Tema search intently;
caravans from Sheba hope to find them.
20 For all their expectations, they are doomed to disappointment;
even though they have come and searched this far.
21 “And now you’re all just like them, aren’t you?[as]
You see my terror and are terrified.
22 When did I ever ask you for anything,
say ‘Offer a bribe for me from your wealth?’
23 or say ‘Deliver me from my enemy’s control,’[at]
or ‘Redeem me from the domination[au] of ruthless people’?”
Job Requests Mercy from His Friends
24 “Instruct me, and I’ll remain silent.
Help me understand where I’ve gone astray.
25 The truth[av] can be painful,
but what has your argument proven?
26 Did you intend your words to reprove,
even though the speech of a desperate person is just wind?
27 Indeed, you would gamble to buy an orphan;
and barter to buy your friend!
28 Now be willing to face me,
and I won’t lie to your face.
29 Repent! Let there be no injustice;
Change your ways![aw] My vindication[ax] is at stake.
30 Have I said anything that’s unjust?
I can discern[ay] evil, can’t I?”
Job Acknowledges the Brevity of Life
7 “Men have harsh servitude on earth, do they not?
His days are like those of a hired laborer, are they not?[az]
2 I’m like a servant who longs for the shade,
like a hired laborer who is looking for his wages.
3 Truly I’ve been allotted months of emptiness;
nights of trouble have been appointed for me.
4 “When I lie down I ask,
‘When will I wake up?’
But the night continues
and I keep tossing and turning until dawn.[ba]
5 My skin[bb] is covered with worms and clods of dirt;
my skin becomes rough and then breaks out afresh.
6 My days pass as swiftly as a hand-loom;
they come to their conclusion without hope.
7 Remember that my life is a breath;
my eyes won’t go back to seeing good things.[bc]
8 The eyes of the one who sees me won’t see me anymore;
your eyes will look[bd] for me
but I won’t be around![be]
9 As a cloud fades away and vanishes,
the one who descends to the afterlife[bf] doesn’t return.[bg]
10 He doesn’t return again to his house,
and his place won’t recognize him anymore.”
Job Intends to Complain
11 “In addition, I won’t keep my opinion[bh] to myself;
I’ll speak from my distressed spirit;
I’ll complain with my bitter soul.
12 Am I the sea, or a sea monster,
that you keep watching me?
13 For I’ve said, ‘My bed will comfort me;
my couch will ease my burdens[bi] while I complain.’
14 But then you scared me with dreams;
you terrified me with visions.
15 I would rather die by strangulation
than continue living.[bj]
16 I hate the thought of living forever!
Leave me alone, because my days are pointless.”
Job Acknowledges Humankind’s Insignificance
17 “What is a human being, that you make so much of him;
that you set your affections on him,
18 visit him every morning,
and test him continually?
19 Why won’t you look away from me?
Why don’t you leave me alone so I can swallow my saliva?
20 So what if I sin? What have I done against you,
you observer of humankind?
Why have you made me your target?
Why burden yourself with me?
21 Why haven’t you pardoned my transgression
and taken away my iniquity?
Now I’m about to lie down in the dust.
You will seek me diligently,
but I won’t be around!”[bk]
Bildad: God Rewards the Godly
8 Then in response, Bildad from Shuah said:
2 “How long will you keep talking like this?
How long will you keep talking like a wind storm?
3 Does God pervert justice?
Does the Almighty pervert what’s right?
4 “If your children sin against him,
he’ll make them a prisoner[bl] of their sins.
5 If you seek God,
if you ask the Almighty for mercy,
6 if you are clean and upright,
surely then, he’ll act on your behalf
and restore your rightful[bm] place.
7 Your beginning may be small,
but later years[bn] will be very great.
8 “Inquire of the previous generation, won’t you please?
Consider what their forefathers searched out.
9 Because we are of yesterday and we know nothing,
for our time on earth is only a shadow.
10 Won’t they instruct you, and tell you,
and bring out words from the heart?
11 “Can papyrus grow where there’s no marsh?
Can reeds flourish without water?
12 While they are still green
and not yet ready to be harvested,
they wither before any plant.
13 Such are the paths of everyone who forgets God—
the hope of the godless will be destroyed:
14 his confidence is shattered;
his trust is in a spider’s web.
15 He leans against his house,
but it won’t stand;
he grabs hold of it firmly,
but it doesn’t last.
16 He is a fresh sapling planted in the sunlight,
spreading out its branches over its garden.
17 Its roots weave around a pile of stones,
seeking to entrench itself among the rocks.
18 If he is uprooted[bo] from his place,
then it will deny him:
‘I never saw you.’
19 “Indeed, this is the benefit of God’s[bp] way:
from the soil other plants[bq] will sprout.
20 Surely God won’t reject those who are blameless
or hold hands with those who practice evil.
21 He will soon fill your mouth with laughter,
and your lips will shout with joy.
22 Those who hate you will be clothed with shame,
and the tent of the wicked will no longer exist.
Job Cannot Argue with His Creator
9 This was Job’s response:
2 “Indeed, I’m fully aware that this is so,
but how can a person become right with God?
3 If one were to seek to argue with him,
he won’t be able to answer him even once in a thousand times.
4 He is wise in heart and strong in will—
who can be stubborn against him and succeed?
5 “He removes mountains without their knowledge,
overthrowing them in his anger.
6 He shakes the earth from its orbit,[br]
so that its foundations shudder.
7 He commands the sun so that it doesn’t shine[bs]
and seals up the stars.
8 He alone spreads out the heavens,
he walks on the waves[bt] of the sea.
9 He created Bear, Orion, the Pleiades,
and the southern constellations.
10 He does great things that cannot be explained,
and awesome deeds that cannot be counted.
11 “If he were to pass near me, I wouldn’t notice;
if he moves by, I wouldn’t perceive him.
12 Indeed, if he snatches someone[bu] away,
who could restrain him?
Who can say to him, ‘What are you doing?’
13 “God doesn’t restrain his anger.
Rahab’s assistants are humiliated under him.
14 So how am I to answer him,
choosing what I am to say to him?
15 Even if I’m in the right,
I cannot answer him.
I can only appeal for mercy.
