Job 3:1--37:24

Context

3:1 After this Job opened his mouth ²  and cursed ³  the day he was born. ⁴  3:2 Job spoke up ⁵  and said:

3:3 “Let the day on which ⁶  I was born ⁷  perish,

and the night that said, ⁸ 

‘A man ⁹  has been conceived!’ ¹⁰ 

3:4 That day ¹¹  – let it be darkness; ¹² 

let not God on high regard ¹³  it,

nor let light shine ¹⁴  on it!

3:5 Let darkness and the deepest

shadow ¹⁵  claim it; ¹⁶ 

let a cloud settle on it;

let whatever blackens the day ¹⁷  terrify it!

3:6 That night – let darkness seize ¹⁸  it;

let it not be included ¹⁹  among the days of the year;

let it not enter among the number of the months! ²⁰ 

3:7 Indeed, ²¹  let that night be barren; ²² 

let no shout of joy ²³  penetrate ²⁴  it!

3:8 Let those who curse the day ²⁵  curse it ²⁶  –

those who are prepared to rouse ²⁷  Leviathan. ²⁸ 

3:9 Let its morning stars ²⁹  be darkened;

let it wait ³⁰  for daylight but find none, ³¹ 

nor let it see the first rays ³²  of dawn,

3:10 because it ³³  did not shut the doors ³⁴  of my mother’s womb on me, ³⁵ 

nor did it hide trouble ³⁶  from my eyes!

3:11 “Why did I not ³⁸  die ³⁹  at birth, ⁴⁰ 

and why did I not expire

as ⁴¹  I came out of the womb?

3:12 Why did the knees welcome me, ⁴² 

and why were there ⁴³  two breasts ⁴⁴ 

that I might nurse at them? ⁴⁵ 

3:13 For now ⁴⁶  I would be lying down

and ⁴⁷  would be quiet, ⁴⁸ 

I would be asleep and then at peace ⁴⁹ 

3:14 with kings and counselors of the earth

who built for themselves places now desolate, ⁵⁰ 

3:15 or with princes who possessed gold, ⁵¹ 

who filled their palaces ⁵²  with silver.

3:16 Or why ⁵³  was ⁵⁴  I not buried ⁵⁵ 

like a stillborn infant, ⁵⁶ 

like infants ⁵⁷  who have never seen the light? ⁵⁸ 

3:17 There ⁵⁹  the wicked ⁶⁰  cease ⁶¹  from turmoil, ⁶² 

and there the weary ⁶³  are at rest.

3:18 There ⁶⁴  the prisoners ⁶⁵  relax ⁶⁶  together; ⁶⁷ 

they do not hear the voice of the oppressor. ⁶⁸ 

3:19 Small and great are ⁶⁹  there,

and the slave is free ⁷⁰  from his master. ⁷¹ 

3:20 “Why does God ⁷³  give ⁷⁴  light to one who is in misery, ⁷⁵ 

and life to those ⁷⁶  whose soul is bitter,

3:21 to ⁷⁷  those who wait ⁷⁸  for death that ⁷⁹  does not come,

and search for it ⁸⁰ 

more than for hidden treasures,

3:22 who rejoice ⁸¹  even to jubilation, ⁸² 

and are exultant ⁸³  when ⁸⁴  they find the grave? ⁸⁵ 

3:23 Why is light given ⁸⁶  to a man ⁸⁷ 

whose way is hidden, ⁸⁸ 

and whom God has hedged in? ⁸⁹ 

3:24 For my sighing comes in place of ⁹⁰  my food, ⁹¹ 

and my groanings ⁹²  flow forth like water. ⁹³ 

3:25 For the very thing I dreaded ⁹⁴  has happened ⁹⁵  to me,

and what I feared has come upon me. ⁹⁶ 

3:26 I have no ease, ⁹⁷  I have no quietness;

I cannot rest; ⁹⁸  turmoil has come upon me.” ⁹⁹ 

4:1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered: ¹⁰¹ 

4:2 “If someone ¹⁰²  should attempt ¹⁰³  a word with you,

will you be impatient? ¹⁰⁴ 

But who can refrain from speaking ¹⁰⁵ ?

4:3 Look, ¹⁰⁶  you have instructed ¹⁰⁷  many;

you have strengthened ¹⁰⁸  feeble hands. ¹⁰⁹ 

4:4 Your words have supported ¹¹⁰  those

who stumbled, ¹¹¹ 

and you have strengthened the knees

that gave way. ¹¹² 

4:5 But now the same thing ¹¹³  comes to you,

and you are discouraged; ¹¹⁴ 

it strikes you,

and you are terrified. ¹¹⁵ 

4:6 Is not your piety ¹¹⁶  your confidence, ¹¹⁷ 

and your blameless ways your hope? ¹¹⁸ 

4:7 Call to mind now: ¹¹⁹ 

Who, ¹²⁰  being innocent, ever perished? ¹²¹ 

And where were upright people ¹²²  ever destroyed? ¹²³ 

4:8 Even as I have seen, ¹²⁴  those who plow ¹²⁵  iniquity ¹²⁶ 

and those who sow trouble reap the same. ¹²⁷ 

4:9 By the breath ¹²⁸  of God they perish, ¹²⁹ 

and by the blast ¹³⁰  of his anger they are consumed.

4:10 There is ¹³¹  the roaring of the lion ¹³² 

and the growling ¹³³  of the young lion,

but the teeth of the young lions are broken. ¹³⁴ 

4:11 The mighty lion ¹³⁵  perishes ¹³⁶  for lack of prey,

and the cubs of the lioness ¹³⁷  are scattered.

4:12 “Now a word was secretly ¹³⁸  brought ¹³⁹  to me,

and my ear caught ¹⁴⁰  a whisper ¹⁴¹  of it.

4:13 In the troubling thoughts ¹⁴²  of the dreams ¹⁴³  in the night

when a deep sleep ¹⁴⁴  falls on men,

4:14 a trembling ¹⁴⁵  gripped me – and a terror! –

and made all my bones shake. ¹⁴⁶ 

4:15 Then a breath of air ¹⁴⁷  passes ¹⁴⁸  by my face;

it makes ¹⁴⁹  the hair of my flesh stand up.

4:16 It stands still, ¹⁵⁰ 

but I cannot recognize ¹⁵¹  its appearance;

an image is before my eyes,

and I hear a murmuring voice: ¹⁵² 

4:17 “Is ¹⁵³  a mortal man ¹⁵⁴  righteous ¹⁵⁵  before ¹⁵⁶  God?

Or a man pure ¹⁵⁷  before his Creator? ¹⁵⁸ 

4:18 If ¹⁵⁹  God ¹⁶⁰  puts no trust in ¹⁶¹  his servants ¹⁶² 

and attributes ¹⁶³  folly ¹⁶⁴  to his angels,

4:19 how much more to those who live in houses of clay, ¹⁶⁵ 

whose foundation is in the dust,

who are crushed ¹⁶⁶  like ¹⁶⁷  a moth?

4:20 They are destroyed ¹⁶⁸  between morning and evening; ¹⁶⁹ 

they perish forever ¹⁷⁰  without anyone regarding it. ¹⁷¹ 

4:21 Is not their excess wealth ¹⁷²  taken away from them? ¹⁷³ 

They die, ¹⁷⁴  yet without attaining wisdom. ¹⁷⁵ 

5:1 “Call now! ¹⁷⁶  Is there anyone who will answer you? ¹⁷⁷ 

To which of the holy ones ¹⁷⁸  will you turn? ¹⁷⁹ 

5:2 For ¹⁸⁰  wrath kills the foolish person, ¹⁸¹ 

and anger ¹⁸²  slays the silly one.

5:3 I myself ¹⁸³  have seen the fool ¹⁸⁴  taking root,

but suddenly I cursed his place of residence. ¹⁸⁵ 

5:4 His children are far ¹⁸⁶  from safety,

and they are crushed ¹⁸⁷  at the place where judgment is rendered, ¹⁸⁸ 

nor is there anyone to deliver them. ¹⁸⁹ 

5:5 The hungry ¹⁹⁰  eat up his harvest, ¹⁹¹ 

and take it even from behind the thorns, ¹⁹² 

and the thirsty ¹⁹³  swallow up ¹⁹⁴  their fortune. ¹⁹⁵ 

5:6 For evil does not come up from the dust, ¹⁹⁶ 

nor does trouble spring up from the ground,

5:7 but people ¹⁹⁷  are born ¹⁹⁸  to trouble,

as surely as the sparks ¹⁹⁹  fly ²⁰⁰  upward. ²⁰¹ 

5:8 “But ²⁰³  as for me, ²⁰⁴  I would seek ²⁰⁵  God, ²⁰⁶ 

and to God ²⁰⁷  I would set forth my case. ²⁰⁸ 

5:9 He does ²⁰⁹  great and unsearchable ²¹⁰  things,

marvelous things without ²¹¹  number; ²¹² 

5:10 he gives ²¹³  rain on the earth, ²¹⁴ 

and sends ²¹⁵  water on the fields; ²¹⁶ 

5:11 he sets ²¹⁷  the lowly ²¹⁸  on high,

that those who mourn ²¹⁹  are raised ²²⁰  to safety.

5:12 He frustrates ²²¹  the plans ²²²  of the crafty ²²³ 

so that ²²⁴  their hands cannot accomplish

what they had planned! ²²⁵ 

5:13 He catches ²²⁶  the wise in their own craftiness, ²²⁷ 

and the counsel of the cunning ²²⁸  is brought to a quick end. ²²⁹ 

5:14 They meet with darkness in the daytime, ²³⁰ 

and grope about ²³¹  in the noontime as if it were night. ²³² 

5:15 So he saves ²³³  from the sword that comes from their mouth, ²³⁴ 

even ²³⁵  the poor from the hand of the powerful.

5:16 Thus the poor have hope,

and iniquity ²³⁶  shuts its mouth. ²³⁷ 

5:17 “Therefore, ²³⁸  blessed ²³⁹  is the man whom God corrects, ²⁴⁰ 

so do not despise the discipline ²⁴¹  of the Almighty. ²⁴² 

5:18 For ²⁴³  he ²⁴⁴  wounds, ²⁴⁵  but he also bandages;

he strikes, but his hands also heal.

5:19 He will deliver you ²⁴⁶  from six calamities;

yes, in seven ²⁴⁷  no evil will touch you.

5:20 In time of famine ²⁴⁸  he will redeem you from death,

and in time of war from the power of the sword. ²⁴⁹ 

5:21 You will be protected ²⁵⁰  from malicious gossip, ²⁵¹ 

and will not be afraid of the destruction ²⁵²  when it comes.

5:22 You will laugh at destruction and famine ²⁵³ 

and need not ²⁵⁴  be afraid of the beasts of the earth.

5:23 For you will have a pact with the stones ²⁵⁵  of the field,

and the wild animals ²⁵⁶  will be at peace ²⁵⁷  with you.

5:24 And ²⁵⁸  you will know ²⁵⁹  that your home ²⁶⁰ 

will be secure, ²⁶¹ 

and when you inspect ²⁶²  your domains,

you will not be missing ²⁶³  anything.

5:25 You will also know that your children ²⁶⁴  will be numerous,

and your descendants ²⁶⁵  like the grass of the earth.

5:26 You will come to your grave in a full age, ²⁶⁶ 

As stacks of grain are harvested in their season.

5:27 Look, we have investigated this, so it is true.

Hear it, ²⁶⁷  and apply it for your own ²⁶⁸  good.” ²⁶⁹ 

6:1 Then Job responded: ²⁷⁰ 

6:2 “Oh, ²⁷¹  if only my grief ²⁷²  could be weighed, ²⁷³ 

and my misfortune laid ²⁷⁴  on the scales too! ²⁷⁵ 

6:3 But because it is heavier ²⁷⁶  than the sand ²⁷⁷  of the sea,

that is why my words have been wild. ²⁷⁸ 

6:4 For the arrows ²⁷⁹  of the Almighty ²⁸⁰  are within me;

my spirit ²⁸¹  drinks their poison; ²⁸² 

God’s sudden terrors ²⁸³  are arrayed ²⁸⁴  against me.

6:5 “Does the wild donkey ²⁸⁵  bray ²⁸⁶  when it is near grass? ²⁸⁷ 

Or ²⁸⁸  does the ox low near its fodder? ²⁸⁹ 

6:6 Can food that is tasteless ²⁹⁰  be eaten without salt?

Or is there any taste in the white ²⁹¹  of an egg?

6:7 I ²⁹²  have refused ²⁹³  to touch such things; ²⁹⁴ 

they are like loathsome food to me. ²⁹⁵ 

6:8 “Oh that ²⁹⁶  my request would be realized, ²⁹⁷ 

and that God would grant me what I long for! ²⁹⁸ 

6:9 And that God would be willing ²⁹⁹  to crush me,

that he would let loose ³⁰⁰  his hand

and ³⁰¹  kill me. ³⁰² 

6:10 Then I would yet have my comfort, ³⁰³ 

then ³⁰⁴  I would rejoice, ³⁰⁵ 

in spite of pitiless pain, ³⁰⁶ 

for ³⁰⁷  I have not concealed the words ³⁰⁸  of the Holy One. ³⁰⁹ 

6:11 What is my strength, that I should wait? ³¹⁰ 

and what is my end, ³¹¹ 

that I should prolong my life?

6:12 Is my strength like that of stones? ³¹² 

or is my flesh made of bronze?

6:13 Is ³¹³  not my power to help myself nothing,

and has not every resource ³¹⁴  been driven from me?

6:14 “To the one in despair, kindness ³¹⁵  should come from his friend ³¹⁶ 

even if ³¹⁷  he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.

6:15 My brothers ³¹⁸  have been as treacherous ³¹⁹  as a seasonal stream, ³²⁰ 

and as the riverbeds of the intermittent streams ³²¹ 

that flow away. ³²² 

6:16 They ³²³  are dark ³²⁴  because of ice;

snow is piled ³²⁵  up over them. ³²⁶ 

6:17 When they are scorched, ³²⁷  they dry up,

when it is hot, they vanish ³²⁸  from their place.

6:18 Caravans ³²⁹  turn aside from their routes;

they go ³³⁰  into the wasteland ³³¹  and perish. ³³² 

6:19 The caravans of Tema ³³³  looked intently ³³⁴  for these streams; ³³⁵ 

the traveling merchants ³³⁶  of Sheba hoped for them.

6:20 They were distressed, ³³⁷ 

because each one had been ³³⁸  so confident;

they arrived there, ³³⁹  but were disappointed.

6:21 For now ³⁴⁰  you have become like these streams that are no help; ³⁴¹ 

you see a terror, ³⁴²  and are afraid.

6:22 “Have I ³⁴³  ever said, ³⁴⁴  ‘Give me something,

and from your fortune ³⁴⁵  make gifts ³⁴⁶  in my favor’?

6:23 Or ‘Deliver me ³⁴⁷  from the enemy’s power, ³⁴⁸ 

and from the hand of tyrants ³⁴⁹  ransom ³⁵⁰  me’?

6:24 “Teach ³⁵¹  me and I, for my part, ³⁵²  will be silent;

explain to me ³⁵³  how I have been mistaken. ³⁵⁴ 

6:25 How painful ³⁵⁵  are honest words!

But ³⁵⁶  what does your reproof ³⁵⁷  prove? ³⁵⁸ 

6:26 Do you intend to criticize mere words,

and treat ³⁵⁹  the words of a despairing man as wind?

6:27 Yes, you would gamble ³⁶⁰  for the fatherless,

and auction off ³⁶¹  your friend.

6:28 “Now then, be good enough to look ³⁶²  at me; ³⁶³ 

and I will not ³⁶⁴  lie to your face!

6:29 Relent, ³⁶⁵  let there be no falsehood; ³⁶⁶ 

reconsider, ³⁶⁷  for my righteousness is intact! ³⁶⁸ 

6:30 Is there any falsehood ³⁶⁹  on my lips?

