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Job 30-38
New American Standard Bible
Job 30-38
New American Standard Bible
Job’s Present State Is Humiliating
30 “But now those who are younger than I (A)mock me,
Whose fathers I refused to put with the dogs of my flock.
2 Indeed, what good was the strength of their hands to me?
Vigor had perished from them.
3 From poverty and famine they are gaunt,
They who gnaw at the dry ground by night in waste and desolation,
4 Who pluck saltweed by the bushes,
And whose food is the root of the broom shrub.
5 They are driven from the community;
They shout against them as against a thief,
6 So that they live on the slopes of ravines,
In holes in the ground and among the rocks.
7 Among the bushes they [a]cry out;
Under the weeds they are gathered together.
8 Worthless [b]fellows, even [c]those without a name,
They were cast out from the land.
9 “And now I have become their [d](B)taunt,
And I have become a [e](C)byword to them.
10 They loathe me and stand aloof from me,
And they do not [f]refrain from (D)spitting in my face.
11 Because He has undone [g]my [h]bowstring and (E)afflicted me,
They have cast off (F)the bridle before me.
12 On the right hand their [i]mob arises;
They (G)push aside my feet (H)and pile up their ways of destruction against me.
13 They (I)break up my path,
They promote my destruction;
No one restrains them.
14 As through a wide gap they come,
[j]Amid the storm they roll on.
15 (J)Sudden terrors are turned upon me;
They chase away my dignity like the wind,
And my [k]prosperity has passed away (K)like a cloud.
16 “And now (L)my soul is poured out [l]within me;
Days of misery have seized me.
17 At night it pierces (M)my bones [m]within me,
And my gnawing pains do not rest.
18 By a great force my garment is (N)distorted;
It ties me up like the collar of my coat.
19 He has thrown me into the (O)mire,
And I have become like dust and ashes.
20 I (P)cry out to You for help, but You do not answer me;
I stand up, and You turn Your attention against me.
21 You have [n]become cruel to me;
With the strength of Your hand You (Q)persecute me.
22 You (R)lift me up to the wind and make me ride it;
And You dissolve me in a storm.
23 For I know that You (S)will bring me to death,
And to the (T)house of meeting for all living.
24 “Yet does one in a heap of ruins not reach out with his hand,
Or in his disaster does he not (U)cry out for help?
25 Have I not (V)wept for the [o]one whose life is hard?
Was my soul not grieved for (W)the needy?
26 When I (X)expected good, evil came;
When I waited for light, (Y)darkness came.
27 [p]I am seething (Z)within and cannot rest;
Days of misery confront me.
28 I go about [q](AA)mourning without comfort;
I stand up in the assembly and (AB)cry out for help.
29 I have become a brother to (AC)jackals,
And a companion of ostriches.
30 My (AD)skin turns black [r]on me,
And my (AE)bones burn with [s]fever.
31 Therefore my (AF)harp [t]is turned to mourning,
And my flute to the sound of those who weep.
Job Asserts His Integrity
31 “I have made a covenant with my (AG)eyes;
How then could I look at a virgin?
2 And what is (AH)the portion of God from above,
Or the inheritance of the Almighty from on high?
3 Is it not (AI)disaster to the criminal,
And misfortune to (AJ)those who practice injustice?
4 Does He not (AK)see my ways,
And (AL)count all my steps?
5 “If I have (AM)walked with deception,
And my foot has hurried after deceit,
6 Let Him (AN)weigh me with [u]accurate scales,
And let God know (AO)my integrity.
7 If my step has (AP)turned from the way,
Or my heart [v]followed my eyes,
Or if any (AQ)spot has stuck to my hands,
8 Let me (AR)sow and another eat,
And let my [w](AS)crops be uprooted.
9 “If my heart has been (AT)enticed by a woman,
Or I have lurked at my neighbor’s doorway,
10 May my wife (AU)grind grain for another,
And let (AV)others [x]kneel down over her.
11 For that would be a (AW)lustful crime;
Moreover, it would be (AX)wrongdoing punishable by judges.
12 For it would be (AY)fire that consumes to [y](AZ)Abaddon,
And would (BA)uproot all my [z]increase.
13 “If I have (BB)rejected the claim of my male or female slaves
When they filed a complaint against me,
14 What then could I do when God arises?
And when He calls me to account, how am I to answer Him?
15 Did (BC)He who made me in the womb not make him,
And the same one create us in the womb?
16 “If I have kept (BD)the poor from their desire,
Or have caused the eyes of (BE)the widow to fail,
17 Or have (BF)eaten my morsel alone,
And (BG)the orphan has not [aa]shared it
18 (But from my youth he grew up with me as with a father,
And from [ab]my infancy I guided her),
19 If I have seen anyone perish (BH)for lack of clothing,
Or that (BI)the needy had no covering,
20 If his waist has not [ac]thanked me,
And if he has not been warmed with the fleece of my sheep,
21 If I have lifted up my hand against (BJ)the orphan,
Because I saw [ad]I had support (BK)in the gate,
22 May my shoulder fall from its [ae]socket,
And my (BL)arm be broken off [af]at the elbow.
23 For (BM)disaster from God is a terror to me,
And because of (BN)His majesty I can do nothing.
24 “If I have put my confidence in (BO)gold,
And called fine gold my trust,
25 If I have (BP)gloated because my wealth was great,
And because my hand had obtained so much;
26 If I have (BQ)looked at the [ag]sun when it shone,
Or the moon going in splendor,
27 And my heart was secretly enticed,
And my hand [ah]threw a kiss from my mouth,
28 That too would have been (BR)a guilty deed calling for [ai]judgment,
For I would have (BS)denied God above.
29 “Have I (BT)rejoiced at the misfortune of my enemy,
Or become excited when evil found him?
30 [aj]No, (BU)I have not [ak]allowed my mouth to sin
By asking for his life in (BV)a curse.
31 Have the people of my tent not said,
‘Who can [al]find one who has not been (BW)satisfied with his meat’?
32 The stranger has not spent the night outside,
For I have opened my doors to the [am]traveler.
33 Have I (BX)covered my wrongdoings like a man,
By hiding my guilt in my shirt pocket,
34 Because I (BY)feared the great multitude
And the contempt of families terrified me,
And I kept silent and did not go out of doors?
35 Oh that I had one to hear me!
Here is my [an]signature;
(BZ)Let the Almighty answer me!
And the indictment which my (CA)adversary has written,
36 I would certainly carry it on my shoulder,
I would tie it to myself like a garland.
37 I would declare to Him (CB)the number of my steps;
Like (CC)a prince, I would approach Him.
38 “If my (CD)land cries out against me,
And its furrows weep together;
39 If I have (CE)eaten its [ao]fruit without money,
Or have (CF)caused [ap]its owners to lose their lives,
40 May the (CG)thorn-bush [aq]grow instead of wheat,
And stinkweed instead of barley.”