16 “Were I to be summoned, and he were to answer me,
I wouldn’t even believe
that he was listening to what I have to say.[bv]
17 For he crushes me with a storm,
and keeps on wounding me for no reason.
18 He won’t let me catch my breath;
instead, he fills me with bitterness.
19 “Is this a contest of strength? He is obviously stronger!
Is this a matter of justice? Who can sue him?
20 Though I’m in the right, my own mouth will condemn me;
though I’m blameless, he’ll pronounce me as guilty.
21 “I’m blameless;
I don’t know myself;
I despise my life.
22 I say it’s all the same—
he destroys both the blameless and the guilty.[bw]
23 If a calamity[bx] causes sudden death,
he’ll mock at the despair of the innocent.
24 A land is given into the hands of a wicked person;[by]
he covers the faces of its judges.
If it is not God,[bz] then who is it?”
Job Argues that God Won’t Acquit Him
25 “My days pass faster than a runner;
but they pass quickly without seeing anything good.
26 They pass by like a ship made of reeds,
like an eagle swooping down on its prey.
27 If I were to say, ‘Let me forget my complaint,’
change[ca] the expression on[cb] my face, and look cheerful,
28 then I still dread all of my suffering;
I know you still won’t acquit me.
29 I will be condemned,
so why should I wear myself out with this futility?
30 “If I wash myself with water from snow,
and cleanse my hands with lye,
31 you’ll still drop me into the Pit,[cc]
and my own clothes will despise me.
32 He’s not a man like me,
so that I can answer him,
or that we can enter into litigation[cd] with one another.
33 There is not yet a mediator between us,
who would set his hand on the two of us,
34 removing his rod from me,
and not letting terror of him overwhelm me.
35 Otherwise, I would speak without being terrified of him,
because I’m not like that inside myself.”
Job Asks God to Acquit Him
10 “I am disgusted with living,
so I’m going to talk about my complaint freely.
I’ll speak out from the bitterness of my soul.
2 I’ll say to God,
‘Don’t condemn me!
Let me know why you are fighting me.
3 Does it delight you to oppress
or despise what you have made,
while you smile at the plans of the wicked?[ce]
4 Do you have eyes made of flesh?
Can you look at things as humans do?
5 Can you live only as long as a human being?
Or live the years[cf] of a mortal man?
6 “‘For you seek out my iniquity
and search for my sin.
7 Although you know that I’m not guilty,
there’s no one to deliver me from you![cg]
8 Your hands formed and fashioned me,
but then you have destroyed me all at once on all sides.
9 “‘Please remember that you’ve made me like clay
and you’ll return me to dust.
10 Didn’t you pour me out like milk
and let me congeal like cheese?
11 You covered me with skin and flesh,
weaving me together with bones and sinews.
12 You gave life and gracious love to me;
your providential care has preserved my spirit.
13 But you’ve hidden these things in your heart—
I know this was your purpose:[ch]
14 If I sin, you watch me
and won’t acquit me for my iniquity.
15 “‘Woe to me if I’m guilty!
If I’m innocent, I cannot lift my head,
because I am filled with disgrace.
Look at my affliction!
16 But if I do lift up my head,
you will hunt me like a lion!
You will perform miracles in order to fight against me.
17 “‘You have brought new witnesses against me,
you’re even more angry with me—
you’ve brought fresh troops to attack me!
18 So why did you bring me out from the womb?
I wish I had died, before anyone had seen me,
19 as if I had never existed;
carried from the womb to the grave.
20 My days are so few, aren’t they?
So leave me alone, then,
so I can smile a little
21 before I go, never to return,
leaving for the land of deep darkness and shadow.
22 It’s a gloomy land, like deepest darkness;
where there’s no order,
and where even[ci] the brightness is like darkness.’”
Zophar Accuses Job
11 Zophar from Naamath had this to say:
2 “Shouldn’t a multitude of words be answered,
or a person who talks too much[cj] be vindicated?
3 Will your irrational babble silence people,
and when you mock them,
will you escape without being shamed?[ck]
4 You’ve said, ‘My teaching is flawless;
I’m clean[cl] in God’s[cm] sight.’
5 “But what if God were to speak?
What if he were[cn] to talk[co] with you,
6 and disclose his wise secrets?
After all, there’s so much more[cp] to understanding.
So be aware that God will exact from you
less than your sin deserves.”
God’s Wisdom is Unfathomable
7 “Can you search through God’s complex things?
Can you uncover the limits of the Almighty?
8 These things are higher than the heavens,
so what can you do?
They are deeper than Sheol,[cq]
so what can you know?
9 They are longer than the earth’s circumference,[cr]
and broader than the ocean.
10 “If he bypasses, or imprisons, or convenes a court,[cs]
who can stop[ct] him?
11 For he knows mankind’s[cu] deceitfulness;
when he sees iniquity, won’t he himself consider it?
12 An empty-headed person will gain understanding
when a wild donkey is born a human being!”
Zophar Counsels Job to Repent
13 “Now for you, if you will prepare your heart,
spread out your hands to him.
14 If you have any iniquity, throw it far away.
Don’t let evil[cv] live in your residence.[cw]
15 Then your confidence will be flawless,
and your security will keep you from terror.
16 You’ll forget your suffering;
you’ll remember it like water that has evaporated.[cx]
17 Your life will be brighter than noonday.
Even its darkness will be like dawn.
18 You’ll be secure, because there is hope;
you’ll see that you’re at rest and safe.
19 When you sleep, there’ll be nothing to fear;
and many will court your favor.[cy]
20 But what the wicked look for will fail;
their way of escape will be taken away[cz] from them;
their only hope is to take their final breath.”[da]
Job Responds to Zophar
12 In response Job replied:
2 “Truly, you are the people
and wisdom will die with you!
3 Like you, I also have understanding.[db]
I’m not inferior to you;
who doesn’t know things[dc] like this?”
Job Has Become a Laughingstock
4 “I’m a laughingstock to my friends,
someone[dd] who called on God.
But then he answered this upright and blameless man,
and I have become[de] a laughingstock.
5 The carefree are thinking, ‘I have contempt for misfortune,’
Those who are about to stumble deserve it.
