Bible in 90 Days
Bildad: How Can Man Be Righteous?
25 Then (A)Bildad the Shuhite answered and said:
2 “Dominion and fear belong to Him;
He makes peace in His high places.
3 [a]Is there any number to His armies?
Upon whom does (B)His light not rise?
4 (C)How then can man be righteous before God?
Or how can he be (D)pure who is born of a woman?
5 If even the moon does not shine,
And the stars are not pure in His (E)sight,
6 How much less man, who is (F)a maggot,
And a son of man, who is a worm?”
Job: Man’s Frailty and God’s Majesty
26 But Job answered and said:
2 “How have you helped him who is without power?
How have you saved the arm that has no strength?
3 How have you counseled one who has no wisdom?
And how have you declared sound advice to many?
4 To whom have you uttered words?
And whose spirit came from you?
5 “The dead tremble,
Those under the waters and those inhabiting them.
6 (G)Sheol is naked before Him,
And Destruction has no covering.
7 (H)He stretches out the north over empty space;
He hangs the earth on nothing.
8 (I)He binds up the water in His thick clouds,
Yet the clouds [b]are not broken under it.
9 He covers the face of His throne,
And spreads His cloud over it.
10 (J)He drew a circular horizon on the face of the waters,
At the boundary of light and darkness.
11 The pillars of heaven tremble,
And are [c]astonished at His rebuke.
12 (K)He stirs up the sea with His power,
And by His understanding He breaks up [d]the storm.
13 (L)By His Spirit He adorned the heavens;
His hand pierced (M)the fleeing serpent.
14 Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways,
And how small a whisper we hear of Him!
But the thunder of His power who can understand?”
Job Maintains His Integrity
27 Moreover Job continued his discourse, and said:
2 “As God lives, (N)who has taken away my justice,
And the Almighty, who has made my soul bitter,
3 As long as my breath is in me,
And the breath of God in my nostrils,
4 My lips will not speak wickedness,
Nor my tongue utter deceit.
5 Far be it from me
That I should say you are right;
Till I die (O)I will not put away my integrity from me.
6 My righteousness I (P)hold fast, and will not let it go;
(Q)My heart shall not [e]reproach me as long as I live.
7 “May my enemy be like the wicked,
And he who rises up against me like the unrighteous.
8 (R)For what is the hope of the hypocrite,
Though he may gain much,
If God takes away his life?
9 (S)Will God hear his cry
When trouble comes upon him?
10 (T)Will he delight himself in the Almighty?
Will he always call on God?
11 “I will teach you [f]about the hand of God;
What is with the Almighty I will not conceal.
12 Surely all of you have seen it;
Why then do you behave with complete nonsense?
13 “This(U) is the portion of a wicked man with God,
And the heritage of oppressors, received from the Almighty:
14 (V)If his children are multiplied, it is for the sword;
And his offspring shall not be satisfied with bread.
15 Those who survive him shall be buried in death,
And (W)their[g] widows shall not weep,
16 Though he heaps up silver like dust,
And piles up clothing like clay—
17 He may pile it up, but (X)the just will wear it,
And the innocent will divide the silver.
18 He builds his house like a [h]moth,
(Y)Like a [i]booth which a watchman makes.
19 The rich man will lie down,
[j]But not be gathered up;
He opens his eyes,
And he is (Z)no more.
20 (AA)Terrors overtake him like a flood;
A tempest steals him away in the night.
21 The east wind carries him away, and he is gone;
It sweeps him out of his place.
22 It hurls against him and does not (AB)spare;
He flees desperately from its [k]power.
23 Men shall clap their hands at him,
And shall hiss him out of his place.
Job’s Discourse on Wisdom
28 “Surely there is a mine for silver,
And a place where gold is refined.
2 Iron is taken from the [l]earth,
And copper is smelted from ore.
3 Man puts an end to darkness,
And searches every recess
For ore in the darkness and the shadow of death.
4 He breaks open a shaft away from people;
In places forgotten by feet
They hang far away from men;
They swing to and fro.
5 As for the earth, from it comes bread,
But underneath it is turned up as by fire;
6 Its stones are the source of sapphires,
And it contains gold dust.
7 That path no bird knows,
Nor has the falcon’s eye seen it.
8 The [m]proud lions have not trodden it,
Nor has the fierce lion passed over it.
9 He puts his hand on the flint;
He overturns the mountains [n]at the roots.
10 He cuts out channels in the rocks,
And his eye sees every precious thing.
11 He dams up the streams from trickling;
What is hidden he brings forth to light.
12 “But(AC) where can wisdom be found?
And where is the place of understanding?
13 Man does not know its (AD)value,
Nor is it found in the land of the living.
14 (AE)The deep says, ‘It is not in me’;
And the sea says, ‘It is not with me.’
15 It (AF)cannot be purchased for gold,
Nor can silver be weighed for its price.