The words of Job are ended.
Elihu Rebukes Job in Anger
32 Then these three men stopped answering Job, because he was (CH)righteous in his own eyes. 2 But the anger of Elihu the son of Barachel the (CI)Buzite, of the family of Ram, burned against Job; his anger burned (CJ)because he justified himself [ar](CK)before God. 3 And his anger burned against his three friends because they had found no answer, yet they had condemned Job. 4 Now Elihu had waited [as]to speak to Job because they were years older than he. 5 But when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of the three men, his anger burned.
6 So Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite [at]spoke out and said,
“I am young in years and you are (CL)old;
Therefore I was shy and afraid to tell you [au]what I think.
7 I [av]thought [aw](CM)age should speak,
And [ax]increased years should teach wisdom.
8 But it is a spirit that is in mankind,
And the (CN)breath of the Almighty gives them (CO)understanding.
9 The [ay]abundant in years may not be wise,
Nor may (CP)elders understand justice.
10 So I [az]say, ‘Listen to me,
I too will tell [ba]what I think.’
11 “Behold, I waited for your words,
I listened to your skillful speech,
While you [bb]pondered what to say.
12 I also paid close attention to you;
But [bc]indeed, there was no one who refuted Job,
Not one of you who answered his words.
13 So do not say,
‘(CQ)We have found wisdom:
God will [bd]defeat him, not man.’
14 But he has not presented his words against me,
Nor will I reply to him with your [be]arguments.
15 “They are dismayed, they no longer answer;
Words have [bf]failed them.
16 Should I wait, because they are not speaking,
Because they have [bg]stopped and no longer answer?
17 I too will [bh]give my share of answers;
I also will tell my opinion.
18 For I am full of words;
The spirit within me compels me.
19 Behold, my belly is like unvented wine;
Like new wineskins, it is about to burst.
20 Let me speak so that I may get relief;
Let me open my lips and answer.
21 Let me (CR)be partial to no one,
Nor flatter any man.
22 For I do not know how to flatter,
Otherwise my Maker would quickly take me away.
Elihu Claims to Speak for God
33 “However, please (CS)hear my speech, Job,
And listen to all my words.
2 Behold now, I open my mouth,
My tongue in my [bi]mouth speaks.
3 My words are from the integrity of my heart,
And my lips speak (CT)knowledge sincerely.
4 The (CU)Spirit of God has made me,
And the (CV)breath of [bj]the Almighty gives me life.
5 (CW)Refute me if you can;
Line up against me, take your stand.
6 Behold, I belong to God, like you;
I too have been [bk]formed out of the (CX)clay.
7 Behold, (CY)no fear of me should terrify you,
Nor should my pressure weigh heavily on you.
8 “You have in fact spoken [bl]while I listened,
And I heard the sound of your words:
9 ‘I am (CZ)pure, (DA)without wrongdoing;
I am innocent and there (DB)is no guilt in me.
10 Behold, He [bm]invents [bn]criticisms against me;
He (DC)counts me as His enemy.
11 He (DD)puts my feet in the stocks;
He watches all my paths.’
12 Behold, let me respond to you, (DE)you are not right in this,
For God is greater than mankind.
13 “Why do you (DF)complain to Him
That He does not give an account of all His doings?
14 Indeed (DG)God speaks once,
Or twice, yet no one notices it.
15 In a (DH)dream, a vision of the night,
When deep sleep falls on people,
While they slumber in their beds,
16 Then (DI)He opens the ears of people,
And horrifies them with warnings,
17 So that He may turn a person away from bad conduct,
And [bo]keep a man from pride;
18 He (DJ)keeps his soul back from the pit,
And his life from perishing by the (DK)spear.
19 “A person is also rebuked by (DL)pain in his bed,
And with constant complaint in his bones,
20 So that his life (DM)loathes bread,
And his soul, food [bp]that he should crave.
21 His (DN)flesh wastes away from sight,
And his (DO)bones, which were not seen, stick out.
22 Then (DP)his soul comes near to the pit,
And his life to those who bring death.
23 “If there is an (DQ)interceding angel for him,
One out of a thousand,
To remind a person of what is [bq]right for him,
24 And he is gracious to him, and says,
‘Free him from (DR)going down to the pit,
I have found a (DS)ransom’;
25 Let his flesh become fresher than in youth,
Let him return to the days of his youthful vigor;
26 Then he will (DT)pray to God, and He will accept him,
So that (DU)he may see His face with joy,
And He will restore His righteousness to that person.
27 He will sing to people and say,
‘I (DV)have sinned and perverted what is right,
And it is not (DW)proper for me.
28 He has redeemed my soul from going to the pit,
And my life will (DX)see the light.’
29 “Behold, God does (DY)all these things for a man two or three times,
30 To (DZ)bring back his soul from the pit,
So that he may be enlightened with the light of life.
31 Pay attention, Job, listen to me;
Keep silent, and let me speak.
32 Then if [br]you have anything to say, answer me;
Speak, for I would take pleasure in justifying you.
33 If not, (EA)listen to me;
Keep silent, and I will teach you wisdom.”
Elihu Vindicates God’s Justice
34 Then Elihu continued and said,
2 “Hear my words, you wise men,
And listen to me, you who understand.
3 For (EB)the ear tests words
As the palate tastes food.
4 Let us choose for ourselves what is right;
Let us understand among ourselves what is good.
5 For Job has said, ‘(EC)I am righteous,
But (ED)God has taken away my right;
6 [bs]Should I lie about my right?
My [bt](EE)wound is incurable, though I am without wrongdoing.’
7 What man is like Job,
Who (EF)drinks up derision like water,
8 Who goes (EG)in company with the workers of injustice,
And walks with wicked people?
9 For he has said, ‘(EH)It is of no use to a man
When he becomes friends with God.’
10 “Therefore, listen to me, you men of understanding.
Far be it from God to (EI)do evil,
And from the Almighty to do wrong.
11 For He repays a person for (EJ)his work,
And lets things happen in correspondence to a man’s [bu]behavior.
12 (EK)God certainly will not act wickedly,
And the Almighty will not pervert justice.
13 Who (EL)gave Him authority over the earth?
And who (EM)has placed the whole world on Him?
14 If He were to [bv]determine to do so,
If He were to (EN)gather His [bw]spirit and His breath to Himself,
15 [bx](EO)Humanity would perish together,
And mankind would (EP)return to dust.
16 “But if you have understanding, hear this;
Listen to the sound of my words.
17 Shall (EQ)one who hates justice rule?
And (ER)will you condemn the righteous mighty One,
18 Who says to a king, ‘You worthless one,’
To nobles, ‘You wicked one’;
19 Who shows no (ES)partiality to the prominent,
Nor regards the rich as above the poor,
Since they are all the (ET)work of His hands?
20 In a moment they die, and (EU)at midnight
People are shaken and pass away,
And (EV)the powerful are taken away without a hand.