6 The tents of robbers are at rest,
and those who provoke God are secure,
that is, those who carry their god in their pocket.[df]
Wisdom Can Be Found in God’s Creation
7 “Ask the wild animals, and they’ll teach you;
the birds of the sky will tell you.
8 Or ask the green plants of the earth and they’ll teach you;
let the fish in the sea tell you.
9 Who among all of these doesn’t know
that the Lord’s hand made them,[dg]
10 and that the life of every living thing[dh] rests in his control,
along with the breath of every living human being?
11 The ear scrutinizes speech
just as the palate tastes food.”
God is the All-Wise and All-Powerful Creator
12 “Wisdom may be found in the company of the aged.
Understanding comes[di] with longevity.
13 With God[dj] is wisdom and strength;
counsel and understanding belongs to him.
14 When he tears down, nobody rebuilds;
when[dk] he incarcerates, nobody escapes.
15 When he withholds water, rivers[dl] dry up;
when he lets them loose, they’ll flood[dm] the land.
16 “With God[dn] are strength and sound wisdom;
both the deceived and those who deceive are responsible to him.[do]
17 He leads counselors away naked;
he turns judges into fools.
18 He strips away the authority of kings to punish
and puts them in prison clothes instead.
19 He leads away the priests naked
and overthrows the ruling class.[dp]
20 He keeps reliable advisors from speaking,[dq]
and removes discernment from elders.
21 He pours contempt on nobles
and embarrasses[dr] the mighty.
22 He uncovers the hidden dimensions from darkness,
bringing what is in deep shadow to light.
23 He makes nations great, and then destroys them;
he enlarges nations, but then sends them away to captivity.[ds]
24 He withdraws understanding[dt] from national leaders of the world,[du]
causing them to wander through uncharted[dv] wilderness.
25 They grope in the dark without light;
he causes them to stagger around like a drunkard.”
Job Begins to Argues His Case
13 “Look, I’ve seen everything;
I’ve listened carefully and I understand.
2 What you know, I know, too;
I’m not inferior to you.
3 But I want to talk to the Almighty;
and I’m determined to argue my case[dw] before God.”
Job Accuses His Friends
4 “But as for you, you whitewash with lies;
all of you are worthless quacks.[dx]
5 I wish you’d all just shut up.
Then at least you would appear to be wise.
6 “Now listen to my dispute!
Pay attention to my arguments.[dy]
7 Why do you speak falsely on God’s behalf
and speak deceitfully[dz] about him?
8 Will you show partiality to him?[ea]
Will you plead God’s case?
9 Will things go well for you under his cross-examination?
Can you lie to him, as you would to a human being?[eb]
10 “He will be sure to rebuke you,
if you show partiality[ec] in secret.
11 His splendor will petrify you with terror,
paralyzing you with fear, won’t it?
12 Your maxims are just worthless proverbs;
your defensive arguments are made of clay.”
Job Resolves to Present His Case
13 “Don’t talk to me! It’s my turn to speak;
then whatever happens, happens.
14 Why shouldn’t I bite my flesh
or take my life in my hands?
15 Even though he kills me,
I’ll continue to hope in him.
At least I’ll be able to argue my case[ed] to his face!
16 I have this as my salvation:
the godless person won’t be appearing before him.
17 Pay attention[ee] to what I have to say
and listen to my testimony with your own ears.”
Job Presents His Conditions
18 “Look, now! I’ve prepared my case for court.[ef]
I know that I’m going to win.[eg]
19 Who can oppose me?
If they do, I’ll be silent and die.
20 Grant me only two things as you deal with me;
then I won’t hide from you.[eh]
21 Withdraw your hand far from me
and keep me from being petrified with terror.
22 Then call and I’ll answer,
or let me speak and then you reply to me!”
Job Presents Himself for Cross-Examination
23 “How many of my iniquities and sins have you counted?
Show me my transgression and sin.
24 Why do you hide your face
and regard me as your enemy?
25 Are you a god who would make a leaf tremble
or who would prosecute a dry straw?
26 You’ve accused me of bitter things;
you’ve caused me to reap[ei] the sins of my youth.
27 You’ve locked my feet in stocks;
you watch all my steps;
You’ve limited where I can walk.[ej]
28 So I’m a man who wears out like something rotten,
like a garment that has become moth-eaten.”
Human Beings Live and Die
14 Human beings born by women
are short-lived[ek] and full of trouble.
2 He springs up[el] like a flower and then withers.[em]
Like a shadow, he disappears[en] and doesn’t last.
3 Indeed, have you opened your eyes on one like this—
to bring me into a legal fight with you?
4 Who can produce a clean thing from an unclean thing?
No one!
5 Since his days have been determined,
the number of his months is known to you.
You’ve set his limit
and he cannot exceed it.
6 Look away from him and leave him alone,
so he can enjoy his time, like a hired worker.”
Death is Certain
7 “There is hope for the tree, if it is cut down,
that it will sprout again,
and that its shoots won’t stop growing.
8 Even if its roots have grown ancient in the earth,
and its stump begins to rot[eo] in the ground,
9 the presence[ep] of water will make it to bud
so that it sprouts new branches like a young plant.
10 “But when a person[eq] dies and wastes away,
when a person[er] breathes his last, where will he be?
11 As water disappears from the sea,
or water evaporates from a river,
12 so also a person[es] lies down and does not get up;
they won’t awaken until the heavens are no more,
nor will they arise from their sleep.”
There is Life after Death
13 “Won’t you keep me safe in the afterlife?[et]
Conceal me until your anger subsides.
Set an appointment for me,
then remember me.
14 If a human being[eu] dies, will he live again?
I will endure the entire time of my assigned service,
until I am changed.[ev]
15 You’ll call and I’ll answer you;
you’ll long for your creatures that your hands have made.[ew]
16 Then you’ll certainly count every step I took,
but you won’t keep an inventory of my sin.
17 My transgressions would be sealed up in a bag;
you would cover over my sins.
18 “Mountains fall and crumble;
rocks are dislodged from their places.
19 Water wears away stones;
floods wash away topsoil from the land—
but you destroy the hope of human beings just like that!