16 It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir,
In precious onyx or sapphire.
17 Neither (AG)gold nor crystal can equal it,
Nor can it be exchanged for [o]jewelry of fine gold.
18 No mention shall be made of [p]coral or quartz,
For the price of wisdom is above (AH)rubies.
19 The topaz of Ethiopia cannot equal it,
Nor can it be valued in pure (AI)gold.
20 “From(AJ) where then does wisdom come?
And where is the place of understanding?
21 It is hidden from the eyes of all living,
And concealed from the birds of the [q]air.
22 (AK)Destruction[r] and Death say,
‘We have heard a report about it with our ears.’
23 God understands its way,
And He knows its place.
24 For He looks to the ends of the earth,
And (AL)sees under the whole heavens,
25 (AM)To establish a weight for the wind,
And apportion the waters by measure.
26 When He (AN)made a law for the rain,
And a path for the thunderbolt,
27 Then He saw [s]wisdom and declared it;
He prepared it, indeed, He searched it out.
28 And to man He said,
‘Behold, (AO)the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom,
And to depart from evil is understanding.’ ”
Job’s Summary Defense
29 Job further continued his discourse, and said:
2 “Oh, that I were as in months (AP)past,
As in the days when God (AQ)watched over me;
3 (AR)When His lamp shone upon my head,
And when by His light I walked through darkness;
4 Just as I was in the days of my prime,
When (AS)the friendly counsel of God was over my tent;
5 When the Almighty was yet with me,
When my children were around me;
6 When (AT)my steps were bathed with [t]cream,
And (AU)the rock poured out rivers of oil for me!
7 “When I went out to the gate by the city,
When I took my seat in the open square,
8 The young men saw me and hid,
And the aged arose and stood;
9 The princes refrained from talking,
And (AV)put their hand on their mouth;
10 The voice of nobles was hushed,
And their (AW)tongue stuck to the roof of their mouth.
11 When the ear heard, then it blessed me,
And when the eye saw, then it approved me;
12 Because (AX)I delivered the poor who cried out,
The fatherless and the one who had no helper.
13 The blessing of a perishing man came upon me,
And I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.
14 (AY)I put on righteousness, and it clothed me;
My justice was like a robe and a turban.
15 I was (AZ)eyes to the blind,
And I was feet to the lame.
16 I was a father to the poor,
And (BA)I searched out the case that I did not know.
17 I broke (BB)the fangs of the wicked,
And plucked the victim from his teeth.
18 “Then I said, (BC)‘I shall die in my nest,
And multiply my days as the sand.
19 (BD)My root is spread out (BE)to the waters,
And the dew lies all night on my branch.
20 My glory is fresh within me,
And my (BF)bow is renewed in my hand.’
21 “Men listened to me and waited,
And kept silence for my counsel.
22 After my words they did not speak again,
And my speech settled on them as dew.
23 They waited for me as for the rain,
And they opened their mouth wide as for (BG)the spring rain.
24 If I mocked at them, they did not believe it,
And the light of my countenance they did not cast down.
25 I chose the way for them, and sat as chief;
So I dwelt as a king in the army,
As one who comforts mourners.
Job’s Wealth Now Poverty
30 “But now they mock at me, men [u]younger than I,
Whose fathers I disdained to put with the dogs of my flock.
2 Indeed, what profit is the strength of their hands to me?
Their vigor has perished.
3 They are gaunt from want and famine,
Fleeing late to the wilderness, desolate and waste,
4 Who pluck [v]mallow by the bushes,
And broom tree roots for their food.
5 They were driven out from among men,
They shouted at them as at a thief.
6 They had to live in the clefts of the [w]valleys,
In [x]caves of the earth and the rocks.
7 Among the bushes they brayed,
Under the nettles they nestled.
8 They were sons of fools,
Yes, sons of vile men;
They were scourged from the land.
9 “And(BH) now I am their taunting song;
Yes, I am their byword.
10 They abhor me, they keep far from me;
They do not hesitate (BI)to spit in my face.
11 Because (BJ)He has loosed [y]my bowstring and afflicted me,
They have cast off restraint before me.
12 At my right hand the rabble arises;
They push away my feet,
And (BK)they raise against me their ways of destruction.
13 They break up my path,
They promote my calamity;
They have no helper.
14 They come as broad breakers;
Under the ruinous storm they roll along.
15 Terrors are turned upon me;
They pursue my honor as the wind,
And my prosperity has passed like a cloud.
16 “And(BL) now my soul is (BM)poured out because of my plight;
The days of affliction take hold of me.
17 My bones are pierced in me at night,
And my gnawing pains take no rest.
18 By great force my garment is disfigured;
It binds me about as the collar of my coat.
19 He has cast me into the mire,
And I have become like dust and ashes.
20 “I (BN)cry out to You, but You do not answer me;
I stand up, and You regard me.
