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Third Argument with Job's friends |
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ch20 1Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said, 2Therefore do my thoughts cause me to answer, and for [this] I make haste. 3I have heard the check of my reproach, and the spirit of my understanding causeth me to answer. 4Knowest thou [not] this of old, since man was placed upon earth, 5That the triumphing of the wicked [is] short, and the joy of the hypocrite [but] for a moment? 6Though his excellency mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds; 7[Yet] he shall perish for ever like his own dung: they which have seen him shall say, Where [is] he? 8He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night. 9The eye also [which] saw him shall [see him] no more; neither shall his place any more behold him. 10His children shall seek to please the poor, and his hands shall restore their goods. 11His bones are full [of the sin] of his youth, which shall lie down with him in the dust.
12Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, [though] he hide it under his tongue; 13[Though] he spare it, and forsake it not; but keep it still within his mouth: 14[Yet] his meat in his bowels is turned, [it is] the gall of asps within him. 15He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again: God shall cast them out of his belly. 16He shall suck the poison of asps: the viper's tongue shall slay him. 17He shall not see the rivers, the floods, the brooks of honey and butter. 18That which he laboured for shall he restore, and shall not swallow [it] down: according to [his] substance [shall] the restitution [be], and he shall not rejoice [therein]. 19Because he hath oppressed [and] hath forsaken the poor; [because] he hath violently taken away an house which he builded not;
20Surely he shall not feel quietness in his belly, he shall not save of that which he desired. 21There shall none of his meat be left; therefore shall no man look for his goods. 22In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits: every hand of the wicked shall come upon him. 23[When] he is about to fill his belly, [God] shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him, and shall rain [it] upon him while he is eating. 24He shall flee from the iron weapon, [and] the bow of steel shall strike him through. 25It is drawn, and cometh out of the body; yea, the glittering sword cometh out of his gall: terrors [are] upon him. 26All darkness [shall be] hid in his secret places: a fire not blown shall consume him; it shall go ill with him that is left in his tabernacle. 27The heaven shall reveal his iniquity; and the earth shall rise up against him. 28The increase of his house shall depart, [and his goods] shall flow away in the day of his wrath. 29This [is] the portion of a wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed unto him by God.
ch21 1But Job answered and said, 2Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations. 3Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on. 4As for me, [is] my complaint to man? and if [it were so], why should not my spirit be troubled? 5Mark me, and be astonished, and lay [your] hand upon [your] mouth. 6Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh. 7Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power? 8Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes. 9Their houses [are] safe from fear, neither [is] the rod of God upon them. 10Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf. 11They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance. 12They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ. 13They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave. 14Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways. 15What [is] the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him? 16Lo, their good [is] not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
17How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and [how oft] cometh their destruction upon them! [God] distributeth sorrows in his anger. 18They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away. 19God layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know [it]. 20His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty. 21For what pleasure [hath] he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst? 22Shall [any] teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high. 23One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet. 24His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow. 25And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure. 26They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them.
27Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices [which] ye wrongfully imagine against me. 28For ye say, Where [is] the house of the prince? and where [are] the dwelling places of the wicked? 29Have ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know their tokens, 30That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath. 31Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him [what] he hath done? 32Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb. 33The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, and every man shall draw after him, as [there are] innumerable before him. 34How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood?
ch22 1Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said, 2Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself? 3Is it] any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? or [is it] gain [to him], that thou makest thy ways perfect? 4Will he reprove thee for fear of thee? will he enter with thee into judgment? 5Is] not thy wickedness great? and thine iniquities infinite? 6For thou hast taken a pledge from thy brother for nought, and stripped the naked of their clothing. 7Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink, and thou hast withholden bread from the hungry. 8But [as for] the mighty man, he had the earth; and the honourable man dwelt in it. 9Thou hast sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken. 10Therefore snares [are] round about thee, and sudden fear troubleth thee; 11Or darkness, [that] thou canst not see; and abundance of waters cover thee.