20 You overpower him once and for all, and then he departs;
you change his appearance and then send him away.
21 “If his children are honored, he doesn’t know it;
if they become insignificant, he never perceives it.
22 He feels only his own pain,[ex]
and grieves only for himself.”
Eliphaz Speaks Again
15 Then Eliphaz from Teman responded:
2 “Should a wise person respond with knowledge based on wind?
Should he fill his stomach with a wind storm from the east?
3 Should he engage in unprofitable argument,
or give a speech that benefits no one?
4 Yet you dispense with fear of God
and hinder meditations before God.
5 Because your sin dictates your speech,[ey]
you have chosen the language[ez] of the crafty.
6 Your own mouth is condemning you, not I;
your own lips will testify against you.”
Eliphaz Claims that Job is Guilty
7 “Were you the first person[fa]to be born?
Were you brought forth before the hills were made?
8 Have you listened in on God’s secret council?
Have you limited wisdom only to yourself?
9 What do you know that we don’t know,
or that you understand and that isn’t clear to us?
10 “We have both the gray-haired and the aged with us,
and they are far older[fb] than your father.
11 Are God’s encouragements inconsequential to you,
even a word that has been spoken[fc] gently to you?
12 Why have your emotions[fd] carried you away?
And why do your eyes flash
13 that you turn your anger[fe] against God
and speak words like this?
14 “What is mankind, that he can be blameless?
Or does being born of a woman mean he’ll be in the right?
15 Look, if God[ff] doesn’t trust his holy ones,[fg]
if even the heavens aren’t pure as he looks at them,
16 then how much less is one who is abhorred and corrupted,
such as a man who drinks injustice like water?”
Eliphaz Describes the Plight of the Wicked
17 “I’ll tell you what, listen to me!
Let me relate what I’ve seen,
18 which is what wise men have explained,
who didn’t withhold anything from their ancestors.
19 To them alone was the land given,
when no invader[fh] passed through their midst.
20 “The wicked person writhes in pain throughout his life,
a number of years has been reserved for the ruthless.
21 Terrifying sounds ring[fi] in his ears;
when times are prosperous, the Destroyer will attack[fj] him.
22 He does not believe he will escape[fk] darkness;
he is destined for the sword.
23 He wanders around for food—where is it?
He knows that a time of darkness is near.[fl]
24 Distress and pressure terrify him;
they overwhelm him, like a king poised for attack.
25 “For he has raised his fist against God,
defying the Almighty.
26 He defiantly ran against him
carrying his thick, reinforced shield.
27 Though he covered his face with fat,
and is grossly overweight at the waist,
28 He will live in devastated towns,
in abandoned houses
that are about to become heaps of rubble.
29 “He won’t become rich and his wealth won’t last;
he won’t expand his holdings to cover the land.
30 He won’t escape darkness;
a flame will wither his shoots;
and he’ll depart by the breath of God’s[fm] mouth.
31 Let him not trust in a worthless speech.
He leads only himself astray,
for emptiness will be his reward.
32 This will be accomplished before his time;[fn]
his branches won’t grow luxuriant.
33 “He is like a vine that drops its unripe grapes;
like an olive tree that loses its blossoms.
34 For the company of the godless is desolation,
and fire consumes the tents of those who[fo] bribe.
35 For they conceive mischief and give birth to iniquity;
their womb is pregnant[fp] with deception.”
Job Reasons with Eliphaz
16 In response, Job said:
2 “I’ve heard many things like this.
What miserable comforters you all are!
3 Will windy words like yours never end?
What is upsetting you that you keep on arguing?
4 “I could also talk like you
if only you were in my place!
Then I would put together an argument[fq] against you.
I would shake my head at you
5 and encourage you with what I have to say;[fr]
my words of comfort would lessen your pain.
6 “But if I speak, my pain isn’t assuaged;
if I refrain from speaking, what do I have to lose?”
Job Claims of God’s Mistreatment
7 “God[fs] has certainly worn me out;
you devastated my entire world.[ft]
8 You’ve arrested me, making me testify against myself!
My leanness rises up to attack me, accusing[fu] me to my face.
9 His anger tears me in his persistent resentment against me;
he gnashes his teeth at me.
My adversary glares[fv] at me.
10 People gaped at me with mouths wide open;
they slap me in their scorn
and gather together against me.
11 God has delivered me over to the ungodly,
throwing me into the control of the wicked.
12 “He tore me apart when I was at ease;
grabbing me by my neck, he shook me to pieces—
then he really made me his target.
13 His archers surround me,
slashing open my kidneys without pity;
he pours out my gall on the ground.
14 Attack follows attack as he breaks through my defenses!
He runs over me like a mighty warrior.
15 “I’ve even sewn sackcloth directly to my skin;
I’ve buried my strength[fw] in the dust.
16 My face is red from my tears,
and dark shadows encircle my eyelids,
17 even though violence is not my intention,
and my prayer is pure.”
Job Appeals to Witnesses
18 “Listen, earth! Don’t cover my blood,
for my outcry has no place to rest.
19 Even now, behold! I have a witness in heaven,
my Advocate is on high.
20 My friends mock me,
while my eyes overflow with tears to God,
21 crying for him to arbitrate between this[fx] man and God;
as a human being does with his fellow neighbor.
22 For when only a few years have elapsed,
I’ll start down a path from which I’ll never return.”
Job Laments and Prepares for Death
17 “My spirit is crushed,
my days are over;[fy]
it’s the grave for me!
2 Mockers surround me;
I cannot stop staring at their hostility all through the night.
3 Offer, then, some collateral on my behalf.
Is there anyone who will be my guarantor?
4 “Because you’re the one who closed their hearts to compassion;[fz]
therefore, you won’t let them triumph.
5 Now as for the one who testifies against his friends
to take their property,[ga]
even the eyes of his children will fail.
6 “He has made me a byword among people;
I’m being spit on in the face.
7 My eyes have grown weak from grief;
and my whole body is as thin as a shadow.
8 The upright are appalled over this,
and the innocent person is troubled by the godless.
9 But the righteous person will hold to his way,
and those with clean hands will grow stronger and stronger.”
Job Prepares for Death
10 “Come here now, all of you,
and I won’t find a wise person among you.