Can my mouth ³⁷⁰  not discern evil things? ³⁷¹ 

7:1 “Does not humanity have hard service ³⁷²  on earth?

Are not their days also

like the days of a hired man? ³⁷³ 

7:2 Like a servant ³⁷⁴  longing for the evening shadow, ³⁷⁵ 

and like a hired man looking ³⁷⁶  for his wages, ³⁷⁷ 

7:3 thus ³⁷⁸  I have been made to inherit ³⁷⁹ 

months of futility, ³⁸⁰ 

and nights of sorrow ³⁸¹ 

have been appointed ³⁸²  to me.

7:4 If I lie down, I say, ³⁸³  ‘When will I arise?’,

and the night stretches on ³⁸⁴ 

and I toss and turn restlessly ³⁸⁵ 

until the day dawns.

7:5 My body ³⁸⁶  is clothed ³⁸⁷  with worms ³⁸⁸  and dirty scabs; ³⁸⁹ 

my skin is broken ³⁹⁰  and festering.

7:6 My days ³⁹¹  are swifter ³⁹²  than a weaver’s shuttle ³⁹³ 

and they come to an end without hope. ³⁹⁴ 

7:7 Remember ³⁹⁵  that my life is but a breath,

that ³⁹⁶  my eyes will never again ³⁹⁷  see happiness.

7:8 The eye of him who sees me now will see me no more; ³⁹⁸ 

your eyes will look for me, but I will be gone. ³⁹⁹ 

7:9 As ⁴⁰⁰  a cloud is dispersed and then disappears, ⁴⁰¹ 

so the one who goes down to the grave ⁴⁰² 

does not come up again. ⁴⁰³ 

7:10 He returns no more to his house,

nor does his place of residence ⁴⁰⁴  know him ⁴⁰⁵  any more.

7:11 “Therefore, ⁴⁰⁶  I will not refrain my mouth; ⁴⁰⁷ 

I will speak in the anguish of my spirit;

I will complain ⁴⁰⁸  in the bitterness of my soul.

7:12 Am I the sea, or the creature of the deep, ⁴⁰⁹ 

that you must put ⁴¹⁰  me under guard? ⁴¹¹ 

7:13 If ⁴¹²  I say, ⁴¹³  “My bed will comfort me, ⁴¹⁴ 

my couch will ease ⁴¹⁵  my complaint,”

7:14 then you scare me ⁴¹⁶  with dreams

and terrify ⁴¹⁷  me with ⁴¹⁸  visions,

7:15 so that I ⁴¹⁹  would prefer ⁴²⁰  strangling, ⁴²¹ 

and ⁴²²  death ⁴²³  more ⁴²⁴  than life. ⁴²⁵ 

7:16 I loathe ⁴²⁶  it; ⁴²⁷  I do not want to live forever;

leave me alone, ⁴²⁸  for my days are a vapor! ⁴²⁹ 

7:17 “What is mankind ⁴³⁰  that you make so much of them, ⁴³¹ 

and that you pay attention ⁴³²  to them?

7:18 And that you visit ⁴³³  them every morning,

and try ⁴³⁴  them every moment? ⁴³⁵ 

7:19 Will you never ⁴³⁶  look away from me, ⁴³⁷ 

will you not let me alone ⁴³⁸ 

long enough to swallow my spittle?

7:20 If ⁴³⁹  I have sinned – what have I done to you, ⁴⁴⁰ 

O watcher of men? ⁴⁴¹ 

Why have you set me as your target? ⁴⁴² 

Have I become a burden to you? ⁴⁴³ 

7:21 And why do you not pardon my transgression,

and take away my iniquity?

For now I will lie down in the dust, ⁴⁴⁴ 

and you will seek me diligently, ⁴⁴⁵ 

but I will be gone.”

8:1 Then Bildad the Shuhite spoke up and said:

8:2 “How long will you speak these things, ⁴⁴⁷ 

seeing ⁴⁴⁸  that the words of your mouth

are like a great ⁴⁴⁹  wind? ⁴⁵⁰ 

8:3 Does God pervert ⁴⁵¹  justice? ⁴⁵² 

Or does the Almighty pervert ⁴⁵³  what is right?

8:4 If ⁴⁵⁴  your children sinned against him,

he gave them over ⁴⁵⁵  to the penalty ⁴⁵⁶  of their sin.

8:5 But ⁴⁵⁷  if you will look ⁴⁵⁸  to God,

and make your supplication ⁴⁵⁹  to the Almighty,

8:6 if you become ⁴⁶⁰  pure ⁴⁶¹  and upright, ⁴⁶² 

even now he will rouse himself ⁴⁶³  for you,

and will restore ⁴⁶⁴  your righteous abode. ⁴⁶⁵ 

8:7 Your beginning ⁴⁶⁶  will seem so small,

since your future will flourish. ⁴⁶⁷ 

8:8 “For inquire now of the former ⁴⁶⁸  generation,

and pay attention ⁴⁶⁹  to the findings ⁴⁷⁰ 

of their ancestors; ⁴⁷¹ 

8:9 For we were born yesterday ⁴⁷²  and do not have knowledge,

since our days on earth are but a shadow. ⁴⁷³ 

8:10 Will they not ⁴⁷⁴  instruct you and ⁴⁷⁵  speak to you,

and bring forth words ⁴⁷⁶ 

from their understanding? ⁴⁷⁷ 

8:11 Can the papyrus plant grow tall ⁴⁷⁸  where there is no marsh?

Can reeds flourish ⁴⁷⁹  without water?

8:12 While they are still beginning to flower ⁴⁸⁰ 

and not ripe for cutting, ⁴⁸¹ 

they can wither away ⁴⁸² 

faster ⁴⁸³  than any grass! ⁴⁸⁴ 

8:13 Such is the destiny ⁴⁸⁵  of all who forget God;

the hope of the godless ⁴⁸⁶  perishes,

8:14 whose ⁴⁸⁷  trust ⁴⁸⁸  is in something futile, ⁴⁸⁹ 

whose security is a spider’s web. ⁴⁹⁰ 

8:15 He leans against his house but it does not hold up, ⁴⁹¹ 

he takes hold ⁴⁹²  of it but it does not stand.

8:16 He is a well-watered plant ⁴⁹³  in ⁴⁹⁴  the sun,

its shoots spread ⁴⁹⁵  over its garden. ⁴⁹⁶ 

8:17 It wraps its roots around a heap ⁴⁹⁷  of stones ⁴⁹⁸ 

and it looks ⁴⁹⁹  for a place among stones. ⁵⁰⁰ 

8:18 If he is uprooted ⁵⁰¹  from his place,

then that place ⁵⁰²  will disown him, saying, ⁵⁰³ 

‘I have never seen you!’

8:19 Indeed, this is the joy of his way, ⁵⁰⁴ 

and out of the earth ⁵⁰⁵  others spring up. ⁵⁰⁶ 

8:20 “Surely, God does not reject a blameless man, ⁵⁰⁷ 

nor does he grasp the hand ⁵⁰⁸ 

of the evildoers.

8:21 He will yet ⁵⁰⁹  fill your mouth with laughter, ⁵¹⁰ 

and your lips with gladness.

8:22 Those who hate you ⁵¹¹  will be clothed with shame, ⁵¹² 

and the tent of the wicked will be no more.”

9:1 Then Job answered:

9:2 “Truly, ⁵¹⁴  I know that this is so.

But how ⁵¹⁵  can a human ⁵¹⁶  be just before ⁵¹⁷  God? ⁵¹⁸ 

9:3 If someone wishes ⁵¹⁹  to contend ⁵²⁰  with him,

he cannot answer ⁵²¹  him one time in a thousand.

9:4 He is wise in heart ⁵²²  and mighty ⁵²³  in strength ⁵²⁴  –

who has resisted ⁵²⁵  him and remained safe? ⁵²⁶ 

9:5 He who removes mountains suddenly, ⁵²⁷ 

who overturns them in his anger; ⁵²⁸ 

9:6 he who shakes the earth out of its place ⁵²⁹ 

so that its pillars tremble; ⁵³⁰ 

9:7 he who commands the sun and ⁵³¹  it does not shine ⁵³² 

and seals up ⁵³³  the stars;

9:8 he alone spreads out the heavens,

and treads ⁵³⁴  on the waves of the sea; ⁵³⁵ 

9:9 he makes the Bear, ⁵³⁶  Orion, ⁵³⁷  and the Pleiades, ⁵³⁸ 

and the constellations of the southern sky; ⁵³⁹ 

9:10 he does great and unsearchable things, ⁵⁴⁰ 

and wonderful things without number.

9:11 If ⁵⁴¹  he passes by me, I cannot see ⁵⁴²  him, ⁵⁴³ 

if he goes by, I cannot perceive him. ⁵⁴⁴ 

9:12 If he snatches away, ⁵⁴⁵  who can turn him back? ⁵⁴⁶ 

Who dares to say to him, ‘What are you doing?’

9:13 God does not restrain his anger; ⁵⁴⁷ 

under him the helpers of Rahab ⁵⁴⁸  lie crushed. ⁵⁴⁹ 

9:14 “How much less, ⁵⁵⁰  then, can I answer him ⁵⁵¹ 

and choose my words ⁵⁵²  to argue ⁵⁵³  with ⁵⁵⁴  him! ⁵⁵⁵ 

9:15 Although ⁵⁵⁶  I am innocent, ⁵⁵⁷ 

I could not answer him; ⁵⁵⁸ 

I could only plead ⁵⁵⁹  with my judge ⁵⁶⁰  for mercy.

9:16 If I summoned him, and he answered me, ⁵⁶¹ 

I would not believe ⁵⁶² 

that he would be listening to my voice –

9:17 he who ⁵⁶³  crushes ⁵⁶⁴  me with a tempest,

and multiplies my wounds for no reason. ⁵⁶⁵ 

9:18 He does not allow ⁵⁶⁶  me to recover ⁵⁶⁷  my breath,

for he fills ⁵⁶⁸  me with bitterness.

9:19 If it is a matter of strength, ⁵⁶⁹ 

most certainly ⁵⁷⁰  he is the strong one!

And if it is a matter of justice,

he will say, ‘Who will summon me?’ ⁵⁷¹ 

9:20 Although I am innocent, ⁵⁷² 

my mouth ⁵⁷³  would condemn me; ⁵⁷⁴ 

although I am blameless,

it would declare me perverse. ⁵⁷⁵ 

9:21 I am blameless. ⁵⁷⁶  I do not know myself. ⁵⁷⁷ 

I despise my life.

9:22 “It is all one! ⁵⁷⁸  That is why I say, ⁵⁷⁹ 

‘He destroys the blameless and the guilty.’

9:23 If a scourge brings sudden death, ⁵⁸⁰ 

he mocks ⁵⁸¹  at the despair ⁵⁸²  of the innocent. ⁵⁸³ 

9:24 If a land ⁵⁸⁴  has been given

into the hand of a wicked man, ⁵⁸⁵ 

he covers ⁵⁸⁶  the faces of its judges; ⁵⁸⁷ 

if it is not he, then who is it? ⁵⁸⁸ 

9:25 “My days ⁵⁸⁹  are swifter than a runner, ⁵⁹⁰ 

they speed by without seeing happiness.

9:26 They glide by ⁵⁹¹  like reed ⁵⁹²  boats,

like an eagle that swoops ⁵⁹³  down on its prey. ⁵⁹⁴ 

9:27 If I say, ⁵⁹⁵  ‘I will ⁵⁹⁶  forget my complaint,

I will change my expression ⁵⁹⁷  and be cheerful,’ ⁵⁹⁸ 

9:28 I dread ⁵⁹⁹  all my sufferings, ⁶⁰⁰ 

for ⁶⁰¹  I know that you do not hold me blameless. ⁶⁰² 

9:29 If I am guilty, ⁶⁰³ 

why then ⁶⁰⁴  weary myself ⁶⁰⁵  in vain? ⁶⁰⁶ 

9:30 If I wash myself with snow water, ⁶⁰⁷ 

and make my hands clean with lye, ⁶⁰⁸ 

9:31 then you plunge me into a slimy pit ⁶⁰⁹ 

and my own clothes abhor me.

9:32 For he ⁶¹⁰  is not a human being like I am,

that ⁶¹¹  I might answer him,

that we might come ⁶¹²  together in judgment.

9:33 Nor is there an arbiter ⁶¹³  between us,

who ⁶¹⁴  might lay ⁶¹⁵  his hand on us both, ⁶¹⁶ 

9:34 who ⁶¹⁷  would take his ⁶¹⁸  rod ⁶¹⁹  away from me

so that his terror ⁶²⁰  would not make me afraid.

9:35 Then ⁶²¹  would I speak and not fear him,

but it is not so with me. ⁶²² 

10:1 “I ⁶²³  am weary ⁶²⁴  of my life;

I will complain without restraint; ⁶²⁵ 

I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.

10:2 I will say to God, ‘Do not condemn ⁶²⁶  me;

tell me ⁶²⁷  why you are contending ⁶²⁸  with me.’

10:3 Is it good for you ⁶²⁹  to oppress, ⁶³⁰ 

to ⁶³¹  despise the work of your hands,

while ⁶³²  you smile ⁶³³ 

on the schemes of the wicked?

10:4 “Do you have eyes of flesh, ⁶³⁴ 

or do you see ⁶³⁵  as a human being sees? ⁶³⁶ 

10:5 Are your days like the days of a mortal,

or your years like the years ⁶³⁷  of a mortal,

10:6 that ⁶³⁸  you must search out ⁶³⁹  my iniquity,

and inquire about my sin,

10:7 although you know ⁶⁴⁰  that I am not guilty,

and that there is no one who can deliver ⁶⁴¹ 

out of your hand?

10:8 “Your hands have shaped ⁶⁴²  me and made me,

but ⁶⁴³  now you destroy me completely. ⁶⁴⁴ 

10:9 Remember that you have made me as with ⁶⁴⁵  the clay;

will ⁶⁴⁶  you return me to dust?

10:10 Did you not pour ⁶⁴⁷  me out like milk,

and curdle ⁶⁴⁸  me like cheese? ⁶⁴⁹ 

10:11 You clothed ⁶⁵⁰  me with skin and flesh

and knit me together ⁶⁵¹  with bones and sinews.

10:12 You gave me ⁶⁵²  life and favor, ⁶⁵³ 

and your intervention ⁶⁵⁴  watched over my spirit.

10:13 “But these things ⁶⁵⁵  you have concealed in your heart;

I know that this ⁶⁵⁶  is with you: ⁶⁵⁷ 

10:14 If I sinned, then you would watch me

and you would not acquit me of my iniquity.

10:15 If I am guilty, ⁶⁵⁸  woe ⁶⁵⁹  to me,

and if I am innocent, I cannot lift my head; ⁶⁶⁰ 

I am full of shame, ⁶⁶¹ 

and satiated with my affliction. ⁶⁶² 

10:16 If I lift myself up, ⁶⁶³ 

you hunt me as a fierce lion, ⁶⁶⁴ 

and again ⁶⁶⁵  you display your power ⁶⁶⁶  against me.

10:17 You bring new witnesses ⁶⁶⁷  against me,

and increase your anger against me;

relief troops ⁶⁶⁸  come against me.

10:18 “Why then did you bring me out from the womb?

I should have died ⁶⁶⁹ 

and no eye would have seen me!

10:19 I should have been as though I had never existed; ⁶⁷⁰ 

I should have been carried

right from the womb to the grave!