21 “For (EW)His eyes are upon the ways of a person,
And He sees all his steps.
22 There is (EX)no darkness or deep shadow
Where the workers of injustice can hide themselves.
23 For He does not (EY)need to consider a person further,
That he should go before God in judgment.
24 He breaks in pieces the (EZ)mighty without investigation,
And sets others in their place.
25 Therefore He (FA)knows their deeds,
And (FB)He overthrows them in the night,
And they are crushed.
26 He (FC)strikes them like the wicked
[by]In a public place,
27 Because they (FD)turned aside from following Him,
And (FE)had no regard for any of His ways,
28 So that they caused (FF)the cry of the poor to come to Him,
And that He would (FG)hear the cry of the afflicted—
29 When He keeps quiet, who can condemn?
And when He hides His face, who then can look at Him,
That is, regarding both nation and a person?—
30 So that (FH)godless people would not rule,
Nor be snares for the people.
31 “For has anyone said to God,
‘I have endured punishment;
I will not offend anymore;
32 Teach me what I do not see;
If I have (FI)done wrong,
I will not do it again’?
33 Shall God (FJ)repay on your terms, because you have rejected His?
For you must choose, and not I;
Therefore declare what you know.
34 Men of understanding will say to me,
And a wise man who hears me,
35 ‘Job (FK)speaks without knowledge,
And his words are without wisdom.
36 Oh that Job were tested [bz]to the limit,
Because [ca]he answers (FL)like sinners.
37 For he adds (FM)rebellion to his sin;
He (FN)claps his hands among us,
And multiplies his words against God.’”
Elihu Sharply Rebukes Job
35 Then Elihu continued and said,
2 “Do you think this is in accordance with (FO)justice?
Do you say, ‘My righteousness is more than God’s’?
3 For you say, ‘(FP)What advantage will it be to [cb]You?
(FQ)What benefit will I have, more than if I had sinned?’
4 I will answer you,
And your friends with you.
5 (FR)Look at the heavens and see;
And look at (FS)the clouds—they are higher than you.
6 If you have sinned, (FT)what do you accomplish against Him?
And if your wrongdoings are many, what do you do to Him?
7 If you are righteous, (FU)what do you give to Him,
Or what does He receive from your hand?
8 Your wickedness is for a man like yourself,
And your righteousness is for a son of man.
9 “Because of the (FV)multitude of oppressions they cry out;
They cry for help because of the arm (FW)of the mighty.
10 But (FX)no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker,
Who (FY)gives songs in the night,
11 Who (FZ)teaches us more than the animals of the earth
And makes us wiser than the birds of the sky?’
12 There (GA)they cry out, but He does not answer
Because of the pride of evil people.
13 (GB)God certainly will not listen to [cc]an empty cry,
Nor will the Almighty regard it.
14 How much less when (GC)you say you do not look at Him,
The (GD)case is before Him, and you must wait for Him!
15 And now, because He has not avenged His anger,
Nor has He acknowledged [cd]wrongdoing well,
16 So Job opens his mouth with empty words;
He multiplies words (GE)without knowledge.”
Elihu Speaks of God’s Dealings with Mankind
36 Then Elihu continued and said,
2 “Wait for me a little, and I will show you
That there [ce]is still more to be said on God’s behalf.
3 I will bring my knowledge from afar,
And ascribe (GF)righteousness to my Maker.
4 For truly (GG)my words are not false;
One who is (GH)perfect in knowledge is with you.
5 Behold, God is mighty but does not (GI)reject anyone;
He is (GJ)mighty in strength of understanding.
6 He does not (GK)keep the wicked alive,
But gives justice to (GL)the afflicted.
7 He does not (GM)withdraw His eyes from the righteous,
But (GN)with kings on the throne
He has seated them forever, and they are exalted.
8 And if they are bound in shackles,
And are caught in the snares of (GO)misery,
9 Then He declares to them their work
And their wrongdoings, that they have (GP)been arrogant.
10 (GQ)He opens their ears to instruction,
And (GR)commands that they return from injustice.
11 If they listen and serve Him,
They will (GS)end their days in prosperity,
And their years in (GT)happiness.
12 But if they do not listen, they will [cf]perish (GU)by the sword,
And (GV)die without knowledge.
13 But the godless in heart nurture anger;
They do not call for help when He binds them.
14 [cg]They die in youth,
And their life perishes among the (GW)cult prostitutes.
15 He rescues the afflicted in [ch]their (GX)misery,
And (GY)opens their ears in time of oppression.
16 Then indeed, He induced you away from the mouth of distress,
And instead of it, a broad place with no constraint;
And your table was full of [ci]rich food.
17 “But you were full of (GZ)judgment on the wicked;
Judgment and justice take hold of you.
18 Beware that (HA)wrath does not entice you to mockery;
And do not let the greatness of the (HB)ransom turn you aside.
19 Will your cry for help keep you from distress,
Or all the exertions of your strength?
20 Do not long for (HC)the night,
When people [cj]vanish in their places.
21 Be careful, do (HD)not turn to evil,
For you preferred this to (HE)misery.
22 Behold, God is exalted in His power;
Who is a (HF)teacher like Him?
23 Who has appointed Him His way,
And who has said, ‘(HG)You have done wrong’?
24 “Remember that you are to (HH)exalt His work,
Of which people have (HI)sung.
25 All people have seen it;
Mankind looks at it from afar.
26 Behold, God is (HJ)exalted, and (HK)we do not know Him;
The (HL)number of His years is unsearchable.
27 For (HM)He draws up the drops of water;
They distill rain from its [ck]celestial stream,
28 Which clouds pour down;
They drip upon mankind abundantly.
29 Can anyone understand the (HN)spreading of the clouds,
The (HO)thundering of His [cl]pavilion?
30 Behold, He spreads His [cm]lightning about Him,
And He covers the depths of the sea.
31 For by them He (HP)judges peoples;
He (HQ)gives food in abundance.
32 He covers His hands with the [cn]lightning,
And (HR)commands it to strike the target.
33 Its (HS)thundering voice declares [co]His presence;
The livestock also, concerning what is coming up.
Elihu Says God Has Authority Over the Storm
37 “At this also my heart trembles,
And leaps from its place.
2 Listen closely to the (HT)thunder of His voice,
And the rumbling that goes out from His mouth.
3 Under the whole heaven He lets it loose,
And His [cp]lightning travels to the (HU)ends of the earth.
4 After it, a voice roars;
He thunders with His majestic voice,
And He does not restrain [cq]the lightning when His voice is heard.
5 God (HV)thunders wondrously with His voice,
Doing (HW)great things which we do not comprehend.
6 For to (HX)the snow He says, ‘Fall on the earth,’
And to the [cr](HY)downpour and the rain, ‘Be strong.’
7 He (HZ)seals the hand of every person,
So that (IA)all people may know His work.
8 Then the animal goes into its (IB)lair
And remains in its [cs]den.
