Job 15-21

New International Version

² “Would a wise person answer with empty notions
    or fill their belly with the hot east wind?^(B)
3 Would they argue with useless words,
    with speeches that have no value?^(C)
4 But you even undermine piety
    and hinder devotion to God.^(D)
5 Your sin^(E) prompts your mouth;^(F)
    you adopt the tongue of the crafty.^(G)
6 Your own mouth condemns you, not mine;
    your own lips testify against you.^(H)

⁷ “Are you the first man ever born?^(I)
    Were you brought forth before the hills?^(J)
8 Do you listen in on God’s council?^(K)
    Do you have a monopoly on wisdom?^(L)
9 What do you know that we do not know?
    What insights do you have that we do not have?^(M)
10 The gray-haired and the aged^(N) are on our side,
    men even older than your father.^(O)
11 Are God’s consolations^(P) not enough for you,
    words^(Q) spoken gently to you?^(R)
12 Why has your heart^(S) carried you away,
    and why do your eyes flash,
¹³ so that you vent your rage^(T) against God
    and pour out such words^(U) from your mouth?^(V)

¹⁴ “What are mortals, that they could be pure,
    or those born of woman,^(W) that they could be righteous?^(X)
15 If God places no trust in his holy ones,^(Y)
    if even the heavens are not pure in his eyes,^(Z)
16 how much less mortals, who are vile and corrupt,^(AA)
    who drink up evil^(AB) like water!^(AC)

¹⁷ “Listen to me and I will explain to you;
    let me tell you what I have seen,^(AD)
18 what the wise have declared,
    hiding nothing received from their ancestors^(AE)
19 (to whom alone the land^(AF) was given
    when no foreigners moved among them):
²⁰ All his days the wicked man suffers torment,^(AG)
    the ruthless man through all the years stored up for him.^(AH)
21 Terrifying sounds fill his ears;^(AI)
    when all seems well, marauders attack him.^(AJ)
22 He despairs of escaping the realm of darkness;^(AK)
    he is marked for the sword.^(AL)
23 He wanders about^(AM) for food like a vulture;^(AN)
    he knows the day of darkness^(AO) is at hand.^(AP)
24 Distress and anguish^(AQ) fill him with terror;^(AR)
    troubles overwhelm him, like a king^(AS) poised to attack,
²⁵ because he shakes his fist^(AT) at God
    and vaunts himself against the Almighty,^(AU)
26 defiantly charging against him
    with a thick, strong shield.^(AV)

²⁷ “Though his face is covered with fat
    and his waist bulges with flesh,^(AW)
28 he will inhabit ruined towns
    and houses where no one lives,^(AX)
    houses crumbling to rubble.^(AY)
29 He will no longer be rich and his wealth will not endure,^(AZ)
    nor will his possessions spread over the land.^(BA)
30 He will not escape the darkness;^(BB)
    a flame^(BC) will wither his shoots,^(BD)
    and the breath of God’s mouth^(BE) will carry him away.^(BF)
31 Let him not deceive^(BG) himself by trusting what is worthless,^(BH)
    for he will get nothing in return.^(BI)
32 Before his time^(BJ) he will wither,^(BK)
    and his branches will not flourish.^(BL)
33 He will be like a vine stripped of its unripe grapes,^(BM)
    like an olive tree shedding its blossoms.^(BN)
34 For the company of the godless^(BO) will be barren,
    and fire will consume^(BP) the tents of those who love bribes.^(BQ)
35 They conceive trouble^(BR) and give birth to evil;^(BS)
    their womb fashions deceit.”

² “I have heard many things like these;
    you are miserable comforters,^(BT) all of you!^(BU)
3 Will your long-winded speeches never end?^(BV)
    What ails you that you keep on arguing?^(BW)
4 I also could speak like you,
    if you were in my place;
I could make fine speeches against you
    and shake my head^(BX) at you.
⁵ But my mouth would encourage you;
    comfort^(BY) from my lips would bring you relief.^(BZ)

⁶ “Yet if I speak, my pain is not relieved;
    and if I refrain, it does not go away.^(CA)
7 Surely, God, you have worn me out;^(CB)
    you have devastated my entire household.^(CC)
8 You have shriveled me up—and it has become a witness;
    my gauntness^(CD) rises up and testifies against me.^(CE)
9 God assails me and tears^(CF) me in his anger^(CG)
    and gnashes his teeth at me;^(CH)
    my opponent fastens on me his piercing eyes.^(CI)
10 People open their mouths^(CJ) to jeer at me;^(CK)
    they strike my cheek^(CL) in scorn
    and unite together against me.^(CM)
11 God has turned me over to the ungodly
    and thrown me into the clutches of the wicked.^(CN)
12 All was well with me, but he shattered me;
    he seized me by the neck and crushed me.^(CO)
He has made me his target;^(CP)
13     his archers surround me.^(CQ)
Without pity, he pierces^(CR) my kidneys
    and spills my gall on the ground.
¹⁴ Again and again^(CS) he bursts upon me;
    he rushes at me like a warrior.^(CT)

