Bible in 90 Days
8 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered, and said,
2 “How long will you talk of these things? And how long shall the words of your mouth be as a mighty wind?
3 “Does God pervert judgment? Or does the Almighty subvert justice?
4 “If your sons have sinned against Him, and He has sent them into the place of their iniquity,
5 “if you will seek God early, and pray to the Almighty,
6 “if you are pure and upright, then surely He will be stirred up. And He will make the habitation of your righteousness peaceful.
7 “And though your beginning was small, your future shall greatly increase.
8 “Please inquire, therefore, of the previous age, and prepare yourself to search their fathers.
9 “(For we are but from yesterday and are ignorant. For our days upon Earth are but a shadow).
10 “Shall they not teach you and tell you and utter the words of their heart?
11 “Can a reed grow without a marsh? Or can the grass grow without water?
12 “Though it is green and not cut down, it shall still wither before any other herb.
13 “So are the paths of all who forget God. And the hypocrite’s hope shall perish.
14 “His confidence also shall be cut off. And his trust shall be as the web of a spider.
15 “He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand. He shall hold himself fast to it, yet it shall not endure.
16 “He is green before the Sun, and his branches spread over his garden.
17 “His roots are wrapped around the heap and are folded around the stones.
18 “If anyone pulls him from his place, it denies him, saying, ‘I have not seen you’.
19 “Behold, he will rejoice by this means, so that others may grow out of the earth.
20 “Behold, God will not cast away an upright man. Nor will He take the wicked by the hand
21 “until He has filled your mouth with laughter, and your lips with joy.
22 “Those who hate you shall be clothed with shame. And the dwelling of the wicked shall not remain.”
9 Then Job answered, and said,
2 “I know truly that it is so. For how should man be justified with God?
3 “If he would dispute with Him, he could not answer Him one thing of a thousand.
4 “He is wise in heart and mighty in strength. Who has been fierce against him and has prospered?
5 “He removes the mountains and they do not feel when He overthrows them in His wrath.
6 “He shakes the Earth out of its place, so that its pillars tremble.
7 “He Commands the Sun, and it does not rise. He seals up the stars.
8 “He alone spreads out the heavens and walks upon the height of the sea.
9 “He makes Arcturus, Orion, Pleiades, and the chambers of the South.
10 “He does great things, and unsearchable, indeed, marvelous things, without number.
11 “Lo, when He passes by me, I do not see Him. And when He passes by, I do not perceive Him.
12 “Behold, when He takes away, who can make Him restore it? Who shall say to Him, ‘What are you doing?’
13 “God will not withdraw His anger. The helpers of the proud stoop under Him.
14 “How shall I answer Him? Or how should I find my words with Him?
15 “For though I were just, yet I could not answer, only make supplication to my Judge.
16 “If I cry and He answers me, I do not believe that He heard my voice.
17 “For He destroys me with a storm, and wounds me without cause.
18 “He will not allow me to take my breath but fills me with bitterness.
19 “If we speak of strength, behold, He is strong. If we speak of judgment, who shall bring me in to plead?
20 “If I should justify myself, my own mouth shall condemn me. If I wish to be upright, He shall judge me wicked.
21 “I am upright, yet I do not know my soul. I reject life.
22 “These are the same thing. Therefore, I said, ‘He destroys the upright and the wicked.’
23 “If the scourge should suddenly kill, God will mock the trial of the innocent.
24 “The Earth is given into the hand of the wicked. He covers the faces of its judges. If not Him, then Who?
25 “My days have been more swift than a runner. They have fled, and have seen no good thing.
26 “They have passed as the swiftest ships, and as the eagle that flies to the prey.
27 “If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint. I will cease looking sad and put on a smile,’
28 “then I am afraid of my sorrows, knowing that You will not judge me innocent.
29 “If I am wicked, why do I labor in vain?
30 “If I wash myself with snow water, and purge my hands most clean,
31 “You shall still plunge me into the pit. And my own clothes shall make me filthy.
32 “For He is not a man, as I am, that I should answer Him if we met in court.
33 “Nor is there any umpire that might lay his hand upon us both.
34 “Let Him take His rod away from me. And do not let my fear of Him terrify me.