9 From the [ct](IC)south comes the storm,
And from the north wind the cold.
10 From the breath of God (ID)ice is made,
And the expanse of the waters is frozen.
11 He also (IE)loads the clouds with moisture;
He (IF)disperses (IG)the cloud of His [cu]lightning.
12 It changes direction, turning around by His guidance,
That [cv]it may do whatever He (IH)commands [cw]it
On the (II)face of the inhabited earth.
13 Whether for [cx](IJ)correction, or for (IK)His earth,
Or for (IL)goodness, He causes it to [cy]happen.
14 “Listen to this, Job;
Stand and consider the wonders of God.
15 Do you know how God establishes them,
And makes the [cz]lightning of His clouds to shine?
16 Do you know about the hovering of the clouds,
The (IM)wonders of One who is (IN)perfect in knowledge,
17 You whose garments are hot
When the land is still because of the south wind?
18 Can you, with Him, (IO)spread out the skies,
Strong as a cast metal mirror?
19 Teach us what we are to say to Him;
We (IP)cannot present our case because of darkness.
20 Shall it be told Him that I would speak?
[da]Or should a man say that he would be swallowed up?
21 “Now people do not see the light which is bright in the skies;
But the wind has passed and cleared them.
22 From the north comes golden splendor;
Around God is awesome majesty.
23 The Almighty—(IQ)we cannot find Him;
He is (IR)exalted in power
And (IS)He will not violate (IT)justice and abundant righteousness.
24 Therefore people (IU)fear Him;
He does not (IV)regard any who are wise of heart.”
God Speaks Now to Job
38 Then the Lord (IW)answered Job from the whirlwind and said,
2 “Who is this who (IX)darkens the divine plan
By words without knowledge?
3 Now [db](IY)tighten the belt on your waist like a man,
And (IZ)I shall ask you, and you inform Me!
4 Where were you (JA)when I laid the foundation of the earth?
Tell Me, if you [dc]have understanding,
5 Who set its (JB)measurements? Since you know.
Or who stretched the measuring line over it?
6 On what (JC)were its bases sunk?
Or who laid its cornerstone,
7 When the morning stars sang together
And all the (JD)sons of God shouted for joy?
8 “Or who (JE)enclosed the sea with doors
When it went out from the womb, bursting forth;
9 When I made a cloud its garment,
And thick darkness its swaddling bands,
10 And I [dd](JF)placed boundaries on it
And set a bolt and doors,
11 And I said, ‘As far as this point you shall come, but no farther;
And here your proud waves shall stop’?
God’s Mighty Power
12 “Have you [de]ever in your life commanded the morning,
And made the dawn know its place,
13 So that it would take hold of (JG)the ends of the earth,
And (JH)the wicked would be shaken off from it?
14 It is changed like clay under the seal;
And they stand out like a garment.
15 (JI)Their light is withheld from the wicked,
And the (JJ)uplifted arm is broken.
16 “Have you entered (JK)the springs of the sea,
And walked [df]in the depth of the ocean?
17 Have the gates of death been revealed to you,
And have you seen the gates of (JL)deep darkness?
18 Have you understood the [dg]expanse of (JM)the earth?
Tell Me, if you know all this.
19 “Where is the way to the dwelling of light?
And darkness, where is its place,
20 That you would take it to (JN)its territory,
And discern the paths to its [dh]home?
21 You know, for (JO)you were born then,
And the number of your days is great!
22 Have you entered the storehouses (JP)of the snow,
And have you seen the storehouses of the (JQ)hail,
23 Which I have reserved for a time of distress,
For a day of war and battle?
24 Where is the way that (JR)the light is divided,
And the east wind scattered on the earth?
25 “Who has split open a channel for the flood,
And a way for the thunderbolt,
26 To bring (JS)rain on a land without [di]people,
On a desert without a person in it,
27 To (JT)satisfy the waste and desolate land,
And to make the [dj]seeds of grass to sprout?
28 Does (JU)the rain have a father?
Or who has fathered the drops of dew?
29 From whose womb has come the (JV)ice?
And the frost of heaven, who has given it birth?
30 Water [dk]becomes hard like stone,
And the surface of the deep is imprisoned.
31 “Can you tie up the chains of the (JW)Pleiades,
Or untie the cords of Orion?
32 Can you bring out a [dl]constellation in its season,
And guide the Bear with her [dm]satellites?
33 Do you know the (JX)ordinances of the heavens,
Or do you establish their rule over the earth?
34 “Can you raise your voice to the clouds,
So that an (JY)abundance of water will cover you?
35 Can you (JZ)send flashes of lightning, so that they may go
And say to you, ‘Here we are’?
36 Who has (KA)put wisdom in the innermost being,
Or given (KB)understanding to the [dn]mind?
37 Who can count the clouds by wisdom,
And (KC)pour out the water jars of the heavens,
38 When the dust hardens into a mass
And the clods stick together?
39 “Can you hunt the (KD)prey for the lioness,
Or satisfy the appetite of young lions,
40 When they (KE)crouch in their hiding places,
And lie in wait in their lair?
41 Who prepares [do]feed for (KF)the raven
When its young cry to God,
And wander about without food?
Footnotes
- Job 30:7 Or bray
- Job 30:8 Lit sons
- Job 30:8 Lit sons
- Job 30:9 Lit song
- Job 30:9 I.e., prob. a word of insult
- Job 30:10 Lit withhold spit from my face
- Job 30:11 Some mss His
- Job 30:11 Or cord
- Job 30:12 Or youth arise
- Job 30:14 Lit Under
- Job 30:15 Or welfare
- Job 30:16 Lit upon
- Job 30:17 Lit from upon
- Job 30:21 Lit turned to be
- Job 30:25 Lit hard of day
- Job 30:27 Lit My inward parts are boiling
- Job 30:28 Or blackened, but not by the heat of the sun
- Job 30:30 Lit from upon
- Job 30:30 Lit heat
- Job 30:31 Lit becomes
- Job 31:6 Lit just
- Job 31:7 Lit walked after
- Job 31:8 Or offspring
- Job 31:10 I.e., have sexual relations with her
- Job 31:12 I.e., the place of destruction
- Job 31:12 Or yield
- Job 31:17 Lit eaten from it
- Job 31:18 Lit my mother’s womb
- Job 31:20 Lit blessed; i.e., for clothing
- Job 31:21 Lit my help
- Job 31:22 Lit neck-joint
- Job 31:22 Lit from the bone of the upper arm
- Job 31:26 Lit light
- Job 31:27 Lit kissed my mouth
- Job 31:28 Lit judges
- Job 31:30 Lit And
- Job 31:30 Lit given my palate
- Job 31:31 Lit give
- Job 31:32 MT way
- Job 31:35 Lit mark
- Job 31:39 Lit strength
- Job 31:39 Lit the soul of its owners to expire
- Job 31:40 Lit come forth
- Job 32:2 Or more than
- Job 32:4 Lit for Job with words; or possibly while they were speaking with Job
- Job 32:6 Lit answered
- Job 32:6 Lit my knowledge
- Job 32:7 Lit said
- Job 32:7 Lit days
- Job 32:7 Lit many
- Job 32:9 Lit great (i.e., in years); or nobles
- Job 32:10 Or said
- Job 32:10 Lit my knowledge
- Job 32:11 Lit searched out words
- Job 32:12 Lit Behold
- Job 32:13 Lit scatter
- Job 32:14 Lit words
- Job 32:15 Lit moved away from
- Job 32:16 Lit stand
- Job 32:17 Lit answer my share
- Job 33:2 Lit palate
- Job 33:4 Heb Shaddai
- Job 33:6 Lit cut out of
- Job 33:8 Lit in my ears
- Job 33:10 Lit finds
- Job 33:10 Or complaints
- Job 33:17 Lit hide
- Job 33:20 Lit of craving
- Job 33:23 Lit his uprightness
- Job 33:32 Lit there are words
- Job 34:6 Or Although I am right I am accounted a liar.