¹⁵ “I have sewed sackcloth^(CU) over my skin
    and buried my brow in the dust.^(CV)
16 My face is red with weeping,^(CW)
    dark shadows ring my eyes;^(CX)
17 yet my hands have been free of violence^(CY)
    and my prayer is pure.^(CZ)

¹⁸ “Earth, do not cover my blood;^(DA)
    may my cry^(DB) never be laid to rest!^(DC)
19 Even now my witness^(DD) is in heaven;^(DE)
    my advocate is on high.^(DF)
20 My intercessor^(DG) is my friend^[a](DH)
    as my eyes pour out^(DI) tears^(DJ) to God;
²¹ on behalf of a man he pleads^(DK) with God
    as one pleads for a friend.

²² “Only a few years will pass
    before I take the path of no return.^(DL)

³ “Give me, O God, the pledge you demand.^(DR)
    Who else will put up security^(DS) for me?^(DT)
4 You have closed their minds to understanding;^(DU)
    therefore you will not let them triumph.
⁵ If anyone denounces their friends for reward,^(DV)
    the eyes of their children will fail.^(DW)

⁶ “God has made me a byword^(DX) to everyone,^(DY)
    a man in whose face people spit.^(DZ)
7 My eyes have grown dim with grief;^(EA)
    my whole frame is but a shadow.^(EB)
8 The upright are appalled at this;
    the innocent are aroused^(EC) against the ungodly.
⁹ Nevertheless, the righteous^(ED) will hold to their ways,
    and those with clean hands^(EE) will grow stronger.^(EF)

¹⁰ “But come on, all of you, try again!
    I will not find a wise man among you.^(EG)
11 My days have passed,^(EH) my plans are shattered.
    Yet the desires of my heart^(EI)
12 turn night into day;^(EJ)
    in the face of the darkness light is near.^(EK)
13 If the only home I hope for is the grave,^(EL)
    if I spread out my bed^(EM) in the realm of darkness,^(EN)
14 if I say to corruption,^(EO) ‘You are my father,’
    and to the worm,^(EP) ‘My mother’ or ‘My sister,’
¹⁵ where then is my hope—^(EQ)
    who can see any hope for me?^(ER)
16 Will it go down to the gates of death?^(ES)
    Will we descend together into the dust?”^(ET)

² “When will you end these speeches?^(EV)
    Be sensible, and then we can talk.
³ Why are we regarded as cattle^(EW)
    and considered stupid in your sight?^(EX)
4 You who tear yourself^(EY) to pieces in your anger,^(EZ)
    is the earth to be abandoned for your sake?
    Or must the rocks be moved from their place?^(FA)

⁵ “The lamp of a wicked man is snuffed out;^(FB)
    the flame of his fire stops burning.^(FC)
6 The light in his tent^(FD) becomes dark;^(FE)
    the lamp beside him goes out.^(FF)
7 The vigor^(FG) of his step is weakened;^(FH)
    his own schemes^(FI) throw him down.^(FJ)
8 His feet thrust him into a net;^(FK)
    he wanders into its mesh.
⁹ A trap seizes him by the heel;
    a snare^(FL) holds him fast.^(FM)
10 A noose^(FN) is hidden for him on the ground;
    a trap^(FO) lies in his path.^(FP)
11 Terrors^(FQ) startle him on every side^(FR)
    and dog^(FS) his every step.
¹² Calamity^(FT) is hungry^(FU) for him;
    disaster^(FV) is ready for him when he falls.^(FW)
13 It eats away parts of his skin;^(FX)
    death’s firstborn devours his limbs.^(FY)
14 He is torn from the security of his tent^(FZ)
    and marched off to the king^(GA) of terrors.^(GB)
15 Fire resides^[b] in his tent;^(GC)
    burning sulfur^(GD) is scattered over his dwelling.
¹⁶ His roots dry up below^(GE)
    and his branches wither above.^(GF)
17 The memory of him perishes from the earth;^(GG)
    he has no name^(GH) in the land.^(GI)
18 He is driven from light into the realm of darkness^(GJ)
    and is banished^(GK) from the world.^(GL)
19 He has no offspring^(GM) or descendants^(GN) among his people,
    no survivor^(GO) where once he lived.^(GP)
20 People of the west are appalled^(GQ) at his fate;^(GR)
    those of the east are seized with horror.
²¹ Surely such is the dwelling^(GS) of an evil man;^(GT)
    such is the place^(GU) of one who does not know God.”^(GV)