12Is] not God in the height of heaven? and behold the height of the stars, how high they are! 13And thou sayest, How doth God know? can he judge through the dark cloud? 14Thick clouds [are] a covering to him, that he seeth not; and he walketh in the circuit of heaven. 15Hast thou marked the old way which wicked men have trodden? 16Which were cut down out of time, whose foundation was overflown with a flood: 17Which said unto God, Depart from us: and what can the Almighty do for them? 18Yet he filled their houses with good [things]: but the counsel of the wicked is far from me. 19The righteous see [it], and are glad: and the innocent laugh them to scorn. 20Whereas our substance is not cut down, but the remnant of them the fire consumeth.
21Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee. 22Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart. 23If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles. 24Then shalt thou lay up gold as dust, and the [gold] of Ophir as the stones of the brooks. 25Yea, the Almighty shall be thy defence, and thou shalt have plenty of silver. 26For then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God. 27Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows. 28Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways. 29When [men] are cast down, then thou shalt say, [There is] lifting up; and he shall save the humble person. 30He shall deliver the island of the innocent: and it is delivered by the pureness of thine hands.
ch23 1Then Job answered and said, 2Even to day [is] my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning. 3Oh that I knew where I might find him! [that] I might come [even] to his seat! 4I would order [my] cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments. 5I would know the words [which] he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me. 6Will he plead against me with [his] great power? No; but he would put [strength] in me. 7There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge. 8Behold, I go forward, but he [is] not [there]; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: 9On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold [him]: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see [him]:
10But he knoweth the way that I take: [when] he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. 11My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined. 12Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary [food]. 13But he [is] in one [mind], and who can turn him? and [what] his soul desireth, even [that] he doeth. 14For he performeth [the thing that is] appointed for me: and many such [things are] with him. 15Therefore am I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid of him. 16For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me: 17Because I was not cut off before the darkness, [neither] hath he covered the darkness from my face.
ch24 1Why, seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty, do they that know him not see his days? 2Some] remove the landmarks; they violently take away flocks, and feed [thereof]. 3They drive away the ass of the fatherless, they take the widow's ox for a pledge. 4They turn the needy out of the way: the poor of the earth hide themselves together. 5Behold, [as] wild asses in the desert, go they forth to their work; rising betimes for a prey: the wilderness [yieldeth] food for them [and] for [their] children. 6They reap [every one] his corn in the field: and they gather the vintage of the wicked. 7They cause the naked to lodge without clothing, that [they have] no covering in the cold. 8They are wet with the showers of the mountains, and embrace the rock for want of a shelter. 9They pluck the fatherless from the breast, and take a pledge of the poor. 10They cause [him] to go naked without clothing, and they take away the sheaf [from] the hungry; 11[Which] make oil within their walls, [and] tread [their] winepresses, and suffer thirst. 12Men groan from out of the city, and the soul of the wounded crieth out: yet God layeth not folly [to them].
13They are of those that rebel against the light; they know not the ways thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof. 14The murderer rising with the light killeth the poor and needy, and in the night is as a thief. 15The eye also of the adulterer waiteth for the twilight, saying, No eye shall see me: and disguiseth [his] face. 16In the dark they dig through houses, [which] they had marked for themselves in the daytime: they know not the light. 17For the morning [is] to them even as the shadow of death: if [one] know [them, they are in] the terrors of the shadow of death.
18He [is] swift as the waters; their portion is cursed in the earth: he beholdeth not the way of the vineyards. 19Drought and heat consume the snow waters: [so doth] the grave [those which] have sinned. 20The womb shall forget him; the worm shall feed sweetly on him; he shall be no more remembered; and wickedness shall be broken as a tree. 21He evil entreateth the barren [that] beareth not: and doeth not good to the widow. 22He draweth also the mighty with his power: he riseth up, and no [man] is sure of life. 23[Though] it be given him [to be] in safety, whereon he resteth; yet his eyes [are] upon their ways. 24They are exalted for a little while, but are gone and brought low; they are taken out of the way as all [other], and cut off as the tops of the ears of corn. 25And if [it be] not [so] now, who will make me a liar, and make my speech nothing worth?