- Job 34:6 Lit arrow
- Job 34:11 Lit way
- Job 34:14 Lit set His mind on Himself
- Job 34:14 Or Spirit
- Job 34:15 Lit All flesh
- Job 34:26 Lit In the place of the ones seeing
- Job 34:36 Or to the end
- Job 34:36 Lit of answers like
- Job 35:3 Or me
- Job 35:13 Or falsehood
- Job 35:15 Or arrogance
- Job 36:2 Lit are yet words for God
- Job 36:12 Lit pass away
- Job 36:14 Lit Their soul dies
- Job 36:15 Lit his
- Job 36:16 Or fatness
- Job 36:20 Lit go up
- Job 36:27 Or mist
- Job 36:29 Lit booth
- Job 36:30 Lit light
- Job 36:32 Lit light
- Job 36:33 Lit concerning Him
- Job 37:3 Lit light
- Job 37:4 Lit them
- Job 37:6 Lit shower of rain and shower of rains
- Job 37:8 Lit dens
- Job 37:9 Lit chamber
- Job 37:11 Lit light
- Job 37:12 Lit they
- Job 37:12 Lit them
- Job 37:13 Lit the rod
- Job 37:13 Lit be found
- Job 37:15 Lit light
- Job 37:20 Or If a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up
- Job 38:3 I.e., as if for battle
- Job 38:4 Lit know understanding
- Job 38:10 Lit broke My decree on it
- Job 38:12 Lit from your days commanded
- Job 38:16 Or in search of the deep
- Job 38:18 Or width
- Job 38:20 Lit house
- Job 38:26 Lit man
- Job 38:27 Or growth
- Job 38:30 Lit hides itself like
- Job 38:32 Heb Mazzaroth
- Job 38:32 Lit sons
- Job 38:36 Or rooster
- Job 38:41 Lit its feed
Job 30-38
New International Version
Job 30-38
New International Version
30 “But now they mock me,(A)
men younger than I,
whose fathers I would have disdained
to put with my sheep dogs.(B)
2 Of what use was the strength of their hands to me,
since their vigor had gone from them?
3 Haggard from want and hunger,
they roamed[a] the parched land(C)
in desolate wastelands(D) at night.(E)
4 In the brush they gathered salt herbs,(F)
and their food[b] was the root of the broom bush.(G)
5 They were banished from human society,
shouted at as if they were thieves.
6 They were forced to live in the dry stream beds,
among the rocks and in holes in the ground.(H)
7 They brayed(I) among the bushes(J)
and huddled in the undergrowth.
8 A base and nameless brood,(K)
they were driven out of the land.(L)
9 “And now those young men mock me(M) in song;(N)
I have become a byword(O) among them.
10 They detest me(P) and keep their distance;
they do not hesitate to spit in my face.(Q)
11 Now that God has unstrung my bow(R) and afflicted me,(S)
they throw off restraint(T) in my presence.
12 On my right(U) the tribe[c] attacks;
they lay snares(V) for my feet,(W)
they build their siege ramps against me.(X)
13 They break up my road;(Y)
they succeed in destroying me.(Z)
‘No one can help him,’ they say.
14 They advance as through a gaping breach;(AA)
amid the ruins they come rolling in.
15 Terrors(AB) overwhelm me;(AC)
my dignity is driven away as by the wind,
my safety vanishes like a cloud.(AD)
16 “And now my life ebbs away;(AE)
days of suffering grip me.(AF)
17 Night pierces my bones;
my gnawing pains never rest.(AG)
18 In his great power(AH) God becomes like clothing to me[d];
he binds me like the neck of my garment.
19 He throws me into the mud,(AI)
and I am reduced to dust and ashes.(AJ)
20 “I cry out to you,(AK) God, but you do not answer;(AL)
I stand up, but you merely look at me.
21 You turn on me ruthlessly;(AM)
with the might of your hand(AN) you attack me.(AO)
22 You snatch me up and drive me before the wind;(AP)
you toss me about in the storm.(AQ)
23 I know you will bring me down to death,(AR)
to the place appointed for all the living.(AS)
24 “Surely no one lays a hand on a broken man(AT)
when he cries for help in his distress.(AU)
25 Have I not wept for those in trouble?(AV)
Has not my soul grieved for the poor?(AW)
26 Yet when I hoped for good, evil came;
when I looked for light, then came darkness.(AX)
27 The churning inside me never stops;(AY)
days of suffering confront me.(AZ)
28 I go about blackened,(BA) but not by the sun;
I stand up in the assembly and cry for help.(BB)
29 I have become a brother of jackals,(BC)
a companion of owls.(BD)
30 My skin grows black(BE) and peels;(BF)
my body burns with fever.(BG)
31 My lyre is tuned to mourning,(BH)
and my pipe(BI) to the sound of wailing.