35 “Then I would speak, and not fear Him. But it is not so with me.
10 “My soul loathes my life. I will leave my complaint upon myself and will speak in the bitterness of my soul.
2 “I will say to God, “Do not condemn me. Show me why You contend with me.
3 “Do You think it good to oppress me and to cast off the labor of Your hands, and to favor the counsel of the wicked?
4 “Have You carnal eyes? Or do You see as man sees?
5 “Are Your days as man’s days or Your years as the time of man,
6 “that You inquire of my iniquity and search out my sin?
7 “You know that I cannot do wickedly. For no one can deliver me out of Your Hand.
8 “Your Hands have made me and fashioned me, wholly, all around. And will You destroy me?
9 “Please remember that You have made me as the clay. And will You bring me to dust again?
10 “Have You not poured me out as milk and turned me to curds like cheese?
11 “You have clothed me with skin and flesh and joined me together with bones and sinews.
12 “You have given me life and grace. And the visitation has preserved my spirit.
13 “Though You have hidden these things in Your Heart, I know that it is so with You.
14 “If I have sinned, then You will mark me and will not hold me guiltless of my iniquity.
15 “If I have done wickedly, woe to me. If I have done righteously, I will not lift up my head, being full of dishonor because I see my affliction.
16 “But let it increase. Hunt me as a lion. Return and show Yourself marvelous upon me.
17 “You renew Your plagues against me. And You increase Your wrath against me. Changes and armies are against me.
18 “Why, then, have You brought me out of the womb? Oh, that I had perished, and that no eye had seen me,
19 “that I were as I had not been, brought from the womb to the grave!
20 “Are not my days few? Let him cease. Let me be, so that I may take a little comfort
21 “before I go and do not return, to the land of darkness and shadow of death,
22 “into a land dark as darkness itself, into the shadow of death, where is no order, but the light as darkness.”
11 Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,
2 “Should not the multitude of words be answered? Or should a great talker be justified?
3 “Should men hold their peace at your lies? And when you mock, shall no one make you ashamed?
4 “For you have said, ‘My doctrine is pure and I am clean in Your eyes.’
5 “But, oh that God would speak and open His Lips against you!
6 “So that He might show you the secrets of wisdom. How you have double, according to right. Know, therefore, that God has exacted from you less than your iniquity deserves.
7 “Can you search out the depths of God? Can you learn the limits of the Almighty?
8 “They are higher than the heavens. What can you do? They are deeper than Sheol. How can you know them?
9 “Their measure is longer than the Earth. And they are broader than the sea.
10 “If He cuts off and shuts up, or gathers together, who can turn Him back?
11 “For He knows vain men, and sees iniquity, and he who understands nothing.
12 “Yet vain man would be wise (though a man born is like a wild donkey colt)
13 “if you prepared your heart and stretched out your hands toward Him.
14 “If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away and let no wickedness dwell in your tent.
15 “Then, truly shall you lift up your face without spot, and shall be stable, and shall not fear.
16 “And you shall forget misery and remember it as waters that are past.
17 “Your lifetime shall appear clearer than the noonday, and shall shine as the morning.
18 “And you shall be bold because there is hope. And you shall dig pits and shall lie down safely.
19 “For when you take your rest, no one shall make you afraid. Yea, many shall pursue you.
20 “But the eyes of the wicked shall fail. And their refuge shall perish. And their hope shall be the giving up of the ghost.”
12 Then Job answered, and said,
2 “Truly, you are the people. Wisdom must die with you.
3 “But I have understanding as well as you and am not inferior to you. Yea, who does not know such things?
4 “I am as one mocked by his friends, who calls upon God and He hears him. The just and the upright are laughed to scorn.
5 “He who feels ready to fall is like a lamp, ridiculed in the thoughts of the careless.
6 “The tents of robbers prosper. And those who provoke God are in safety. God has enriched them with His Hand.
7 “Ask, now, the beasts and they shall teach you, and the birds of the heaven and they shall tell you.
8 “Or speak to the Earth and it shall show you, or the fish of the sea and they shall declare to you.