21 But You have become cruel to me;
With the strength of Your hand You (BO)oppose me.
22 You lift me up to the wind and cause me to ride on it;
You spoil my success.
23 For I know that You will bring me to death,
And to the house (BP)appointed for all living.
24 “Surely He would not stretch out His hand against a heap of ruins,
If they cry out when He destroys it.
25 (BQ)Have I not wept for him who was in trouble?
Has not my soul grieved for the poor?
26 (BR)But when I looked for good, evil came to me;
And when I waited for light, then came darkness.
27 [z]My heart is in turmoil and cannot rest;
Days of affliction confront me.
28 (BS)I go about mourning, but not in the sun;
I stand up in the assembly and cry out for help.
29 (BT)I am a brother of jackals,
And a companion of ostriches.
30 (BU)My skin grows black and falls from me;
(BV)My bones burn with fever.
31 My harp is turned to mourning,
And my flute to the voice of those who weep.
Job Defends His Righteousness
31 “I have made a covenant with my eyes;
Why then should I [aa]look upon a (BW)young woman?
2 For what is the (BX)allotment of God from above,
And the inheritance of the Almighty from on high?
3 Is it not destruction for the wicked,
And disaster for the workers of iniquity?
4 (BY)Does He not see my ways,
And count all my steps?
5 “If I have walked with falsehood,
Or if my foot has hastened to deceit,
6 [ab]Let me be weighed on honest scales,
That God may know my (BZ)integrity.
7 If my step has turned from the way,
Or (CA)my heart walked after my eyes,
Or if any spot adheres to my hands,
8 Then (CB)let me sow, and another eat;
Yes, let my harvest be [ac]rooted out.
9 “If my heart has been enticed by a woman,
Or if I have lurked at my neighbor’s door,
10 Then let my wife grind for (CC)another,
And let others bow down over her.
11 For that would be wickedness;
Yes, (CD)it would be iniquity deserving of judgment.
12 For that would be a fire that consumes to destruction,
And would root out all my increase.
13 “If I have (CE)despised the cause of my male or female servant
When they complained against me,
14 What then shall I do when (CF)God rises up?
When He punishes, how shall I answer Him?
15 (CG)Did not He who made me in the womb make them?
Did not the same One fashion us in the womb?
16 “If I have kept the poor from their desire,
Or caused the eyes of the widow to (CH)fail,
17 Or eaten my morsel by myself,
So that the fatherless could not eat of it
18 (But from my youth I reared him as a father,
And from my mother’s womb I guided [ad]the widow);
19 If I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing,
Or any poor man without covering;
20 If his [ae]heart has not (CI)blessed me,
And if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep;
21 If I have raised my hand (CJ)against the fatherless,
When I saw I had help in the gate;
22 Then let my arm fall from my shoulder,
Let my arm be torn from the socket.
23 For (CK)destruction from God is a terror to me,
And because of His magnificence I cannot endure.
24 “If(CL) I have made gold my hope,
Or said to fine gold, ‘You are my confidence’;
25 (CM)If I have rejoiced because my wealth was great,
And because my hand had gained much;
26 (CN)If I have observed the [af]sun when it shines,
Or the moon moving in brightness,
27 So that my heart has been secretly enticed,
And my mouth has kissed my hand;
28 This also would be an iniquity deserving of judgment,
For I would have denied God who is above.
29 “If(CO) I have rejoiced at the destruction of him who hated me,
Or lifted myself up when evil found him
30 (CP)(Indeed I have not allowed my mouth to sin
By asking for a curse on his [ag]soul);
31 If the men of my tent have not said,
‘Who is there that has not been satisfied with his meat?’
32 (CQ)(But no sojourner had to lodge in the street,
For I have opened my doors to the [ah]traveler);
33 If I have covered my transgressions (CR)as[ai] Adam,
By hiding my iniquity in my bosom,
34 Because I feared the great (CS)multitude,
And dreaded the contempt of families,
So that I kept silence
And did not go out of the door—
35 (CT)Oh, that I had one to hear me!
Here is my mark.
Oh, (CU)that the Almighty would answer me,
That my [aj]Prosecutor had written a book!
36 Surely I would carry it on my shoulder,
And bind it on me like a crown;
37 I would declare to Him the number of my steps;
Like a prince I would approach Him.
38 “If my land cries out against me,
And its furrows weep together;
39 If (CV)I have eaten its [ak]fruit without money,
Or (CW)caused its owners to lose their lives;
40 Then let (CX)thistles grow instead of wheat,
And weeds instead of barley.”
The words of Job are ended.
Elihu Contradicts Job’s Friends
32 So these three men ceased answering Job, because he was (CY)righteous in his own eyes. 2 Then the wrath of Elihu, the son of Barachel the (CZ)Buzite, of the family of Ram, was aroused against Job; his wrath was aroused because he (DA)justified himself rather than God. 3 Also against his three friends his wrath was aroused, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.