10:20 Are not my days few? ⁶⁷¹ 

Cease, ⁶⁷²  then, and leave ⁶⁷³  me alone, ⁶⁷⁴ 

that I may find a little comfort, ⁶⁷⁵ 

10:21 before I depart, never to return, ⁶⁷⁶ 

to the land of darkness

and the deepest shadow, ⁶⁷⁷ 

10:22 to the land of utter darkness,

like the deepest darkness,

and the deepest shadow and disorder, ⁶⁷⁸ 

where even the light ⁶⁷⁹  is like darkness.” ⁶⁸⁰ 

11:1 Then Zophar the Naamathite spoke up and said:

11:2 “Should not this ⁶⁸²  abundance of words be answered, ⁶⁸³ 

or should this ⁶⁸⁴  talkative man ⁶⁸⁵ 

be vindicated? ⁶⁸⁶ 

11:3 Will your idle talk ⁶⁸⁷  reduce people to silence, ⁶⁸⁸ 

and will no one rebuke ⁶⁸⁹  you when you mock? ⁶⁹⁰ 

11:4 For you have said, ‘My teaching ⁶⁹¹  is flawless,

and I am pure in your sight.’

11:5 But if only God would speak, ⁶⁹² 

if only he would open his lips against you, ⁶⁹³ 

11:6 and reveal to you the secrets of wisdom –

for true wisdom has two sides ⁶⁹⁴  –

so that you would know ⁶⁹⁵ 

that God has forgiven some of your sins. ⁶⁹⁶ 

11:7 “Can you discover ⁶⁹⁷  the essence ⁶⁹⁸  of God?

Can you find out ⁶⁹⁹ 

the perfection of the Almighty? ⁷⁰⁰ 

11:8 It is higher ⁷⁰¹  than the heavens – what can you do?

It is deeper than Sheol ⁷⁰²  – what can you know?

11:9 Its measure is longer than the earth,

and broader than the sea.

11:10 If he comes by ⁷⁰³  and confines ⁷⁰⁴  you ⁷⁰⁵ 

and convenes a court, ⁷⁰⁶ 

then who can prevent ⁷⁰⁷  him?

11:11 For he ⁷⁰⁸  knows deceitful ⁷⁰⁹  men;

when he sees evil, will he not ⁷¹⁰  consider it? ⁷¹¹ 

11:12 But an empty man will become wise,

when a wild donkey’s colt is born a human being. ⁷¹² 

11:13 “As for you, ⁷¹³  if you prove faithful, ⁷¹⁴ 

and if ⁷¹⁵  you stretch out your hands toward him, ⁷¹⁶ 

11:14 if ⁷¹⁷  iniquity is in your hand – put it far away, ⁷¹⁸ 

and do not let evil reside in your tents.

11:15 For ⁷¹⁹  then you will lift up your face

without ⁷²⁰  blemish; ⁷²¹ 

you will be securely established ⁷²² 

and will not fear.

11:16 For you ⁷²³  will forget your trouble; ⁷²⁴ 

you will remember it

like water that ⁷²⁵  has flowed away.

11:17 And life ⁷²⁶  will be brighter ⁷²⁷  than the noonday;

though there be darkness, ⁷²⁸ 

it will be like the morning.

11:18 And you will be secure, because there is hope;

you will be protected ⁷²⁹ 

and will take your rest in safety.

11:19 You will lie down with ⁷³⁰  no one to make you afraid,

and many will seek your favor. ⁷³¹ 

11:20 But the eyes of the wicked fail, ⁷³² 

and escape ⁷³³  eludes them;

their one hope ⁷³⁴  is to breathe their last.” ⁷³⁵ 

12:1 Then Job answered:

12:2 “Without a doubt you are the people, ⁷³⁷ 

and wisdom will die with you. ⁷³⁸ 

12:3 I also have understanding ⁷³⁹  as well as you;

I am not inferior to you. ⁷⁴⁰ 

Who does not know such things as these? ⁷⁴¹ 

12:4 I am ⁷⁴²  a laughingstock ⁷⁴³  to my friends, ⁷⁴⁴ 

I, who called on God and whom he answered ⁷⁴⁵  –

a righteous and blameless ⁷⁴⁶  man

is a laughingstock!

12:5 For calamity, ⁷⁴⁷  there is derision

(according to the ideas of the fortunate ⁷⁴⁸ ) –

a fate ⁷⁴⁹  for those whose feet slip!

12:6 But ⁷⁵⁰  the tents of robbers are peaceful,

and those who provoke God are confident ⁷⁵¹  –

who carry their god in their hands. ⁷⁵² 

12:7 “But now, ask the animals and they ⁷⁵⁴  will teach you,

or the birds of the sky and they will tell you.

12:8 Or speak ⁷⁵⁵  to the earth ⁷⁵⁶  and it will teach you,

or let the fish of the sea declare to you.

12:9 Which of all these ⁷⁵⁷  does not know

that the hand of the Lord ⁷⁵⁸  has done ⁷⁵⁹  this,

12:10 in whose hand ⁷⁶⁰  is the life ⁷⁶¹  of every creature

and the breath of all the human race. ⁷⁶² 

12:11 Does not the ear test words,

as ⁷⁶³  the tongue ⁷⁶⁴  tastes food? ⁷⁶⁵ 

12:12 Is not wisdom found among the aged? ⁷⁶⁶ 

Does not long life bring understanding?

12:13 “With God ⁷⁶⁷  are wisdom and power;

counsel and understanding are his. ⁷⁶⁸ 

12:14 If ⁷⁶⁹  he tears down, it cannot be rebuilt;

if he imprisons a person, there is no escape. ⁷⁷⁰ 

12:15 If he holds back the waters, then they dry up; ⁷⁷¹ 

if he releases them, ⁷⁷²  they destroy ⁷⁷³  the land.

12:16 With him are strength and prudence; ⁷⁷⁴ 

both the one who goes astray ⁷⁷⁵ 

and the one who misleads are his.

12:17 He ⁷⁷⁶  leads ⁷⁷⁷  counselors away stripped ⁷⁷⁸ 

and makes judges ⁷⁷⁹  into fools. ⁷⁸⁰ 

12:18 He loosens ⁷⁸¹  the bonds ⁷⁸²  of kings

and binds a loincloth ⁷⁸³  around their waist.

12:19 He leads priests away stripped ⁷⁸⁴ 

and overthrows ⁷⁸⁵  the potentates. ⁷⁸⁶ 

12:20 He deprives the trusted advisers ⁷⁸⁷  of speech ⁷⁸⁸ 

and takes away the discernment ⁷⁸⁹  of elders.

12:21 He pours contempt on noblemen

and disarms ⁷⁹⁰  the powerful. ⁷⁹¹ 

12:22 He reveals the deep things of darkness,

and brings deep shadows ⁷⁹²  into the light.

12:23 He makes nations great, ⁷⁹³  and destroys them;

he extends the boundaries of nations

and disperses ⁷⁹⁴  them. ⁷⁹⁵ 

12:24 He deprives the leaders of the earth ⁷⁹⁶ 

of their understanding; ⁷⁹⁷ 

he makes them wander

in a trackless desert waste. ⁷⁹⁸ 

12:25 They grope about in darkness ⁷⁹⁹  without light;

he makes them stagger ⁸⁰⁰  like drunkards.

13:1 “Indeed, my eyes have seen all this, ⁸⁰² 

my ears have heard and understood it.

13:2 What you know, ⁸⁰³  I ⁸⁰⁴  know also;

I am not inferior ⁸⁰⁵  to you!

13:3 But I wish to speak ⁸⁰⁶  to the Almighty, ⁸⁰⁷ 

and I desire to argue ⁸⁰⁸  my case ⁸⁰⁹  with God.

13:4 But you, however, are inventors of lies; ⁸¹⁰ 

all of you are worthless physicians! ⁸¹¹ 

13:5 If only you would keep completely silent! ⁸¹² 

For you, that would be wisdom. ⁸¹³ 

13:6 “Listen now to my argument, ⁸¹⁴ 

and be attentive to my lips’ contentions. ⁸¹⁵ 

13:7 Will you speak wickedly ⁸¹⁶  on God’s behalf? ⁸¹⁷ 

Will you speak deceitfully for him?

13:8 Will you show him partiality? ⁸¹⁸ 

Will you argue the case ⁸¹⁹  for God?

13:9 Would it turn out well if he would examine ⁸²⁰  you?

Or as one deceives ⁸²¹  a man would you deceive him?

13:10 He would certainly rebuke ⁸²²  you

if you secretly ⁸²³  showed partiality!

13:11 Would not his splendor ⁸²⁴  terrify ⁸²⁵  you

and the fear he inspires ⁸²⁶  fall on you?

13:12 Your maxims ⁸²⁷  are proverbs of ashes; ⁸²⁸ 

your defenses ⁸²⁹  are defenses of clay. ⁸³⁰ 

13:13 “Refrain from talking ⁸³¹  with me so that ⁸³²  I may speak;

then let come to me ⁸³³  what may. ⁸³⁴ 

13:14 Why ⁸³⁵  do I put myself in peril, ⁸³⁶ 

and take my life in my hands?

13:15 Even if he slays me, I will hope in him; ⁸³⁷ 

I will surely ⁸³⁸  defend ⁸³⁹  my ways to his face!

13:16 Moreover, this will become my deliverance,

for no godless person would come before him. ⁸⁴⁰ 

13:17 Listen carefully ⁸⁴¹  to my words;

let your ears be attentive to my explanation. ⁸⁴² 

13:18 See now, ⁸⁴³  I have prepared ⁸⁴⁴  my ⁸⁴⁵  case; ⁸⁴⁶ 

I know that I am right. ⁸⁴⁷ 

13:19 Who ⁸⁴⁸  will contend with me?

If anyone can, I will be silent and die. ⁸⁴⁹ 

13:20 Only in two things spare me, ⁸⁵⁰  O God, ⁸⁵¹ 

and then I will not hide from your face:

13:21 Remove ⁸⁵²  your hand ⁸⁵³  far from me

and stop making me afraid with your terror. ⁸⁵⁴ 

13:22 Then call, ⁸⁵⁵  and I will answer,

or I will speak, and you respond to me.

13:23 How many are my ⁸⁵⁶  iniquities and sins?

Show me my transgression and my sin. ⁸⁵⁷ 

13:24 Why do you hide your face ⁸⁵⁸ 

and regard me as your enemy?

13:25 Do you wish to torment ⁸⁵⁹  a windblown ⁸⁶⁰  leaf

and chase after dry chaff? ⁸⁶¹ 

13:26 For you write down ⁸⁶²  bitter things against me

and cause me to inherit the sins of my youth. ⁸⁶³ 

13:27 And you put my feet in the stocks ⁸⁶⁴ 

and you watch all my movements; ⁸⁶⁵ 

you put marks ⁸⁶⁶  on the soles of my feet.

13:28 So I ⁸⁶⁷  waste away like something rotten, ⁸⁶⁸ 

like a garment eaten by moths.

14:1 “Man, born of woman, ⁸⁶⁹ 

lives but a few days, ⁸⁷⁰  and they are full of trouble. ⁸⁷¹ 

14:2 He grows up ⁸⁷²  like a flower and then withers away; ⁸⁷³ 

he flees like a shadow, and does not remain. ⁸⁷⁴ 

14:3 Do you fix your eye ⁸⁷⁵  on such a one? ⁸⁷⁶ 

And do you bring me ⁸⁷⁷  before you for judgment?

14:4 Who can make ⁸⁷⁸  a clean thing come from an unclean? ⁸⁷⁹ 

No one!

14:5 Since man’s days ⁸⁸⁰  are determined, ⁸⁸¹ 

the number of his months is under your control; ⁸⁸² 

you have set his limit ⁸⁸³  and he cannot pass it.

14:6 Look away from him and let him desist, ⁸⁸⁴ 

until he fulfills ⁸⁸⁵  his time like a hired man.

14:7 “But there is hope for ⁸⁸⁶  a tree: ⁸⁸⁷ 

If it is cut down, it will sprout again,

and its new shoots will not fail.

14:8 Although its roots may grow old ⁸⁸⁸  in the ground

and its stump begins to die ⁸⁸⁹  in the soil, ⁸⁹⁰ 

14:9 at the scent ⁸⁹¹  of water it will flourish ⁸⁹² 

and put forth ⁸⁹³  shoots like a new plant.

14:10 But man ⁸⁹⁴  dies and is powerless; ⁸⁹⁵ 

he expires – and where is he? ⁸⁹⁶ 

14:11 As ⁸⁹⁷  water disappears from the sea, ⁸⁹⁸ 

or a river drains away and dries up,

14:12 so man lies down and does not rise;

until the heavens are no more, ⁸⁹⁹ 

they ⁹⁰⁰  will not awake

nor arise from their sleep.

14:13 “O that ⁹⁰¹  you would hide me in Sheol, ⁹⁰² 

and conceal me till your anger has passed! ⁹⁰³ 

O that you would set me a time ⁹⁰⁴ 

and then remember me! ⁹⁰⁵ 

14:14 If a man dies, will he live again? ⁹⁰⁶ 

All the days of my hard service ⁹⁰⁷  I will wait ⁹⁰⁸ 

until my release comes. ⁹⁰⁹ 

14:15 You will call ⁹¹⁰  and I ⁹¹¹  – I will answer you;

you will long for ⁹¹²  the creature you have made. ⁹¹³ 

14:16 “Surely now you count my steps; ⁹¹⁵ 

then you would not mark ⁹¹⁶  my sin. ⁹¹⁷ 

14:17 My offenses would be sealed up ⁹¹⁸  in a bag; ⁹¹⁹ 

you would cover over ⁹²⁰  my sin.

14:18 But as ⁹²¹  a mountain falls away and crumbles, ⁹²² 

and as a rock will be removed from its place,

14:19 as water wears away stones,

and torrents ⁹²³  wash away the soil, ⁹²⁴ 

so you destroy man’s hope. ⁹²⁵ 

14:20 You overpower him once for all, ⁹²⁶ 

and he departs;

you change ⁹²⁷  his appearance

and send him away.

14:21 If ⁹²⁸  his sons are honored, ⁹²⁹ 

he does not know it; ⁹³⁰ 

if they are brought low,

he does not see ⁹³¹  it.

14:22 Only his flesh has pain for himself, ⁹³² 

and he mourns for himself.” ⁹³³ 

15:1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered:

15:2 “Does a wise man answer with blustery knowledge, ⁹³⁵ 

or fill his belly ⁹³⁶  with the east wind? ⁹³⁷ 

15:3 Does he argue ⁹³⁸  with useless ⁹³⁹  talk,

with words that have no value in them?

15:4 But you even break off ⁹⁴⁰  piety, ⁹⁴¹ 

and hinder ⁹⁴²  meditation ⁹⁴³  before God.

15:5 Your sin inspires ⁹⁴⁴  your mouth;

you choose the language ⁹⁴⁵  of the crafty. ⁹⁴⁶ 

15:6 Your own mouth condemns ⁹⁴⁷  you, not I;

your own lips testify against ⁹⁴⁸  you.

15:7 “Were you the first man ever born?

Were you brought forth before the hills?

15:8 Do you listen in on God’s secret council? ⁹⁴⁹ 

Do you limit ⁹⁵⁰  wisdom to yourself?

15:9 What do you know that we don’t know?

What do you understand that we don’t understand? ⁹⁵¹ 

15:10 The gray-haired ⁹⁵²  and the aged are on our side, ⁹⁵³ 

men far older than your father. ⁹⁵⁴ 

15:11 Are God’s consolations ⁹⁵⁵  too trivial for you; ⁹⁵⁶ 

or a word spoken ⁹⁵⁷  in gentleness to you?

15:12 Why ⁹⁵⁸  has your heart carried you away, ⁹⁵⁹ 

and why do your eyes flash, ⁹⁶⁰ 

15:13 when you turn your rage ⁹⁶¹  against God

and allow such words to escape ⁹⁶²  from your mouth?

15:14 What is man that he should be pure,

or one born of woman, that he should be righteous?