ch25 1Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said, 2Dominion and fear [are] with him, he maketh peace in his high places. 3Is there any number of his armies? and upon whom doth not his light arise? 4How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean [that is] born of a woman? 5Behold even to the moon, and it shineth not; yea, the stars are not pure in his sight. 6How much less man, [that is] a worm? and the son of man, [which is] a worm?
ch26 1But Job answered and said, 2How hast thou helped [him that is] without power? [how] savest thou the arm [that hath] no strength? 3How hast thou counselled [him that hath] no wisdom? and [how] hast thou plentifully declared the thing as it is? 4To whom hast thou uttered words? and whose spirit came from thee?
5Dead [things] are formed from under the waters, and the inhabitants thereof. 6Hell [is] naked before him, and destruction hath no covering. 7He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, [and] hangeth the earth upon nothing. 8He bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds; and the cloud is not rent under them. 9He holdeth back the face of his throne, [and] spreadeth his cloud upon it. 10He hath compassed the waters with bounds, until the day and night come to an end. 11The pillars of heaven tremble and are astonished at his reproof. 12He divideth the sea with his power, and by his understanding he smiteth through the proud. 13By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent. 14Lo, these [are] parts of his ways: but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand?
ch27 1Moreover Job continued his parable, and said, 2As] God liveth, [who] hath taken away my judgment; and the Almighty, [who] hath vexed my soul; 3All the while my breath [is] in me, and the spirit of God [is] in my nostrils; 4My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit. 5God forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me. 6My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach [me] so long as I live. 7Let mine enemy be as the wicked, and he that riseth up against me as the unrighteous. 8For what [is] the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul? 9Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him? 10Will he delight himself in the Almighty? will he always call upon God? 11I will teach you by the hand of God: [that] which [is] with the Almighty will I not conceal. 12Behold, all ye yourselves have seen [it]; why then are ye thus altogether vain?
13This [is] the portion of a wicked man with God, and the heritage of oppressors, [which] they shall receive of the Almighty. 14If his children be multiplied, [it is] for the sword: and his offspring shall not be satisfied with bread. 15Those that remain of him shall be buried in death: and his widows shall not weep. 16Though he heap up silver as the dust, and prepare raiment as the clay; 17He may prepare [it], but the just shall put [it] on, and the innocent shall divide the silver. 18He buildeth his house as a moth, and as a booth [that] the keeper maketh. 19The rich man shall lie down, but he shall not be gathered: he openeth his eyes, and he [is] not. 20Terrors take hold on him as waters, a tempest stealeth him away in the night. 21The east wind carrieth him away, and he departeth: and as a storm hurleth him out of his place. 22For [God] shall cast upon him, and not spare: he would fain flee out of his hand. 23Men] shall clap their hands at him, and shall hiss him out of his place.
ch28 1Surely there is a vein for the silver, and a place for gold [where] they fine [it]. 2Iron is taken out of the earth, and brass [is] molten [out of] the stone. 3He setteth an end to darkness, and searcheth out all perfection: the stones of darkness, and the shadow of death. 4The flood breaketh out from the inhabitant; [even the waters] forgotten of the foot: they are dried up, they are gone away from men. 5As for] the earth, out of it cometh bread: and under it is turned up as it were fire. 6The stones of it [are] the place of sapphires: and it hath dust of gold. 7[There is] a path which no fowl knoweth, and which the vulture's eye hath not seen: 8The lion's whelps have not trodden it, nor the fierce lion passed by it. 9He putteth forth his hand upon the rock; he overturneth the mountains by the roots. 10He cutteth out rivers among the rocks; and his eye seeth every precious thing. 11He bindeth the floods from overflowing; and [the thing that is] hid bringeth he forth to light. 12But where shall wisdom be found? and where [is] the place of understanding? 13Man knoweth not the price thereof; neither is it found in the land of the living. 14The depth saith, It [is] not in me: and the sea saith, [It is] not with me. 15It cannot be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighed [for] the price thereof. 16It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire. 17The gold and the crystal cannot equal it: and the exchange of it [shall not be for] jewels of fine gold. 18No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls: for the price of wisdom [is] above rubies. 19The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, neither shall it be valued with pure gold. 20Whence then cometh wisdom? and where [is] the place of understanding? 21Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the fowls of the air. 22Destruction and death say, We have heard the fame thereof with our ears. 23God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof. 24For he looketh to the ends of the earth, [and] seeth under the whole heaven; 25To make the weight for the winds; and he weigheth the waters by measure. 26When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder: 27Then did he see it, and declare it; he prepared it, yea, and searched it out. 28And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that [is] wisdom; and to depart from evil [is] understanding.