9 “Who among all these is ignorant that the Hand of the LORD has done this,
10 “in Whose Hand is the soul of every living thing and the breath of all mankind?
11 “Do not the ears discern the words and the mouth taste food for themselves?
12 “Wisdom is among the ancient, and understanding is in the length of days.
13 “With Him is wisdom and strength. He has counsel and understanding.
14 “Behold, He will break it down, and it cannot be built. He shuts a man up, and he cannot be loosed.
15 “Behold, He withholds the waters, and they dry up. But when He sends them out, they destroy the Earth.
16 “With Him is strength and wisdom. Both he who is deceived and who deceives are His.
17 “He leads the counselors away barefoot and makes the judges fools.
18 “He loosens the bonds of kings and girds their loins with a girdle.
19 “He leads away the princes as prey and overthrows the mighty.
20 “He takes away the speech from the faithful and takes away the judgment of the ancient.
21 “He pours contempt upon princes and makes the strength of the mighty weak.
22 “He discovers the deep places from darkness and brings forth the shadow of death to light.
23 “He increases the people and destroys them. He enlarges the nations and brings them in again.
24 “He takes away the hearts of the leaders of the people of the Earth and makes them wander in the wilderness, out of the way.
25 “They grope in the dark without light. And He makes them stagger like a drunken man.
13 “Lo, my eye has seen all this. My ear has heard and understood it.
2 “I, also, know as much as you know. I am not inferior to you.
3 “But I will speak to the Almighty. And I desire to convince God.
4 “For indeed you forge lies. And all of you are physicians of no value.
5 “Oh, that you would hold your tongue, and it would become your wisdom.
6 “Now hear my correction and give ear to the arguments of my lips.
7 “Will you speak wickedly of God and talk deceitfully of His cause?
8 “Are you lifting up His Person if you strive with God?
9 “Is it well that He should seek you if you lie for Him, as one lies for a man?
10 “He will surely reprove you if you secretly lift up any person.
11 “Shall not His excellency make you afraid and His fear fall upon you?
12 “Your memories may be compared to ashes, your bodies to bodies of clay.
13 “Hold your tongues in my presence, so that I may speak and let come upon me what will.
14 “Why do I take my flesh in my teeth and put my soul in my hand?
15 “Lo, though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him. And I will prove my ways in His sight.
16 “He shall also be my salvation. For the hypocrite shall not come before Him.
17 “Hear diligently my words, and mark my talk.
18 “Behold now, I prepare myself for judgment. I know that I shall be justified.
19 “Who is he who will contend with me? For if I hold my tongue now, I die.
20 “Only, do not do these two things to me. Then will I not hide myself from You.
21 “Withdraw Your Hand from me and do not let Your fear make me afraid.
22 “Then call, and I will answer. Or let me speak, and answer me.
23 “How many are my iniquities and sins? Show me my rebellion and my sin.
24 “Why do You hide Your Face and take me for Your enemy?
25 “Will You break a leaf, driven to and fro? And will You pursue the dry stubble?
26 “For You write bitter things against me and make me inherit the iniquities of my youth.
27 “You also put my feet in the stocks, look narrowly to all my paths, and imprint them with the heels of my feet.
28 “Such a one consumes like a rotten thing, as a garment that is moth-eaten.”
14 “Man, who is born of woman, is of few days and full of trouble.
2 “He shoots forth as a flower and is cut down. He also vanishes as a shadow, and does not continue.
3 “Yet, You open Your Eyes upon such a one and cause me to enter into judgment with You.
4 “Who can bring a clean thing out of filthiness? There is not one.
5 “Are not his days determined, the number of his months with You? You have appointed his boundaries, which he cannot pass.
6 “Turn from him, so that he may rest, until his day is accepted as a hireling’s.
7 “For there is hope for a tree, if it is cut down, that it will still sprout. And its branches will not cease.
8 “Though the root of it grows old in the earth, and its stump is dead in the ground,
9 “by the scent of water it will bud and bring forth branches like a plant.
10 “But man is sick and dies. And man perishes. And where is he?
11 “As the waters pass from the sea, and as the flood decays and dries up,
12 “so man sleeps and does not rise. He shall not wake again, or be raised from his sleep, until the heavens are no more.
