Job 29-37

New International Version

² “How I long for the months gone by,^(B)
    for the days when God watched over me,^(C)
3 when his lamp shone on my head
    and by his light I walked through darkness!^(D)
4 Oh, for the days when I was in my prime,
    when God’s intimate friendship^(E) blessed my house,^(F)
5 when the Almighty was still with me
    and my children^(G) were around me,^(H)
6 when my path was drenched with cream^(I)
    and the rock^(J) poured out for me streams of olive oil.^(K)

⁷ “When I went to the gate^(L) of the city
    and took my seat in the public square,
⁸ the young men saw me and stepped aside^(M)
    and the old men rose to their feet;^(N)
9 the chief men refrained from speaking^(O)
    and covered their mouths with their hands;^(P)
10 the voices of the nobles were hushed,^(Q)
    and their tongues stuck to the roof of their mouths.^(R)
11 Whoever heard me spoke well of me,
    and those who saw me commended me,^(S)
12 because I rescued the poor^(T) who cried for help,
    and the fatherless^(U) who had none to assist them.^(V)
13 The one who was dying blessed me;^(W)
    I made the widow’s^(X) heart sing.
¹⁴ I put on righteousness^(Y) as my clothing;
    justice was my robe and my turban.^(Z)
15 I was eyes^(AA) to the blind
    and feet to the lame.^(AB)
16 I was a father to the needy;^(AC)
    I took up the case^(AD) of the stranger.^(AE)
17 I broke the fangs of the wicked
    and snatched the victims^(AF) from their teeth.^(AG)

¹⁸ “I thought, ‘I will die in my own house,
    my days as numerous as the grains of sand.^(AH)
19 My roots will reach to the water,^(AI)
    and the dew will lie all night on my branches.^(AJ)
20 My glory will not fade;^(AK)
    the bow^(AL) will be ever new in my hand.’^(AM)

²¹ “People listened to me expectantly,
    waiting in silence for my counsel.^(AN)
22 After I had spoken, they spoke no more;^(AO)
    my words fell gently on their ears.^(AP)
23 They waited for me as for showers
    and drank in my words as the spring rain.^(AQ)
24 When I smiled at them, they scarcely believed it;
    the light of my face^(AR) was precious to them.^[a](AS)
25 I chose the way for them and sat as their chief;^(AT)
    I dwelt as a king^(AU) among his troops;
    I was like one who comforts mourners.^(AV)

30 “But now they mock me,^(AW)
    men younger than I,
whose fathers I would have disdained
    to put with my sheep dogs.^(AX)
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^[b] the parched land^(AY)
    in desolate wastelands^(AZ) at night.^(BA)
4 In the brush they gathered salt herbs,^(BB)
    and their food^[c] was the root of the broom bush.^(BC)
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.^(BD)
7 They brayed^(BE) among the bushes^(BF)
    and huddled in the undergrowth.
⁸ A base and nameless brood,^(BG)
    they were driven out of the land.^(BH)

⁹ “And now those young men mock me^(BI) in song;^(BJ)
    I have become a byword^(BK) among them.
¹⁰ They detest me^(BL) and keep their distance;
    they do not hesitate to spit in my face.^(BM)
11 Now that God has unstrung my bow^(BN) and afflicted me,^(BO)
    they throw off restraint^(BP) in my presence.
¹² On my right^(BQ) the tribe^[d] attacks;
    they lay snares^(BR) for my feet,^(BS)
    they build their siege ramps against me.^(BT)
13 They break up my road;^(BU)
    they succeed in destroying me.^(BV)
    ‘No one can help him,’ they say.
¹⁴ They advance as through a gaping breach;^(BW)
    amid the ruins they come rolling in.
¹⁵ Terrors^(BX) overwhelm me;^(BY)
    my dignity is driven away as by the wind,
    my safety vanishes like a cloud.^(BZ)

¹⁶ “And now my life ebbs away;^(CA)
    days of suffering grip me.^(CB)
17 Night pierces my bones;
    my gnawing pains never rest.^(CC)
18 In his great power^(CD) God becomes like clothing to me^[e];
    he binds me like the neck of my garment.
¹⁹ He throws me into the mud,^(CE)
    and I am reduced to dust and ashes.^(CF)