31 “I made a covenant with my eyes(BJ)
not to look lustfully at a young woman.(BK)
2 For what is our lot(BL) from God above,
our heritage from the Almighty on high?(BM)
3 Is it not ruin(BN) for the wicked,
disaster(BO) for those who do wrong?(BP)
4 Does he not see my ways(BQ)
and count my every step?(BR)
5 “If I have walked with falsehood
or my foot has hurried after deceit(BS)—
6 let God weigh me(BT) in honest scales(BU)
and he will know that I am blameless(BV)—
7 if my steps have turned from the path,(BW)
if my heart has been led by my eyes,
or if my hands(BX) have been defiled,(BY)
8 then may others eat what I have sown,(BZ)
and may my crops be uprooted.(CA)
9 “If my heart has been enticed(CB) by a woman,(CC)
or if I have lurked at my neighbor’s door,
10 then may my wife grind(CD) another man’s grain,
and may other men sleep with her.(CE)
11 For that would have been wicked,(CF)
a sin to be judged.(CG)
12 It is a fire(CH) that burns to Destruction[e];(CI)
it would have uprooted my harvest.(CJ)
13 “If I have denied justice to any of my servants,(CK)
whether male or female,
when they had a grievance against me,(CL)
14 what will I do when God confronts me?(CM)
What will I answer when called to account?(CN)
15 Did not he who made me in the womb make them?(CO)
Did not the same one form us both within our mothers?(CP)
16 “If I have denied the desires of the poor(CQ)
or let the eyes of the widow(CR) grow weary,(CS)
17 if I have kept my bread to myself,
not sharing it with the fatherless(CT)—
18 but from my youth I reared them as a father would,
and from my birth I guided the widow(CU)—
19 if I have seen anyone perishing for lack of clothing,(CV)
or the needy(CW) without garments,
20 and their hearts did not bless me(CX)
for warming them with the fleece(CY) from my sheep,
21 if I have raised my hand against the fatherless,(CZ)
knowing that I had influence in court,(DA)
22 then let my arm fall from the shoulder,
let it be broken off at the joint.(DB)
23 For I dreaded destruction from God,(DC)
and for fear of his splendor(DD) I could not do such things.(DE)
24 “If I have put my trust in gold(DF)
or said to pure gold, ‘You are my security,’(DG)
25 if I have rejoiced over my great wealth,(DH)
the fortune my hands had gained,(DI)
26 if I have regarded the sun(DJ) in its radiance
or the moon(DK) moving in splendor,
27 so that my heart was secretly enticed(DL)
and my hand offered them a kiss of homage,(DM)
28 then these also would be sins to be judged,(DN)
for I would have been unfaithful to God on high.(DO)
29 “If I have rejoiced at my enemy’s misfortune(DP)
or gloated over the trouble that came to him(DQ)—
30 I have not allowed my mouth to sin
by invoking a curse against their life(DR)—
31 if those of my household have never said,
‘Who has not been filled with Job’s meat?’(DS)—
32 but no stranger had to spend the night in the street,
for my door was always open to the traveler(DT)—
33 if I have concealed(DU) my sin as people do,[f]
by hiding(DV) my guilt in my heart
34 because I so feared the crowd(DW)
and so dreaded the contempt of the clans
that I kept silent(DX) and would not go outside—
35 (“Oh, that I had someone to hear me!(DY)
I sign now my defense—let the Almighty answer me;
let my accuser(DZ) put his indictment in writing.
36 Surely I would wear it on my shoulder,(EA)
I would put it on like a crown.(EB)
37 I would give him an account of my every step;(EC)
I would present it to him as to a ruler.(ED))—
38 “if my land cries out against me(EE)
and all its furrows are wet(EF) with tears,
39 if I have devoured its yield without payment(EG)
or broken the spirit of its tenants,(EH)
40 then let briers(EI) come up instead of wheat
and stinkweed(EJ) instead of barley.”
The words of Job are ended.(EK)
Elihu
32 So these three men stopped answering Job,(EL) because he was righteous in his own eyes.(EM) 2 But Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite,(EN) of the family of Ram, became very angry with Job for justifying himself(EO) rather than God.(EP) 3 He was also angry with the three friends,(EQ) because they had found no way to refute Job,(ER) and yet had condemned him.[g](ES) 4 Now Elihu had waited before speaking to Job because they were older than he.(ET) 5 But when he saw that the three men had nothing more to say, his anger was aroused.
6 So Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite said:
“I am young in years,
and you are old;(EU)
that is why I was fearful,
not daring to tell you what I know.
7 I thought, ‘Age should speak;
advanced years should teach wisdom.’(EV)
8 But it is the spirit[h](EW) in a person,
the breath of the Almighty,(EX) that gives them understanding.(EY)
9 It is not only the old[i] who are wise,(EZ)
not only the aged(FA) who understand what is right.(FB)
10 “Therefore I say: Listen to me;(FC)
I too will tell you what I know.(FD)
11 I waited while you spoke,
I listened to your reasoning;
while you were searching for words,
12 I gave you my full attention.
But not one of you has proved Job wrong;
none of you has answered his arguments.(FE)
13 Do not say, ‘We have found wisdom;(FF)
let God, not a man, refute(FG) him.’
14 But Job has not marshaled his words against me,(FH)
and I will not answer him with your arguments.
15 “They are dismayed and have no more to say;
words have failed them.(FI)
16 Must I wait, now that they are silent,
now that they stand there with no reply?
17 I too will have my say;
I too will tell what I know.(FJ)
18 For I am full of words,
and the spirit(FK) within me compels me;(FL)
19 inside I am like bottled-up wine,
like new wineskins ready to burst.(FM)
20 I must speak and find relief;
I must open my lips and reply.(FN)
21 I will show no partiality,(FO)
nor will I flatter anyone;(FP)
22 for if I were skilled in flattery,
my Maker(FQ) would soon take me away.(FR)
33 “But now, Job, listen(FS) to my words;
pay attention to everything I say.(FT)
2 I am about to open my mouth;
my words are on the tip of my tongue.
3 My words come from an upright heart;(FU)
my lips sincerely speak what I know.(FV)
4 The Spirit(FW) of God has made me;(FX)
the breath of the Almighty(FY) gives me life.(FZ)
5 Answer me(GA) then, if you can;
stand up(GB) and argue your case before me.(GC)
6 I am the same as you in God’s sight;(GD)
I too am a piece of clay.(GE)
7 No fear of me should alarm you,
nor should my hand be heavy on you.(GF)
8 “But you have said in my hearing—
I heard the very words—
9 ‘I am pure,(GG) I have done no wrong;(GH)
I am clean and free from sin.(GI)
10 Yet God has found fault with me;
he considers me his enemy.(GJ)
11 He fastens my feet in shackles;(GK)
he keeps close watch on all my paths.’(GL)
12 “But I tell you, in this you are not right,
for God is greater than any mortal.(GM)
13 Why do you complain to him(GN)
that he responds to no one’s words[j]?(GO)
14 For God does speak(GP)—now one way, now another(GQ)—
though no one perceives it.(GR)
15 In a dream,(GS) in a vision(GT) of the night,(GU)
when deep sleep(GV) falls on people
as they slumber in their beds,
16 he may speak(GW) in their ears
and terrify them(GX) with warnings,(GY)
17 to turn them from wrongdoing
and keep them from pride,(GZ)
18 to preserve them from the pit,(HA)
their lives from perishing by the sword.[k](HB)
19 “Or someone may be chastened(HC) on a bed of pain(HD)
with constant distress in their bones,(HE)
20 so that their body finds food(HF) repulsive
and their soul loathes the choicest meal.(HG)
21 Their flesh wastes away to nothing,
and their bones,(HH) once hidden, now stick out.(HI)
22 They draw near to the pit,(HJ)
and their life to the messengers of death.[l](HK)
23 Yet if there is an angel at their side,
a messenger,(HL) one out of a thousand,
sent to tell them how to be upright,(HM)
24 and he is gracious to that person and says to God,
‘Spare them from going down to the pit;(HN)
I have found a ransom for them(HO)—
25 let their flesh be renewed(HP) like a child’s;
let them be restored as in the days of their youth’(HQ)—
26 then that person can pray to God and find favor with him,(HR)
they will see God’s face and shout for joy;(HS)
he will restore them to full well-being.(HT)
27 And they will go to others and say,
‘I have sinned,(HU) I have perverted what is right,(HV)
but I did not get what I deserved.(HW)
28 God has delivered(HX) me from going down to the pit,(HY)
and I shall live to enjoy the light of life.’(HZ)
29 “God does all these things to a person(IA)—
twice, even three times(IB)—
30 to turn them back(IC) from the pit,(ID)
that the light of life(IE) may shine on them.(IF)
31 “Pay attention, Job, and listen(IG) to me;(IH)
be silent,(II) and I will speak.