15:15 If God places no trust in his holy ones, ⁹⁶³ 

if even the heavens ⁹⁶⁴  are not pure in his eyes,

15:16 how much less man, who is abominable and corrupt, ⁹⁶⁵ 

who drinks in evil like water! ⁹⁶⁶ 

15:17 “I will explain to you;

listen to me,

and what ⁹⁶⁷  I have seen, I will declare, ⁹⁶⁸ 

15:18 what wise men declare,

hiding nothing,

from the tradition of ⁹⁶⁹  their ancestors, ⁹⁷⁰ 

15:19 to whom alone the land was given

when no foreigner passed among them. ⁹⁷¹ 

15:20 All his days ⁹⁷²  the wicked man suffers torment, ⁹⁷³ 

throughout the number of the years

that ⁹⁷⁴  are stored up for the tyrant. ⁹⁷⁵ 

15:21 Terrifying sounds fill ⁹⁷⁶  his ears;

in a time of peace marauders ⁹⁷⁷  attack him.

15:22 He does not expect ⁹⁷⁸  to escape from darkness; ⁹⁷⁹ 

he is marked for the sword; ⁹⁸⁰ 

15:23 he wanders about – food for vultures; ⁹⁸¹ 

he knows that the day of darkness is at hand. ⁹⁸² 

15:24 Distress and anguish ⁹⁸³  terrify him;

they prevail against him

like a king ready to launch an attack, ⁹⁸⁴ 

15:25 for he stretches out his hand against God, ⁹⁸⁵ 

and vaunts himself ⁹⁸⁶  against the Almighty,

15:26 defiantly charging against him ⁹⁸⁷ 

with a thick, strong shield! ⁹⁸⁸ 

15:27 Because he covered his face with fat, ⁹⁸⁹ 

and made ⁹⁹⁰  his hips bulge with fat, ⁹⁹¹ 

15:28 he lived in ruined towns ⁹⁹² 

and in houses where ⁹⁹³  no one lives,

where they are ready to crumble into heaps. ⁹⁹⁴ 

15:29 He will not grow rich,

and his wealth will not endure,

nor will his possessions ⁹⁹⁵  spread over the land.

15:30 He will not escape the darkness; ⁹⁹⁶ 

a flame will wither his shoots

and he will depart

by the breath of God’s mouth. ⁹⁹⁷ 

15:31 Let him not trust in what is worthless, ⁹⁹⁸ 

deceiving himself;

for worthlessness will be his reward. ⁹⁹⁹ 

15:32 Before his time ¹⁰⁰⁰  he will be paid in full, ¹⁰⁰¹ 

and his branches will not flourish. ¹⁰⁰² 

15:33 Like a vine he will let his sour grapes fall, ¹⁰⁰³ 

and like an olive tree

he will shed his blossoms. ¹⁰⁰⁴ 

15:34 For the company of the godless is barren, ¹⁰⁰⁵ 

and fire ¹⁰⁰⁶  consumes the tents of those who accept bribes. ¹⁰⁰⁷ 

15:35 They conceive ¹⁰⁰⁸  trouble and bring forth evil;

their belly ¹⁰⁰⁹  prepares deception.”

16:1 Then Job replied:

16:2 “I have heard many things like these before.

What miserable comforters ¹⁰¹¹  are you all!

16:3 Will ¹⁰¹²  there be an end to your ¹⁰¹³  windy words? ¹⁰¹⁴ 

Or what provokes ¹⁰¹⁵  you that you answer? ¹⁰¹⁶ 

16:4 I also could speak ¹⁰¹⁷  like you,

if ¹⁰¹⁸  you were in my place;

I could pile up ¹⁰¹⁹  words against you

and I could shake my head at you. ¹⁰²⁰ 

16:5 But ¹⁰²¹  I would strengthen ¹⁰²²  you with my words; ¹⁰²³ 

comfort from my lips would bring ¹⁰²⁴  you relief.

16:6 “But ¹⁰²⁵  if I speak, my pain is not relieved, ¹⁰²⁶ 

and if I refrain from speaking

– how ¹⁰²⁷  much of it goes away?

16:7 Surely now he ¹⁰²⁸  has worn me out,

you have devastated my entire household.

16:8 You have seized me, ¹⁰²⁹ 

and it ¹⁰³⁰  has become a witness;

my leanness ¹⁰³¹  has risen up against me

and testifies against me.

16:9 His ¹⁰³²  anger has torn me ¹⁰³³  and persecuted ¹⁰³⁴  me;

he has gnashed at me with his teeth;

my adversary locks ¹⁰³⁵  his eyes on me.

16:10 People ¹⁰³⁶  have opened their mouths against me,

they have struck my cheek in scorn; ¹⁰³⁷ 

they unite ¹⁰³⁸  together against me.

16:11 God abandons me to evil ¹⁰³⁹  men, ¹⁰⁴⁰ 

and throws ¹⁰⁴¹  me into the hands of wicked men.

16:12 I was in peace, and he has shattered me. ¹⁰⁴² 

He has seized me by the neck and crushed me. ¹⁰⁴³ 

He has made me his target;

16:13 his archers ¹⁰⁴⁴  surround me.

Without pity ¹⁰⁴⁵  he pierces ¹⁰⁴⁶  my kidneys

and pours out my gall ¹⁰⁴⁷  on the ground.

16:14 He breaks through against me, time and time again; ¹⁰⁴⁸ 

he rushes ¹⁰⁴⁹  against me like a warrior.

16:15 I have sewed sackcloth on my skin, ¹⁰⁵⁰ 

and buried ¹⁰⁵¹  my horn ¹⁰⁵²  in the dust;

16:16 my face is reddened ¹⁰⁵³  because of weeping, ¹⁰⁵⁴ 

and on my eyelids there is a deep darkness, ¹⁰⁵⁵ 

16:17 although ¹⁰⁵⁶  there is no violence in my hands

and my prayer is pure.

16:18 “O earth, do not cover my blood, ¹⁰⁵⁷ 

nor let there be a secret ¹⁰⁵⁸  place for my cry.

16:19 Even now my witness ¹⁰⁵⁹  is in heaven;

my advocate ¹⁰⁶⁰  is on high.

16:20 My intercessor is my friend ¹⁰⁶¹ 

as my eyes pour out ¹⁰⁶²  tears to God;

16:21 and ¹⁰⁶³  he contends with God on behalf of man

as a man ¹⁰⁶⁴  pleads ¹⁰⁶⁵  for his friend.

16:22 For the years that lie ahead are few, ¹⁰⁶⁶ 

and then I will go on the way of no return. ¹⁰⁶⁷ 

17:1 My spirit is broken, ¹⁰⁶⁸ 

my days have faded out, ¹⁰⁶⁹ 

the grave ¹⁰⁷⁰  awaits me.

17:2 Surely mockery ¹⁰⁷¹  is with me; ¹⁰⁷² 

my eyes must dwell on their hostility. ¹⁰⁷³ 

17:3 Make then my pledge ¹⁰⁷⁴  with you.

Who else will put up security for me? ¹⁰⁷⁵ 

17:4 Because ¹⁰⁷⁶  you have closed their ¹⁰⁷⁷  minds to understanding,

therefore you will not exalt them. ¹⁰⁷⁸ 

17:5 If a man denounces his friends for personal gain, ¹⁰⁷⁹ 

the eyes of his children will fail.

17:6 He has made me ¹⁰⁸⁰  a byword ¹⁰⁸¹  to people,

I am the one in whose face they spit. ¹⁰⁸² 

17:7 My eyes have grown dim ¹⁰⁸³  with grief;

my whole frame ¹⁰⁸⁴  is but a shadow.

17:8 Upright men are appalled ¹⁰⁸⁵  at this;

the innocent man is troubled ¹⁰⁸⁶  with the godless.

17:9 But the righteous man holds to his way,

and the one with clean hands grows stronger. ¹⁰⁸⁷ 

17:10 “But turn, all of you, ¹⁰⁸⁸  and come ¹⁰⁸⁹  now! ¹⁰⁹⁰ 

I will not find a wise man among you.

17:11 My days have passed, my plans ¹⁰⁹¹  are shattered,

even ¹⁰⁹²  the desires ¹⁰⁹³  of my heart.

17:12 These men ¹⁰⁹⁴  change ¹⁰⁹⁵  night into day;

they say, ¹⁰⁹⁶  ‘The light is near

in the face of darkness.’ ¹⁰⁹⁷ 

17:13 If ¹⁰⁹⁸  I hope for the grave to be my home,

if I spread out my bed in darkness,

17:14 If I cry ¹⁰⁹⁹  to corruption, ¹¹⁰⁰  ‘You are my father,’

and to the worm, ‘My Mother,’ or ‘My sister,’

17:15 where then ¹¹⁰¹  is my hope?

And my hope, ¹¹⁰²  who sees it?

17:16 Will ¹¹⁰³  it ¹¹⁰⁴  go down to the barred gates ¹¹⁰⁵  of death?

Will ¹¹⁰⁶  we descend ¹¹⁰⁷  together into the dust?”

18:1 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered:

18:2 “How long until you ¹¹⁰⁹  make an end of words? ¹¹¹⁰ 

You must consider, ¹¹¹¹  and then ¹¹¹²  we can talk.

18:3 Why should we be regarded as beasts,

and considered stupid ¹¹¹³  in your sight?

18:4 You who tear yourself ¹¹¹⁴  to pieces in your anger,

will the earth be abandoned ¹¹¹⁵  for your sake?

Or will a rock be moved from its place? ¹¹¹⁶ 

18:5 “Yes, ¹¹¹⁷  the lamp ¹¹¹⁸  of the wicked is extinguished;

his flame of fire ¹¹¹⁹  does not shine.

18:6 The light in his tent grows dark;

his lamp above him is extinguished. ¹¹²⁰ 

18:7 His vigorous steps ¹¹²¹  are restricted, ¹¹²² 

and his own counsel throws him down. ¹¹²³ 

18:8 For he has been thrown into a net by his feet ¹¹²⁴ 

and he wanders into a mesh. ¹¹²⁵ 

18:9 A trap ¹¹²⁶  seizes him by the heel;

a snare ¹¹²⁷  grips him.

18:10 A rope is hidden for him ¹¹²⁸  on the ground

and a trap for him ¹¹²⁹  lies on the path.

18:11 Terrors ¹¹³⁰  frighten him on all sides

and dog ¹¹³¹  his every step.

18:12 Calamity is ¹¹³²  hungry for him, ¹¹³³ 

and misfortune is ready at his side. ¹¹³⁴ 

18:13 It eats away parts of his skin; ¹¹³⁵ 

the most terrible death ¹¹³⁶  devours his limbs.

18:14 He is dragged from the security of his tent, ¹¹³⁷ 

and marched off ¹¹³⁸  to the king ¹¹³⁹  of terrors.

18:15 Fire resides in his tent; ¹¹⁴⁰ 

over his residence burning sulfur is scattered.

18:16 Below his roots dry up,

and his branches wither above.

18:17 His memory perishes from the earth,

he has no name in the land. ¹¹⁴¹ 

18:18 He is driven ¹¹⁴²  from light into darkness

and is banished from the world.

18:19 He has neither children nor descendants ¹¹⁴³  among his people,

no survivor in those places he once stayed. ¹¹⁴⁴ 

18:20 People of the west ¹¹⁴⁵  are appalled at his fate; ¹¹⁴⁶ 

people of the east are seized with horror, ¹¹⁴⁷  saying, ¹¹⁴⁸ 

18:21 ‘Surely such is the residence ¹¹⁴⁹  of an evil man;

and this is the place of one who has not known God.’” ¹¹⁵⁰ 

19:1 Then Job answered:

19:2 “How long will you torment me ¹¹⁵² 

and crush ¹¹⁵³  me with your words? ¹¹⁵⁴ 

19:3 These ten times ¹¹⁵⁵  you have been reproaching me; ¹¹⁵⁶ 

you are not ashamed to attack me! ¹¹⁵⁷ 

19:4 But even if it were ¹¹⁵⁸  true that I have erred, ¹¹⁵⁹ 

my error ¹¹⁶⁰  remains solely my concern!

19:5 If indeed ¹¹⁶¹  you would exalt yourselves ¹¹⁶²  above me

and plead my disgrace against me, ¹¹⁶³ 

19:6 know ¹¹⁶⁴  then that God has wronged me ¹¹⁶⁵ 

and encircled ¹¹⁶⁶  me with his net. ¹¹⁶⁷ 

19:7 “If ¹¹⁶⁸  I cry out, ¹¹⁶⁹  ‘Violence!’ ¹¹⁷⁰ 

I receive no answer; ¹¹⁷¹ 

I cry for help,

but there is no justice.

19:8 He has blocked ¹¹⁷²  my way so I cannot pass,

and has set darkness ¹¹⁷³  over my paths.

19:9 He has stripped me of my honor

and has taken the crown off my head. ¹¹⁷⁴ 

19:10 He tears me down ¹¹⁷⁵  on every side until I perish; ¹¹⁷⁶ 

he uproots ¹¹⁷⁷  my hope ¹¹⁷⁸  like one uproots ¹¹⁷⁹  a tree.

19:11 Thus ¹¹⁸⁰  his anger burns against me,

and he considers me among his enemies. ¹¹⁸¹ 

19:12 His troops ¹¹⁸²  advance together;

they throw up ¹¹⁸³  a siege ramp against me,

and they camp around my tent.

19:13 “He has put my relatives ¹¹⁸⁴  far from me;

my acquaintances only ¹¹⁸⁵  turn away from me.

19:14 My kinsmen have failed me;

my friends ¹¹⁸⁶  have forgotten me. ¹¹⁸⁷ 

19:15 My guests ¹¹⁸⁸  and my servant girls

consider ¹¹⁸⁹  me a stranger;

I am a foreigner ¹¹⁹⁰  in their eyes.

19:16 I summon ¹¹⁹¹  my servant, but he does not respond,

even though I implore ¹¹⁹²  him with my own mouth.

19:17 My breath is repulsive ¹¹⁹³  to my wife;

I am loathsome ¹¹⁹⁴  to my brothers. ¹¹⁹⁵ 

19:18 Even youngsters have scorned me;

when I get up, ¹¹⁹⁶  they scoff at me. ¹¹⁹⁷ 

19:19 All my closest friends ¹¹⁹⁸  detest me;

and those whom ¹¹⁹⁹  I love have turned against me. ¹²⁰⁰ 

19:20 My bones stick to my skin and my flesh; ¹²⁰¹ 

I have escaped ¹²⁰²  alive ¹²⁰³  with only the skin of my teeth.

19:21 Have pity on me, my friends, have pity on me,

for the hand of God has struck me.

19:22 Why do you pursue me like God does? ¹²⁰⁴ 

Will you never be satiated with my flesh? ¹²⁰⁵ 

19:23 “O that ¹²⁰⁶  my words were written down,

O that they were written on a scroll, ¹²⁰⁷ 

19:24 that with an iron chisel and with lead ¹²⁰⁸ 

they were engraved in a rock forever!

19:25 As for me, I know that my Redeemer ¹²⁰⁹  lives,

and that as the last ¹²¹⁰ 

he will stand upon the earth. ¹²¹¹ 

19:26 And after my skin has been destroyed, ¹²¹² 

yet in my flesh ¹²¹³  I will see God, ¹²¹⁴ 

19:27 whom I will see for myself, ¹²¹⁵ 

and whom my own eyes will behold,

and not another. ¹²¹⁶ 

My heart ¹²¹⁷  grows faint within me. ¹²¹⁸ 

19:28 If you say, ‘How we will pursue him,

since the root of the trouble is found in him!’ ¹²¹⁹ 

19:29 Fear the sword yourselves,

for wrath ¹²²⁰  brings the punishment ¹²²¹  by the sword,

so that you may know

that there is judgment.” ¹²²² 

20:1 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered:

20:2 “This is why ¹²²⁴  my troubled thoughts bring me back ¹²²⁵  –

because of my feelings ¹²²⁶  within me.