²⁰ “I cry out to you,^(CG) God, but you do not answer;^(CH)
    I stand up, but you merely look at me.
²¹ You turn on me ruthlessly;^(CI)
    with the might of your hand^(CJ) you attack me.^(CK)
22 You snatch me up and drive me before the wind;^(CL)
    you toss me about in the storm.^(CM)
23 I know you will bring me down to death,^(CN)
    to the place appointed for all the living.^(CO)

²⁴ “Surely no one lays a hand on a broken man^(CP)
    when he cries for help in his distress.^(CQ)
25 Have I not wept for those in trouble?^(CR)
    Has not my soul grieved for the poor?^(CS)
26 Yet when I hoped for good, evil came;
    when I looked for light, then came darkness.^(CT)
27 The churning inside me never stops;^(CU)
    days of suffering confront me.^(CV)
28 I go about blackened,^(CW) but not by the sun;
    I stand up in the assembly and cry for help.^(CX)
29 I have become a brother of jackals,^(CY)
    a companion of owls.^(CZ)
30 My skin grows black^(DA) and peels;^(DB)
    my body burns with fever.^(DC)
31 My lyre is tuned to mourning,^(DD)
    and my pipe^(DE) to the sound of wailing.

31 “I made a covenant with my eyes^(DF)
    not to look lustfully at a young woman.^(DG)
2 For what is our lot^(DH) from God above,
    our heritage from the Almighty on high?^(DI)
3 Is it not ruin^(DJ) for the wicked,
    disaster^(DK) for those who do wrong?^(DL)
4 Does he not see my ways^(DM)
    and count my every step?^(DN)

⁵ “If I have walked with falsehood
    or my foot has hurried after deceit^(DO)—
⁶ let God weigh me^(DP) in honest scales^(DQ)
    and he will know that I am blameless^(DR)—
⁷ if my steps have turned from the path,^(DS)
    if my heart has been led by my eyes,
    or if my hands^(DT) have been defiled,^(DU)
8 then may others eat what I have sown,^(DV)
    and may my crops be uprooted.^(DW)

⁹ “If my heart has been enticed^(DX) by a woman,^(DY)
    or if I have lurked at my neighbor’s door,
¹⁰ then may my wife grind^(DZ) another man’s grain,
    and may other men sleep with her.^(EA)
11 For that would have been wicked,^(EB)
    a sin to be judged.^(EC)
12 It is a fire^(ED) that burns to Destruction^[f];^(EE)
    it would have uprooted my harvest.^(EF)

¹³ “If I have denied justice to any of my servants,^(EG)
    whether male or female,
    when they had a grievance against me,^(EH)
14 what will I do when God confronts me?^(EI)
    What will I answer when called to account?^(EJ)
15 Did not he who made me in the womb make them?^(EK)
    Did not the same one form us both within our mothers?^(EL)

¹⁶ “If I have denied the desires of the poor^(EM)
    or let the eyes of the widow^(EN) grow weary,^(EO)
17 if I have kept my bread to myself,
    not sharing it with the fatherless^(EP)—
¹⁸ but from my youth I reared them as a father would,
    and from my birth I guided the widow^(EQ)—
¹⁹ if I have seen anyone perishing for lack of clothing,^(ER)
    or the needy^(ES) without garments,
²⁰ and their hearts did not bless me^(ET)
    for warming them with the fleece^(EU) from my sheep,
²¹ if I have raised my hand against the fatherless,^(EV)
    knowing that I had influence in court,^(EW)
22 then let my arm fall from the shoulder,
    let it be broken off at the joint.^(EX)
23 For I dreaded destruction from God,^(EY)
    and for fear of his splendor^(EZ) I could not do such things.^(FA)

