Job

I. The Prologue Job’s Good Life 1 There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job. And that man was pure and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil. 2 Seven sons and three daughters were born to him. 3 His possessions included 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 […]

Satan’s Additional Charge 1 Again the day came when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also arrived among them to present himself before the Lord. 2 And the Lord said to Satan, “Where do you come from?” Satan answered the Lord, “From roving about on the earth, and […]

II. Job’s Dialogue With His Friends Job Regrets His Birth 1 After this Job opened his mouth and cursed the day he was born. 2 Job spoke up and said:3 “Let the day on which I was born perish,and the night that said,‘A man has been conceived!’4 That day – let it be darkness;let not […]

Eliphaz Begins to Speak 1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered:2 “If someone should attempt a word with you,will you be impatient?But who can refrain from speaking?3 Look, you have instructed many;you have strengthened feeble hands.4 Your words have supported thosewho stumbled,and you have strengthened the kneesthat gave way.5 But now the same thing comes to […]

1 “Call now! Is there anyone who will answer you?To which of the holy ones will you turn?2 For wrath kills the foolish person,and anger slays the silly one.3 I myself have seen the fool taking root,but suddenly I cursed his place of residence.4 His children are far from safety,and they are crushed at the […]

Job Replies to Eliphaz 1 Then Job responded:2 “Oh, if only my grief could be weighed,and my misfortune laid on the scales too!3 But because it is heavier than the sand of the sea,that is why my words have been wild.4 For the arrows of the Almighty are within me;my spirit drinks their poison;God’s sudden […]

The Brevity of Life 1 “Does not humanity have hard service on earth?Are not their days alsolike the days of a hired man?2 Like a servant longing for the evening shadow,and like a hired man looking for his wages,3 thus I have been made to inheritmonths of futility,and nights of sorrowhave been appointed to me.4 […]

Bildad’s First Speech to Job 1 Then Bildad the Shuhite spoke up and said:2 “How long will you speak these things,seeing that the words of your mouthare like a great wind?3 Does God pervert justice?Or does the Almighty pervert what is right?4 If your children sinned against him,he gave them over to the penalty of […]

Job’s Reply to Bildad 1 Then Job answered:2 “Truly, I know that this is so.But how can a human be just before God?3 If someone wishes to contend with him,he cannot answer him one time in a thousand.4 He is wise in heart and mighty in strength –who has resisted him and remained safe?5 He […]

An Appeal for Revelation 1 “I am weary of my life;I will complain without restraint;I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.2 I will say to God, ‘Do not condemn me;tell me why you are contending with me.’3 Is it good for you to oppress,to despise the work of your hands,while you smileon the […]

Zophar’s First Speech to Job 1 Then Zophar the Naamathite spoke up and said:2 “Should not this abundance of words be answered,or should this talkative manbe vindicated?3 Will your idle talk reduce people to silence,and will no one rebuke you when you mock?4 For you have said, ‘My teaching is flawless,and I am pure in […]

Job’s Reply to Zophar 1 Then Job answered:2 “Without a doubt you are the people,and wisdom will die with you.3 I also have understanding as well as you;I am not inferior to you.Who does not know such things as these?4 I am a laughingstock to my friends,I, who called on God and whom he answered […]

Job Pleads His Cause to God 1 “Indeed, my eyes have seen all this,my ears have heard and understood it.2 What you know, I know also;I am not inferior to you!3 But I wish to speak to the Almighty,and I desire to argue my case with God.4 But you, however, are inventors of lies;all of […]

The Brevity of Life 1 “Man, born of woman,lives but a few days, and they are full of trouble.2 He grows up like a flower and then withers away;he flees like a shadow, and does not remain.3 Do you fix your eye on such a one?And do you bring me before you for judgment?4 Who […]

Eliphaz’s Second Speech 1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered:2 “Does a wise man answer with blustery knowledge,or fill his belly with the east wind?3 Does he argue with useless talk,with words that have no value in them?4 But you even break off piety,and hinder meditation before God.5 Your sin inspires your mouth;you choose the language […]