13 “Oh that You would hide me in the grave and keep me secret until Your wrath were past, would set a time for me and remember me!
14 “If a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my appointed time will I wait, until my relief comes.
15 “You shall call me, and I will answer You. You love the work of Your own Hands.
16 “But now, You number my steps. Do You not watch over my sins?
17 “My iniquity is sealed up in a bag. And You add to my wickedness.
18 “And surely as the mountain falls and comes to nothing, and as the rock is removed from its place,
19 “as the water breaks the stones, You overflow the things which grow in the dust of the earth. So You destroy the hope of man.
20 “You always prevail against him, so that he passes away. He changes his face when You cast him away.
21 “And he does not know if his sons shall be honorable. Nor shall he understand concerning them, whether they shall be of low degree.
22 “But while his flesh is upon him, he shall be sorrowful. And while his soul is in him, it shall mourn.”
15 “Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said,
2 “Shall a wise man speak words of the wind, and fill his belly with the East wind?
3 “Shall he dispute with unprofitable words or with talk that is of no benefit?
4 “Surely, you have cast off fear and restrained prayer before God:
5 “For your mouth declares your iniquity, seeing you have chosen the tongue of the crafty.
6 “Your own mouth condemns you, and not me. And your lips testify against you.
7 “Are you the first man who was born? And were you made before the hills?
8 “Have you heard the secret counsel of God? And do you restrain wisdom to yourself?
9 “What do you know that we do not know, understand that is not in us?
10 “With us are both ancient and very aged men, far older than your father.
11 “Do the consolations of God seem small to you? Is this thing strange to you?
12 “Why does your heart take you away? And at what are you winking,
13 “that you answer to God at your pleasure and bring such words out of your mouth?
14 “What is man, that he would be clean? And he who is born of woman, that he would be just?
15 “Behold, He found no steadfastness in His saints. Yea, the heavens are not clean in His sight.
16 “How much more abominable is man, and filthy, who drinks iniquity like water?
17 “I will tell you. Hear me, and I will declare that which I have seen,
18 “which wise men have told from their fathers and have not kept secret,
19 “to whom alone the land was given. And no stranger passed through them.
20 “The wicked man is continually as one who writhes in pain. And the number of years is hidden from the tyrant.
21 “A sound of fear is in his ears. In his prosperity the destroyer shall come upon him.
22 “He does not believe he will return out of darkness, for he sees the sword before him.
23 “He wanders to and fro for bread. He knows that the day of darkness is at hand.
24 “Affliction and anguish shall make him afraid. They shall prevail against him as a king, ready to battle.
25 “For he has stretched out his hand against God and made himself strong against the Almighty.
26 “running upon Him, with the most thick part of his shield.
27 “Because he has covered his face with his fatness, and excess fat is in his loins.
28 “He dwells in desolate cities, in houses which no man inhabits, but have become heaps.
29 “He shall not be rich. Nor shall his substance continue. Nor shall he prolong its gain on the Earth.
30 “He shall never depart from darkness. The flame shall dry up his branches. And he shall go away with the breath of His mouth.
31 “Let him not err in his trust of frivolity. For frivolity shall be his reward.
32 “His branch shall not be green, but shall be cut off before his day.
33 “God shall destroy him as the vine does her sour grape, and shall cast him off as the olive does her flower.
34 “For the congregation of the hypocrite shall be desolate. And fire shall devour the houses of bribes.
35 “They conceive mischief and bring forth emptiness. And their belly has prepared deceit.”
16 But Job answered and said,
2 “I have oftentimes heard such things. Miserable comforters are you all!
3 “Shall there be no end of your words of wind? What makes you so bold to answer?
4 “I could also speak as you do if your soul were in my soul’s place. I could keep you company in speaking and could shake my head at you.
5 “But I would strengthen you with my mouth. And the motion of my lips would bring relief.
6 “Though I speak, my sorrow cannot be relieved. Though I cease, what release have I?
7 “But now, He makes me weary: You have made all my congregation desolate
8 “and have made me full of wrinkles, which is a witness of it. And my leanness rises up in me, testifying in my face.
