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OEB by section JOB 3:3

⌂ ← JOB 3:3–14:22 → ║ ═ ©

ACT 1

Job’s Lament and Longing for Death

3 Perished the day wherein I was born,

And the night which announced that a man-child had come.

4a Utter darkness let that night be,

9b Looking for light, but finding none.

4b May God in the heights above ask not after it,

4c And may no beam shine forth upon it.

5 May darkness and gloom claim it for their own,

And may the thick cloud rest upon it.

Black vapours of the day affright it!

6 And let the thick darkness snatch it away.

May it not be joined to the days of the year,

Or enter into the tale of the months.

7 As for that night, let it be barren:

May there never ring through it a cry of joy.

8 Accursed of sorcerers be that day–

Of those that are skilful to stir up Leviathan.

9a Dark be the stars of its morning twilight,

9c And never the eyelids of Dawn may it see;

10 Since it shut not the doors of my mother’s womb,

And hid not trouble from mine eyes.

11 Why died I not at my birth,

Breathe my last as I came from the womb,

12 Why on the knees was I welcomed,

And why were there breasts to suck?

13 For then had I lain down in quiet,

Then had I slept and had rest–

14 With kings of the earth and with cousellors,

Who built stately tombs for themselves,

15 Or with princes rich in gold,

Who had filled their houses with silver.Rearranged - rework!

16 Like a hidden untimely birth,

Like infants that never see light?

17 There the wicked cease their tumult,

There the weary are at rest–

18 Prisoners at ease together,

Deaf to the taskmaster’s voice.

19 There the small and the great are alike,

And the servants is free from his master.

20 Why is light given to the wretched,

And life to the bitter in soul,

21 Such as long for death, but it comes not,

And dig for it more than for treasure,

22 Who would joy o’er a mound of stones,

And rejoice, could they find a grave?verse 23 is out of order, rework needed.

23 To the man whose path is obscured,

Who is hedged round about by God–

24 For my bread there comes to me sighing,

My groans are poured out like water.

25 For the evil I fear overtakes me,

The things that I dread comes upon me.

26 Scarce have I ease or quiet

Or rest, when tumult cometh.

Eliphaz’s Comfortable Exhortation and Revelation

4 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said: 2 May we lift up a word unto thee who art fainting,

For who has the heart to restrain his speech?

3 see! thou hast instructed many,

And strengthened the drooping hands.

4 Thy words used to set up the stumbling,

And strengthen the tottering knees.

5 But now that it comes upon thee, thou art faint;

Now that it reaches thyself, thou art terrified.

6 Is not thy religion thy confidence,

And thy blameless life thy hope?

7 Bethink thee: has an innocent man ever perished,

Or when have the just been cut off?

8 It is those who plough wrong and sow trouble

That reap it: – for this have I seen.

9 By the breath of God they perish,

At the blast of HIs anger they vanish.

10 The Lion roared, the hoarse lion thundered:

But his young lion’s teeth were broken.

11 So for lack of prey he perished,

And the cubs of the lioness are scattered.

12 Now to me a word came stealing,

And mine ear caught a whisper thereof,

13 In thoughts from the visions of night,

When deep sleep falleth on men.

14 Fear came upon me and trembling,

That made my bones all quake.

15 Then a breath passed over my face,

The hair of my flesh bristled up.

16 There – it – stood.

I could not tell what it looked like–

This form before mine eyes.

In the silence I heard a voice say:

17 "Can mortal be just before God,

Or a man clean before his Creator?

18 See! He putteth no trust in His servants,

His angels He chargeth with folly.

19 How much more those whose houses are clay,

Whose very foundation is dust,

Who die before the moth,

20 Crushed between morning and evening,

Bruised without any regarding it,

Perished for evermore!

21 The cord of their tent is torn from them:

They die – but without learning wisdom."

5 Call now: will any one answer?

To which of the saints wilt thou turn?

2 For vexation killeth the fool,

Indignation slayeth the simpleton.

3 I have seen a fool taking root,

But his branch became suddenly rotten,

4 His children were far from help,

Crushed beyond hope deliverance.

5 The hungry eat up their harvest,

And the thirsty draw from their wells.

6 For not from the dust riseth ruin,

Nor out of the ground springeth trouble;

7 But man is born unto trouble,

While the sons of flame soar above it.

8 Were it I, I would seek unto God;

My cause I would bring before God,

9 Who doeth great things and unsearchable,

Marvellous things without number,

10 Who bringeth rain over the earth,

And over the fields sendeth water–

11 Setting the lowly on high,

And lifting the mourners to safety,

12 Frustrating the plots of the crafty

And robbing their hands of success,

13 So taking the wise in their guile,

That their tortuous plans fail through rashness:

14 They feel in the day as in darkness,

At noontide they grope as at night.

15 So the needy He saves from the sword,

And the poor from the hands of the mighty.

16 Thus hope is born in the weak,

And iniquity stoppeth her mouth.

17 Happy then the mortal whom God correcteth:

So spurn no thou the Almighty’s chastening.

18 For He bindeth the wounds He hath made,

And His hands heal the hurt He hath dealt.