20:3 When ¹²²⁷  I hear a reproof that dishonors ¹²²⁸  me,

then my understanding ¹²²⁹  prompts me to answer. ¹²³⁰ 

20:4 “Surely you know ¹²³¹  that it has been from old,

ever since humankind was placed ¹²³²  on the earth,

20:5 that the elation of the wicked is brief, ¹²³³ 

the joy of the godless ¹²³⁴  lasts but a moment. ¹²³⁵ 

20:6 Even though his stature ¹²³⁶  reaches to the heavens

and his head touches the clouds,

20:7 he will perish forever, like his own excrement; ¹²³⁷ 

those who used to see him will say, ‘Where is he?’

20:8 Like a dream he flies away, never again to be found, ¹²³⁸ 

and like a vision of the night he is put to flight.

20:9 People ¹²³⁹  who had seen him will not see him again,

and the place where he was

will recognize him no longer.

20:10 His sons must recompense ¹²⁴⁰  the poor;

his own hands ¹²⁴¹  must return his wealth.

20:11 His bones ¹²⁴²  were full of his youthful vigor, ¹²⁴³ 

but that vigor will lie down with him in the dust.

20:12 “If ¹²⁴⁴  evil is sweet in his mouth

and he hides it under his tongue, ¹²⁴⁵ 

20:13 if he retains it for himself

and does not let it go,

and holds it fast in his mouth, ¹²⁴⁶ 

20:14 his food is turned sour ¹²⁴⁷  in his stomach; ¹²⁴⁸ 

it becomes the venom of serpents ¹²⁴⁹  within him.

20:15 The wealth that he consumed ¹²⁵⁰  he vomits up,

God will make him throw it out ¹²⁵¹  of his stomach.

20:16 He sucks the poison ¹²⁵²  of serpents; ¹²⁵³ 

the fangs ¹²⁵⁴  of a viper ¹²⁵⁵  kill him.

20:17 He will not look on the streams, ¹²⁵⁶ 

the rivers, which are the torrents ¹²⁵⁷ 

of honey and butter. ¹²⁵⁸ 

20:18 He gives back the ill-gotten gain ¹²⁵⁹ 

without assimilating it; ¹²⁶⁰ 

he will not enjoy the wealth from his commerce. ¹²⁶¹ 

20:19 For he has oppressed the poor and abandoned them; ¹²⁶² 

he has seized a house which he did not build. ¹²⁶³ 

20:20 For he knows no satisfaction in his appetite; ¹²⁶⁴ 

he does not let anything he desires ¹²⁶⁵  escape. ¹²⁶⁶ 

20:21 “Nothing is left for him to devour; ¹²⁶⁷ 

that is why his prosperity does not last. ¹²⁶⁸ 

20:22 In the fullness of his sufficiency, ¹²⁶⁹ 

distress ¹²⁷⁰  overtakes him.

the full force of misery will come upon him. ¹²⁷¹ 

20:23 “While he is ¹²⁷²  filling his belly,

God ¹²⁷³  sends his burning anger ¹²⁷⁴  against him,

and rains down his blows upon him. ¹²⁷⁵ 

20:24 If he flees from an iron weapon,

then an arrow ¹²⁷⁶  from a bronze bow pierces him.

20:25 When he pulls it out ¹²⁷⁷  and it comes out of his back,

the gleaming point ¹²⁷⁸  out of his liver,

terrors come over him.

20:26 Total darkness waits to receive his treasures; ¹²⁷⁹ 

a fire which has not been kindled ¹²⁸⁰ 

will consume him

and devour what is left in his tent.

20:27 The heavens reveal his iniquity;

the earth rises up against him.

20:28 A flood will carry off his house,

rushing waters on the day of God’s wrath.

20:29 Such is the lot God allots the wicked,

and the heritage of his appointment ¹²⁸¹  from God.”

21:1 Then Job answered:

21:2 “Listen carefully ¹²⁸³  to my words;

let this be ¹²⁸⁴  the consolation you offer me. ¹²⁸⁵ 

21:3 Bear with me ¹²⁸⁶  and I ¹²⁸⁷  will speak,

and after I have spoken ¹²⁸⁸  you may mock. ¹²⁸⁹ 

21:4 Is my ¹²⁹⁰  complaint against a man? ¹²⁹¹ 

If so, ¹²⁹²  why should I not be impatient? ¹²⁹³ 

21:5 Look ¹²⁹⁴  at me and be appalled;

put your hands over your mouths. ¹²⁹⁵ 

21:6 For, when I think ¹²⁹⁶  about this, I am terrified ¹²⁹⁷ 

and my body feels a shudder. ¹²⁹⁸ 

21:7 “Why do the wicked go on living, ¹²⁹⁹ 

grow old, ¹³⁰⁰  even increase in power?

21:8 Their children ¹³⁰¹  are firmly established

in their presence, ¹³⁰² 

their offspring before their eyes.

21:9 Their houses are safe ¹³⁰³  and without fear; ¹³⁰⁴ 

and no rod of punishment ¹³⁰⁵  from God is upon them. ¹³⁰⁶ 

21:10 Their bulls ¹³⁰⁷  breed ¹³⁰⁸  without fail; ¹³⁰⁹ 

their cows calve and do not miscarry.

21:11 They allow their children to run ¹³¹⁰  like a flock;

their little ones dance about.

21:12 They sing ¹³¹¹  to the accompaniment of tambourine and harp,

and make merry to the sound of the flute.

21:13 They live out ¹³¹²  their years in prosperity

and go down ¹³¹³  to the grave ¹³¹⁴  in peace.

21:14 So they say to God, ‘Turn away from us!

We do not want to ¹³¹⁵  know your ways. ¹³¹⁶ 

21:15 Who is the Almighty, that ¹³¹⁷  we should serve him?

What would we gain

if we were to pray ¹³¹⁸  to him?’ ¹³¹⁹ 

21:16 But their prosperity is not their own doing. ¹³²⁰ 

The counsel of the wicked is far from me! ¹³²¹ 

21:17 “How often ¹³²²  is the lamp of the wicked extinguished?

How often does their ¹³²³  misfortune come upon them?

How often does God apportion pain ¹³²⁴  to them ¹³²⁵  in his anger?

21:18 How often ¹³²⁶  are they like straw before the wind,

and like chaff swept away ¹³²⁷  by a whirlwind?

21:19 You may say, ¹³²⁸  ‘God stores up a man’s ¹³²⁹  punishment for his children!’ ¹³³⁰ 

Instead let him repay ¹³³¹  the man himself ¹³³² 

so that ¹³³³  he may know it!

21:20 Let his own eyes see his destruction; ¹³³⁴ 

let him drink of the anger of the Almighty.

21:21 For what is his interest ¹³³⁵  in his home

after his death, ¹³³⁶ 

when the number of his months

has been broken off? ¹³³⁷ 

21:22 Can anyone teach ¹³³⁸  God knowledge,

since ¹³³⁹  he judges those that are on high? ¹³⁴⁰ 

21:23 “One man dies in his full vigor, ¹³⁴¹ 

completely secure and prosperous,

21:24 his body ¹³⁴²  well nourished, ¹³⁴³ 

and the marrow of his bones moist. ¹³⁴⁴ 

21:25 And another man ¹³⁴⁵  dies in bitterness of soul, ¹³⁴⁶ 

never having tasted ¹³⁴⁷  anything good.

21:26 Together they lie down in the dust,

and worms cover over them both.

21:27 “Yes, I know what you are thinking, ¹³⁴⁸ 

the schemes ¹³⁴⁹  by which you would wrong me. ¹³⁵⁰ 

21:28 For you say,

‘Where now is the nobleman’s house, ¹³⁵¹ 

and where are the tents in which the wicked lived?’ ¹³⁵² 

21:29 Have you never questioned those who travel the roads?

Do you not recognize their accounts ¹³⁵³  –

21:30 that the evil man is spared

from the day of his misfortune,

that he is delivered ¹³⁵⁴ 

from the day of God’s wrath?

21:31 No one denounces his conduct to his face;

no one repays him for what ¹³⁵⁵  he has done. ¹³⁵⁶ 

21:32 And when he is carried to the tombs,

and watch is kept ¹³⁵⁷  over the funeral mound, ¹³⁵⁸ 

21:33 The clods of the torrent valley ¹³⁵⁹  are sweet to him;

behind him everybody follows in procession,

and before him goes a countless throng.

21:34 So how can you console me with your futile words?

Nothing is left of your answers but deception!” ¹³⁶⁰ 

22:1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered:

22:2 “Is it to God that a strong man is of benefit?

Is it to him that even a wise man is profitable? ¹³⁶² 

22:3 Is it of any special benefit ¹³⁶³  to the Almighty

that you should be righteous,

or is it any gain to him

that you make your ways blameless? ¹³⁶⁴ 

22:4 Is it because of your piety ¹³⁶⁵  that he rebukes you

and goes to judgment with you? ¹³⁶⁶ 

22:5 Is not your wickedness great ¹³⁶⁷ 

and is there no end to your iniquity?

22:6 “For you took pledges ¹³⁶⁸  from your brothers

for no reason,

and you stripped the clothing from the naked. ¹³⁶⁹ 

22:7 You gave the weary ¹³⁷⁰  no water to drink

and from the hungry you withheld food.

22:8 Although you were a powerful man, ¹³⁷¹  owning land, ¹³⁷² 

an honored man ¹³⁷³  living on it, ¹³⁷⁴ 

22:9 you sent widows away empty-handed,

and the arms ¹³⁷⁵  of the orphans you crushed. ¹³⁷⁶ 

22:10 That is why snares surround you,

and why sudden fear terrifies you,

22:11 why it is so dark you cannot see, ¹³⁷⁷ 

and why a flood ¹³⁷⁸  of water covers you.

22:12 “Is not God on high in heaven? ¹³⁷⁹ 

And see ¹³⁸⁰  the lofty stars, ¹³⁸¹  how high they are!

22:13 But you have said, ‘What does God know?

Does he judge through such deep darkness? ¹³⁸² 

22:14 Thick clouds are a veil for him, so he does not see us, ¹³⁸³ 

as he goes back and forth

in the vault ¹³⁸⁴  of heaven.’ ¹³⁸⁵ 

22:15 Will you keep to the old path ¹³⁸⁶ 

that evil men have walked –

22:16 men ¹³⁸⁷  who were carried off ¹³⁸⁸  before their time, ¹³⁸⁹ 

when the flood ¹³⁹⁰  was poured out ¹³⁹¹ 

on their foundations? ¹³⁹² 

22:17 They were saying to God, ‘Turn away from us,’

and ‘What can the Almighty do to us?’ ¹³⁹³ 

22:18 But it was he ¹³⁹⁴  who filled their houses

with good things –

yet the counsel of the wicked ¹³⁹⁵ 

was far from me. ¹³⁹⁶ 

22:19 The righteous see their destruction ¹³⁹⁷  and rejoice;

the innocent mock them scornfully, ¹³⁹⁸  saying,

22:20 ‘Surely our enemies ¹³⁹⁹  are destroyed,

and fire consumes their wealth.’

22:21 “Reconcile yourself ¹⁴⁰⁰  with God, ¹⁴⁰¹ 

and be at peace ¹⁴⁰²  with him;

in this way your prosperity will be good.

22:22 Accept instruction ¹⁴⁰³  from his mouth

and store up his words ¹⁴⁰⁴  in your heart.

22:23 If you return to the Almighty, you will be built up; ¹⁴⁰⁵ 

if you remove wicked behavior far from your tent,

22:24 and throw ¹⁴⁰⁶  your gold ¹⁴⁰⁷  in the dust –

your gold ¹⁴⁰⁸  of Ophir

among the rocks in the ravines –

22:25 then the Almighty himself will be your gold, ¹⁴⁰⁹ 

and the choicest ¹⁴¹⁰  silver for you.

22:26 Surely then you will delight yourself ¹⁴¹¹  in the Almighty,

and will lift up your face toward God.

22:27 You will pray to him and he will hear you,

and you will fulfill your vows to him. ¹⁴¹² 

22:28 Whatever you decide ¹⁴¹³  on a matter,

it will be established for you,

and light will shine on your ways.

22:29 When people are brought low ¹⁴¹⁴  and you say

‘Lift them up!’ ¹⁴¹⁵ 

then he will save the downcast; ¹⁴¹⁶ 

22:30 he will deliver even someone who is not innocent, ¹⁴¹⁷ 

who will escape ¹⁴¹⁸  through the cleanness of your hands.”

23:1 Then Job answered:

23:2 “Even today my complaint is still bitter; ¹⁴²⁰ 

his ¹⁴²¹  hand is heavy despite ¹⁴²²  my groaning.

23:3 O that I knew ¹⁴²³  where I might find him, ¹⁴²⁴ 

that I could come ¹⁴²⁵  to his place of residence! ¹⁴²⁶ 

23:4 I would lay out my case ¹⁴²⁷  before him

and fill my mouth with arguments.

23:5 I would know with what words ¹⁴²⁸  he would answer me,

and understand what he would say to me.

23:6 Would he contend ¹⁴²⁹  with me with great power?

No, he would only pay attention to me. ¹⁴³⁰ 

23:7 There ¹⁴³¹  an upright person

could present his case ¹⁴³²  before him,

and I would be delivered forever from my judge.

23:8 “If I go to the east, he is not there,

and to the west, yet I do not perceive him.

23:9 In the north ¹⁴³³  when he is at work, ¹⁴³⁴ 

I do not see him; ¹⁴³⁵ 

when he turns ¹⁴³⁶  to the south,

I see no trace of him.

23:10 But he knows the pathway that I take; ¹⁴³⁷ 

if he tested me, I would come forth like gold. ¹⁴³⁸ 

23:11 My feet ¹⁴³⁹  have followed ¹⁴⁴⁰  his steps closely;

I have kept to his way and have not turned aside. ¹⁴⁴¹ 

23:12 I have not departed from the commands of his lips;

I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my allotted portion. ¹⁴⁴² 

23:13 But he is unchangeable, ¹⁴⁴³  and who can change ¹⁴⁴⁴  him?

Whatever he ¹⁴⁴⁵  has desired, he does.

23:14 For he fulfills his decree against me, ¹⁴⁴⁶ 

and many such things are his plans. ¹⁴⁴⁷ 

23:15 That is why I am terrified in his presence;

when I consider, I am afraid because of him.

23:16 Indeed, God has made my heart faint; ¹⁴⁴⁸ 

the Almighty has terrified me.

23:17 Yet I have not been silent because of the darkness,

because of the thick darkness

that covered my face. ¹⁴⁴⁹ 

24:1 “Why are times not appointed by ¹⁴⁵⁰  the Almighty? ¹⁴⁵¹ 

Why do those who know him not see his days?

24:2 Men ¹⁴⁵²  move boundary stones;

they seize the flock and pasture them. ¹⁴⁵³ 

24:3 They drive away the orphan’s donkey;

they take the widow’s ox as a pledge.

24:4 They turn the needy from the pathway,

and the poor of the land hide themselves together. ¹⁴⁵⁴ 

24:5 Like ¹⁴⁵⁵  wild donkeys in the desert

they ¹⁴⁵⁶  go out to their labor, ¹⁴⁵⁷ 

seeking diligently for food;

the wasteland provides ¹⁴⁵⁸  food for them

and for their children.

24:6 They reap fodder ¹⁴⁵⁹  in the field,

and glean ¹⁴⁶⁰  in the vineyard of the wicked.

24:7 They spend the night naked because they lack clothing;

they have no covering against the cold.

24:8 They are soaked by mountain rains

and huddle ¹⁴⁶¹  in the rocks because they lack shelter.