Job’s Reply to Eliphaz 1 Then Job replied:2 “I have heard many things like these before.What miserable comforters are you all!3 Will there be an end to your windy words?Or what provokes you that you answer?4 I also could speak like you,if you were in my place;I could pile up words against youand I could […]

1 My spirit is broken,my days have faded out,the grave awaits me.2 Surely mockery is with me;my eyes must dwell on their hostility.3 Make then my pledge with you.Who else will put up security for me?4 Because you have closed their minds to understanding,therefore you will not exalt them.5 If a man denounces his friends […]

Bildad’s Second Speech 1 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered:2 “How long until you make an end of words?You must consider, and then we can talk.3 Why should we be regarded as beasts,and considered stupid in your sight?4 You who tear yourself to pieces in your anger,will the earth be abandoned for your sake?Or will a […]

Job’s Reply to Bildad 1 Then Job answered:2 “How long will you torment meand crush me with your words?3 These ten times you have been reproaching me;you are not ashamed to attack me!4 But even if it were true that I have erred,my error remains solely my concern!5 If indeed you would exalt yourselves above […]

Zophar’s Second Speech 1 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered:2 “This is why my troubled thoughts bring me back –because of my feelings within me.3 When I hear a reproof that dishonours me,then my understanding prompts me to answer.4 “Surely you know that it has been from old,ever since humankind was placed on the earth,5 that […]

Job’s Reply to Zophar 1 Then Job answered:2 “Listen carefully to my words;let this be the consolation you offer me.3 Bear with me and I will speak,and after I have spoken you may mock.4 Is my complaint against a man?If so, why should I not be impatient?5 Look at me and be appalled;put your hands […]

Eliphaz’s Third Speech 1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered:2 “Is it to God that a strong man is of benefit?Is it to him that even a wise man is profitable?3 Is it of any special benefit to the Almightythat you should be righteous,or is it any gain to himthat you make your ways blameless?4 Is […]

Job’s Reply to Eliphaz 1 Then Job answered:2 “Even today my complaint is still bitter;his hand is heavy despite my groaning.3 O that I knew where I might find him,that I could come to his place of residence!4 I would lay out my case before himand fill my mouth with arguments.5 I would know with […]

The Apparent Indifference of God 1 “Why are times not appointed by the Almighty?Why do those who know him not see his days?2 Men move boundary stones;they seize the flock and pasture them.3 They drive away the orphan’s donkey;they take the widow’s ox as a pledge.4 They turn the needy from the pathway,and the poor […]

Bildad’s Third Speech 1 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered:2 “Dominion and awesome might belong to God;he establishes peace in his heights.3 Can his armies be numbered?On whom does his light not rise?4 How then can a human being be righteous before God?How can one born of a woman be pure?5 If even the moon is […]

Job’s Reply to Bildad 1 Then Job replied:2 “How you have helped the powerless!How you have saved the person who has no strength!3 How you have advised the one without wisdom,and abundantly revealed your insight!4 To whom did you utter these words?And whose spirit has come forth from your mouth? A Better Description of God’s […]

A Protest of Innocence 1 And Job took up his discourse again:2 “As surely as God lives, who has denied me justice,the Almighty, who has made my life bitter –3 for while my spirit is still in me,and the breath from God is in my nostrils,4 my lips will not speak wickedness,and my tongue will […]

III. Job’s Search for Wisdom No Known Road to Wisdom 1 “Surely there is a mine for silver,and a place where gold is refined.2 Iron is taken from the ground,and rock is poured out as copper.3 Man puts an end to the darkness;he searches the farthest recessesfor the ore in the deepest darkness.4 Far from […]