19 He will save thee in six distresses,

In seven no evil shall touch thee.

20 In famine He frees thee from death,

And in war from the power of the sword.

21 From the scourge of tongue thou art safe;

Thou shalt fear not the onslaught of ruin.

22 At ruin and dearth shalt thou laugh,

And the beasts of the field thou shalt fear not.

23 For the stones of the earth are thine allies,

The beasts of the field are thy friends.

24 Thou shalt know that thy tent is secure,

Thou shalt visit thy fold and miss nothing.

25 Thy seed thou shalt know to be many,

Thine offspring as grass of the earth.

26 Thou shalt come to the grave in thy strength,

As a sheaf cometh in its season.

27 See! this we have searched – so it is.

We have heard it – lay thou it to heart.

Job’s Denunciation of Hollow Friendship. His Challenge of God and His Longing to be Gone

6 Then Job answered and said:

2 O could my vexation be carefully weighed,

And my misery set in the balance against it!

3 For it is more heavy than sand of the sea,

And therefore it is that my words are wild.

4 For the arrows of God Almighty are in me,

My spirit drinketh their fiery poison.

The terrors of God are arrayed against me,

7a My soul refuseth to be at rest.

5 Doth the wild ass bray as he nibbles the grass,

And over their fodder do oxen low?

6 Can a man eat that which is tasteless and saltless?

Is there any taste in the slime of the yolk?

8 O that I might have my request,

That God would grant me the thing that I long for!

9 O that God would consent to crush me,

To let His hand loose and cut me off!

10 So should I still have this for my comfort–

Leaping for joy amid torture unsparing–

That I had not concealed the words of the Holy One.

11 What is my strength, that I should endure?

Or what is mine end, that I should be patient?

12 Is my strength the strength of stones?

Or was I created with flesh of brass?

13 Behold! I have no help in myself,

And the power to achieve is driven from me.

14 To one who is fainting a friend should be kind,

Even though he forsaketh the fear of Almighty

15 But my brethen have dealt like a treacherous torrent,

Like channels that overflow their banks,

16 Which are turbid because of the ice

And the snow that hides within them;

17 But, when they are scorched, they vanish:

In the heat they are quenched from their place.

18 The caravans bend their course thither,

Go up through the waste, and perish.

19 The caravans of Tema looked out for them,

The companies of Sheba kept hoping:

20 But their confidence brought them to shame;

When they came to the place, they blushed.

21 Such now have ye proved unto me:

When ye look on the terror, ye shudder.

22 Did I ask you to give me a present,

Or make me a gift of your substance,

23 To rescue me from the foe,

Or from hand of the tyrant to free me?

24 Teach me, and I will be silent;

Show me wherein I have erred.

25 How sweet are words that are true!

But when you reprove, what is reproved?

26 Is it words that ye mean to reprove?

But for winds are the words of despair.

27 Would ye throw yourselves on the innocent,

Or make an assault on your friend?

28 Now look upon me, I pray you:

I would surely not lie in your face.

29 O turn back – let there be no injustice:

Turn back, for the right is still mine.

30 Is my tongue altogether perverted?

Have I lost the sense of wrong?

7 Hath man on the earth not a warfare,

With days like the days of a hireling?

2 Like a slave that pants for the shadow,

A hireling that longs for his wages,

3 So empty months are my portion,

And wearisome nights mine appointment.

4 I lie down, saying, "When cometh day?"

When I rise, methinks, "When cometh even?"

I am full of unrest till the dawn.

5 Worms and clods clothe my flesh;

My skin grows hard and then breaks.

6 My days are more swift than a shuttle;

They come to an end without hope.

7 O remember my life is but breath;

Mine eyes shall see good nevermore.

8 The eye that now sees me shall see me no more;

Thine eyes shall look for me, but I shall be gone.

9 Like the cloud that is spent and that passeth away,

He that goes down to Sheol shall come up no more.

10 He shall never come back to his house again,

And the place that was his shall know him no more.

11 So my mouth I will not restrain,

I will utter mine anguish of spirit,

Pour out mine embittered soul.

12 Am I a sea or a sea-monster,

That upon me Thou settest a watch?

13 When I look to my couch to comfort me,

To my bed for relief of my sorrow,

14 Then Thou scarest me with dreams,

And with visions dost so affright me,

15 That gladly would I be strangled:

Death itself I spurn in my pain.

16 I would not live for ever:

Let me go, for my days are but breath.

17 What is man, that so great Thou dost count him

And settest Thine heart upon him–

18 Visiting him every morning,

And testing him moment by moment?

19 O when wilt Thou turn Thine eyes from me,

And leave me though but for a moment?

20 If I sin, how does that harm Thee,

O Thou who art Watcher of men?

Why dost Thou make me Thy target?

Why burden Thyself with me?

21 Why not forgive my sin,

And pass mine iniquity by?

For now I shall lie in the dust;

Thou shalt search, but I shall not be.

Bildad’s Appeal to the Teaching of Tradition

8 And Bildad the Shuhite answered and said:

2 How long wilt thou utter these things–

These thy blustering windy words?

3 Is God a perverter of justice?

The Almighty subverter of right?

