So Job opens his mouth to no purpose; ¹  without knowledge he multiplies words.”

The scorner ¹  seeks wisdom but finds none, ²  but understanding is easy ³  for a discerning person.

Egypt is totally incapable of helping. ¹  For this reason I call her ‘Proud one ²  who is silenced.’” ³ 

Some have strayed from these and turned away to empty discussion.

For the household gods ¹  have spoken wickedness, the soothsayers have seen a lie, and as for the dreamers, they have disclosed emptiness and give comfort in vain. Therefore the people set out like sheep and become scattered because they have no shepherd. ² 

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me has not been in vain. In fact, I worked harder than all of them – yet not I, but the grace of God with me.

I hate those who serve worthless idols, ¹  but I trust in the Lord.

I went there ¹  because of ²  a revelation and presented ³  to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I did so ⁴  only in a private meeting with the influential people, ⁵  to make sure that I was not running – or had not run ⁶  – in vain.

And you, Zion, city doomed to destruction, ¹  you accomplish nothing ²  by wearing a beautiful dress, ³  decking yourself out in jewels of gold, and putting on eye shadow! ⁴  You are making yourself beautiful for nothing. Your lovers spurn you. They want to kill you. ⁵ 

For no one knows what is best for a person during his life ¹  – during the few days of his fleeting life – for ²  they pass away ³  like a shadow. Nor can anyone tell him what the future will hold for him on earth. ⁴ 

I have not spoken in secret, in some hidden place. ¹  I did not tell Jacob’s descendants, ‘Seek me in vain!’ ²  I am the Lord, the one who speaks honestly, who makes reliable announcements. ³ 

for it is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be in fear, for it does not bear the sword in vain. It is God’s servant to administer retribution on the wrongdoer.

So ¹  when I could bear it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter somehow tempted you and our toil had proven useless.

For he ¹  knows deceitful ²  men; when he sees evil, will he not ³  consider it? ⁴ 

But an empty man will become wise, when a wild donkey’s colt is born a human being. ¹ 

“Does a wise man answer with blustery knowledge, ¹  or fill his belly ²  with the east wind? ³ 

Will ¹  there be an end to your ²  windy words? ³  Or what provokes ⁴  you that you answer? ⁵ 

So how can you console me with your futile words? Nothing is left of your answers but deception!” ¹ 

But avoid profane chatter, ¹  because those occupied with it will stray further and further into ungodliness, ² 

For there are many ¹  rebellious people, idle talkers, and deceivers, especially those with Jewish connections, ²