4 Now because they were years older than he, Elihu had waited [al]to speak to Job. 5 When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, his wrath was aroused.
6 So Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, answered and said:
“I am (DB)young in years, and you are very old;
Therefore I was afraid,
And dared not declare my opinion to you.
7 I said, [am]‘Age should speak,
And multitude of years should teach wisdom.’
8 But there is a spirit in man,
And (DC)the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding.
9 (DD)Great[an] men are not always wise,
Nor do the aged always understand justice.
10 “Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me,
I also will declare my opinion.’
11 Indeed I waited for your words,
I listened to your reasonings, while you searched out what to say.
12 I paid close attention to you;
And surely not one of you convinced Job,
Or answered his words—
13 (DE)Lest you say,
‘We have found wisdom’;
God will vanquish him, not man.
14 Now he has not [ao]directed his words against me;
So I will not answer him with your words.
15 “They are dismayed and answer no more;
Words escape them.
16 And I have waited, because they did not speak,
Because they stood still and answered no more.
17 I also will answer my part,
I too will declare my opinion.
18 For I am full of words;
The spirit within me compels me.
19 Indeed my [ap]belly is like wine that has no [aq]vent;
It is ready to burst like new wineskins.
20 I will speak, that I may find relief;
I must open my lips and answer.
21 Let me not, I pray, show partiality to anyone;
Nor let me flatter any man.
22 For I do not know how to flatter,
Else my Maker would soon take me (DF)away.
Elihu Contradicts Job
33 “But please, Job, hear my speech,
And listen to all my words.
2 Now, I open my mouth;
My tongue speaks in my mouth.
3 My words come from my upright heart;
My lips utter pure knowledge.
4 (DG)The Spirit of God has made me,
And the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
5 If you can answer me,
Set your words in order before me;
Take your stand.
6 (DH)Truly I am [ar]as your spokesman before God;
I also have been formed out of clay.
7 (DI)Surely no fear of me will terrify you,
Nor will my hand be heavy on you.
8 “Surely you have spoken [as]in my hearing,
And I have heard the sound of your words, saying,
9 ‘I(DJ) am pure, without transgression;
I am innocent, and there is no iniquity in me.
10 Yet He finds occasions against me,
(DK)He counts me as His enemy;
11 (DL)He puts my feet in the stocks,
He watches all my paths.’
12 “Look, in this you are not righteous.
I will answer you,
For God is greater than man.
13 Why do you (DM)contend with Him?
For He does not give an accounting of any of His words.
14 (DN)For God may speak in one way, or in another,
Yet man does not perceive it.
15 (DO)In a dream, in a vision of the night,
When deep sleep falls upon men,
While slumbering on their beds,
16 (DP)Then He opens the ears of men,
And seals their instruction.
17 In order to turn man from his deed,
And conceal pride from man,
18 He keeps back his soul from the Pit,
And his life from [at]perishing by the sword.
19 “Man is also chastened with pain on his (DQ)bed,
And with strong pain in many of his bones,
20 (DR)So that his life abhors (DS)bread,
And his soul [au]succulent food.
21 His flesh wastes away from sight,
And his bones stick out which once were not seen.
22 Yes, his soul draws near the Pit,
And his life to the executioners.
23 “If there is a messenger for him,
A mediator, one among a thousand,
To show man His uprightness,
24 Then He is gracious to him, and says,
‘Deliver him from going down to the Pit;
I have found [av]a ransom’;
25 His flesh shall be young like a child’s,
He shall return to the days of his youth.
26 He shall pray to God, and He will delight in him,
He shall see His face with joy,
For He restores to man His righteousness.
27 Then he looks at men and (DT)says,
‘I have sinned, and perverted what was right,
And it (DU)did not profit me.’
28 He will (DV)redeem [aw]his soul from going down to the Pit,
And his life shall see the light.
29 “Behold, God works all these things,
Twice, in fact, three times with a man,
30 (DW)To bring back his soul from the Pit,
That he may be enlightened with the light of life.
31 “Give ear, Job, listen to me;
Hold your peace, and I will speak.
32 If you have anything to say, answer me;
Speak, for I desire to justify you.
33 If not, (DX)listen to me;
[ax]Hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom.”
Elihu Proclaims God’s Justice
34 Elihu further answered and said:
2 “Hear my words, you wise men;
Give ear to me, you who have knowledge.
3 (DY)For the ear tests words
As the palate tastes food.
4 Let us choose justice for ourselves;
Let us know among ourselves what is good.
5 “For Job has said, (DZ)‘I am righteous,
But (EA)God has taken away my justice;
6 (EB)Should I lie concerning my right?
My [ay]wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’
7 What man is like Job,
(EC)Who drinks [az]scorn like water,
8 Who goes in company with the workers of iniquity,
And walks with wicked men?
9 For (ED)he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing
That he should delight in God.’
