Study Desk

Job

Then Job replied:

"Listen carefully to my words;^(a) let this be the consolation you give me.^(b)

Bear with me while I speak, and after I have spoken, mock on.^(c)

"Is my complaint^(d) directed to a human being? Why should I not be impatient?^(e)

Look at me and be appalled; clap your hand over your mouth.^(f)

When I think about this, I am terrified;^(g) trembling seizes my body.^(h)

Why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power?⁽ⁱ⁾

They see their children established around them, their offspring before their eyes.^(j)

Their homes are safe and free from fear;^(k) the rod of God is not on them.^(l)

Their bulls never fail to breed; their cows calve and do not miscarry.^(m)

They send forth their children as a flock;⁽ⁿ⁾ their little ones dance about.

They sing to the music of timbrel and lyre;^(o) they make merry to the sound of the pipe.^(p)

They spend their years in prosperity^(q) and go down to the grave^(r) in peace.^[a](s)

Yet they say to God, ‘Leave us alone!^(t) We have no desire to know your ways.^(u)

Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What would we gain by praying to him?'^(v)

But their prosperity is not in their own hands, so I stand aloof from the plans of the wicked.^(w)

"Yet how often is the lamp of the wicked snuffed out?^(x) How often does calamity^(y) come upon them, the fate God allots in his anger?^(z)

How often are they like straw before the wind, like chaff^(aa) swept away^(ab) by a gale?^(ac)

It is said, ‘God stores up the punishment of the wicked for their children.'^(ad) Let him repay the wicked, so that they themselves will experience it!^(ae)

Let their own eyes see their destruction;^(af) let them drink^(ag) the cup of the wrath of the Almighty.^(ah)

For what do they care about the families they leave behind^(ai) when their allotted months^(aj) come to an end?^(ak)

"Can anyone teach knowledge to God,^(al) since he judges even the highest?^(am)

One person dies in full vigor,^(an) completely secure and at ease,^(ao)

well nourished^(ap) in body,^[b] bones^(aq) rich with marrow.^(ar)

Another dies in bitterness of soul,^(as) never having enjoyed anything good.

Side by side they lie in the dust,^(at) and worms^(au) cover them both.^(av)

"I know full well what you are thinking, the schemes by which you would wrong me.

You say, ‘Where now is the house of the great,^(aw) the tents where the wicked lived?'^(ax)

Have you never questioned those who travel? Have you paid no regard to their accounts—

that the wicked are spared from the day of calamity,^(ay) that they are delivered from^[c] the day of wrath?^(az)

Who denounces their conduct to their face? Who repays them for what they have done?^(ba)

They are carried to the grave, and watch is kept over their tombs.^(bb)

The soil in the valley is sweet to them;^(bc) everyone follows after them, and a countless throng goes^[d] before them.^(bd)

"So how can you console me^(be) with your nonsense? Nothing is left of your answers but falsehood!"^(bf)

Eliphaz

Then Eliphaz the Temanite^(a) replied:

"Can a man be of benefit to God?^(b) Can even a wise person benefit him?^(c)

What pleasure^(d) would it give the Almighty if you were righteous?^(e) What would he gain if your ways were blameless?^(f)

"Is it for your piety that he rebukes you and brings charges against you?^(g)

Is not your wickedness great? Are not your sins^(h) endless?⁽ⁱ⁾

You demanded security^(j) from your relatives for no reason;^(k) you stripped people of their clothing, leaving them naked.^(l)

You gave no water^(m) to the weary and you withheld food from the hungry,⁽ⁿ⁾

though you were a powerful man, owning land^(o)— an honored man,^(p) living on it.^(q)

And you sent widows^(r) away empty-handed^(s) and broke the strength of the fatherless.^(t)

That is why snares^(u) are all around you,^(v) why sudden peril terrifies you,^(w)

why it is so dark^(x) you cannot see, and why a flood of water covers you.^(y)

"Is not God in the heights of heaven?^(z) And see how lofty are the highest stars!

Yet you say, ‘What does God know?^(aa) Does he judge through such darkness?^(ab)

Thick clouds^(ac) veil him, so he does not see us^(ad) as he goes about in the vaulted heavens.'^(ae)

Will you keep to the old path that the wicked^(af) have trod?^(ag)

They were carried off before their time,^(ah) their foundations^(ai) washed away by a flood.^(aj)

They said to God, ‘Leave us alone! What can the Almighty do to us?'^(ak)

Yet it was he who filled their houses with good things,^(al) so I stand aloof from the plans of the wicked.^(am)

The righteous see their ruin and rejoice;^(an) the innocent mock^(ao) them, saying,

‘Surely our foes are destroyed,^(ap) and fire^(aq) devours their wealth.'

"Submit to God and be at peace^(ar) with him;^(as) in this way prosperity will come to you.^(at)

Accept instruction from his mouth^(au) and lay up his words^(av) in your heart.^(aw)

If you return^(ax) to the Almighty, you will be restored:^(ay) If you remove wickedness far from your tent^(az)

and assign your nuggets^(ba) to the dust, your gold^(bb) of Ophir^(bc) to the rocks in the ravines,^(bd)

then the Almighty will be your gold,^(be) the choicest silver for you.^(bf)

Surely then you will find delight in the Almighty^(bg) and will lift up your face^(bh) to God.^(bi)

You will pray to him,^(bj) and he will hear you,^(bk) and you will fulfill your vows.^(bl)

What you decide on will be done,^(bm) and light^(bn) will shine on your ways.^(bo)

When people are brought low^(bp) and you say, ‘Lift them up!' then he will save the downcast.^(bq)

He will deliver even one who is not innocent,^(br) who will be delivered through the cleanness of your hands."^(bs)