9 “His wrath has torn and He hates me, gnashing on me with His Teeth. My enemy has sharpened his eyes against me.
10 “They have opened their mouths upon me and struck me on the cheek in reproach. They gathered themselves together against me.
11 “God has delivered me to the unjust and has made me turn out of the way, by the hands of the wicked.
12 “I was wealthy, but he has brought me to nothing. He has taken me by the neck and beaten me and set me as a mark for Himself.
13 “His archers surround me. He pierces my core and does not spare and pours my gall upon the ground.
14 “He has broken me with one breaking upon another and runs upon me like a giant.
15 “I have sown a sackcloth upon my skin and have defiled my horn in the dust.
16 “My face is withered with weeping and the shadow of death is upon my eyes,
17 “though no wickedness is in my hands and my prayer is pure.
18 “O Earth, do not cover my blood. And let my crying find no place.
19 “For lo, now my witness is in the sky, and my record on high.
20 “My friends speak eloquently against me. My eye pours out to God.
21 “Oh that a man might plead with God, as a man with his neighbor!
22 “For few years come before I shall go and not return.
17 “My spirit is broken. My days are cut off and the grave is ready for me.
2 “There are none but mockers with me, and my eye must dwell on their disobedience.
3 “Lay down, now, pledge for me with Yourself. Who is there who will strike hands with me?
4 “For You have hidden their heart from understanding. Therefore, You shall not exalt.
5 “For the eyes of his children shall fail who speaks flattery to friends.
6 “He has also made me a byword of the people, and I am as one spit on by them.
7 “My eye, therefore, is dim for grief, and all my strength like a shadow.
8 “The righteous shall be astonished at this. And the innocent shall be moved against the hypocrite.
9 “But the righteous will hold to his way. And he whose hands are pure shall increase strength.
10 “All you, therefore, return and come now. And I shall not find one wise among you.
11 “My days are past. My enterprises are broken. The thoughts of my heart
12 “have exchanged the night for the day and the light that approached for darkness.
13 “Though I hope, the grave shall be my house. I shall make my bed in the dark.
14 “I shall say to corruption, ‘You are my father,’ to the worm, ‘You are my mother and my sister.’
15 “Where now, then, is my hope? Or who shall consider the thing for which I hoped?
16 “It shall go down into the bottom of the pit. Surely they shall lie together in the dust.”
18 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered, and said,
2 “When will you put an end to your words? Make us understand, and then we will speak.
3 “Why are we counted as beasts, and vile in your sight?
4 “You are as one who tears his soul in his anger. Shall the Earth be forsaken for your sake, or the rock removed from its place?
5 “Yea, the light of the wicked shall be quenched. And the spark of his fire shall not shine.
6 “The light shall be dark in his dwelling, and his candle shall be put out with him.
7 “The steps of his strength shall be restrained, and his own counsel shall cast him down.
8 “For he is taken in the net by his feet, and he walks upon the snares.
9 “The net shall take him by the heel, and the traps shall come upon him.
10 “A noose is laid for him on the ground, and a trap for him on the way.
11 “Fearfulness shall make him afraid on every side, and shall drive him to his feet.
12 “His strength shall be famine. And destruction shall be ready at his side.
13 “It shall devour the inner parts of his skin. The firstborn of death shall devour his strength.
14 “His hope shall be rooted out of his dwelling, and shall cause him to go to the king of fear.
15 “Fear shall dwell in his house (because it is not his). Brimstone shall be scattered upon his habitation.
16 “His roots shall be dried up beneath, and above shall his branch be cut down.
17 “His memory shall perish from the Earth, and he shall have no name in the street.
18 “They shall drive him out of the light into darkness and chase him out of the world.
19 “He shall have neither son nor nephew among his people, nor any posterity in his dwellings.
20 “Those who follow shall be astonished every day, and fear shall come upon the ancient.
21 “Surely such are the habitations of the wicked. And this is the place of him who does not know God.”
19 But Job answered, and said,
2 “How long will you grieve my soul, and torment me with words?
3 “You have now reproached me ten times and are not ashamed. You are impudent toward me.
4 “And though I had indeed erred, my error remains with me.