²⁴ “If I have put my trust in gold^(FB)
    or said to pure gold, ‘You are my security,’^(FC)
25 if I have rejoiced over my great wealth,^(FD)
    the fortune my hands had gained,^(FE)
26 if I have regarded the sun^(FF) in its radiance
    or the moon^(FG) moving in splendor,
²⁷ so that my heart was secretly enticed^(FH)
    and my hand offered them a kiss of homage,^(FI)
28 then these also would be sins to be judged,^(FJ)
    for I would have been unfaithful to God on high.^(FK)

²⁹ “If I have rejoiced at my enemy’s misfortune^(FL)
    or gloated over the trouble that came to him^(FM)—
³⁰ I have not allowed my mouth to sin
    by invoking a curse against their life^(FN)—
³¹ if those of my household have never said,
    ‘Who has not been filled with Job’s meat?’^(FO)—
³² but no stranger had to spend the night in the street,
    for my door was always open to the traveler^(FP)—
³³ if I have concealed^(FQ) my sin as people do,^[g]
    by hiding^(FR) my guilt in my heart
³⁴ because I so feared the crowd^(FS)
    and so dreaded the contempt of the clans
    that I kept silent^(FT) and would not go outside—

³⁵ (“Oh, that I had someone to hear me!^(FU)
    I sign now my defense—let the Almighty answer me;
    let my accuser^(FV) put his indictment in writing.
³⁶ Surely I would wear it on my shoulder,^(FW)
    I would put it on like a crown.^(FX)
37 I would give him an account of my every step;^(FY)
    I would present it to him as to a ruler.^(FZ))—

³⁸ “if my land cries out against me^(GA)
    and all its furrows are wet^(GB) with tears,
³⁹ if I have devoured its yield without payment^(GC)
    or broken the spirit of its tenants,^(GD)
40 then let briers^(GE) come up instead of wheat
    and stinkweed^(GF) instead of barley.”

“I am young in years,
    and you are old;^(GQ)
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.’^(GR)
8 But it is the spirit^[i](GS) in a person,
    the breath of the Almighty,^(GT) that gives them understanding.^(GU)
9 It is not only the old^[j] who are wise,^(GV)
    not only the aged^(GW) who understand what is right.^(GX)

¹⁰ “Therefore I say: Listen to me;^(GY)
    I too will tell you what I know.^(GZ)
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.^(HA)
13 Do not say, ‘We have found wisdom;^(HB)
    let God, not a man, refute^(HC) him.’
¹⁴ But Job has not marshaled his words against me,^(HD)
    and I will not answer him with your arguments.

¹⁵ “They are dismayed and have no more to say;
    words have failed them.^(HE)
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.^(HF)
18 For I am full of words,
    and the spirit^(HG) within me compels me;^(HH)
19 inside I am like bottled-up wine,
    like new wineskins ready to burst.^(HI)
20 I must speak and find relief;
    I must open my lips and reply.^(HJ)
21 I will show no partiality,^(HK)
    nor will I flatter anyone;^(HL)
22 for if I were skilled in flattery,
    my Maker^(HM) would soon take me away.^(HN)

33 “But now, Job, listen^(HO) to my words;
    pay attention to everything I say.^(HP)
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;^(HQ)
    my lips sincerely speak what I know.^(HR)
4 The Spirit^(HS) of God has made me;^(HT)
    the breath of the Almighty^(HU) gives me life.^(HV)
5 Answer me^(HW) then, if you can;
    stand up^(HX) and argue your case before me.^(HY)
6 I am the same as you in God’s sight;^(HZ)
    I too am a piece of clay.^(IA)
7 No fear of me should alarm you,
    nor should my hand be heavy on you.^(IB)

⁸ “But you have said in my hearing—
    I heard the very words—
⁹ ‘I am pure,^(IC) I have done no wrong;^(ID)
    I am clean and free from sin.^(IE)
10 Yet God has found fault with me;
    he considers me his enemy.^(IF)
11 He fastens my feet in shackles;^(IG)
    he keeps close watch on all my paths.’^(IH)