11 My days are passed;
my plans have been shattered;
along with my heart’s desires.
12 They have transformed night into day—
‘The light,’ they say, ‘is about to become dark.’
13 “If my hope were that my house is the afterlife[gb] itself,
if I were to make my bed in darkness,
14 if I call out to the Pit,[gc] ‘You’re my father!’
or say to the worm,[gd] ‘My mother!’ or ‘My sister!’
15 where would my hope be?
“And speaking of my hope, who would notice it?
16 Will it go down to the bars that lock the doors[ge] of the afterlife?[gf]
Will we descend together into the dust?”
Bildad Speaks Again
18 Bildad from Shuah replied, saying:
2 “When are you going to stop your word hunt?
Think first, and then we can talk.
3 Why do you think we’re like dumb animals?
Do you think we’re stupid?
4 You’re tearing yourself to pieces in your anger.
Will the land be abandoned because of you,
or the rock be moved from its place?”
The Wicked are Trapped
5 “Indeed, the light of the wicked is extinguished;
the flame from his fire doesn’t shine.
6 Light in his tent is dark,
and his lamp goes out above him.
7 His strong steps are restricted,
and his own advice trips him up.
8 “For he has stumbled into a net with his own feet;
he walked right into the network!
9 The trap seizes him by the heel;
a snare tightens its hold on him.
10 A rope lies hidden in the dirt;
a trap lies[gg] waiting for him where he is walking.”
The Wicked Perish without Descendants
11 “He is petrified by terror that surrounds him on all sides;
they chase at his heels.
12 He is starved for strength;
and is ripe for a fall.
13 Something gnaws on his skin;
a deadly disease[gh] consumes his limbs.
14 Torn from the security of his home,[gi]
he is brought before the king of terrors.
15 “There’s nothing in his tent that belongs to him;
sulfur is scattered all over his dwelling place.
16 His roots wither underneath,
while his branches above are being cut off.
17 No one remembers him anywhere in the land;
no one names streets in his honor.
18 He is driven away from light to darkness,
made to wander the landscape.
19 He has no children or descendants within his own people;
and no survivors where he once lived.
20 People[gj] who live west of him are appalled at his fate;[gk]
those who live east of him are seized with terror.
21 Indeed, the residences of the wicked are like this;
and so are the homes of those who don’t know God.”
Job Responds to Bildad
19 In response, Job said:
2 “How long do you intend to keep torturing me
and trying to break me by what you’re saying?
3 Ten times you’ve tried to humiliate me!
You’re not ashamed to wrong me!
4 Even if it’s true that I’ve erred,
my error only affects me.
5 If you really intend to vaunt yourselves over me,
and make my problems the basis of your case against me,
6 then at least you must know that God has accused me of wrong,
and trapped me with his net.”
Job Accuses God of Being Angry
7 “Although I cried out ‘Violence!’
I received no answer;
I cried for help,
but there was no justice.
8 He blocked my path,
so I cannot pass;
and he turned out the lights on my pathways.
9 “He has stripped me of my honor;
he has stolen the crown off my head!
10 He is breaking me down on every side,
and now it’s too late for me;[gl]
he has uprooted my hopes like a tree.
11 His anger burns against me;
he regards me as his adversary.
12 His troops march[gm] in a column[gn] against me,
erecting their siege ramps against me;
they surround my tent.”
Job’s Family and Friends Abandoned Him
13 “My brothers are alienated from me;
my acquaintances are estranged;
14 my relatives have failed me;
and my friends[go] have abandoned me.
15 Those who live in my house—
and my maidservants, too!—
treat me like a stranger;
they think I’m a foreigner.
16 “I call to my servant,
but he doesn’t respond,
even though I beg to him earnestly.[gp]
17 My wife says my breath stinks;
even my children say I smell bad!
18 Even little children hate me;
when I get up, they mock me.
19 My closest friends[gq] detest me;
even the ones I love have turned against me.
20 I’m a pile of skin and bones;
I have barely escaped by the skin of my teeth.”
Job Pleads with His Friends
21 “Be gracious to me, be gracious to me, my friends,
because God’s hand has struck me.
22 Why are you chasing me, as God has been doing?
Aren’t you satisfied that I’m sick?[gr]
23 If only my words were written down;
if only they were inscribed in a book
24 using an iron stylus with lead for ink!
Then they’d be engraved in rock forever.
25 “As for me, I know that my Vindicator[gs] is alive;
And he, the Last One,[gt] will take his stand on the soil.[gu]
26 Even after my skin has been destroyed,
clothed in my flesh I will see God,
27 whom I will see for myself.
My own eyes will look at him—
there won’t be anyone else for me!—
He is the culmination of my innermost desire.”
Job Reminds His Friends of Judgment
28 “When you’re thinking about asking yourselves,
‘How will we pursue him,
since the root of the problem is with him?’[gv]
29 Make sure that you remain wary of God’s sword,
for God’s wrath brings with it the sword of punishment,
by which you’ll know there’s a judgment.”
Zophar Speaks the Second Time
20 Then Zophar from Naamath replied:
2 “Therefore my anxious thoughts cause me to answer
because I’m agitated within me.
3 Whenever I hear an insulting rebuke,
I respond from my spirit because I understand.”
Destruction Awaits the Wicked
4 “Haven’t you known this from ancient times,
since mankind was placed on the earth?
5 The wicked triumph only briefly;
the joy of the godless is momentary.
6 Though he grow as tall as the sky,
or though his head touches the clouds,
7 he’ll perish forever, like his own excrement;
those who saw him will ask, ‘Where is he?’
8 He’ll vanish[gw] like a dream, and no one will find him;
he will be chased away like a night vision.”
9 “An eye that gazes at him won’t do so again;
and his place won’t even recognize him.
10 His sons will make amends to the poor;
their hands will return his wealth.
11 Though his bones were full of youthful vigor;
yet they will lie down with him in the dust.
12 Though evil tastes sweet in his mouth,
though he conceals it under his tongue,
13 though he savors it and delays swallowing it
so he can taste it again and again in his mouth,[gx]
14 his food will turn rancid in his stomach—
it will become a cobra’s poison inside him.