IV. Job’s Concluding Soliloquy Job Recalls His Former Condition 1 Then Job continued his speech:2 “O that I could be as I wasin the months now gone,in the days when God watched over me,3 when he caused his lampto shine upon my head,and by his lightI walked through darkness;4 just as I was in my […]

Job’s Present Misery 1 “But now they mock me, those who are younger than I,whose fathers I disdained too muchto put with my sheep dogs.2 Moreover, the strength of their hands –what use was it to me?Men whose strength had perished;3 gaunt with want and hunger,they would gnaw the parched land,in former time desolate and […]

Job Vindicates Himself 1 “I made a covenant with my eyes;how then could I entertain thoughts against a virgin?2 What then would be one’s lot from God above,one’s heritage from the Almighty on high?3 Is it not misfortune for the unjust,and disaster for those who work iniquity?4 Does he not see my waysand count all […]

V. The Speeches of Elihu Elihu’s First Speech 1 So these three men refused to answer Job further, because he was righteous in his own eyes. 2 Then Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, became very angry. He was angry with Job for justifying himself rather than God. 3 With […]

Elihu Invites Job’s Attention 1 “But now, O Job, listen to my words,and hear everything I have to say!2 See now, I have opened my mouth;my tongue in my mouth has spoken.3 My words come from the uprightness of my heart,and my lips will utter knowledge sincerely.4 The Spirit of God has made me,and the […]

Elihu’s Second Speech 1 Elihu answered:2 “Listen to my words, you wise men;hear me, you learned men.3 For the ear assesses wordsas the mouth tastes food.4 Let us evaluate for ourselves what is right;let us come to know among ourselves what is good.5 For Job says, ‘I am innocent,but God turns away my right.6 Concerning […]

Elihu’s Third Speech 1 Then Elihu answered:2 “Do you think this to be just:when you say, ‘My right before God.’3 But you say, ‘What will it profit you,’and, ‘What do I gain by not sinning?’4 I will reply to you,and to your friends with you.5 Gaze at the heavens and see;consider the clouds, which are […]

Elihu’s Fourth Speech 1 Elihu said further:2 “Be patient with me a little longerand I will instruct you,for I still have words to speak on God’s behalf.3 With my knowledge I will speak comprehensively,and to my Creator I will ascribe righteousness.4 For in truth, my words are not false;it is one complete in knowledgewho is […]

1 At this also my heart poundsand leaps from its place.2 Listen carefully to the thunder of his voice,to the rumbling that proceeds from his mouth.3 Under the whole heaven he lets it go,even his lightning to the far corners of the earth.4 After that a voice roars;he thunders with an exalted voice,and he does […]

VI. The Divine Speeches The Lord’s First Speech 1 Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind:2 “Who is this who darkens counselwith words without knowledge?3 Get ready for a difficult task like a man;I will question youand you will inform me! God’s questions to Job 4 “Where were youwhen I laid the foundation […]

1 “Are you acquainted with the waythe mountain goats give birth?Do you watch as the wild deer give birth to their young?2 Do you count the months they must fulfil,and do you know the time they give birth?3 They crouch, they bear their young,they bring forth the offspring they have carried.4 Their young grow strong, […]

Job’s Reply to God’s Challenge 1 Then the Lord answered Job:2 “Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him?Let the person who accuses God give him an answer!”3 Then Job answered the Lord:4 “Indeed, I am completely unworthy – how could I reply to you?I put my hand over my mouth to silence […]

The Description of Leviathan 1 “Can you pull in Leviathan with a hook,and tie down its tongue with a rope?2 Can you put a cord through its nose,or pierce its jaw with a hook?3 Will it make numerous supplications to you,will it speak to you with tender words?4 Will it make a pact with you,so […]

Job’s Confession 1 Then Job answered the Lord:2 “I know that you can do all things;no purpose of yours can be thwarted;3 you asked,‘Who is this who darkens counselwithout knowledge?’But I have declared without understandingthings too wonderful for me to know.4 You said,‘Pay attention, and I will speak;I will question you, and you will answer […]