¹² “But I tell you, in this you are not right,
    for God is greater than any mortal.^(II)
13 Why do you complain to him^(IJ)
    that he responds to no one’s words^[k]?^(IK)
14 For God does speak^(IL)—now one way, now another^(IM)—
    though no one perceives it.^(IN)
15 In a dream,^(IO) in a vision^(IP) of the night,^(IQ)
    when deep sleep^(IR) falls on people
    as they slumber in their beds,
¹⁶ he may speak^(IS) in their ears
    and terrify them^(IT) with warnings,^(IU)
17 to turn them from wrongdoing
    and keep them from pride,^(IV)
18 to preserve them from the pit,^(IW)
    their lives from perishing by the sword.^[l](IX)

¹⁹ “Or someone may be chastened^(IY) on a bed of pain^(IZ)
    with constant distress in their bones,^(JA)
20 so that their body finds food^(JB) repulsive
    and their soul loathes the choicest meal.^(JC)
21 Their flesh wastes away to nothing,
    and their bones,^(JD) once hidden, now stick out.^(JE)
22 They draw near to the pit,^(JF)
    and their life to the messengers of death.^[m](JG)
23 Yet if there is an angel at their side,
    a messenger,^(JH) one out of a thousand,
    sent to tell them how to be upright,^(JI)
24 and he is gracious to that person and says to God,
    ‘Spare them from going down to the pit;^(JJ)
    I have found a ransom for them^(JK)—
²⁵ let their flesh be renewed^(JL) like a child’s;
    let them be restored as in the days of their youth’^(JM)—
²⁶ then that person can pray to God and find favor with him,^(JN)
    they will see God’s face and shout for joy;^(JO)
    he will restore them to full well-being.^(JP)
27 And they will go to others and say,
    ‘I have sinned,^(JQ) I have perverted what is right,^(JR)
    but I did not get what I deserved.^(JS)
28 God has delivered^(JT) me from going down to the pit,^(JU)
    and I shall live to enjoy the light of life.’^(JV)

²⁹ “God does all these things to a person^(JW)—
    twice, even three times^(JX)—
³⁰ to turn them back^(JY) from the pit,^(JZ)
    that the light of life^(KA) may shine on them.^(KB)

³¹ “Pay attention, Job, and listen^(KC) to me;^(KD)
    be silent,^(KE) and I will speak.
³² If you have anything to say, answer me;^(KF)
    speak up, for I want to vindicate you.^(KG)
33 But if not, then listen to me;^(KH)
    be silent,^(KI) and I will teach you wisdom.^(KJ)”

² “Hear my words, you wise men;
    listen to me,^(KK) you men of learning.
³ For the ear tests words
    as the tongue tastes food.^(KL)
4 Let us discern for ourselves what is right;^(KM)
    let us learn together what is good.^(KN)

⁵ “Job says, ‘I am innocent,^(KO)
    but God denies me justice.^(KP)
6 Although I am right,
    I am considered a liar;^(KQ)
although I am guiltless,^(KR)
    his arrow inflicts an incurable wound.’^(KS)
7 Is there anyone like Job,
    who drinks scorn like water?^(KT)
8 He keeps company with evildoers;
    he associates with the wicked.^(KU)
9 For he says, ‘There is no profit
    in trying to please God.’^(KV)

¹⁰ “So listen to me,^(KW) you men of understanding.^(KX)
    Far be it from God to do evil,^(KY)
    from the Almighty to do wrong.^(KZ)
11 He repays everyone for what they have done;^(LA)
    he brings on them what their conduct deserves.^(LB)
12 It is unthinkable that God would do wrong,^(LC)
    that the Almighty would pervert justice.^(LD)
13 Who appointed^(LE) him over the earth?
    Who put him in charge of the whole world?^(LF)
14 If it were his intention
    and he withdrew his spirit^[n](LG) and breath,^(LH)
15 all humanity would perish^(LI) together
    and mankind would return to the dust.^(LJ)

¹⁶ “If you have understanding,^(LK) hear this;
    listen to what I say.^(LL)
17 Can someone who hates justice govern?^(LM)
    Will you condemn the just and mighty One?^(LN)
18 Is he not the One who says to kings, ‘You are worthless,’
    and to nobles,^(LO) ‘You are wicked,’^(LP)
19 who shows no partiality^(LQ) to princes
    and does not favor the rich over the poor,^(LR)
    for they are all the work of his hands?^(LS)
20 They die in an instant, in the middle of the night;^(LT)
    the people are shaken and they pass away;
    the mighty are removed without human hand.^(LU)