15 “Though he swallows wealth, he will vomit it;
God will dislodge it from his stomach.
16 He will suck the poison of cobras;
the fangs[gy] of a viper will slay him.
17 He won’t look at the rivers—
the torrents of honey and curd.[gz]
18 “He will restore what he has attained from his work
and won’t consume it;
he won’t enjoy the profits from his business transactions,
19 because he has crushed and abandoned the poor;
he has seized a house that he didn’t build.
20 “Since his appetite won’t quit;[ha]
he won’t let anything escape his lust.[hb]
21 Because nothing was left for him to devour,
therefore his prosperity won’t last.
22 Even though he is satiated and self-sufficient, he suffers—
everyone in any sort of trouble will attack him.
23 “It will come about that,
when he has filled himself to the full,
God[hc] will vent his burning anger on him;
he will pour it out on him and on his body.
24 Though he dodges an iron weapon,
a bronze arrow will pierce him.
25 It will impale him and come out through his back;
the point will glisten as it protrudes through his gall bladder,
and he will be terrified.
26 “Total darkness has been reserved for his treasures;
a fire that has no need to be kindled will devour him
and consume whatever remains in his possession.[hd]
27 Heaven will reveal his iniquity,
while the earth will rise up against him.
28 A flood will wash away his house;
dragging it away when God becomes angry.
29 This is what the wicked person inherits from God;
it is the inheritance that God appoints for him.”
Job Reasons with Zophar
21 In response, Job said:
2 “Listen carefully to my words;
let this encourage all of you.
3 Bear with me and let me speak!
Then, after I’ve spoken, you’ll be free to mock me.
4 After all, isn’t my complaint against a human being?
If so, why shouldn’t I be impatient?
5 Look at me, be appalled,
and then shut up!
6 When I think about this,[he] I’m petrified with terror
and my body shudders uncontrollably.”
The Wicked Prospers
7 “Why do the wicked live to reach old age
and increase in power and wealth, too?
8 Their children grow up while they’re alive,
and they live to see their grandchildren.
9 Their houses are safe from fear,
and God’s chastisement[hf] never visits them.
10 Their bull breeds without fail,
and their cows calve without miscarriages.
11 They release their children to play like sheep;
their young ones[hg] dance about,
12 singing[hh] with tambourines and lyres
as they rejoice to the sound of flutes.
13 They grow old[hi] in prosperity,
as they descend peacefully into the afterlife.[hj]
14 “They say to God, ‘Turn away from us!
We have no desire to know your ways.
15 Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him?
Where’s the profit in talking to him?’
16 Behold! Their prosperity isn’t in their control!
The counsel of the wicked will remain far from me.”
God will Punish the Wicked
17 “How often do the wicked have their lights put out?
Does calamity ever fall on them?
Will God[hk] in his anger ever apportion their destruction?
18 May they become like a straw,
blown away before the wind;
like a chaff that’s swept off by a storm.
19 God stores up their iniquity to repay their children;
making them[hl] repay so that they may be aware.
20 Their own eyes will see their destruction;
and they’ll drink the wrath of the Almighty.
21 What will they care for their household after them,
when the number of his months comes to an end?”
Death Levels Everyone
22 “Can God learn anything?
After all, he will judge even the exalted ones.
23 Such persons will die in their full vigor,
completely prosperous and secure.
24 His buckets are filled with milk,
his bone marrow is healthy.[hm]
25 Others die with a bitter soul,
never having tasted the good life.[hn]
26 They both lie down in the dust;
and worms[ho] cover them.”
Job Suspects His Friends of Treachery
27 “Look! I know your thoughts,
your plans[hp] are going to harm me.
28 You ask, ‘Where is the noble person’s house?’
and ‘Where are the tents where the wicked live?’
29 Haven’t you asked travelers on the highway?
Don’t you accept their word
30 that the wicked person is spared from times of calamity,
that he is rescued on the day of wrath?
31 Who will expose his conduct to his face?
Who will repay him for what he has done
32 when he is carried away to the cemetery
and guardians are placed to watch his tomb?
33 The runoff from the streams will seem sweet to him;
everyone will follow after him;
countless crows march ahead of him.
34 How then, can you console me so worthlessly?
What is left of your answers is treachery.”
Eliphaz Speaks a Third Time
22 Then in response, Eliphaz from Teman said:
2 “Can a human being be useful to God,
since he, who is wise, is sufficient to himself?
3 Will it please the Almighty if you are innocent,
or does he profit if your life is[hq] blameless?
4 Will he acquit you just because you fear him,
and render a verdict on your behalf?
5 Your wickedness is great, isn’t it?
There’s no limit to your iniquity, is there?
6 “After all, you’ve taken collateral from your relatives for no reason;
you stripped the naked of their clothing.[hr]
7 You’ve neglected to give water to the weary,[hs]
and you’ve withheld food from the hungry.
8 The land belongs to the powerful,
and the privileged[ht] thrive in it.
9 You sent away widows empty-handed,
and broke the outstretched arms of orphans.
10 That’s why disaster surrounds you,
terror suddenly overwhelms you,
11 you see nothing but darkness,
and a flood of troubles[hu] drowns you.”
Eliphaz Acknowledges God but Issues an Imprecatory Prayer
12 “Isn’t God in heaven above?
Consider how far away the stars are,
and how lofty they are!
13 You’ve asked, ‘What does God know?
Can he sort through pitch black darkness?’[hv]
14 Thick clouds cover him so he can’t see
as he walks back and forth at heaven’s horizon.
15 “Will you keep walking on the traditional path
that sinners[hw] have tread,
16 who were snatched away before their time;
when their foundation was swept away by a river?
17 They told God, ‘Get away from us!’
and ‘What will the Almighty do to them?’
18 “Though God[hx] fills their houses with good things,
the counsel of the wicked will remain far from me.
19 The righteous will see this and rejoice;
the innocent will insult him, saying,[hy]
20 ‘Our enemies are sure to be destroyed,
and fire will burn up what’s left of their riches.”
Eliphaz Challenges Job to Repent
21 “Get to know God, and you’ll be at peace with him,
and then prosperity will come to you.