32 If you have anything to say, answer me;(IJ)
speak up, for I want to vindicate you.(IK)
33 But if not, then listen to me;(IL)
be silent,(IM) and I will teach you wisdom.(IN)”
34 Then Elihu said:
2 “Hear my words, you wise men;
listen to me,(IO) you men of learning.
3 For the ear tests words
as the tongue tastes food.(IP)
4 Let us discern for ourselves what is right;(IQ)
let us learn together what is good.(IR)
5 “Job says, ‘I am innocent,(IS)
but God denies me justice.(IT)
6 Although I am right,
I am considered a liar;(IU)
although I am guiltless,(IV)
his arrow inflicts an incurable wound.’(IW)
7 Is there anyone like Job,
who drinks scorn like water?(IX)
8 He keeps company with evildoers;
he associates with the wicked.(IY)
9 For he says, ‘There is no profit
in trying to please God.’(IZ)
10 “So listen to me,(JA) you men of understanding.(JB)
Far be it from God to do evil,(JC)
from the Almighty to do wrong.(JD)
11 He repays everyone for what they have done;(JE)
he brings on them what their conduct deserves.(JF)
12 It is unthinkable that God would do wrong,(JG)
that the Almighty would pervert justice.(JH)
13 Who appointed(JI) him over the earth?
Who put him in charge of the whole world?(JJ)
14 If it were his intention
and he withdrew his spirit[m](JK) and breath,(JL)
15 all humanity would perish(JM) together
and mankind would return to the dust.(JN)
16 “If you have understanding,(JO) hear this;
listen to what I say.(JP)
17 Can someone who hates justice govern?(JQ)
Will you condemn the just and mighty One?(JR)
18 Is he not the One who says to kings, ‘You are worthless,’
and to nobles,(JS) ‘You are wicked,’(JT)
19 who shows no partiality(JU) to princes
and does not favor the rich over the poor,(JV)
for they are all the work of his hands?(JW)
20 They die in an instant, in the middle of the night;(JX)
the people are shaken and they pass away;
the mighty are removed without human hand.(JY)
21 “His eyes are on the ways of mortals;(JZ)
he sees their every step.(KA)
22 There is no deep shadow,(KB) no utter darkness,(KC)
where evildoers can hide.(KD)
23 God has no need to examine people further,(KE)
that they should come before him for judgment.(KF)
24 Without inquiry he shatters(KG) the mighty(KH)
and sets up others in their place.(KI)
25 Because he takes note of their deeds,(KJ)
he overthrows them in the night(KK) and they are crushed.(KL)
26 He punishes them for their wickedness(KM)
where everyone can see them,
27 because they turned from following him(KN)
and had no regard for any of his ways.(KO)
28 They caused the cry of the poor to come before him,
so that he heard the cry of the needy.(KP)
29 But if he remains silent,(KQ) who can condemn him?(KR)
If he hides his face,(KS) who can see him?
Yet he is over individual and nation alike,(KT)
30 to keep the godless(KU) from ruling,(KV)
from laying snares for the people.(KW)
31 “Suppose someone says to God,
‘I am guilty(KX) but will offend no more.
32 Teach me what I cannot see;(KY)
if I have done wrong, I will not do so again.’(KZ)
33 Should God then reward you on your terms,
when you refuse to repent?(LA)
You must decide, not I;
so tell me what you know.
34 “Men of understanding declare,
wise men who hear me say to me,
35 ‘Job speaks without knowledge;(LB)
his words lack insight.’(LC)
36 Oh, that Job might be tested to the utmost
for answering like a wicked man!(LD)
37 To his sin he adds rebellion;
scornfully he claps his hands(LE) among us
and multiplies his words(LF) against God.”(LG)
35 Then Elihu said:
2 “Do you think this is just?
You say, ‘I am in the right,(LH) not God.’(LI)
3 Yet you ask him, ‘What profit is it to me,[n]
and what do I gain by not sinning?’(LJ)
4 “I would like to reply to you
and to your friends with you.
5 Look up at the heavens(LK) and see;
gaze at the clouds so high above you.(LL)
6 If you sin, how does that affect him?
If your sins are many, what does that do to him?(LM)
7 If you are righteous, what do you give to him,(LN)
or what does he receive(LO) from your hand?(LP)
8 Your wickedness only affects humans like yourself,(LQ)
and your righteousness only other people.(LR)
9 “People cry out(LS) under a load of oppression;(LT)
they plead for relief from the arm of the powerful.(LU)
10 But no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker,(LV)
who gives songs(LW) in the night,(LX)
11 who teaches(LY) us(LZ) more than he teaches[o] the beasts of the earth
and makes us wiser than[p] the birds in the sky?’
12 He does not answer(MA) when people cry out
because of the arrogance(MB) of the wicked.(MC)
13 Indeed, God does not listen to their empty plea;
the Almighty pays no attention to it.(MD)
14 How much less, then, will he listen
when you say that you do not see him,(ME)
that your case(MF) is before him
and you must wait for him,(MG)
15 and further, that his anger never punishes(MH)
and he does not take the least notice of wickedness.[q](MI)
16 So Job opens his mouth with empty talk;(MJ)
without knowledge he multiplies words.”(MK)
36 Elihu continued:
2 “Bear with me a little longer and I will show you
that there is more to be said in God’s behalf.