ch29 1Moreover Job continued his parable, and said, 2Oh that I were as [in] months past, as [in] the days [when] God preserved me; 3When his candle shined upon my head, [and when] by his light I walked [through] darkness; 4As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God [was] upon my tabernacle; 5When the Almighty [was] yet with me, [when] my children [were] about me; 6When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil; 7When I went out to the gate through the city, [when] I prepared my seat in the street! 8The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose, [and] stood up. 9The princes refrained talking, and laid [their] hand on their mouth. 10The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth. 11When the ear heard [me], then it blessed me; and when the eye saw [me], it gave witness to me: 12Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and [him that had] none to help him. 13The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy. 14I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment [was] as a robe and a diadem. 15I was eyes to the blind, and feet [was] I to the lame. 16I [was] a father to the poor: and the cause [which] I knew not I searched out. 17And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth. 18Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply [my] days as the sand. 19My root [was] spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch. 20My glory [was] fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand. 21Unto me [men] gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel. 22After my words they spake not again; and my speech dropped upon them. 23And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide [as] for the latter rain. 24If] I laughed on them, they believed [it] not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down. 25I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one [that] comforteth the mourners.
ch30 1But now [they that are] younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my flock. 2Yea, whereto [might] the strength of their hands [profit] me, in whom old age was perished? 3For want and famine [they were] solitary; fleeing into the wilderness in former time desolate and waste. 4Who cut up mallows by the bushes, and juniper roots [for] their meat. 5They were driven forth from among [men], (they cried after them as [after] a thief;) 6To dwell in the clifts of the valleys, [in] caves of the earth, and [in] the rocks. 7Among the bushes they brayed; under the nettles they were gathered together. 8[They were] children of fools, yea, children of base men: they were viler than the earth.
9And now am I their song, yea, I am their byword. 10They abhor me, they flee far from me, and spare not to spit in my face. 11Because he hath loosed my cord, and afflicted me, they have also let loose the bridle before me. 12Upon [my] right [hand] rise the youth; they push away my feet, and they raise up against me the ways of their destruction. 13They mar my path, they set forward my calamity, they have no helper. 14They came [upon me] as a wide breaking in [of waters]: in the desolation they rolled themselves [upon me]. 15Terrors are turned upon me: they pursue my soul as the wind: and my welfare passeth away as a cloud.
16And now my soul is poured out upon me; the days of affliction have taken hold upon me. 17My bones are pierced in me in the night season: and my sinews take no rest. 18By the great force [of my disease] is my garment changed: it bindeth me about as the collar of my coat. 19He hath cast me into the mire, and I am become like dust and ashes. 20I cry unto thee, and thou dost not hear me: I stand up, and thou regardest me [not]. 21Thou art become cruel to me: with thy strong hand thou opposest thyself against me. 22Thou liftest me up to the wind; thou causest me to ride [upon it], and dissolvest my substance. 23For I know [that] thou wilt bring me [to] death, and [to] the house appointed for all living.