24:9 The fatherless child is snatched ¹⁴⁶²  from the breast, ¹⁴⁶³ 

the infant of the poor is taken as a pledge. ¹⁴⁶⁴ 

24:10 They go about naked, without clothing,

and go hungry while they carry the sheaves. ¹⁴⁶⁵ 

24:11 They press out the olive oil between the rows of olive trees; ¹⁴⁶⁶ 

they tread the winepresses while they are thirsty. ¹⁴⁶⁷ 

24:12 From the city the dying ¹⁴⁶⁸  groan,

and the wounded ¹⁴⁶⁹  cry out for help,

but God charges no one with wrongdoing. ¹⁴⁷⁰ 

24:13 There are those ¹⁴⁷¹  who rebel against the light;

they do not know its ways

and they do not stay on its paths.

24:14 Before daybreak ¹⁴⁷²  the murderer rises up;

he kills the poor and the needy;

in the night he is ¹⁴⁷³  like a thief. ¹⁴⁷⁴ 

24:15 And the eye of the adulterer watches for the twilight,

thinking, ¹⁴⁷⁵  ‘No eye can see me,’

and covers his face with a mask.

24:16 In the dark the robber ¹⁴⁷⁶  breaks into houses, ¹⁴⁷⁷ 

but by day they shut themselves in; ¹⁴⁷⁸ 

they do not know the light. ¹⁴⁷⁹ 

24:17 For all of them, ¹⁴⁸⁰  the morning is to them

like deep darkness;

they are friends with the terrors of darkness.

24:18 ¹⁴⁸¹ “You say, ¹⁴⁸²  ‘He is foam ¹⁴⁸³  on the face of the waters; ¹⁴⁸⁴ 

their portion of the land is cursed

so that no one goes to their vineyard. ¹⁴⁸⁵ 

24:19 The drought as well as the heat carry away

the melted snow; ¹⁴⁸⁶ 

so the grave ¹⁴⁸⁷  takes away those who have sinned. ¹⁴⁸⁸ 

24:20 The womb ¹⁴⁸⁹  forgets him,

the worm feasts on him,

no longer will he be remembered.

Like a tree, wickedness will be broken down.

24:21 He preys on ¹⁴⁹⁰  the barren and childless woman, ¹⁴⁹¹ 

and does not treat the widow well.

24:22 But God ¹⁴⁹²  drags off the mighty by his power;

when God ¹⁴⁹³  rises up against him, he has no faith in his life. ¹⁴⁹⁴ 

24:23 God ¹⁴⁹⁵  may let them rest in a feeling of security, ¹⁴⁹⁶ 

but he is constantly watching ¹⁴⁹⁷  all their ways. ¹⁴⁹⁸ 

24:24 They are exalted for a little while,

and then they are gone, ¹⁴⁹⁹ 

they are brought low ¹⁵⁰⁰  like all others,

and gathered in, ¹⁵⁰¹ 

and like a head of grain they are cut off.’ ¹⁵⁰² 

24:25 “If this is not so, who can prove me a liar

and reduce my words to nothing?” ¹⁵⁰³ 

25:1 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered:

25:2 “Dominion ¹⁵⁰⁵  and awesome might ¹⁵⁰⁶  belong to ¹⁵⁰⁷  God;

he establishes peace in his heights. ¹⁵⁰⁸ 

25:3 Can his armies be numbered? ¹⁵⁰⁹ 

On whom does his light ¹⁵¹⁰  not rise?

25:4 How then can a human being be righteous before God?

How can one born of a woman be pure? ¹⁵¹¹ 

25:5 If even the moon is not bright,

and the stars are not pure as far as he is concerned, ¹⁵¹² 

25:6 how much less a mortal man, who is but a maggot ¹⁵¹³  –

a son of man, who is only a worm!”

26:1 Then Job replied:

26:2 “How you have helped ¹⁵¹⁵  the powerless! ¹⁵¹⁶ 

How you have saved the person who has no strength! ¹⁵¹⁷ 

26:3 How you have advised the one without wisdom,

and abundantly ¹⁵¹⁸  revealed your insight!

26:4 To whom ¹⁵¹⁹  did you utter these words?

And whose spirit has come forth from your mouth? ¹⁵²⁰ 

26:5 “The dead ¹⁵²²  tremble ¹⁵²³  –

those beneath the waters

and all that live in them. ¹⁵²⁴ 

26:6 The underworld ¹⁵²⁵  is naked before God; ¹⁵²⁶ 

the place of destruction lies uncovered. ¹⁵²⁷ 

26:7 He spreads out the northern skies ¹⁵²⁸  over empty space; ¹⁵²⁹ 

he suspends the earth on nothing. ¹⁵³⁰ 

26:8 He locks the waters in his clouds,

and the clouds do not burst with the weight of them.

26:9 He conceals ¹⁵³¹  the face of the full moon, ¹⁵³² 

shrouding it with his clouds.

26:10 He marks out the horizon ¹⁵³³  on the surface of the waters

as a boundary between light and darkness.

26:11 The pillars ¹⁵³⁴  of the heavens tremble

and are amazed at his rebuke. ¹⁵³⁵ 

26:12 By his power he stills ¹⁵³⁶  the sea;

by his wisdom he cut Rahab the great sea monster ¹⁵³⁷  to pieces. ¹⁵³⁸ 

26:13 By his breath ¹⁵³⁹  the skies became fair;

his hand pierced the fleeing serpent. ¹⁵⁴⁰ 

26:14 Indeed, these are but the outer fringes of his ways! ¹⁵⁴¹ 

How faint is the whisper ¹⁵⁴²  we hear of him!

But who can understand the thunder of his power?”

27:1 And Job took up his discourse again: ¹⁵⁴³ 

27:2 “As surely as God lives, ¹⁵⁴⁴  who has denied me justice, ¹⁵⁴⁵ 

the Almighty, who has made my life bitter ¹⁵⁴⁶  –

27:3 for while ¹⁵⁴⁷  my spirit ¹⁵⁴⁸  is still in me,

and the breath from God is in my nostrils,

27:4 my ¹⁵⁴⁹  lips will not speak wickedness,

and my tongue will whisper ¹⁵⁵⁰  no deceit.

27:5 I will never ¹⁵⁵¹  declare that you three ¹⁵⁵²  are in the right;

until I die, I will not set aside my integrity!

27:6 I will maintain my righteousness

and never let it go;

my conscience ¹⁵⁵³  will not reproach me

for as long as I live. ¹⁵⁵⁴ 

27:7 “May my enemy be like the wicked, ¹⁵⁵⁵ 

my adversary ¹⁵⁵⁶  like the unrighteous. ¹⁵⁵⁷ 

27:8 For what hope does the godless have when he is cut off, ¹⁵⁵⁸ 

when God takes away his life? ¹⁵⁵⁹ 

27:9 Does God listen to his cry

when distress overtakes him?

27:10 Will he find delight ¹⁵⁶⁰  in the Almighty?

Will he call out to God at all times?

27:11 I will teach you ¹⁵⁶¹  about the power ¹⁵⁶²  of God;

What is on the Almighty’s mind ¹⁵⁶³  I will not conceal.

27:12 If you yourselves have all seen this,

Why in the world ¹⁵⁶⁴  do you continue this meaningless talk? ¹⁵⁶⁵ 

27:13 This is the portion of the wicked man

allotted by God, ¹⁵⁶⁶ 

the inheritance that evildoers receive

from the Almighty.

27:14 If his children increase – it is for the sword! ¹⁵⁶⁷ 

His offspring never have enough to eat. ¹⁵⁶⁸ 

27:15 Those who survive him are buried by the plague, ¹⁵⁶⁹ 

and their ¹⁵⁷⁰  widows do not mourn for them.

27:16 If he piles up silver like dust

and stores up clothing like mounds of clay,

27:17 what he stores up ¹⁵⁷¹  a righteous man will wear,

and an innocent man will inherit his silver.

27:18 The house he builds is as fragile as a moth’s cocoon, ¹⁵⁷² 

like a hut ¹⁵⁷³  that a watchman has made.

27:19 He goes to bed wealthy, but will do so no more. ¹⁵⁷⁴ 

When he opens his eyes, it is all gone. ¹⁵⁷⁵ 

27:20 Terrors overwhelm him like a flood; ¹⁵⁷⁶ 

at night a whirlwind carries him off.

27:21 The east wind carries him away, and he is gone;

it sweeps him out of his place.

27:22 It hurls itself against him without pity ¹⁵⁷⁷ 

as he flees headlong from its power.

27:23 It claps ¹⁵⁷⁸  its hands at him in derision

and hisses him away from his place. ¹⁵⁷⁹ 

28:1 “Surely ¹⁵⁸¹  there is a mine ¹⁵⁸²  for silver,

and a place where gold is refined. ¹⁵⁸³ 

28:2 Iron is taken from the ground, ¹⁵⁸⁴ 

and rock is poured out ¹⁵⁸⁵  as copper.

28:3 Man puts an end to the darkness; ¹⁵⁸⁶ 

he searches the farthest recesses

for the ore in the deepest darkness. ¹⁵⁸⁷ 

28:4 Far from where people live ¹⁵⁸⁸  he sinks a shaft,

in places travelers have long forgotten, ¹⁵⁸⁹ 

far from other people he dangles and sways. ¹⁵⁹⁰ 

28:5 The earth, from which food comes,

is overturned below as though by fire; ¹⁵⁹¹ 

28:6 a place whose stones are sapphires ¹⁵⁹² 

and which contains dust of gold; ¹⁵⁹³ 

28:7 a hidden path ¹⁵⁹⁴  no bird of prey knows –

no falcon’s ¹⁵⁹⁵  eye has spotted it.

28:8 Proud beasts ¹⁵⁹⁶  have not set foot on it,

and no lion has passed along it.

28:9 On the flinty rock man has set to work ¹⁵⁹⁷  with his hand;

he has overturned mountains at their bases. ¹⁵⁹⁸ 

28:10 He has cut out channels ¹⁵⁹⁹  through the rocks;

his eyes have spotted ¹⁶⁰⁰  every precious thing.

28:11 He has searched ¹⁶⁰¹  the sources ¹⁶⁰²  of the rivers

and what was hidden he has brought into the light.

28:12 “But wisdom – where can it be found?

Where is the place of understanding?

28:13 Mankind does not know its place; ¹⁶⁰³ 

it cannot be found in the land of the living.

28:14 The deep ¹⁶⁰⁴  says, ‘It is not with ¹⁶⁰⁵  me.’

And the sea says, ‘It is not with me.’

28:15 Fine gold cannot be given in exchange for it,

nor can its price be weighed out in silver.

28:16 It cannot be measured out for purchase ¹⁶⁰⁶  with the gold of Ophir,

with precious onyx ¹⁶⁰⁷  or sapphires.

28:17 Neither gold nor crystal ¹⁶⁰⁸  can be compared with it,

nor can a vase ¹⁶⁰⁹  of gold match its worth.

28:18 Of coral and jasper no mention will be made;

the price ¹⁶¹⁰  of wisdom is more than pearls. ¹⁶¹¹ 

28:19 The topaz of Cush ¹⁶¹²  cannot be compared with it;

it cannot be purchased with pure gold.

28:20 “But wisdom – where does it come from? ¹⁶¹³ 

Where is the place of understanding?

28:21 For ¹⁶¹⁴  it has been hidden

from the eyes of every living creature,

and from the birds of the sky it has been concealed.

28:22 Destruction ¹⁶¹⁵  and Death say,

‘With our ears we have heard a rumor about where it can be found.’ ¹⁶¹⁶ 

28:23 God understands the way to it,

and he alone knows its place.

28:24 For he looks to the ends of the earth

and observes everything under the heavens.

28:25 When he made ¹⁶¹⁷  the force of the wind

and measured ¹⁶¹⁸  the waters with a gauge.

28:26 When he imposed a limit ¹⁶¹⁹  for the rain,

and a path for the thunderstorm, ¹⁶²⁰ 

28:27 then he looked at wisdom ¹⁶²¹  and assessed its value; ¹⁶²² 

he established ¹⁶²³  it and examined it closely. ¹⁶²⁴ 

28:28 And he said to mankind,

‘The fear of the Lord ¹⁶²⁵  – that is wisdom,

and to turn away from evil is understanding.’” ¹⁶²⁶ 

29:1 Then Job continued ¹⁶²⁸  his speech:

29:2 “O that I could be ¹⁶²⁹  as ¹⁶³⁰  I was

in the months now gone, ¹⁶³¹ 

in the days ¹⁶³²  when God watched ¹⁶³³  over me,

29:3 when ¹⁶³⁴  he caused ¹⁶³⁵  his lamp ¹⁶³⁶ 

to shine upon my head,

and by his light

I walked ¹⁶³⁷  through darkness; ¹⁶³⁸ 

29:4 just as I was in my most productive time, ¹⁶³⁹ 

when God’s intimate friendship ¹⁶⁴⁰  was experienced in my tent,

29:5 when the Almighty ¹⁶⁴¹  was still with me

and my children were ¹⁶⁴²  around me;

29:6 when my steps ¹⁶⁴³  were bathed ¹⁶⁴⁴  with butter ¹⁶⁴⁵ 

and the rock poured out for me streams of olive oil! ¹⁶⁴⁶ 

29:7 When I went out to the city gate

and secured my seat in the public square, ¹⁶⁴⁷ 

29:8 the young men would see me and step aside, ¹⁶⁴⁸ 

and the old men would get up and remain standing;

29:9 the chief men refrained from talking

and covered their mouths with their hands;

29:10 the voices of the nobles fell silent, ¹⁶⁴⁹ 

and their tongues stuck to the roof of their mouths.

29:11 “As soon as the ear heard these things, ¹⁶⁵⁰  it blessed me, ¹⁶⁵¹ 

and when the eye saw them, it bore witness to me,

29:12 for I rescued the poor who cried out for help,

and the orphan who ¹⁶⁵²  had no one to assist him;

29:13 the blessing of the dying man descended on me, ¹⁶⁵³ 

and I made the widow’s heart rejoice; ¹⁶⁵⁴ 

29:14 I put on righteousness and it clothed me, ¹⁶⁵⁵ 

my just dealing ¹⁶⁵⁶  was like a robe and a turban;

29:15 I was eyes for the blind

and feet for the lame;

29:16 I was a father ¹⁶⁵⁷  to the needy,

and I investigated the case of the person I did not know;

29:17 I broke the fangs ¹⁶⁵⁸  of the wicked,

and made him drop ¹⁶⁵⁹  his prey from his teeth.

29:18 “Then I thought, ‘I will die in my own home, ¹⁶⁶⁰ 

my days as numerous as the grains of sand. ¹⁶⁶¹ 

29:19 My roots reach the water,

and the dew lies on my branches all night long.

29:20 My glory ¹⁶⁶²  will always be fresh ¹⁶⁶³  in me,

and my bow ever new in my hand.’

29:21 “People ¹⁶⁶⁴  listened to me and waited silently; ¹⁶⁶⁵ 

they kept silent for my advice.

29:22 After I had spoken, they did not respond;

my words fell on them drop by drop. ¹⁶⁶⁶ 

29:23 They waited for me as people wait ¹⁶⁶⁷  for the rain,

and they opened their mouths ¹⁶⁶⁸ 

as for ¹⁶⁶⁹  the spring rains.

29:24 If I smiled at them, they hardly believed it; ¹⁶⁷⁰ 

and they did not cause the light of my face to darken. ¹⁶⁷¹ 

29:25 I chose ¹⁶⁷²  the way for them ¹⁶⁷³ 

and sat as their chief; ¹⁶⁷⁴ 

I lived like a king among his troops;

I was like one who comforts mourners. ¹⁶⁷⁵ 

30:1 “But now they mock me, those who are younger ¹⁶⁷⁶  than I,

whose fathers I disdained too much ¹⁶⁷⁷ 

to put with my sheep dogs. ¹⁶⁷⁸ 

30:2 Moreover, the strength of their ¹⁶⁷⁹  hands –

what use was it to me?