22 Accept what he has to teach you,
and treasure his words in your heart.
23 “If you return to the Almighty you’ll be restored,
as you remove iniquity from your household.[hz]
24 Bury your gold nuggets in the dust,
and your source of gold[ia] among the stones in a streambed,
25 and then the Almighty will be your gold
and your refined silver.
26 “Then you’ll take delight in the Almighty;
and will turn your face toward God.
27 You’ll entreat him and he’ll listen to you
as you fulfill your vows.
28 When you make a decision on something,
it will be established for you,
and light will brighten[ib] your way.
29 “For when they’re humbled, you may respond;[ic]
‘It’s their pride!’
but he delivers the humble.
30 He’ll even deliver the guilty,
who will be delivered through your innocence.”[id]
Job Responds to Eliphaz
23 Job’s response was to say:
2 “I’m still complaining bitterly today;
my hand is heavy because of groaning.
3 If only I knew where to find him,
I would visit him where he has taken his seat.
4 I would lay out my case before him;
and fill my mouth with arguments.
5 I know how he would answer me;
I understand what he’ll tell me.
6 “Would he use his great power to fight me?
No, he’ll pay attention to me.
7 In that place, the upright can reason with him;
and I’ll be acquitted once and for all by my judge.”
Job Justifies His Innocence
8 “Look! If I go east,[ie] he isn’t there!
If I go to the west,[if] I don’t perceive him.
9 If he’s working in the north,[ig] I can’t observe him;[ih]
If he turns south,[ii] I can’t see him.[ij]
10 Because he knows the road on which I travel,
when he had tested me, I’ll come out like gold.
11 My feet stay where his footsteps lead;
I kept on his pathway and haven’t turned aside.
Footnotes
- Job 4:2 The Heb. lacks at a time like this
- Job 4:3 The Heb. lacks people
- Job 4:5 Or impatient
- Job 4:8 The Heb. lacks the soil of
- Job 4:8 The Heb. lacks the seed of
- Job 4:8 The Heb. lacks their harvest
- Job 4:9 Or the breath of
- Job 4:9 Or anger
- Job 4:12 Or was delivered in secret
- Job 4:13 Lit. men
- Job 4:14 Or dread
- Job 4:15 Lit. flesh
- Job 4:16 The Heb. lacks At first there was
- Job 4:17 Lit. a man
- Job 4:17 The quotation possibly continues through v 21.
- Job 4:18 Cf. Job 15:15
- Job 4:18 Or lay upon
- Job 4:19 The Heb. lacks confidence
- Job 4:19 Lit. can crush them
- Job 4:21 Or remnants, left over
- Job 5:3 Or dwelling place
- Job 5:4 Lit. be crushed in the gate
- Job 5:8 The Heb. lacks if I were you
- Job 5:11 Or deliverance
- Job 5:15 Lit. hand
- Job 5:20 Lit. mouth
- Job 5:21 Lit. lash of the
- Job 5:23 Or be in league
- Job 5:24 Lit. tent
- Job 5:27 Lit. and thus it is so
- Job 6:3 Lit. sea
- Job 6:4 Lit. drinks
- Job 6:4 Lit. heat
- Job 6:5 The Heb. lacks from hunger
- Job 6:5 The Heb. lacks from distress
- Job 6:7 The Heb. lacks them
- Job 6:8 Or Oh, that I might have my request
- Job 6:9 Lit. pleased
- Job 6:9 Lit. loose his hand
- Job 6:11 Lit. And to what end
- Job 6:12 Lit. Is my flesh bronze?
- Job 6:16 Lit. dark
- Job 6:17 Lit. their place
- Job 6:18 Lit. twist
- Job 6:21 Lit. it
- Job 6:23 Lit. hand
- Job 6:23 Lit. hand
- Job 6:25 Lit. Upright words
- Job 6:29 The Heb. lacks your ways
- Job 6:29 Or righteousness
- Job 6:30 Lit. taste
- Job 7:1 Or hireling
- Job 7:4 Or twilight
- Job 7:5 Or flesh
- Job 7:7 The Heb. lacks things
- Job 7:8 The Heb. lacks will look
- Job 7:8 The Heb. lacks around
- Job 7:9 Lit. Sheol; i.e. the dwelling place of the dead
- Job 7:9 Lit. doesn’t come back up
- Job 7:11 Lit. mouth
- Job 7:13 Or carry
- Job 7:15 Lit. my bones
- Job 7:21 The Heb. lacks around
- Job 8:4 Lit. he’ll place them into the hand
- Job 8:6 Lit. and bring peace to your righteous
- Job 8:7 Lit. days
- Job 8:18 Lit. is swallowed up
- Job 8:19 Lit. his
- Job 8:19 The Heb. lacks plants
- Job 9:6 Lit. place
- Job 9:7 Lit. rise
- Job 9:8 Lit. high places
- Job 9:12 The Heb. lacks someone
- Job 9:16 Lit. to my voice
- Job 9:22 Or wicked
- Job 9:23 Or scourge
- Job 9:24 Lit. man
- Job 9:24 Lit. he
- Job 9:27 Lit. forsake
- Job 9:27 The Heb. lacks the expression on
- Job 9:31 I.e. the place of punishment in the afterlife
- Job 9:32 Lit. controversy
- Job 10:3 Lit. you cause the plans of the wicked to shine
- Job 10:5 Lit. days
- Job 10:7 Lit. from your hand
- Job 10:13 Or was in you
- Job 10:22 The Heb. lacks even
- Job 11:2 Or a talker
- Job 11:3 MT has without being humiliated
- Job 11:4 Or pure
- Job 11:4 Lit. your
- Job 11:5 The Heb. lacks What if he were
- Job 11:5 Lit. open his lips against
- Job 11:6 Lit. double
- Job 11:8 I.e. the place where the dead are in the afterlife
- Job 11:9 Lit. measure