²¹ “His eyes are on the ways of mortals;^(LV)
    he sees their every step.^(LW)
22 There is no deep shadow,^(LX) no utter darkness,^(LY)
    where evildoers can hide.^(LZ)
23 God has no need to examine people further,^(MA)
    that they should come before him for judgment.^(MB)
24 Without inquiry he shatters^(MC) the mighty^(MD)
    and sets up others in their place.^(ME)
25 Because he takes note of their deeds,^(MF)
    he overthrows them in the night^(MG) and they are crushed.^(MH)
26 He punishes them for their wickedness^(MI)
    where everyone can see them,
²⁷ because they turned from following him^(MJ)
    and had no regard for any of his ways.^(MK)
28 They caused the cry of the poor to come before him,
    so that he heard the cry of the needy.^(ML)
29 But if he remains silent,^(MM) who can condemn him?^(MN)
    If he hides his face,^(MO) who can see him?
Yet he is over individual and nation alike,^(MP)
30     to keep the godless^(MQ) from ruling,^(MR)
    from laying snares for the people.^(MS)

³¹ “Suppose someone says to God,
    ‘I am guilty^(MT) but will offend no more.
³² Teach me what I cannot see;^(MU)
    if I have done wrong, I will not do so again.’^(MV)
33 Should God then reward you on your terms,
    when you refuse to repent?^(MW)
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;^(MX)
    his words lack insight.’^(MY)
36 Oh, that Job might be tested to the utmost
    for answering like a wicked man!^(MZ)
37 To his sin he adds rebellion;
    scornfully he claps his hands^(NA) among us
    and multiplies his words^(NB) against God.”^(NC)

² “Do you think this is just?
    You say, ‘I am in the right,^(ND) not God.’^(NE)
3 Yet you ask him, ‘What profit is it to me,^[o]
    and what do I gain by not sinning?’^(NF)

⁴ “I would like to reply to you
    and to your friends with you.
⁵ Look up at the heavens^(NG) and see;
    gaze at the clouds so high above you.^(NH)
6 If you sin, how does that affect him?
    If your sins are many, what does that do to him?^(NI)
7 If you are righteous, what do you give to him,^(NJ)
    or what does he receive^(NK) from your hand?^(NL)
8 Your wickedness only affects humans like yourself,^(NM)
    and your righteousness only other people.^(NN)

⁹ “People cry out^(NO) under a load of oppression;^(NP)
    they plead for relief from the arm of the powerful.^(NQ)
10 But no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker,^(NR)
    who gives songs^(NS) in the night,^(NT)
11 who teaches^(NU) us^(NV) more than he teaches^[p] the beasts of the earth
    and makes us wiser than^[q] the birds in the sky?’
¹² He does not answer^(NW) when people cry out
    because of the arrogance^(NX) of the wicked.^(NY)
13 Indeed, God does not listen to their empty plea;
    the Almighty pays no attention to it.^(NZ)
14 How much less, then, will he listen
    when you say that you do not see him,^(OA)
that your case^(OB) is before him
    and you must wait for him,^(OC)
15 and further, that his anger never punishes^(OD)
    and he does not take the least notice of wickedness.^[r](OE)
16 So Job opens his mouth with empty talk;^(OF)
    without knowledge he multiplies words.”^(OG)

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;^(OH)
    I will ascribe justice to my Maker.^(OI)
4 Be assured that my words are not false;^(OJ)
    one who has perfect knowledge^(OK) is with you.^(OL)