10 “Therefore listen to me, you [ba]men of understanding:
(EE)Far be it from God to do wickedness,
And from the Almighty to commit iniquity.
11 (EF)For He repays man according to his work,
And makes man to find a reward according to his way.
12 Surely God will never do wickedly,
Nor will the Almighty (EG)pervert justice.
13 Who gave Him charge over the earth?
Or who appointed Him over the whole world?
14 If He should set His heart on it,
If He should (EH)gather to Himself His Spirit and His breath,
15 (EI)All flesh would perish together,
And man would return to dust.
16 “If you have understanding, hear this;
Listen to the sound of my words:
17 (EJ)Should one who hates justice govern?
Will you (EK)condemn Him who is most just?
18 (EL)Is it fitting to say to a king, ‘You are worthless,’
And to nobles, ‘You are wicked’?
19 Yet He (EM)is not partial to princes,
Nor does He regard the rich more than the poor;
For (EN)they are all the work of His hands.
20 In a moment they die, (EO)in the middle of the night;
The people are shaken and pass away;
The mighty are taken away without a hand.
21 “For(EP) His eyes are on the ways of man,
And He sees all his steps.
22 (EQ)There is no darkness nor shadow of death
Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
23 For He need not further consider a man,
That he should go before God in judgment.
24 (ER)He breaks in pieces mighty men without inquiry,
And sets others in their place.
25 Therefore He knows their works;
He overthrows them in the night,
And they are crushed.
26 He strikes them as wicked men
In the open sight of others,
27 Because they (ES)turned back from Him,
And (ET)would not consider any of His ways,
28 So that they (EU)caused the cry of the poor to come to Him;
For He (EV)hears the cry of the afflicted.
29 When He gives quietness, who then can make trouble?
And when He hides His face, who then can see Him,
Whether it is against a nation or a man alone?—
30 That the hypocrite should not reign,
Lest the people be ensnared.
31 “For has anyone said to God,
‘I have borne chastening;
I will offend no more;
32 Teach me what I do not see;
If I have done iniquity, I will do no more’?
33 Should He repay it according to your terms,
Just because you disavow it?
You must choose, and not I;
Therefore speak what you know.
34 “Men of understanding say to me,
Wise men who listen to me:
35 ‘Job(EW) speaks without knowledge,
His words are without wisdom.’
36 Oh, that Job were tried to the utmost,
Because his answers are like those of wicked men!
37 For he adds (EX)rebellion to his sin;
He claps his hands among us,
And multiplies his words against God.”
Elihu Condemns Self-Righteousness
35 Moreover Elihu answered and said:
2 “Do you think this is right?
Do you say,
‘My righteousness is more than God’s’?
3 For (EY)you say,
‘What advantage will it be to You?
What profit shall I have, more than if I had sinned?’
4 “I will answer you,
And (EZ)your companions with you.
5 (FA)Look to the heavens and see;
And behold the clouds—
They are higher than you.
6 If you sin, what do you accomplish (FB)against Him?
Or, if your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to Him?
7 (FC)If you are righteous, what do you give Him?
Or what does He receive from your hand?
8 Your wickedness affects a man such as you,
And your righteousness a son of man.
9 “Because(FD) of the multitude of oppressions they cry out;
They cry out for help because of the arm of the mighty.
10 But no one says, (FE)‘Where is God my Maker,
(FF)Who gives songs in the night,
11 Who (FG)teaches us more than the beasts of the earth,
And makes us wiser than the birds of heaven?’
12 (FH)There they cry out, but He does not answer,
Because of the pride of evil men.
13 (FI)Surely God will not listen to empty talk,
Nor will the Almighty regard it.
14 (FJ)Although you say you do not see Him,
Yet justice is before Him, and (FK)you must wait for Him.
15 And now, because He has not (FL)punished in His anger,
Nor taken much notice of folly,
16 (FM)Therefore Job opens his mouth in vain;
He multiplies words without knowledge.”
Elihu Proclaims God’s Goodness
36 Elihu also proceeded and said:
2 “Bear with me a little, and I will show you
That there are yet words to speak on God’s behalf.
3 I will fetch my knowledge from afar;
I will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
4 For truly my words are not false;
One who is perfect in knowledge is with you.
5 “Behold, God is mighty, but despises no one;
(FN)He is mighty in strength [bb]of understanding.
6 He does not preserve the life of the wicked,
But gives justice to the (FO)oppressed.
7 (FP)He does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous;
But (FQ)they are on the throne with kings,
For He has seated them forever,
And they are exalted.
8 And (FR)if they are bound in [bc]fetters,
Held in the cords of affliction,
9 Then He tells them their work and their transgressions—
That they have acted [bd]defiantly.
10 (FS)He also opens their ear to [be]instruction,
And commands that they turn from iniquity.
11 If they obey and serve Him,
They shall (FT)spend their days in prosperity,
And their years in pleasures.