- Job 11:10 The Heb. lacks a court
- Job 11:10 Or repel
- Job 11:11 Lit. men
- Job 11:14 Or wrong
- Job 11:14 Lit. tents
- Job 11:16 Or has flowed past
- Job 11:19 Lit. face
- Job 11:20 Lit. destroyed
- Job 11:20 Lit. is to breathe out their soul
- Job 12:3 Lit. my heart is like yours
- Job 12:3 The Heb. lacks things
- Job 12:4 The Heb. lacks someone
- Job 12:4 The Heb. lacks have become
- Job 12:6 Lit. hand
- Job 12:9 Lit. this
- Job 12:10 Lit. all the living
- Job 12:12 The Heb. lacks comes
- Job 12:13 Lit. him
- Job 12:14 Lit. man
- Job 12:15 Lit. they
- Job 12:15 Lit. overthrow
- Job 12:16 Lit. him
- Job 12:16 Or are his
- Job 12:19 Lit. strong ones
- Job 12:20 Lit. deprives the lips of advisors
- Job 12:21 Lit. and loosens the belt of
- Job 12:23 The Heb. lacks to captivity
- Job 12:24 Lit. heart
- Job 12:24 Or land
- Job 12:24 Or trackless
- Job 13:3 The Heb. lacks my case
- Job 13:4 Lit. physicians
- Job 13:6 Lit. arguments of my lips
- Job 13:7 Or treachery
- Job 13:8 Lit. lift up his face
- Job 13:9 Lit. mankind
- Job 13:10 Lit. you lift up the face
- Job 13:15 Or way
- Job 13:17 Lit. listen, to listen
- Job 13:18 Or judgment
- Job 13:18 Lit. I’m in the right
- Job 13:20 Lit. from your face
- Job 13:26 Lit. inherit
- Job 13:27 Lit. limited the soles of my feet
- Job 14:1 Lit. is of short days
- Job 14:2 Lit. goes out
- Job 14:2 Lit. is cut off
- Job 14:2 Lit. flees
- Job 14:8 Lit. die
- Job 14:9 Lit. scent
- Job 14:10 Lit. man
- Job 14:10 Lit. the valiant man
- Job 14:12 Lit. man
- Job 14:13 Lit. in Sheol; i.e. the realm of the dead
- Job 14:14 Lit. strong man
- Job 14:14 Lit. until my change comes; i.e. change in bodily state at the resurrection; cf. 1 Cor 15:51
- Job 14:15 Lit. for the work of your hands
- Job 14:22 Lit. flesh
- Job 15:5 Lit. mouth
- Job 15:5 Lit. tongue
- Job 15:7 Lit. man
- Job 15:10 Lit. are older by many days
- Job 15:11 The Heb. lacks spoken
- Job 15:12 Lit. heart
- Job 15:13 Lit. spirit
- Job 15:15 Lit. he
- Job 15:15 Cf. Job 4:18
- Job 15:19 Or foreigner
- Job 15:21 The Heb. lacks ring
- Job 15:21 Or come upon him
- Job 15:22 Or turn aside
- Job 15:23 Lit. is at hand
- Job 15:30 Lit. his
- Job 15:32 Lit. day
- Job 15:34 The Heb. lacks those who
- Job 15:35 Lit. womb fashions; i.e., as a womb fashions a child
- Job 16:4 Lit. together words
- Job 16:5 Lit. with my mouth
- Job 16:7 Lit. He
- Job 16:7 Lit. community
- Job 16:8 Lit. testifying
- Job 16:9 Lit. sharpens his eyes
- Job 16:15 Lit. horn
- Job 16:21 The Heb. lacks this
- Job 17:1 Lit. extinguished
- Job 17:4 Lit. understanding
- Job 17:5 Or inheritance
- Job 17:13 Lit. Sheol; i.e. the realm of the afterlife
- Job 17:14 I.e. the realm of punishment in the afterlife
- Job 17:14 I.e. an agent of punishment in the afterlife
- Job 17:16 The Heb. lacks that lock the doors
- Job 17:16 Lit. Sheol; i.e. the realm of the dead
- Job 18:10 The Heb. lacks lies
- Job 18:13 Lit. a firstborn of death
- Job 18:14 Lit. tent
- Job 18:20 The Heb. lacks people
- Job 18:20 Lit. at his day
- Job 19:10 Lit. and I’m gone
- Job 19:12 Or proceed
- Job 19:12 Or together
- Job 19:14 Lit. and those who know me
- Job 19:16 Lit. him with my mouth
- Job 19:19 Or circle of familiar friends
- Job 19:22 Lit. satisfied with my flesh
- Job 19:25 Or Redeemer
- Job 19:25 Lit. And the Last
- Job 19:25 Or dust
- Job 19:28 Lit me
- Job 20:8 Lit. He’ll fly away
- Job 20:13 Lit. can hold it in the middle of his palate
- Job 20:16 Or tongue
- Job 20:17 Or butter
- Job 20:20 Lit. his belly knew no contentment
- Job 20:20 Lit. delight
- Job 20:23 Lit. he
- Job 20:26 Lit. tent
- Job 21:6 The Heb. lacks of this
- Job 21:9 Lit. rod
- Job 21:11 Or children
- Job 21:12 Lit. they take up
- Job 21:13 Lit. wear out their days
- Job 21:13 Lit. Sheol; i.e. the abode of the dead
- Job 21:17 Lit. he
- Job 21:19 Lit. him
- Job 21:24 Lit. moist
- Job 21:25 The Heb. lacks life
- Job 21:26 Lit. and a worm
- Job 21:27 Or purposes
- Job 22:3 Lit. your ways are
- Job 22:6 I.e. in exchange for a short-term loan
- Job 22:7 MT has cause the weary to drink
- Job 22:8 Lit. who lifts the face
- Job 22:11 The Heb. lacks of troubles
- Job 22:13 Or deep darkness
- Job 22:15 MT has men of iniquity
- Job 22:18 Lit. he
- Job 22:19 The Heb. lacks saying
- Job 22:23 Lit. tent
- Job 22:24 Lit. Ophir; i.e., an ancient source fine gold; cf. 1Chr 29:4
- Job 22:28 Or enlighten
- Job 22:29 Lit. say back
- Job 22:30 Lit. through the cleanness of your hands
- Job 23:8 Or forward
- Job 23:8 Or back
- Job 23:9 Or left
- Job 23:9 The Heb. lacks him
- Job 23:9 Or right
- Job 23:9 The Heb. lacks him
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