24Howbeit he will not stretch out [his] hand to the grave, though they cry in his destruction. 25Did not I weep for him that was in trouble? was [not] my soul grieved for the poor? 26When I looked for good, then evil came [unto me]: and when I waited for light, there came darkness. 27My bowels boiled, and rested not: the days of affliction prevented me. 28I went mourning without the sun: I stood up, [and] I cried in the congregation. 29I am a brother to dragons, and a companion to owls. 30My skin is black upon me, and my bones are burned with heat. 31My harp also is [turned] to mourning, and my organ into the voice of them that weep.
ch31 1I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid? 2For what portion of God [is there] from above? and [what] inheritance of the Almighty from on high? 3Is] not destruction to the wicked? and a strange [punishment] to the workers of iniquity? 4Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps?
5If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit; 6Let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know mine integrity. 7If my step hath turned out of the way, and mine heart walked after mine eyes, and if any blot hath cleaved to mine hands; 8[Then] let me sow, and let another eat; yea, let my offspring be rooted out.
9If mine heart have been deceived by a woman, or [if] I have laid wait at my neighbour's door; 10[Then] let my wife grind unto another, and let others bow down upon her. 11For this [is] an heinous crime; yea, it [is] an iniquity [to be punished by] the judges. 12For it [is] a fire [that] consumeth to destruction, and would root out all mine increase. 13If I did despise the cause of my manservant or of my maidservant, when they contended with me; 14What then shall I do when God riseth up? and when he visiteth, what shall I answer him? 15Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not one fashion us in the womb?
16If I have withheld the poor from [their] desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail; 17Or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof; 18For from my youth he was brought up with me, as [with] a father, and I have guided her from my mother's womb;) 19If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or any poor without covering; 20If his loins have not blessed me, and [if] he were [not] warmed with the fleece of my sheep; 21If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, when I saw my help in the gate: 22[Then] let mine arm fall from my shoulder blade, and mine arm be broken from the bone. 23For destruction [from] God [was] a terror to me, and by reason of his highness I could not endure.
24If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, [Thou art] my confidence; 25If I rejoiced because my wealth [was] great, and because mine hand had gotten much; 26If I beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking [in] brightness; 27And my heart hath been secretly enticed, or my mouth hath kissed my hand: 28This also [were] an iniquity [to be punished by] the judge: for I should have denied the God [that is] above. 29If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found him: 30Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by wishing a curse to his soul. 31If the men of my tabernacle said not, Oh that we had of his flesh! we cannot be satisfied. 32The stranger did not lodge in the street: [but] I opened my doors to the traveller. 33If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom: 34Did I fear a great multitude, or did the contempt of families terrify me, that I kept silence, [and] went not out of the door? 35Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire [is, that] the Almighty would answer me, and [that] mine adversary had written a book. 36Surely I would take it upon my shoulder, [and] bind it [as] a crown to me. 37I would declare unto him the number of my steps; as a prince would I go near unto him. 38If my land cry against me, or that the furrows likewise thereof complain; 39If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, or have caused the owners thereof to lose their life: 40Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and cockle instead of barley. The words of Job are ended.
ch32 1So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he [was] righteous in his own eyes. 2Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram: against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God. 3Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer, and [yet] had condemned Job. 4Now Elihu had waited till Job had spoken, because they [were] elder than he. 5When Elihu saw that [there was] no answer in the mouth of [these] three men, then his wrath was kindled.
6And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said, I [am] young, and ye [are] very old; wherefore I was afraid, and durst not shew you mine opinion. 7I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom. 8But [there is] a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding. 9Great men are not [always] wise: neither do the aged understand judgment. 10Therefore I said, Hearken to me; I also will shew mine opinion.
11Behold, I waited for your words; I gave ear to your reasons, whilst ye searched out what to say. 12Yea, I attended unto you, and, behold, [there was] none of you that convinced Job, [or] that answered his words: 13Lest ye should say, We have found out wisdom: God thrusteth him down, not man. 14Now he hath not directed [his] words against me: neither will I answer him with your speeches.