12 But if they do not obey,
They shall perish by the sword,
And they shall die [bf]without (FU)knowledge.
13 “But the hypocrites in heart (FV)store up wrath;
They do not cry for help when He binds them.
14 (FW)They[bg] die in youth,
And their life ends among the [bh]perverted persons.
15 He delivers the poor in their affliction,
And opens their ears in oppression.
16 “Indeed He would have brought you out of dire distress,
(FX)Into a broad place where there is no restraint;
And (FY)what is set on your table would be full of (FZ)richness.
17 But you are filled with the judgment due the (GA)wicked;
Judgment and justice take hold of you.
18 Because there is wrath, beware lest He take you away with one blow;
For (GB)a large ransom would not help you avoid it.
19 (GC)Will your riches,
Or all the mighty forces,
Keep you from distress?
20 Do not desire the night,
When people are cut off in their place.
21 Take heed, (GD)do not turn to iniquity,
For (GE)you have chosen this rather than affliction.
22 “Behold, God is exalted by His power;
Who teaches like Him?
23 (GF)Who has assigned Him His way,
Or who has said, ‘You have done (GG)wrong’?
Elihu Proclaims God’s Majesty
24 “Remember to (GH)magnify His work,
Of which men have sung.
25 Everyone has seen it;
Man looks on it from afar.
26 “Behold, God is great, and we (GI)do not know Him;
(GJ)Nor can the number of His years be discovered.
27 For He (GK)draws up drops of water,
Which distill as rain from the mist,
28 (GL)Which the clouds drop down
And pour abundantly on man.
29 Indeed, can anyone understand the spreading of clouds,
The thunder from His canopy?
30 Look, He (GM)scatters His light upon it,
And covers the depths of the sea.
31 For (GN)by these He judges the peoples;
He (GO)gives food in abundance.
32 (GP)He covers His hands with lightning,
And commands it to [bi]strike.
33 (GQ)His thunder declares it,
The cattle also, concerning [bj]the rising storm.
God’s Works and Wisdom
37 “At this also my heart trembles,
And leaps from its place.
2 Hear attentively the thunder of His voice,
And the rumbling that comes from His mouth.
3 He sends it forth under the whole heaven,
His [bk]lightning to the ends of the earth.
4 After it (GR)a voice roars;
He thunders with His majestic voice,
And He does not restrain them when His voice is heard.
5 God thunders marvelously with His voice;
(GS)He does great things which we cannot comprehend.
6 For (GT)He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth’;
Likewise to the [bl]gentle rain and the heavy rain of His strength.
7 He seals the hand of every man,
(GU)That (GV)all men may know His work.
8 The beasts (GW)go into dens,
And remain in their lairs.
9 From the chamber of the south comes the whirlwind,
And cold from the scattering winds of the north.
10 (GX)By the breath of God ice is given,
And the broad waters are frozen.
11 Also with moisture He saturates the thick clouds;
He scatters His [bm]bright clouds.
12 And they swirl about, being turned by His guidance,
That they may (GY)do whatever He commands them
On the face of [bn]the whole earth.
13 (GZ)He causes it to come,
Whether for [bo]correction,
Or (HA)for His land,
Or (HB)for mercy.
14 “Listen to this, O Job;
Stand still and (HC)consider the wondrous works of God.
15 Do you know when God [bp]dispatches them,
And causes the light of His cloud to shine?
16 (HD)Do you know how the clouds are balanced,
Those wondrous works of (HE)Him who is perfect in knowledge?
17 Why are your garments hot,
When He quiets the earth by the south wind?
18 With Him, have you (HF)spread out the (HG)skies,
Strong as a cast metal mirror?
19 “Teach us what we should say to Him,
For we can prepare nothing because of the darkness.
20 Should He be told that I wish to speak?
If a man were to speak, surely he would be swallowed up.
21 Even now men cannot look at the light when it is bright in the skies,
When the wind has passed and cleared them.
22 He comes from the north as golden splendor;
With God is awesome majesty.
23 As for the Almighty, (HH)we cannot find Him;
(HI)He is excellent in power,
In judgment and abundant justice;
He does not oppress.
24 Therefore men (HJ)fear Him;
He shows no partiality to any who are (HK)wise of heart.”
The Lord Reveals His Omnipotence to Job(HL)
38 Then the Lord answered Job (HM)out of the whirlwind, and said:
2 “Who(HN) is this who darkens counsel
By (HO)words without knowledge?
3 (HP)Now [bq]prepare yourself like a man;
I will question you, and you shall answer Me.
4 “Where(HQ) were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?
Tell Me, if you have understanding.
5 Who determined its measurements?
Surely you know!
Or who stretched the [br]line upon it?
6 To what were its foundations fastened?
Or who laid its cornerstone,
7 When the morning stars sang together,
And all (HR)the sons of God shouted for joy?