5 “But, indeed, if you will advance yourselves against me and rebuke me for my disgrace,
6 “know, now, that God has overthrown me and has surrounded me with His net.
7 “Behold, I cry out from violence, but I have no answer. I cry, but there is no justice.
8 “He has walled up my way, so that I cannot pass. And He has set darkness in my paths.
9 “He has stripped me of my honor, and taken the crown away from my head.
10 “He has destroyed me on every side, and I am gone. And He has removed my hope like a tree.
11 “And He has kindled His wrath against me, and counts me as one of His enemies.
12 “His armies came together and made their way upon me and camped around my tabernacle.
13 “He has removed my brethren far from me, and also my acquaintances were strangers to me.
14 “My neighbors have forsaken me, and my close friends have forgotten me.
15 “Those who dwell in my house, and my maids, took me for a stranger. For I was a stranger in their sight.
16 “I called my servant, but he would not answer. I begged him with my mouth.
17 “My breath was strange to my wife, though I begged her for the sake of the children of my own body.
18 “The wicked also despised me. When I arose, they spoke against me.
19 “All my secret friends abhorred me. And those whom I loved have turned against me.
20 “My bone clings to my skin and to my flesh and I have escaped with the skin of my teeth.
21 “Have pity upon me. Have pity upon me, O you my friends. For the Hand of God has touched me.
22 “Why do you persecute me, as God, and are not satisfied with my flesh?
23 “Oh that my words were now written! Oh that they were written even in a book,
24 “engraved with an iron pen in lead, or in stone, forever!
25 “For I am sure that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand the last on the Earth.
26 “And even after my skin is destroyed, I shall still see God in my flesh,
27 “Whom I myself shall see and my eyes shall behold, and no other. My core is consumed within me.
28 “But if there is a deep matter in me, you would say, ‘Why is he persecuted?’
29 “Be afraid of the sword! For the sword will be avenged of wickedness, so that you may know that there is a judgment.”
20 Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,
2 “Doubtless my divided thoughts cause me to answer, and therefore I hurry.
3 “I have heard the correction of my reproach. Therefore, the spirit of my understanding causes me to answer.
4 “Do you not know this from old, since God placed man upon the Earth,
5 “that the rejoicing of the wicked is short, and that the joy of the hypocrites is but a moment?
6 “Though his pride mounts up to the heaven, and his head reaches to the clouds,
7 “yet shall he perish forever like his dung. Those who have seen him shall say, ‘Where is he?’
8 “He shall flee away as a dream and they shall not find him, and shall pass away as a vision of the night,
9 “so that the eye which had seen him shall do so no more and his place shall see him no more.
10 “His children shall flatter the poor, and his hands shall restore his substance.
11 “His bones are full of his youth, but it shall lie down with him in the dust.
12 “When wickedness was sweet in his mouth, he hid it under his tongue,
13 “favored it, and would not forsake it, but kept it close in his mouth.
14 “His food in his bowels was turned, the gall of asps in the midst of him.
15 “He has devoured substance and he shall vomit it. God shall draw it out of his belly.
16 “He shall suck the gall of asps. The viper’s tongue shall slay him.
17 “He shall not see the rivers, the floods, streams of honey and butter.
18 “He shall restore the labor and shall devour no more. His exchange shall be according to the substance, and he shall enjoy it no more.
19 “For he has undone many. He has forsaken the poor, has spoiled houses which he did not build.
20 “Surely, he shall feel no quietness in his body, nor shall he reserve any of that which he desired.
21 “None of his food shall be left, nor hope for his well-being.
22 “When he shall be filled with his abundance, he shall be in pain. The hand of all the wicked shall assail him.
23 “He shall be about to fill his belly, but God shall send His fierce wrath upon him, and shall cause it to rain upon him, even upon his food.
24 “He shall flee from the iron weapons. The bow of steel shall strike him through,
25 “be drawn out and come forth from the body, and shine from his gall. Fear will come upon him.
26 “All darkness shall be hidden in his secret places. The fire that is not blown shall devour him. That which remains in his tabernacle shall be destroyed.
27 “The heaven shall declare his wickedness and the Earth shall rise up against him.
28 “The increase of his house shall vanish. It shall flow away on the day of His wrath.