15They were amazed, they answered no more: they left off speaking. 16When I had waited, (for they spake not, but stood still, [and] answered no more;) 17I said], I will answer also my part, I also will shew mine opinion. 18For I am full of matter, the spirit within me constraineth me. 19Behold, my belly [is] as wine [which] hath no vent; it is ready to burst like new bottles. 20I will speak, that I may be refreshed: I will open my lips and answer. 21Let me not, I pray you, accept any man's person, neither let me give flattering titles unto man. 22For I know not to give flattering titles; [in so doing] my maker would soon take me away.
ch33 1Wherefore, Job, I pray thee, hear my speeches, and hearken to all my words. 2Behold, now I have opened my mouth, my tongue hath spoken in my mouth. 3My words [shall be of] the uprightness of my heart: and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly. 4The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life. 5If thou canst answer me, set [thy words] in order before me, stand up. 6Behold, I [am] according to thy wish in God's stead: I also am formed out of the clay. 7Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, neither shall my hand be heavy upon thee.
8Surely thou hast spoken in mine hearing, and I have heard the voice of [thy] words, [saying], 9I am clean without transgression, I [am] innocent; neither [is there] iniquity in me. 10Behold, he findeth occasions against me, he counteth me for his enemy, 11He putteth my feet in the stocks, he marketh all my paths. 12Behold, [in] this thou art not just: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man.
13Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters. 14For God speaketh once, yea twice, [yet man] perceiveth it not. 15In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed; 16Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction, 17That he may withdraw man [from his] purpose, and hide pride from man. 18He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.
19He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong [pain]: 20So that his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty meat. 21His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones [that] were not seen stick out. 22Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers.
23If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness: 24Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom. 25His flesh shall be fresher than a child's: he shall return to the days of his youth: 26He shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him: and he shall see his face with joy: for he will render unto man his righteousness. 27He looketh upon men, and [if any] say, I have sinned, and perverted [that which was] right, and it profited me not; 28He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.
29Lo, all these [things] worketh God oftentimes with man, 30To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living. 31Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I will speak. 32If thou hast any thing to say, answer me: speak, for I desire to justify thee. 33If not, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I shall teach thee wisdom.
ch34 1Furthermore Elihu answered and said, 2Hear my words, O ye wise [men]; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge. 3For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat. 4Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what [is] good. 5For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment. 6Should I lie against my right? my wound [is] incurable without transgression. 7What man [is] like Job, [who] drinketh up scorning like water? 8Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men. 9For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.
10Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: far be it from God, [that he should do] wickedness; and [from] the Almighty, [that he should commit] iniquity. 11For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to [his] ways. 12Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment. 13Who hath given him a charge over the earth? or who hath disposed the whole world? 14If he set his heart upon man, [if] he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath; 15All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.
16If now [thou hast] understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words. 17Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just? 18Is it fit] to say to a king, [Thou art] wicked? [and] to princes, [Ye are] ungodly? 19How much less to him] that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all [are] the work of his hands. 20In a moment shall they die, and the people shall be troubled at midnight, and pass away: and the mighty shall be taken away without hand.
21For his eyes [are] upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings. 22[There is] no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves. 23For he will not lay upon man more [than right]; that he should enter into judgment with God. 24He shall break in pieces mighty men without number, and set others in their stead. 25Therefore he knoweth their works, and he overturneth [them] in the night, so that they are destroyed. 26He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others; 27Because they turned back from him, and would not consider any of his ways: 28So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted. 29When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hideth [his] face, who then can behold him? whether [it be done] against a nation, or against a man only: 30That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.
31Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne [chastisement], I will not offend [any more]: 32That which] I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more. 33Should it be] according to thy mind? he will recompense it, whether thou refuse, or whether thou choose; and not I: therefore speak what thou knowest. 34Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken unto me. 35Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words [were] without wisdom. 36My desire [is that] Job may be tried unto the end because of [his] answers for wicked men. 37For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth [his hands] among us, and multiplieth his words against God.
ch35 1Elihu spake moreover, and said, 2Thinkest thou this to be right, [that] thou saidst, My righteousness [is] more than God's? 3For thou saidst, What advantage will it be unto thee? [and], What profit shall I have, [if I be cleansed] from my sin? 4I will answer thee, and thy companions with thee. 5Look unto the heavens, and see; and behold the clouds [which] are higher than thou. 6If thou sinnest, what doest thou against him? or [if] thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto him? 7If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? or what receiveth he of thine hand? 8Thy wickedness [may hurt] a man as thou [art]; and thy righteousness [may profit] the son of man.