8 “Or(HS) who shut in the sea with doors,
When it burst forth and issued from the womb;
9 When I made the clouds its garment,
And thick darkness its swaddling band;
10 When (HT)I fixed My limit for it,
And set bars and doors;
11 When I said,
‘This far you may come, but no farther,
And here your proud waves (HU)must stop!’
12 “Have you (HV)commanded the morning since your days began,
And caused the dawn to know its place,
13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth,
And (HW)the wicked be shaken out of it?
14 It takes on form like clay under a seal,
And stands out like a garment.
15 From the wicked their (HX)light is withheld,
And (HY)the [bs]upraised arm is broken.
16 “Have you (HZ)entered the springs of the sea?
Or have you walked in search of the depths?
17 Have (IA)the gates of death been [bt]revealed to you?
Or have you seen the doors of the shadow of death?
18 Have you comprehended the breadth of 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 may take it to its territory,
That you may know the paths to its home?
21 Do you know it, because you were born then,
Or because the number of your days is great?
22 “Have you entered (IB)the treasury of snow,
Or have you seen the treasury of hail,
23 (IC)Which I have reserved for the time of trouble,
For the day of battle and war?
24 By what way is light [bu]diffused,
Or the east wind scattered over the earth?
25 “Who (ID)has divided a channel for the overflowing water,
Or a path for the thunderbolt,
26 To cause it to rain on a land where there is no one,
A wilderness in which there is no man;
27 (IE)To satisfy the desolate waste,
And cause to spring forth the growth of tender grass?
28 (IF)Has the rain a father?
Or who has begotten the drops of dew?
29 From whose womb comes the ice?
And the (IG)frost of heaven, who gives it birth?
30 The waters harden like stone,
And the surface of the deep is (IH)frozen.[bv]
31 “Can you bind the cluster of the (II)Pleiades,[bw]
Or loose the belt of Orion?
32 Can you bring out [bx]Mazzaroth in its season?
Or can you guide [by]the Great Bear with its cubs?
33 Do you know (IJ)the ordinances of the heavens?
Can you set their dominion over the earth?
34 “Can you lift up your voice to the clouds,
That an abundance of water may cover you?
35 Can you send out lightnings, that they may go,
And say to you, ‘Here we are!’?
36 (IK)Who has put wisdom in [bz]the mind?
Or who has given understanding to the heart?
37 Who can number the clouds by wisdom?
Or who can pour out the bottles of heaven,
38 When the dust hardens in clumps,
And the clods cling together?
39 “Can(IL) you hunt the prey for the lion,
Or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,
40 When they crouch in their dens,
Or lurk in their lairs to lie in wait?
41 (IM)Who provides food for the raven,
When its young ones cry to God,
And wander about for lack of food?
God Continues to Challenge Job
39 “Do you know the time when the wild (IN)mountain goats bear young?
Or can you mark when (IO)the deer gives birth?
2 Can you number the months that they fulfill?
Or do you know the time when they bear young?
3 They bow down,
They bring forth their young,
They deliver their [ca]offspring.
4 Their young ones are healthy,
They grow strong with grain;
They depart and do not return to them.
5 “Who set the wild donkey free?
Who loosed the bonds of the [cb]onager,
6 (IP)Whose home I have made the wilderness,
And the [cc]barren land his dwelling?
7 He scorns the tumult of the city;
He does not heed the shouts of the driver.
8 The range of the mountains is his pasture,
And he searches after (IQ)every green thing.
9 “Will the (IR)wild ox be willing to serve you?
Will he bed by your manger?
10 Can you bind the wild ox in the furrow with ropes?
Or will he plow the valleys behind you?
11 Will you trust him because his strength is great?
Or will you leave your labor to him?
12 Will you trust him to bring home your [cd]grain,
And gather it to your threshing floor?
13 “The wings of the ostrich wave proudly,
But are her wings and pinions like the kindly stork’s?
14 For she leaves her eggs on the ground,
And warms them in the dust;
15 She forgets that a foot may crush them,
Or that a wild beast may break them.
16 She (IS)treats her young harshly, as though they were not hers;
Her labor is in vain, without [ce]concern,
17 Because God deprived her of wisdom,
And did not (IT)endow her with understanding.
18 When she lifts herself on high,
She scorns the horse and its rider.
19 “Have you given the horse strength?
Have you clothed his neck with [cf]thunder?
20 Can you [cg]frighten him like a locust?
His majestic snorting strikes terror.
21 He paws in the valley, and rejoices in his strength;
(IU)He gallops into the clash of arms.
22 He mocks at fear, and is not frightened;
Nor does he turn back from the sword.
23 The quiver rattles against him,
The glittering spear and javelin.
24 He devours the distance with fierceness and rage;
Nor does he come to a halt because the trumpet has sounded.
25 At the blast of the trumpet he says, ‘Aha!’
He smells the battle from afar,
The thunder of captains and shouting.