29 “This is the portion from God for the wicked man, and the heritage commanded by God.”
21 But Job answered, and said,
2 “Hear diligently my words. And let this be your consolation.
3 “Allow me to speak. And when I have spoken, mock on.
4 “Is my complaint to man? If it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled?
5 “Mark me and be appalled. And lay your hand upon your mouth.
6 “Even when I remember, I am afraid. And fear takes hold of my flesh.
7 “Why do the wicked live, grow old, and increase in wealth?
8 “Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their generation before their eyes.
9 “Their houses are peaceable, without fear. And the rod of God is not upon them.
10 “Their bull breeds, without fail. Their cow calves, and does not cast her calf.
11 “They send forth their children like sheep, and their sons dance.
12 “They take the tambourine and harp and rejoice in the sound of the organs.
13 “They spend their days in wealth, and suddenly they go down to the grave.
14 “They say also to God, ‘Depart from us! For we do not desire the knowledge of Your ways!
15 ‘Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what profit should we have, if we should pray to him?’
16 “Lo, their wealth is not in their hand. Let the counsel of the wicked be far from me.
17 “How often shall the candle of the wicked be put out and their destruction come upon them? He will divide their lives in His wrath.
18 “They shall be as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carries away.
19 “God will lay up sorrow for one’s children. When He rewards him, he shall know it.
20 “His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
21 “For what pleasure does he have in his house after him when the number of his months is cut off?
22 “Shall any teach God knowledge, Who judges the highest things?
23 “One dies in his full strength, being in all ease and prosperity.
24 “His breasts are full of milk, and his bones run full of marrow.
25 “And another dies in the bitterness of his soul, and never eats with pleasure.
26 “They both shall sleep in the dust. And the worms shall cover them.
27 “Behold, I know your thoughts, and the enterprises with which you do me wrong.
28 “For you say, ‘Where is the prince’s house?’ and ‘Where is the tabernacle of the wicked’s dwelling?’
29 “Have you not asked those who go by the way? And you cannot deny their signs.
30 “But the wicked are kept to the Day of Destruction. They shall be brought forth to the Day of Wrath.
31 “Who shall declare his way to His face? And who shall reward him for what he has done?
32 “Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and remain in the heap.
33 “The slimy valley shall be sweet to him, and every man shall follow him, as before him there were innumerable.
34 “How, then, can you comfort me in vain, seeing in your answer there remains but lies?”
22 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered, and said,
2 “May a man be profitable to God, as he that is wise may be profitable to himself?
3 “Is it anything to the Almighty if you are righteous? Or is it profitable if you make your ways upright?
4 “Is it because of your fear that He rebukes you, or goes with you into judgment?
5 “Is not your wickedness great, and your iniquities innumerable?
6 “For you have taken the pledge from your brother for nothing, and spoiled the clothes of the naked.
7 “To such as were weary, you have not given water to drink. And you have withdrawn bread from the hungry.
8 “But the mighty man had the Earth. And he who was in authority dwelt in it.
9 “You have cast out widows empty, and the arms of the fatherless were broken.
10 “Therefore snares are all around you, and fear shall suddenly trouble you,
11 “or darkness, so that you should not see. And abundance of waters shall cover you.
12 “Is not God on high in the heaven? And behold the height of the stars, how high they are.
13 “But you say, ‘How should God know? Can He judge through the dark cloud?
14 ‘The clouds hide Him so that He cannot see, and He walks in the circle of Heaven.’
15 “Have you marked the way of the world, wherein wicked men have walked?
16 “Who were cut down before their time? Whose foundation was as a river that overflowed?
17 “Who said to God, ‘Depart from us,’ and asked what the Almighty could do for them?
18 “Yet He filled their houses with good things. But let the counsel of the wicked be far from me.
19 “The righteous shall see them and shall rejoice and the innocent shall laugh them to scorn.
20 “Surely our substance is hidden. But the fire has devoured the remnant of them.
21 “Therefore, please acquaint yourself with Him and make peace. Thereby you shall have prosperity.
22 “Please receive the Law of His Mouth and lay up His Words in your heart.