3 I get my knowledge from afar;(ML)
I will ascribe justice to my Maker.(MM)
4 Be assured that my words are not false;(MN)
one who has perfect knowledge(MO) is with you.(MP)
5 “God is mighty,(MQ) but despises no one;(MR)
he is mighty, and firm in his purpose.(MS)
6 He does not keep the wicked alive(MT)
but gives the afflicted their rights.(MU)
7 He does not take his eyes off the righteous;(MV)
he enthrones them with kings(MW)
and exalts them forever.(MX)
8 But if people are bound in chains,(MY)
held fast by cords of affliction,(MZ)
9 he tells them what they have done—
that they have sinned arrogantly.(NA)
10 He makes them listen(NB) to correction(NC)
and commands them to repent of their evil.(ND)
11 If they obey and serve him,(NE)
they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity(NF)
and their years in contentment.(NG)
12 But if they do not listen,
they will perish by the sword[r](NH)
and die without knowledge.(NI)
13 “The godless in heart(NJ) harbor resentment;(NK)
even when he fetters them, they do not cry for help.(NL)
14 They die in their youth,(NM)
among male prostitutes of the shrines.(NN)
15 But those who suffer(NO) he delivers in their suffering;(NP)
he speaks(NQ) to them in their affliction.(NR)
16 “He is wooing(NS) you from the jaws of distress
to a spacious place(NT) free from restriction,(NU)
to the comfort of your table(NV) laden with choice food.(NW)
17 But now you are laden with the judgment due the wicked;(NX)
judgment and justice have taken hold of you.(NY)
18 Be careful that no one entices you by riches;
do not let a large bribe(NZ) turn you aside.(OA)
19 Would your wealth(OB) or even all your mighty efforts
sustain you so you would not be in distress?
20 Do not long for the night,(OC)
to drag people away from their homes.[s]
21 Beware of turning to evil,(OD)
which you seem to prefer to affliction.(OE)
22 “God is exalted in his power.(OF)
Who is a teacher like him?(OG)
23 Who has prescribed his ways(OH) for him,(OI)
or said to him, ‘You have done wrong’?(OJ)
24 Remember to extol his work,(OK)
which people have praised in song.(OL)
25 All humanity has seen it;(OM)
mortals gaze on it from afar.
26 How great is God—beyond our understanding!(ON)
The number of his years is past finding out.(OO)
27 “He draws up the drops of water,(OP)
which distill as rain to the streams[t];(OQ)
28 the clouds pour down their moisture
and abundant showers(OR) fall on mankind.(OS)
29 Who can understand how he spreads out the clouds,
how he thunders(OT) from his pavilion?(OU)
30 See how he scatters his lightning(OV) about him,
bathing the depths of the sea.(OW)
31 This is the way he governs[u] the nations(OX)
and provides food(OY) in abundance.(OZ)
32 He fills his hands with lightning
and commands it to strike its mark.(PA)
33 His thunder announces the coming storm;(PB)
even the cattle make known its approach.[v](PC)
37 “At this my heart pounds(PD)
and leaps from its place.
2 Listen!(PE) Listen to the roar of his voice,(PF)
to the rumbling that comes from his mouth.(PG)
3 He unleashes his lightning(PH) beneath the whole heaven
and sends it to the ends of the earth.(PI)
4 After that comes the sound of his roar;
he thunders(PJ) with his majestic voice.(PK)
When his voice resounds,
he holds nothing back.
5 God’s voice thunders(PL) in marvelous ways;(PM)
he does great things beyond our understanding.(PN)
6 He says to the snow,(PO) ‘Fall on the earth,’
and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’(PP)
7 So that everyone he has made may know his work,(PQ)
he stops all people from their labor.[w](PR)
8 The animals take cover;(PS)
they remain in their dens.(PT)
9 The tempest comes out from its chamber,(PU)
the cold from the driving winds.(PV)
10 The breath of God produces ice,
and the broad waters become frozen.(PW)
11 He loads the clouds with moisture;(PX)
he scatters his lightning(PY) through them.(PZ)
12 At his direction they swirl around
over the face of the whole earth
to do whatever he commands them.(QA)
13 He brings the clouds to punish people,(QB)
or to water his earth and show his love.(QC)
14 “Listen(QD) to this, Job;
stop and consider God’s wonders.(QE)
15 Do you know how God controls the clouds
and makes his lightning(QF) flash?(QG)
16 Do you know how the clouds hang poised,(QH)
those wonders of him who has perfect knowledge?(QI)
17 You who swelter in your clothes
when the land lies hushed under the south wind,(QJ)
18 can you join him in spreading out the skies,(QK)
hard as a mirror of cast bronze?(QL)
19 “Tell us what we should say to him;(QM)
we cannot draw up our case(QN) because of our darkness.(QO)
20 Should he be told that I want to speak?
Would anyone ask to be swallowed up?
21 Now no one can look at the sun,(QP)
bright as it is in the skies
after the wind has swept them clean.
22 Out of the north he comes in golden splendor;(QQ)
God comes in awesome majesty.(QR)
23 The Almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power;(QS)
in his justice(QT) and great righteousness, he does not oppress.(QU)
24 Therefore, people revere him,(QV)
for does he not have regard for all the wise(QW) in heart?[x]”
The Lord Speaks
38 Then the Lord spoke to Job(QX) out of the storm.(QY) He said:
2 “Who is this that obscures my plans(QZ)
with words without knowledge?(RA)
3 Brace yourself like a man;
I will question you,
and you shall answer me.(RB)
4 “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?(RC)
Tell me, if you understand.(RD)
5 Who marked off its dimensions?(RE) Surely you know!
Who stretched a measuring line(RF) across it?
6 On what were its footings set,(RG)
or who laid its cornerstone(RH)—
7 while the morning stars(RI) sang together(RJ)
and all the angels[y](RK) shouted for joy?(RL)
8 “Who shut up the sea behind doors(RM)
when it burst forth from the womb,(RN)
9 when I made the clouds its garment
and wrapped it in thick darkness,(RO)
10 when I fixed limits for it(RP)
and set its doors and bars in place,(RQ)
11 when I said, ‘This far you may come and no farther;(RR)
here is where your proud waves halt’?(RS)
Footnotes
- Job 30:3 Or gnawed
- Job 30:4 Or fuel
- Job 30:12 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
- Job 30:18 Hebrew; Septuagint power he grasps my clothing
- Job 31:12 Hebrew Abaddon
- Job 31:33 Or as Adam did
- Job 32:3 Masoretic Text; an ancient Hebrew scribal tradition Job, and so had condemned God
- Job 32:8 Or Spirit; also in verse 18
- Job 32:9 Or many; or great
- Job 33:13 Or that he does not answer for any of his actions
- Job 33:18 Or from crossing the river
- Job 33:22 Or to the place of the dead
- Job 34:14 Or Spirit
- Job 35:3 Or you
- Job 35:11 Or night, / 11 who teaches us by
- Job 35:11 Or us wise by
- Job 35:15 Symmachus, Theodotion and Vulgate; the meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
- Job 36:12 Or will cross the river
- Job 36:20 The meaning of the Hebrew for verses 18-20 is uncertain.
- Job 36:27 Or distill from the mist as rain
- Job 36:31 Or nourishes
- Job 36:33 Or announces his coming— / the One zealous against evil
- Job 37:7 Or work, / he fills all people with fear by his power
- Job 37:24 Or for he does not have regard for any who think they are wise.
- Job 38:7 Hebrew the sons of God
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