26 “Does the hawk fly by your wisdom,
And spread its wings toward the south?
27 Does the (IV)eagle mount up at your command,
And (IW)make its nest on high?
28 On the rock it dwells and resides,
On the crag of the rock and the stronghold.
29 From there it spies out the prey;
Its eyes observe from afar.
30 Its young ones suck up blood;
And (IX)where the slain are, there it is.”
God’s Power and Wisdom
40 Moreover the Lord (IY)answered Job, and said:
2 “Shall (IZ)the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him?
He who (JA)rebukes God, let him answer it.”
Job’s Response to God
3 Then Job answered the Lord and said:
4 “Behold,(JB) I am vile;
What shall I answer You?
(JC)I lay my hand over my mouth.
5 Once I have spoken, but I will not answer;
Yes, twice, but I will proceed no further.”
God’s Challenge to Job
6 (JD)Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said:
8 “Would(JG) you indeed [ci]annul My judgment?
Would you condemn Me that you may be justified?
9 Have you an arm like God?
Or can you thunder with (JH)a voice like His?
10 (JI)Then adorn yourself with majesty and splendor,
And array yourself with glory and beauty.
11 Disperse the rage of your wrath;
Look on everyone who is proud, and humble him.
12 Look on everyone who is (JJ)proud, and bring him low;
Tread down the wicked in their place.
13 Hide them in the dust together,
Bind their faces in hidden darkness.
14 Then I will also confess to you
That your own right hand can save you.
15 “Look now at the [cj]behemoth, which I made along with you;
He eats grass like an ox.
16 See now, his strength is in his hips,
And his power is in his stomach muscles.
17 He moves his tail like a cedar;
The sinews of his thighs are tightly knit.
18 His bones are like beams of bronze,
His ribs like bars of iron.
19 He is the first of the (JK)ways of God;
Only He who made him can bring near His sword.
20 Surely the mountains (JL)yield food for him,
And all the beasts of the field play there.
21 He lies under the lotus trees,
In a covert of reeds and marsh.
22 The lotus trees cover him with their shade;
The willows by the brook surround him.
23 Indeed the river may rage,
Yet he is not disturbed;
He is confident, though the Jordan gushes into his mouth,
24 Though he takes it in his eyes,
Or one pierces his nose with a snare.
God’s Power in the Leviathan
41 “Can you draw out (JM)Leviathan[ck] with a hook,
Or snare his tongue with a line which you lower?
2 Can you (JN)put a reed through his nose,
Or pierce his jaw with a [cl]hook?
3 Will he make many supplications to you?
Will he speak softly to you?
4 Will he make a covenant with you?
Will you take him as a servant forever?
5 Will you play with him as with a bird,
Or will you leash him for your maidens?
6 Will your companions [cm]make a banquet of him?
Will they apportion him among the merchants?
7 Can you fill his skin with harpoons,
Or his head with fishing spears?
8 Lay your hand on him;
Remember the battle—
Never do it again!
9 Indeed, any hope of overcoming him is false;
Shall one not be overwhelmed at the sight of him?
10 No one is so fierce that he would dare stir him up.
Who then is able to stand against Me?
11 (JO)Who has preceded Me, that I should pay him?
(JP)Everything under heaven is Mine.
12 “I will not [cn]conceal his limbs,
His mighty power, or his graceful proportions.
13 Who can [co]remove his outer coat?
Who can approach him with a double bridle?
14 Who can open the doors of his face,
With his terrible teeth all around?
15 His rows of [cp]scales are his pride,
Shut up tightly as with a seal;
16 One is so near another
That no air can come between them;
17 They are joined one to another,
They stick together and cannot be parted.
18 His sneezings flash forth light,
And his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning.
19 Out of his mouth go burning lights;
Sparks of fire shoot out.
20 Smoke goes out of his nostrils,
As from a boiling pot and burning rushes.
21 His breath kindles coals,
And a flame goes out of his mouth.
22 Strength dwells in his neck,
And [cq]sorrow dances before him.
23 The folds of his flesh are joined together;
They are firm on him and cannot be moved.
24 His heart is as hard as stone,
Even as hard as the lower millstone.
25 When he raises himself up, the mighty are afraid;
Because of his crashings they [cr]are beside themselves.
26 Though the sword reaches him, it cannot avail;
Nor does spear, dart, or javelin.
27 He regards iron as straw,
And bronze as rotten wood.
28 The arrow cannot make him flee;
Slingstones become like stubble to him.
29 Darts are regarded as straw;
He laughs at the threat of javelins.
30 His undersides are like sharp potsherds;
He spreads pointed marks in the mire.
31 He makes the deep boil like a pot;
He makes the sea like a pot of ointment.
32 He leaves a shining wake behind him;
One would think the deep had white hair.
33 On earth there is nothing like him,
Which is made without fear.
34 He beholds every high thing;
He is king over all the children of pride.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.