9By reason of the multitude of oppressions they make [the oppressed] to cry: they cry out by reason of the arm of the mighty. 10But none saith, Where [is] God my maker, who giveth songs in the night; 11Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven? 12There they cry, but none giveth answer, because of the pride of evil men. 13Surely God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it. 14Although thou sayest thou shalt not see him, [yet] judgment [is] before him; therefore trust thou in him. 15But now, because [it is] not [so], he hath visited in his anger; yet he knoweth [it] not in great extremity: 16Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vain; he multiplieth words without knowledge.
ch36 1Elihu also proceeded, and said, 2Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee that [I have] yet to speak on God's behalf. 3I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker. 4For truly my words [shall] not [be] false: he that is perfect in knowledge [is] with thee. 5Behold, God [is] mighty, and despiseth not [any: he is] mighty in strength [and] wisdom. 6He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth right to the poor. 7He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings [are they] on the throne; yea, he doth establish them for ever, and they are exalted. 8And if [they be] bound in fetters, [and] be holden in cords of affliction; 9Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded. 10He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity. 11If they obey and serve [him], they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures. 12But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge. 13But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he bindeth them. 14They die in youth, and their life [is] among the unclean. 15He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth their ears in oppression. 16Even so would he have removed thee out of the strait [into] a broad place, where [there is] no straitness; and that which should be set on thy table [should be] full of fatness.
17But thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold [on thee]. 18Because [there is] wrath, [beware] lest he take thee away with [his] stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee. 19Will he esteem thy riches? [no], not gold, nor all the forces of strength. 20Desire not the night, when people are cut off in their place. 21Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction. 22Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him? 23Who hath enjoined him his way? or who can say, Thou hast wrought iniquity?
24Remember that thou magnify his work, which men behold. 25Every man may see it; man may behold [it] afar off. 26Behold, God [is] great, and we know [him] not, neither can the number of his years be searched out. 27For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof: 28Which the clouds do drop [and] distil upon man abundantly. 29Also can [any] understand the spreadings of the clouds, [or] the noise of his tabernacle? 30Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it, and covereth the bottom of the sea. 31For by them judgeth he the people; he giveth meat in abundance. 32With clouds he covereth the light; and commandeth it [not to shine] by [the cloud] that cometh betwixt. 33The noise thereof sheweth concerning it, the cattle also concerning the vapour.
ch37 1At this also my heart trembleth, and is moved out of his place. 2Hear attentively the noise of his voice, and the sound [that] goeth out of his mouth. 3He directeth it under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto the ends of the earth. 4After it a voice roareth: he thundereth with the voice of his excellency; and he will not stay them when his voice is heard. 5God thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend. 6For he saith to the snow, Be thou [on] the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength. 7He sealeth up the hand of every man; that all men may know his work. 8Then the beasts go into dens, and remain in their places. 9Out of the south cometh the whirlwind: and cold out of the north. 10By the breath of God frost is given: and the breadth of the waters is straitened. 11Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud: he scattereth his bright cloud: 12And it is turned round about by his counsels: that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the world in the earth. 13He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy.
14Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God. 15Dost thou know when God disposed them, and caused the light of his cloud to shine? 16Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge? 17How thy garments [are] warm, when he quieteth the earth by the south [wind]? 18Hast thou with him spread out the sky, [which is] strong, [and] as a molten looking glass? 19Teach us what we shall say unto him; [for] we cannot order [our speech] by reason of darkness. 20Shall it be told him that I speak? if a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up.
21And now [men] see not the bright light which [is] in the clouds: but the wind passeth, and cleanseth them. 22Fair weather cometh out of the north: with God [is] terrible majesty. 23[Touching] the Almighty, we cannot find him out: [he is] excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict. 24Men do therefore fear him: he respecteth not any [that are] wise of heart.
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