² “How long will you torment^(GW) me
    and crush^(GX) me with words?
³ Ten times^(GY) now you have reproached^(GZ) me;
    shamelessly you attack me.
⁴ If it is true that I have gone astray,
    my error^(HA) remains my concern alone.
⁵ If indeed you would exalt yourselves above me^(HB)
    and use my humiliation against me,
⁶ then know that God has wronged me^(HC)
    and drawn his net^(HD) around me.^(HE)

⁷ “Though I cry, ‘Violence!’ I get no response;^(HF)
    though I call for help,^(HG) there is no justice.^(HH)
8 He has blocked my way so I cannot pass;^(HI)
    he has shrouded my paths in darkness.^(HJ)
9 He has stripped^(HK) me of my honor^(HL)
    and removed the crown from my head.^(HM)
10 He tears me down^(HN) on every side till I am gone;
    he uproots my hope^(HO) like a tree.^(HP)
11 His anger^(HQ) burns against me;
    he counts me among his enemies.^(HR)
12 His troops advance in force;^(HS)
    they build a siege ramp^(HT) against me
    and encamp around my tent.^(HU)

¹³ “He has alienated my family^(HV) from me;
    my acquaintances are completely estranged from me.^(HW)
14 My relatives have gone away;
    my closest friends^(HX) have forgotten me.
¹⁵ My guests^(HY) and my female servants^(HZ) count me a foreigner;
    they look on me as on a stranger.
¹⁶ I summon my servant, but he does not answer,
    though I beg him with my own mouth.
¹⁷ My breath is offensive to my wife;
    I am loathsome^(IA) to my own family.
¹⁸ Even the little boys^(IB) scorn me;
    when I appear, they ridicule me.^(IC)
19 All my intimate friends^(ID) detest me;^(IE)
    those I love have turned against me.^(IF)
20 I am nothing but skin and bones;^(IG)
    I have escaped only by the skin of my teeth.^[c]

²¹ “Have pity on me, my friends,^(IH) have pity,
    for the hand of God has struck^(II) me.
²² Why do you pursue^(IJ) me as God does?^(IK)
    Will you never get enough of my flesh?^(IL)

²³ “Oh, that my words were recorded,
    that they were written on a scroll,^(IM)
24 that they were inscribed with an iron tool^(IN) on^[d] lead,
    or engraved in rock forever!^(IO)
25 I know that my redeemer^[e](IP) lives,^(IQ)
    and that in the end he will stand on the earth.^[f]
26 And after my skin has been destroyed,
    yet^[g] in^[h] my flesh I will see God;^(IR)
27 I myself will see him
    with my own eyes^(IS)—I, and not another.
    How my heart yearns^(IT) within me!

²⁸ “If you say, ‘How we will hound^(IU) him,
    since the root of the trouble lies in him,^[i]’
²⁹ you should fear the sword yourselves;
    for wrath will bring punishment by the sword,^(IV)
    and then you will know that there is judgment.^[j]”^(IW)

² “My troubled thoughts prompt me to answer
    because I am greatly disturbed.^(IY)
3 I hear a rebuke^(IZ) that dishonors me,
    and my understanding inspires me to reply.

⁴ “Surely you know how it has been from of old,^(JA)
    ever since mankind^[k] was placed on the earth,
⁵ that the mirth of the wicked^(JB) is brief,
    the joy of the godless^(JC) lasts but a moment.^(JD)
6 Though the pride^(JE) of the godless person reaches to the heavens^(JF)
    and his head touches the clouds,^(JG)
7 he will perish forever,^(JH) like his own dung;
    those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’^(JI)
8 Like a dream^(JJ) he flies away,^(JK) no more to be found,
    banished^(JL) like a vision of the night.^(JM)
9 The eye that saw him will not see him again;
    his place will look on him no more.^(JN)
10 His children^(JO) must make amends to the poor;
    his own hands must give back his wealth.^(JP)
11 The youthful vigor^(JQ) that fills his bones^(JR)
    will lie with him in the dust.^(JS)

¹² “Though evil^(JT) is sweet in his mouth
    and he hides it under his tongue,^(JU)
13 though he cannot bear to let it go
    and lets it linger in his mouth,^(JV)
14 yet his food will turn sour in his stomach;^(JW)
    it will become the venom of serpents^(JX) within him.
¹⁵ He will spit out the riches^(JY) he swallowed;
    God will make his stomach vomit^(JZ) them up.
¹⁶ He will suck the poison^(KA) of serpents;
    the fangs of an adder will kill him.^(KB)
17 He will not enjoy the streams,
    the rivers^(KC) flowing with honey^(KD) and cream.^(KE)
18 What he toiled for he must give back uneaten;^(KF)
    he will not enjoy the profit from his trading.^(KG)
19 For he has oppressed the poor^(KH) and left them destitute;^(KI)
    he has seized houses^(KJ) he did not build.