Men whose strength ¹⁶⁸⁰  had perished;

30:3 gaunt ¹⁶⁸¹  with want and hunger,

they would gnaw ¹⁶⁸²  the parched land,

in former time desolate and waste. ¹⁶⁸³ 

30:4 By the brush ¹⁶⁸⁴  they would gather ¹⁶⁸⁵  herbs from the salt marshes, ¹⁶⁸⁶ 

and the root of the broom tree was their food.

30:5 They were banished from the community ¹⁶⁸⁷  –

people ¹⁶⁸⁸  shouted at them

like they would shout at thieves ¹⁶⁸⁹  –

30:6 so that they had to live ¹⁶⁹⁰ 

in the dry stream beds, ¹⁶⁹¹ 

in the holes of the ground, and among the rocks.

30:7 They brayed ¹⁶⁹²  like animals among the bushes

and were huddled together ¹⁶⁹³  under the nettles.

30:8 Sons of senseless and nameless people, ¹⁶⁹⁴ 

they were driven out of the land with whips. ¹⁶⁹⁵ 

30:9 “And now I have become their taunt song;

I have become a byword ¹⁶⁹⁶  among them.

30:10 They detest me and maintain their distance; ¹⁶⁹⁷ 

they do not hesitate to spit in my face.

30:11 Because God has untied ¹⁶⁹⁸  my tent cord and afflicted me,

people throw off all restraint in my presence. ¹⁶⁹⁹ 

30:12 On my right the young rabble ¹⁷⁰⁰  rise up;

they drive me from place to place, ¹⁷⁰¹ 

and build up siege ramps ¹⁷⁰²  against me. ¹⁷⁰³ 

30:13 They destroy ¹⁷⁰⁴  my path;

they succeed in destroying me ¹⁷⁰⁵ 

without anyone assisting ¹⁷⁰⁶  them.

30:14 They come in as through a wide breach;

amid the crash ¹⁷⁰⁷  they come rolling in. ¹⁷⁰⁸ 

30:15 Terrors are turned loose ¹⁷⁰⁹  on me;

they drive away ¹⁷¹⁰  my honor like the wind,

and like a cloud my deliverance has passed away.

30:16 “And now my soul pours itself out within me; ¹⁷¹¹ 

days of suffering take hold of me.

30:17 Night pierces ¹⁷¹²  my bones; ¹⁷¹³ 

my gnawing pains ¹⁷¹⁴  never cease.

30:18 With great power God ¹⁷¹⁵  grasps my clothing; ¹⁷¹⁶ 

he binds me like the collar ¹⁷¹⁷  of my tunic.

30:19 He has flung me into the mud,

and I have come to resemble dust and ashes.

30:20 I cry out to you, ¹⁷¹⁸  but you do not answer me;

I stand up, ¹⁷¹⁹  and you only look at me. ¹⁷²⁰ 

30:21 You have become cruel to me; ¹⁷²¹ 

with the strength of your hand you attack me. ¹⁷²² 

30:22 You pick me up on the wind and make me ride on it; ¹⁷²³ 

you toss me about ¹⁷²⁴  in the storm. ¹⁷²⁵ 

30:23 I know that you are bringing ¹⁷²⁶  me to death,

to the meeting place for all the living.

30:24 “Surely one does not stretch out his hand

against a broken man ¹⁷²⁷ 

when he cries for help in his distress. ¹⁷²⁸ 

30:25 Have I not wept for the unfortunate? ¹⁷²⁹ 

Was not my soul grieved for the poor?

30:26 But when I hoped for good, trouble came;

when I expected light, then darkness came.

30:27 My heart ¹⁷³⁰  is in turmoil ¹⁷³¹  unceasingly; ¹⁷³² 

the days of my affliction confront me.

30:28 I go about blackened, ¹⁷³³  but not by the sun;

in the assembly I stand up and cry for help.

30:29 I have become a brother to jackals

and a companion of ostriches. ¹⁷³⁴ 

30:30 My skin has turned dark on me; ¹⁷³⁵ 

my body ¹⁷³⁶  is hot with fever. ¹⁷³⁷ 

30:31 My harp is used for ¹⁷³⁸  mourning

and my flute for the sound of weeping.

31:1 “I made a covenant with ¹⁷³⁹  my eyes;

how then could I entertain thoughts against a virgin? ¹⁷⁴⁰ 

31:2 What then would be one’s lot from God above,

one’s heritage from the Almighty ¹⁷⁴¹  on high?

31:3 Is it not misfortune for the unjust,

and disaster for those who work iniquity?

31:4 Does he not see my ways

and count all my steps?

31:5 If ¹⁷⁴²  I have walked in falsehood,

and if ¹⁷⁴³  my foot has hastened ¹⁷⁴⁴  to deceit –

31:6 let him ¹⁷⁴⁵  weigh me with honest ¹⁷⁴⁶  scales;

then God will discover ¹⁷⁴⁷  my integrity.

31:7 If my footsteps have strayed from the way,

if my heart has gone after my eyes, ¹⁷⁴⁸ 

or if anything ¹⁷⁴⁹  has defiled my hands,

31:8 then let me sow ¹⁷⁵⁰  and let another eat,

and let my crops ¹⁷⁵¹  be uprooted.

31:9 If my heart has been enticed by a woman,

and I have lain in wait at my neighbor’s door, ¹⁷⁵² 

31:10 then let my wife turn the millstone ¹⁷⁵³  for another man,

and may other men have sexual relations with her. ¹⁷⁵⁴ 

31:11 For I would have committed ¹⁷⁵⁵  a shameful act, ¹⁷⁵⁶ 

an iniquity to be judged. ¹⁷⁵⁷ 

31:12 For it is a fire that devours even to Destruction, ¹⁷⁵⁸ 

and it would uproot ¹⁷⁵⁹  all my harvest.

31:13 “If I have disregarded the right of my male servants

or my female servants

when they disputed ¹⁷⁶⁰  with me,

31:14 then what will I do when God confronts me in judgment; ¹⁷⁶¹ 

when he intervenes, ¹⁷⁶² 

how will I respond to him?

31:15 Did not the one who made me in the womb make them? ¹⁷⁶³ 

Did not the same one form us in the womb?

31:16 If I have refused to give the poor what they desired, ¹⁷⁶⁴ 

or caused the eyes of the widow to fail,

31:17 If I ate my morsel of bread myself,

and did not share any of it with orphans ¹⁷⁶⁵  –

31:18 but from my youth I raised the orphan ¹⁷⁶⁶  like a father,

and from my mother’s womb ¹⁷⁶⁷ 

I guided the widow! ¹⁷⁶⁸ 

31:19 If I have seen anyone about to perish for lack of clothing,

or a poor man without a coat,

31:20 whose heart did not bless me ¹⁷⁶⁹ 

as he warmed himself with the fleece of my sheep, ¹⁷⁷⁰ 

31:21 if I have raised my hand ¹⁷⁷¹  to vote against the orphan,

when I saw my support in the court, ¹⁷⁷² 

31:22 then ¹⁷⁷³  let my arm fall from the shoulder, ¹⁷⁷⁴ 

let my arm be broken off at the socket. ¹⁷⁷⁵ 

31:23 For the calamity from God was a terror to me, ¹⁷⁷⁶ 

and by reason of his majesty ¹⁷⁷⁷  I was powerless.

31:24 “If I have put my confidence in gold

or said to pure gold,

‘You are my security!’

31:25 if I have rejoiced because of the extent of my wealth,

or because of the great wealth my hand had gained,

31:26 if I looked at the sun ¹⁷⁷⁸  when it was shining,

and the moon advancing as a precious thing,

31:27 so that my heart was secretly enticed,

and my hand threw them a kiss from my mouth, ¹⁷⁷⁹ 

31:28 then this ¹⁷⁸⁰  also would be iniquity to be judged, ¹⁷⁸¹ 

for I would have been false ¹⁷⁸²  to God above.

31:29 If ¹⁷⁸³  I have rejoiced over the misfortune of my enemy ¹⁷⁸⁴ 

or exulted ¹⁷⁸⁵  because calamity ¹⁷⁸⁶  found him –

31:30 I ¹⁷⁸⁷  have not even permitted my mouth ¹⁷⁸⁸  to sin

by asking ¹⁷⁸⁹  for his life through a curse –

31:31 if ¹⁷⁹⁰  the members of my household ¹⁷⁹¹  have never said, ¹⁷⁹² 

‘If only there were ¹⁷⁹³  someone

who has not been satisfied from Job’s ¹⁷⁹⁴  meat!’ –

31:32 But ¹⁷⁹⁵  no stranger had to spend the night outside,

for I opened my doors to the traveler ¹⁷⁹⁶  –

31:33 if ¹⁷⁹⁷  I have covered my transgressions as men do, ¹⁷⁹⁸ 

by hiding ¹⁷⁹⁹  iniquity in my heart, ¹⁸⁰⁰ 

31:34 because I was terrified ¹⁸⁰¹  of the great multitude, ¹⁸⁰² 

and the contempt of families terrified me,

so that I remained silent

and would not go outdoors – ¹⁸⁰³ 

31:35 “If only I had ¹⁸⁰⁴  someone to hear me!

Here is my signature – ¹⁸⁰⁵ 

let the Almighty answer me!

If only I had an indictment ¹⁸⁰⁶ 

that my accuser had written. ¹⁸⁰⁷ 

31:36 Surely ¹⁸⁰⁸  I would wear it proudly ¹⁸⁰⁹  on my shoulder,

I would bind ¹⁸¹⁰  it on me like a crown;

31:37 I would give him an accounting of my steps;

like a prince I would approach him.

31:38 “If my land cried out against me ¹⁸¹² 

and all its furrows wept together,

31:39 if I have eaten its produce without paying, ¹⁸¹³ 

or caused the death ¹⁸¹⁴  of its owners, ¹⁸¹⁵ 

31:40 then let thorns sprout up in place of wheat,

and in place of barley, weeds!” ¹⁸¹⁶ 

The words of Job are ended.

32:1 So these three men refused to answer ¹⁸¹⁸  Job further, because he was righteous in his ¹⁸¹⁹  own eyes. 32:2 Then Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, became very angry. ¹⁸²⁰  He was angry ¹⁸²¹  with Job for justifying ¹⁸²²  himself rather than God. ¹⁸²³  32:3 With Job’s ¹⁸²⁴  three friends he was also angry, because they could not find ¹⁸²⁵  an answer, and so declared Job guilty. ¹⁸²⁶  32:4 Now Elihu had waited before speaking ¹⁸²⁷  to Job, because the others ¹⁸²⁸  were older than he was. 32:5 But when Elihu saw ¹⁸²⁹  that the three men had no further reply, ¹⁸³⁰  he became very angry.

32:6 So Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite spoke up: ¹⁸³¹ 

“I am young, ¹⁸³²  but you are elderly;

that is why I was fearful, ¹⁸³³ 

and afraid to explain ¹⁸³⁴  to you what I know.

32:7 I said to myself, ‘Age ¹⁸³⁵  should speak, ¹⁸³⁶ 

and length of years ¹⁸³⁷  should make wisdom known.’

32:8 But it is a spirit in people,

the breath ¹⁸³⁸  of the Almighty,

that makes them understand.

32:9 It is not the aged ¹⁸³⁹  who are wise,

nor old men who understand what is right.

32:10 Therefore I say, ‘Listen ¹⁸⁴⁰  to me.

I, even I, will explain what I know.’

32:11 Look, I waited for you to speak; ¹⁸⁴¹ 

I listened closely to your wise thoughts, ¹⁸⁴² while you were searching for words.

32:12 Now I was paying you close attention, ¹⁸⁴³ 

yet ¹⁸⁴⁴  there was no one proving Job wrong, ¹⁸⁴⁵ 

not one of you was answering his statements!

32:13 So do not say, ¹⁸⁴⁶  ‘We have found wisdom!

God will refute ¹⁸⁴⁷  him, not man!’

32:14 Job ¹⁸⁴⁸  has not directed ¹⁸⁴⁹  his words to me,

and so I will not reply to him with your arguments. ¹⁸⁵⁰ 

32:15 “They are dismayed ¹⁸⁵²  and cannot answer any more;

they have nothing left to say. ¹⁸⁵³ 

32:16 And I have waited. ¹⁸⁵⁴  But because they do not speak,

because they stand there and answer no more,

32:17 I too will answer my part,

I too will explain what I know.

32:18 For I am full of words,

and the spirit within me ¹⁸⁵⁵  constrains me. ¹⁸⁵⁶ 

32:19 Inside I am like wine which has no outlet, ¹⁸⁵⁷ 

like new wineskins ¹⁸⁵⁸  ready to burst!

32:20 I will speak, ¹⁸⁵⁹  so that I may find relief;

I will open my lips, so that I may answer.

32:21 I will not show partiality to anyone, ¹⁸⁶⁰ 

nor will I confer a title ¹⁸⁶¹  on any man.

32:22 for I do not know how to give honorary titles, ¹⁸⁶² 

if I did, ¹⁸⁶³  my Creator would quickly do away with me. ¹⁸⁶⁴ 

33:1 “But now, O Job, listen to my words,

and hear ¹⁸⁶⁵  everything I have to say! ¹⁸⁶⁶ 

33:2 See now, I have opened ¹⁸⁶⁷  my mouth;

my tongue in my mouth has spoken. ¹⁸⁶⁸ 

33:3 My words come from the uprightness of my heart, ¹⁸⁶⁹ 

and my lips will utter knowledge sincerely. ¹⁸⁷⁰ 

33:4 The Spirit of God has made me,

and the breath of the Almighty gives me life. ¹⁸⁷¹ 

33:5 Reply to me, if you can;

set your arguments ¹⁸⁷²  in order before me

and take your stand!

33:6 Look, I am just like you in relation to God;

I too have been molded ¹⁸⁷³  from clay.

33:7 Therefore no fear of me should terrify you,

nor should my pressure ¹⁸⁷⁴  be heavy on you. ¹⁸⁷⁵ 

33:8 “Indeed, you have said in my hearing ¹⁸⁷⁶ 

(I heard the sound of the words!):

33:9 ¹⁸⁷⁷ ‘I am pure, without transgression;

I am clean ¹⁸⁷⁸  and have no iniquity.

33:10 ¹⁸⁷⁹ Yet God ¹⁸⁸⁰  finds occasions ¹⁸⁸¹  with me;

he regards me as his enemy!

33:11 ¹⁸⁸² He puts my feet in shackles;

he watches closely all my paths.’

33:12 Now in this, you are not right – I answer you, ¹⁸⁸³ 

for God is greater than a human being. ¹⁸⁸⁴ 

33:13 Why do you contend against him,

that he does not answer all a person’s ¹⁸⁸⁵  words?

33:14 “For God speaks, the first time in one way,

the second time in another,

though a person does not perceive ¹⁸⁸⁶  it.

33:15 In a dream, a night vision,

when deep sleep falls on people

as they sleep in their beds.

33:16 Then he gives a revelation ¹⁸⁸⁷  to people,

and terrifies them with warnings, ¹⁸⁸⁸ 

33:17 to turn a person from his sin, ¹⁸⁸⁹ 

and to cover a person’s pride. ¹⁸⁹⁰ 

33:18 He spares a person’s life from corruption, ¹⁸⁹¹ 

his very life from crossing over ¹⁸⁹²  the river.