23 “If you return to the Almighty, you shall be built up. You shall put iniquity far from your tabernacle.
24 “You shall lay up gold for dust, and the gold of Ophir, as the flints of the rivers.
25 “Yea, the Almighty shall be your defense, and you shall have plenty of silver.
26 “And you shall then delight in the Almighty, and lift up your face to God.
27 “You shall make your prayer to Him, and He shall hear you. And you shall render your vows.
28 “You shall also decree a thing, and He shall establish it to you. And the light shall shine upon your ways.
29 “When others are cast down, then shall you say, ‘I am lifted up,’ and God shall save the humble person.
30 “The innocent shall deliver the island, and it shall be preserved by the pureness of your hands.”
23 But Job answered, and said,
2 “Though my talk be in bitterness today, and my plague greater than my groaning,
3 “I wish that I knew how to find Him. I would enter into His place.
4 “I would plead the cause before Him and fill my mouth with arguments.
5 “I would know the Words He would answer me and would understand what He would say to me.
6 “Would He plead against me with His great power? No, He would surely acknowledge me.
7 “There the righteous might reason with Him. So I would be delivered forever from my Judge.
8 “Behold, if I go to the East, He is not there. If to the West, yet I cannot perceive Him.
9 “If to the North where He works, yet I cannot see Him. He will hide Himself in the South, and I cannot behold Him.
10 “But He knows my way, and tries me. I shall come forth like gold.
11 “My foot has followed His steps. I have kept His way, and have not declined.
12 “Nor have I departed from the Commandment of His Lips. I have treasured the Words of His Mouth more than my appointed food.
13 “Yet, He is One and who can turn Him? Yea, He does what His Mind desires.
14 “For He will perform that which is decreed for me. And many such things are with Him.
15 “Therefore, I am troubled at His presence. And in considering it, I am afraid of Him.
16 “For God has softened my heart. And the Almighty has terrified me.
17 “For I am not cut off in darkness. But He has hidden the darkness from my face.”
24 “How should not the times be hidden from the Almighty, seeing that those who know Him do not see
2 “Some remove the landmarks, those who rob the flocks and feed on them.
3 “They lead away the donkey of the fatherless and take the widow’s ox to pledge.
4 “They make the poor turn out of the way, so that the poor of the Earth hide themselves together.
5 “Behold, others as wild donkeys in the wilderness go forth to their business and rise early for a prey. The wilderness gives him and his children food.
6 “They reap his provision in the field, but they gather the late vintage of the wicked.
7 “They cause the naked to lodge without garment, and without covering in the cold.
8 “They are wet with the showers of the mountains, and they embrace the rock for want of a covering.
9 “They pluck the fatherless from the breast and take the pledge of the poor.
10 “They cause him to go naked without clothing and take the gleaning from the hungry.
11 “Those who make oil between their walls, and tread their winepresses, suffer thirst.
12 “Men cry out of the city, and the souls of the slain cry out. Yet, God does not charge them with folly.
13 “These are those who abhor the light. They do not know its ways or continue in its paths.
14 “The murderer rises early and kills the poor and the needy. And in the night, he is as a thief.
15 “Also, the eye of the adulterer waits for the twilight, and says, ‘No eye shall see me,’ and disguises his face.
16 “They dig through houses in the dark which they marked for themselves in the day. They do not know the light.
17 “But the morning is as the shadow of death to them. Indeed, they are known in the terrors of the shadow of death.
18 “He is swift upon the waters. Their portion shall be cursed on the Earth. He will not behold the way of the vineyards.
19 “As the dry ground and heat consume the snow waters, so shall the grave the sinners.
20 “The womb shall forget him. The worm shall feed on his sweetness. He shall be remembered no more, and the wicked shall be broken like a tree.
21 “He preys on the barren who does not bear, and does no good to the widow.
22 “But He draws the mighty by His power. When He rises up, no one is sure of life.
23 “Though men give Him assurance to be in safety, yet His eyes are upon their ways.
24 “They are exalted for a little, but they are gone and are brought low, as all others. They are destroyed and cut off, as the top of an ear of corn.
25 “But if it is not so, where is he? Who will prove me a liar and make my words of no value?”
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