²⁰ “Surely he will have no respite from his craving;^(KK)
    he cannot save himself by his treasure.^(KL)
21 Nothing is left for him to devour;
    his prosperity will not endure.^(KM)
22 In the midst of his plenty, distress will overtake him;^(KN)
    the full force of misery will come upon him.^(KO)
23 When he has filled his belly,^(KP)
    God will vent his burning anger^(KQ) against him
    and rain down his blows on him.^(KR)
24 Though he flees^(KS) from an iron weapon,
    a bronze-tipped arrow pierces him.^(KT)
25 He pulls it out of his back,
    the gleaming point out of his liver.
Terrors^(KU) will come over him;^(KV)
26     total darkness^(KW) lies in wait for his treasures.
A fire^(KX) unfanned will consume him^(KY)
    and devour what is left in his tent.^(KZ)
27 The heavens will expose his guilt;
    the earth will rise up against him.^(LA)
28 A flood will carry off his house,^(LB)
    rushing waters^[l] on the day of God’s wrath.^(LC)
29 Such is the fate God allots the wicked,
    the heritage appointed for them by God.”^(LD)

² “Listen carefully to my words;^(LE)
    let this be the consolation you give me.^(LF)
3 Bear with me while I speak,
    and after I have spoken, mock on.^(LG)

⁴ “Is my complaint^(LH) directed to a human being?
    Why should I not be impatient?^(LI)
5 Look at me and be appalled;
    clap your hand over your mouth.^(LJ)
6 When I think about this, I am terrified;^(LK)
    trembling seizes my body.^(LL)
7 Why do the wicked live on,
    growing old and increasing in power?^(LM)
8 They see their children established around them,
    their offspring before their eyes.^(LN)
9 Their homes are safe and free from fear;^(LO)
    the rod of God is not on them.^(LP)
10 Their bulls never fail to breed;
    their cows calve and do not miscarry.^(LQ)
11 They send forth their children as a flock;^(LR)
    their little ones dance about.
¹² They sing to the music of timbrel and lyre;^(LS)
    they make merry to the sound of the pipe.^(LT)
13 They spend their years in prosperity^(LU)
    and go down to the grave^(LV) in peace.^[m](LW)
14 Yet they say to God, ‘Leave us alone!^(LX)
    We have no desire to know your ways.^(LY)
15 Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him?
    What would we gain by praying to him?’^(LZ)
16 But their prosperity is not in their own hands,
    so I stand aloof from the plans of the wicked.^(MA)

¹⁷ “Yet how often is the lamp of the wicked snuffed out?^(MB)
    How often does calamity^(MC) come upon them,
    the fate God allots in his anger?^(MD)
18 How often are they like straw before the wind,
    like chaff^(ME) swept away^(MF) by a gale?^(MG)
19 It is said, ‘God stores up the punishment of the wicked for their children.’^(MH)
    Let him repay the wicked, so that they themselves will experience it!^(MI)
20 Let their own eyes see their destruction;^(MJ)
    let them drink^(MK) the cup of the wrath of the Almighty.^(ML)
21 For what do they care about the families they leave behind^(MM)
    when their allotted months^(MN) come to an end?^(MO)

²² “Can anyone teach knowledge to God,^(MP)
    since he judges even the highest?^(MQ)
23 One person dies in full vigor,^(MR)
    completely secure and at ease,^(MS)
24 well nourished^(MT) in body,^[n]
    bones^(MU) rich with marrow.^(MV)
25 Another dies in bitterness of soul,^(MW)
    never having enjoyed anything good.
²⁶ Side by side they lie in the dust,^(MX)
    and worms^(MY) cover them both.^(MZ)

²⁷ “I know full well what you are thinking,
    the schemes by which you would wrong me.
²⁸ You say, ‘Where now is the house of the great,^(NA)
    the tents where the wicked lived?’^(NB)
29 Have you never questioned those who travel?
    Have you paid no regard to their accounts—
³⁰ that the wicked are spared from the day of calamity,^(NC)
    that they are delivered from^[o] the day of wrath?^(ND)
31 Who denounces their conduct to their face?
    Who repays them for what they have done?^(NE)
32 They are carried to the grave,
    and watch is kept over their tombs.^(NF)
33 The soil in the valley is sweet to them;^(NG)
    everyone follows after them,
    and a countless throng goes^[p] before them.^(NH)

³⁴ “So how can you console me^(NI) with your nonsense?
    Nothing is left of your answers but falsehood!”^(NJ)