⁵ “God is mighty,^(OM) but despises no one;^(ON)
    he is mighty, and firm in his purpose.^(OO)
6 He does not keep the wicked alive^(OP)
    but gives the afflicted their rights.^(OQ)
7 He does not take his eyes off the righteous;^(OR)
    he enthrones them with kings^(OS)
    and exalts them forever.^(OT)
8 But if people are bound in chains,^(OU)
    held fast by cords of affliction,^(OV)
9 he tells them what they have done—
    that they have sinned arrogantly.^(OW)
10 He makes them listen^(OX) to correction^(OY)
    and commands them to repent of their evil.^(OZ)
11 If they obey and serve him,^(PA)
    they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity^(PB)
    and their years in contentment.^(PC)
12 But if they do not listen,
    they will perish by the sword^[s](PD)
    and die without knowledge.^(PE)

¹³ “The godless in heart^(PF) harbor resentment;^(PG)
    even when he fetters them, they do not cry for help.^(PH)
14 They die in their youth,^(PI)
    among male prostitutes of the shrines.^(PJ)
15 But those who suffer^(PK) he delivers in their suffering;^(PL)
    he speaks^(PM) to them in their affliction.^(PN)

¹⁶ “He is wooing^(PO) you from the jaws of distress
    to a spacious place^(PP) free from restriction,^(PQ)
    to the comfort of your table^(PR) laden with choice food.^(PS)
17 But now you are laden with the judgment due the wicked;^(PT)
    judgment and justice have taken hold of you.^(PU)
18 Be careful that no one entices you by riches;
    do not let a large bribe^(PV) turn you aside.^(PW)
19 Would your wealth^(PX) or even all your mighty efforts
    sustain you so you would not be in distress?
²⁰ Do not long for the night,^(PY)
    to drag people away from their homes.^[t]
21 Beware of turning to evil,^(PZ)
    which you seem to prefer to affliction.^(QA)

²² “God is exalted in his power.^(QB)
    Who is a teacher like him?^(QC)
23 Who has prescribed his ways^(QD) for him,^(QE)
    or said to him, ‘You have done wrong’?^(QF)
24 Remember to extol his work,^(QG)
    which people have praised in song.^(QH)
25 All humanity has seen it;^(QI)
    mortals gaze on it from afar.
²⁶ How great is God—beyond our understanding!^(QJ)
    The number of his years is past finding out.^(QK)

²⁷ “He draws up the drops of water,^(QL)
    which distill as rain to the streams^[u];^(QM)
28 the clouds pour down their moisture
    and abundant showers^(QN) fall on mankind.^(QO)
29 Who can understand how he spreads out the clouds,
    how he thunders^(QP) from his pavilion?^(QQ)
30 See how he scatters his lightning^(QR) about him,
    bathing the depths of the sea.^(QS)
31 This is the way he governs^[v] the nations^(QT)
    and provides food^(QU) in abundance.^(QV)
32 He fills his hands with lightning
    and commands it to strike its mark.^(QW)
33 His thunder announces the coming storm;^(QX)
    even the cattle make known its approach.^[w](QY)

37 “At this my heart pounds^(QZ)
    and leaps from its place.
² Listen!^(RA) Listen to the roar of his voice,^(RB)
    to the rumbling that comes from his mouth.^(RC)
3 He unleashes his lightning^(RD) beneath the whole heaven
    and sends it to the ends of the earth.^(RE)
4 After that comes the sound of his roar;
    he thunders^(RF) with his majestic voice.^(RG)
When his voice resounds,
    he holds nothing back.
⁵ God’s voice thunders^(RH) in marvelous ways;^(RI)
    he does great things beyond our understanding.^(RJ)
6 He says to the snow,^(RK) ‘Fall on the earth,’
    and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’^(RL)
7 So that everyone he has made may know his work,^(RM)
    he stops all people from their labor.^[x](RN)
8 The animals take cover;^(RO)
    they remain in their dens.^(RP)
9 The tempest comes out from its chamber,^(RQ)
    the cold from the driving winds.^(RR)
10 The breath of God produces ice,
    and the broad waters become frozen.^(RS)
11 He loads the clouds with moisture;^(RT)
    he scatters his lightning^(RU) through them.^(RV)
12 At his direction they swirl around
    over the face of the whole earth
    to do whatever he commands them.^(RW)
13 He brings the clouds to punish people,^(RX)
    or to water his earth and show his love.^(RY)