33:19 Or a person is chastened ¹⁸⁹³  by pain on his bed,

and with the continual strife of his bones, ¹⁸⁹⁴ 

33:20 so that his life loathes food,

and his soul rejects appetizing fare. ¹⁸⁹⁵ 

33:21 His flesh wastes away from sight,

and his bones, which were not seen,

are easily visible. ¹⁸⁹⁶ 

33:22 He ¹⁸⁹⁷  draws near to the place of corruption,

and his life to the messengers of death. ¹⁸⁹⁸ 

33:23 If there is an angel beside him,

one mediator ¹⁸⁹⁹  out of a thousand,

to tell a person what constitutes his uprightness; ¹⁹⁰⁰ 

33:24 and if ¹⁹⁰¹  God ¹⁹⁰²  is gracious to him and says,

‘Spare ¹⁹⁰³  him from going down

to the place of corruption,

I have found a ransom for him,’ ¹⁹⁰⁴ 

33:25 then his flesh is restored ¹⁹⁰⁵  like a youth’s;

he returns to the days of his youthful vigor. ¹⁹⁰⁶ 

33:26 He entreats God, and God ¹⁹⁰⁷  delights in him,

he sees God’s face ¹⁹⁰⁸  with rejoicing,

and God ¹⁹⁰⁹  restores to him his righteousness. ¹⁹¹⁰ 

33:27 That person sings ¹⁹¹¹  to others, ¹⁹¹²  saying:

‘I have sinned and falsified what is right,

but I was not punished according to what I deserved. ¹⁹¹³ 

33:28 He redeemed my life ¹⁹¹⁴ 

from going down to the place of corruption,

and my life sees the light!’

33:29 “Indeed, God does all these things,

twice, three times, in his dealings ¹⁹¹⁶  with a person,

33:30 to turn back his life from the place of corruption,

that he may be enlightened with the light of life.

33:31 Pay attention, Job – listen to me;

be silent, and I will speak.

33:32 If you have any words, ¹⁹¹⁷  reply to me;

speak, for I want to justify you. ¹⁹¹⁸ 

33:33 If not, you listen to me;

be silent, and I will teach you wisdom.”

34:1 Elihu answered:

34:2 “Listen to my words, you wise men;

hear ¹⁹²⁰  me, you learned men. ¹⁹²¹ 

34:3 For the ear assesses ¹⁹²²  words

as the mouth ¹⁹²³  tastes food.

34:4 Let us evaluate ¹⁹²⁴  for ourselves what is right; ¹⁹²⁵ 

let us come to know among ourselves what is good.

34:5 For Job says, ‘I am innocent, ¹⁹²⁶ 

but God turns away my right.

34:6 Concerning my right, should I lie? ¹⁹²⁷ 

My wound ¹⁹²⁸  is incurable,

although I am without transgression.’ ¹⁹²⁹ 

34:7 What man is like Job,

who ¹⁹³⁰  drinks derision ¹⁹³¹  like water!

34:8 He goes about ¹⁹³²  in company ¹⁹³³  with evildoers,

he goes along ¹⁹³⁴  with wicked men. ¹⁹³⁵ 

34:9 For he says, ‘It does not profit a man

when he makes his delight with God.’ ¹⁹³⁶ 

34:10 “Therefore, listen to me, you men of understanding. ¹⁹³⁷ 

Far be it from ¹⁹³⁸  God to do wickedness,

from the Almighty to do evil.

34:11 For he repays a person for his work, ¹⁹³⁹ 

and according to the conduct of a person,

he causes the consequences to find him. ¹⁹⁴⁰ 

34:12 Indeed, in truth, God does not act wickedly,

and the Almighty does not pervert justice.

34:13 Who entrusted ¹⁹⁴¹  to him the earth?

And who put him over ¹⁹⁴²  the whole world?

34:14 If God ¹⁹⁴³  were to set his heart on it, ¹⁹⁴⁴ 

and gather in his spirit and his breath,

34:15 all flesh would perish together

and human beings would return to dust.

34:16 “If you have ¹⁹⁴⁵  understanding, listen to this,

hear what I have to say. ¹⁹⁴⁶ 

34:17 Do you really think ¹⁹⁴⁷ 

that one who hates justice can govern? ¹⁹⁴⁸ 

And will you declare guilty

the supremely righteous ¹⁹⁴⁹  One,

34:18 who says to a king, ¹⁹⁵⁰  ‘Worthless man’ ¹⁹⁵¹ 

and to nobles, ‘Wicked men,’

34:19 who shows no partiality to princes,

and does not take note of ¹⁹⁵²  the rich more than the poor,

because all of them are the work of his hands?

34:20 In a moment they die, in the middle of the night, ¹⁹⁵³ 

people ¹⁹⁵⁴  are shaken ¹⁹⁵⁵  and they pass away.

The mighty are removed effortlessly. ¹⁹⁵⁶ 

34:21 For his eyes are on the ways of an individual,

he observes all a person’s ¹⁹⁵⁷  steps.

34:22 There is no darkness, and no deep darkness,

where evildoers can hide themselves. ¹⁹⁵⁸ 

34:23 For he does not still consider a person, ¹⁹⁵⁹ 

that he should come before God in judgment.

34:24 He shatters the great without inquiry, ¹⁹⁶⁰ 

and sets up others in their place.

34:25 Therefore, he knows their deeds,

he overthrows them ¹⁹⁶¹  in the night ¹⁹⁶² 

and they are crushed.

34:26 He strikes them for their wickedness, ¹⁹⁶³ 

in a place where people can see, ¹⁹⁶⁴ 

34:27 because they have turned away from following him,

and have not understood ¹⁹⁶⁵  any of his ways,

34:28 so that they caused ¹⁹⁶⁶  the cry of the poor

to come before him,

so that he hears ¹⁹⁶⁷  the cry of the needy.

34:29 But if God ¹⁹⁶⁸  is quiet, who can condemn ¹⁹⁶⁹  him?

If he hides his face, then who can see him?

Yet ¹⁹⁷⁰  he is over the individual and the nation alike, ¹⁹⁷¹ 

34:30 so that the godless man should not rule,

and not lay snares for the people. ¹⁹⁷² 

34:31 “Has anyone said to God,

‘I have endured chastisement, ¹⁹⁷³ 

but I will not act wrongly any more.

34:32 Teach me what I cannot see. ¹⁹⁷⁴ 

If I have done evil, I will do so no more.’

34:33 Is it your opinion ¹⁹⁷⁵  that God ¹⁹⁷⁶  should recompense it,

because you reject this? ¹⁹⁷⁷ 

But you must choose, and not I,

so tell us what you know.

34:34 Men of understanding say to me –

any wise man listening to me says –

34:35 that ¹⁹⁷⁸  Job speaks without knowledge

and his words are without understanding. ¹⁹⁷⁹ 

34:36 But ¹⁹⁸⁰  Job will be tested to the end,

because his answers are like those of wicked men.

34:37 For he adds transgression ¹⁹⁸¹  to his sin;

in our midst he claps his hands, ¹⁹⁸² 

and multiplies his words against God.”

35:1 Then Elihu answered:

35:2 “Do you think this to be ¹⁹⁸⁴  just:

when ¹⁹⁸⁵  you say, ‘My right before God.’ ¹⁹⁸⁶ 

35:3 But you say, ‘What will it profit you,’ ¹⁹⁸⁷ 

and, ‘What do I gain by not sinning?’ ¹⁹⁸⁸ 

35:4 I ¹⁹⁸⁹  will reply to you, ¹⁹⁹⁰ 

and to your friends with you.

35:5 Gaze at the heavens and see;

consider the clouds, which are higher than you! ¹⁹⁹¹ 

35:6 If you sin, how does it affect God? ¹⁹⁹² 

If your transgressions are many,

what does it do to him? ¹⁹⁹³ 

35:7 If you are righteous, what do you give to God,

or what does he receive from your hand?

35:8 Your wickedness affects only ¹⁹⁹⁴  a person like yourself,

and your righteousness only other people. ¹⁹⁹⁵ 

35:9 “People ¹⁹⁹⁶  cry out

because of the excess of oppression; ¹⁹⁹⁷ 

they cry out for help

because of the power ¹⁹⁹⁸  of the mighty. ¹⁹⁹⁹ 

35:10 But no one says, ‘Where is God, my Creator,

who gives songs in the night, ²⁰⁰⁰ 

35:11 who teaches us ²⁰⁰¹  more than ²⁰⁰²  the wild animals of the earth,

and makes us wiser than the birds of the sky?’

35:12 Then ²⁰⁰³  they cry out – but he does not answer –

because of the arrogance of the wicked.

35:13 Surely it is an empty cry ²⁰⁰⁴  – God does not hear it;

the Almighty does not take notice of it.

35:14 How much less, then,

when you say that you do not perceive him,

that the case is before him

and you are waiting for him! ²⁰⁰⁵ 

35:15 And further, ²⁰⁰⁶  when you say

that his anger does not punish, ²⁰⁰⁷ 

and that he does not know transgression! ²⁰⁰⁸ 

35:16 So Job opens his mouth to no purpose; ²⁰⁰⁹ 

without knowledge he multiplies words.”

36:1 Elihu said further: ²⁰¹¹ 

36:2 “Be patient ²⁰¹²  with me a little longer

and I will instruct you,

for I still have words to speak on God’s behalf. ²⁰¹³ 

36:3 With my knowledge I will speak comprehensively, ²⁰¹⁴ 

and to my Creator I will ascribe righteousness. ²⁰¹⁵ 

36:4 For in truth, my words are not false;

it is one complete ²⁰¹⁶  in knowledge

who is with you.

36:5 Indeed, God is mighty; and he does not despise people, ²⁰¹⁷ 

he ²⁰¹⁸  is mighty, and firm ²⁰¹⁹  in his intent. ²⁰²⁰ 

36:6 He does not allow the wicked to live, ²⁰²¹ 

but he gives justice to the poor.

36:7 He does not take his eyes ²⁰²²  off the righteous;

but with kings on the throne

he seats the righteous ²⁰²³  and exalts them forever. ²⁰²⁴ 

36:8 But if they are bound in chains, ²⁰²⁵ 

and held captive by the cords of affliction,

36:9 then he reveals ²⁰²⁶  to them what they have done, ²⁰²⁷ 

and their transgressions,

that they were behaving proudly.

36:10 And he reveals ²⁰²⁸  this ²⁰²⁹  for correction,

and says that they must turn ²⁰³⁰  from evil.

36:11 If they obey and serve him,

they live out their days in prosperity

and their years in pleasantness. ²⁰³¹ 

36:12 But if they refuse to listen,

they pass over the river of death, ²⁰³² 

and expire without knowledge.

36:13 The godless at heart ²⁰³³  nourish anger, ²⁰³⁴ 

they do not cry out even when he binds them.

36:14 They die ²⁰³⁵  in their youth,

and their life ends among the male cultic prostitutes. ²⁰³⁶ 

36:15 He delivers the afflicted by ²⁰³⁷  their ²⁰³⁸  afflictions,

he reveals himself to them ²⁰³⁹  by their suffering.

36:16 And surely, he drew you ²⁰⁴⁰  from the mouth of distress,

to a wide place, unrestricted, ²⁰⁴¹ 

and to the comfort ²⁰⁴²  of your table

filled with rich food. ²⁰⁴³ 

36:17 But now you are preoccupied with the judgment due the wicked,

judgment and justice take hold of you.

36:18 Be careful that ²⁰⁴⁴  no one entices you with riches;

do not let a large bribe ²⁰⁴⁵  turn you aside.

36:19 Would your wealth ²⁰⁴⁶  sustain you,

so that you would not be in distress, ²⁰⁴⁷ 

even all your mighty efforts? ²⁰⁴⁸ 

36:20 Do not long for the cover of night

to drag people away from their homes. ²⁰⁴⁹ 

36:21 Take heed, do not turn to evil,

for because of this you have been tested ²⁰⁵⁰  by affliction.

36:22 Indeed, God is exalted in his power;

who is a teacher ²⁰⁵¹  like him?

36:23 Who has prescribed his ways for him?

Or said to him, ‘You have done what is wicked’?

36:24 Remember to extol ²⁰⁵²  his work,

which people have praised in song.

36:25 All humanity has seen it;

people gaze on it from afar.

36:26 “Yes, God is great – beyond our knowledge! ²⁰⁵³ 

The number of his years is unsearchable.

36:27 He draws up drops of water;

they distill ²⁰⁵⁴  the rain into its mist, ²⁰⁵⁵ 

36:28 which the clouds pour down

and shower on humankind abundantly.

36:29 Who can understand the spreading of the clouds,

the thunderings of his pavilion? ²⁰⁵⁶ 

36:30 See how he scattered ²⁰⁵⁷  his lightning ²⁰⁵⁸  about him;

he has covered the depths ²⁰⁵⁹  of the sea.

36:31 It is by these that he judges ²⁰⁶⁰  the nations

and supplies food in abundance.

36:32 With his hands ²⁰⁶¹  he covers ²⁰⁶²  the lightning,

and directs it against its target.

36:33 ²⁰⁶³ His thunder announces the coming storm,

the cattle also, concerning the storm’s approach.

37:1 At this also my heart pounds

and leaps from its place.

37:2 Listen carefully ²⁰⁶⁴  to the thunder of his voice,

to the rumbling ²⁰⁶⁵  that proceeds from his mouth.

37:3 Under the whole heaven he lets it go,

even his lightning to the far corners ²⁰⁶⁶  of the earth.

37:4 After that a voice roars;

he thunders with an exalted voice,

and he does not hold back his lightning bolts ²⁰⁶⁷ 

when his voice is heard.

37:5 God thunders with his voice in marvelous ways; ²⁰⁶⁸ 

he does great things beyond our understanding. ²⁰⁶⁹ 

37:6 For to the snow he says, ‘Fall ²⁰⁷⁰  to earth,’

and to the torrential rains, ²⁰⁷¹  ‘Pour down.’ ²⁰⁷² 

37:7 He causes everyone to stop working, ²⁰⁷³ 

so that all people ²⁰⁷⁴  may know ²⁰⁷⁵  his work.

37:8 The wild animals go to their lairs,

and in their dens they remain.

37:9 A tempest blows out from its chamber,

icy cold from the driving winds. ²⁰⁷⁶ 

37:10 The breath of God produces ice,

and the breadth of the waters freeze solid.

37:11 He loads the clouds with moisture; ²⁰⁷⁷ 

he scatters his lightning through the clouds.

37:12 The clouds ²⁰⁷⁸  go round in circles,

wheeling about according to his plans,

to carry out ²⁰⁷⁹  all that he commands them

over the face of the whole inhabited world.

37:13 Whether it is for punishment ²⁰⁸⁰  for his land,

or whether it is for mercy,

he causes it to find its mark. ²⁰⁸¹ 

37:14 “Pay attention to this, Job!

Stand still and consider the wonders God works.

37:15 Do you know how God commands them, ²⁰⁸² 

how he makes lightning flash in his storm cloud? ²⁰⁸³ 

37:16 Do you know about the balancing ²⁰⁸⁴  of the clouds,

that wondrous activity of him who is perfect in knowledge?

37:17 You, whose garments are hot

when the earth is still because of the south wind,

37:18 will you, with him, spread out ²⁰⁸⁵  the clouds,

solid as a mirror of molten metal?

37:19 Tell us what we should ²⁰⁸⁶  say to him.

We cannot prepare a case ²⁰⁸⁷ 

because of the darkness.

37:20 Should he be informed that I want ²⁰⁸⁸  to speak?

If a man speaks, surely he would be swallowed up!

37:21 But now, the sun ²⁰⁸⁹  cannot be looked at ²⁰⁹⁰  –

it is bright in the skies –

after a wind passed and swept the clouds away. ²⁰⁹¹ 

37:22 From the north he comes in golden splendor; ²⁰⁹² 

around God is awesome majesty.

37:23 As for the Almighty, ²⁰⁹³  we cannot attain to him!

He is great in power,

but justice ²⁰⁹⁴  and abundant righteousness he does not oppress.

37:24 Therefore people fear him,

for he does not regard all the wise in heart.” ²⁰⁹⁵