4 If thy children, for sinning against Him,

He has left to bear their transgressions,

5 Yet seek thou thyself unto God,

And supplicate the Almighty.

6 And if thou art pure and upright,

Thy righteous abode He will prosper;

7 And, though thy beginning be slender,

Thine end He shall greatly increase.

8 For inquire thou of past generations,

Regard the search of the fathers:–

9 For we are but dullards of yesterday,

Whose days on the earth are a shadow–

10 Shall they not give thee instruction,

And bring forth words out of their heart?

11 Can the rush shoot high without swamp,

Or the reed grow up without water?

12 While yet in its freshness, unplucked,

Of all herbs it withers most quickly.

13 So end all who put God out of mind.

And the hope of the hypocrite dies.

14 His confidence is but a thread,

And his trust as the web of a spider.

15 He leans on his house, but it stands not:

He grasps, but it cannot endure.

16 Like a plant is he, fresh in the sunshine,

With suckers that shoot o’er the garden.

17 Its roots are entwined round the well,

It lays hold of its stone habitation,

18 But when it is ruined, the spot

Denies having ever beheld it.

19 Thus its course ends in desolation

And out of the dust springs another."

20 See! God spurns not an innocent man,

But He will not uphold evildoers.

21 He will yet fill thy mouth with laughter

Thy lips with a shout of joy.

22 Thy foes shall be clothed with shame,

And the tent of the wicked shall vanish.

Job’s Challenge of Immoral Omnipotence

Then Job answered and said:

2 Yes, truly: I know it is so:

But with God how can man urge his right?

3 Should He choose to contend against him,

He could answer not one in a thousand.

4 Wise-hearted and strong as He is,

Who hath ever successfully braved Him?

5 Mountains He moves without effort,

He turns them about in His anger.

6 He shaketh the earth from her place,

And maketh her pillars shudder.

7 He speaks to the sun, and it shines not;

He setteth a seal on the stars.

8 He strecheth the heavens all alone;

He treadeth the heights of the sea.

9 He maketh the Bear and Orion.

The Pleiades and the southern chambers.

10 He doeth great things and unsearchable,

Marvellous things without number.

11 Lo! He passes me by all unseen;

Sweeps past – but I cannot perceive Him.

12 He seizeth, and who can prevent Him?

Who dare ask Him, "What doest Thou?"

13 God will not withdraw His anger;

The helpers of Rahab stooped under Him:

14 How much less can I give Him answer,

And choose out my words against Him?

15 Were I right, I could give Him no answer,

But needs must entreat my Judge.

16 If I called, He would give me no answer;

I cannot believe He would listen.

17 For He Crushes me in a temptest

With many a wanton wound.

18 He suffers me not to take breath,

But with bitterness He fills me.

19 Is it question of strength? There He is.

Or of justice? Then who will implead Him?

20 Am I right? Still mine own mouth condemns me.

Innocent? He proveth me perverse.

21 Innocent I am – but I reck not.

I spurn my life; ’tis all one.

22 And therefore it is that I say,

"He destroyeth both guiltless and guilty."

23 When the scourge bringeth sudden death,

The despair of the blameless He mocketh.

24 He hath given up the earth to the wicked;

He veileth the face of its judges.

If it be not He, who then?

25 My days are more swift than a runner,

They flee unillumined by joy.

26 They glide like the ships of reed,

Like an eagle that darts on its prey.

27 If I vow to forget my plaint

And to wear a bright face for a joyless,

28 I shudder at all my pains;

I know Thou wilt not hold me guiltless.

29 I then am I infallibly guilty,

So why should I labour in vain?

30 For though I wash me with snow,

And cleanse my hands with lye,

31 Thou wouldst plunge me then in the mire,

So that even my friends would abhor me.

32 Thou art not a man like myself,

That we come into judgment together.

33 O for an umpire between us,

To lay his hand on us both!

34 Let Him take but His rod from off me,

And affright me no more with His terrors,

35 And then I would speak unafraid–

For not such at heart am I.

10 In my soul is a loathing of life,

I will let my complaint loose against Him.

2 I will say to God, "Do not condemn me,

But show me the ground of Thy quarrel.

3 What dost Thou gain from oppressing

And spurning the work of Thy hands?

4 Hast Thou then eyes of flesh?

Or seest Thou as man seeth?

5 Are Thy days like the days of mortals,

Or Thy years like the days of man,

6 That Thou shouldest seek out my guilt,

And make this search for my sin,

7 Though Thou knowest I am not guilty.

And no treachery cleaves to my hand?

8 Thy hands did fashion and mould me;

And now wilt Thou turn and destroy me?

9 Remember Thou madest me like clay,

And back to the dust wilt Thou bring me?

10 Didst Thou not pour me out like milk,

And curdle me after like cheese,

11 Clothe me with skin and with flesh,

And knit me with bones and with sinews?

12 Life Thou didst grant me and favour,

Thy Providence guarded my spirit;

13 While this was Thy secret heart,

And this was Thy purpose, I know.

14 Do I sin? Then Thou dost observe me,

And refuse to acquit me of guilt.

15 Am I wicked? Then woe us me.

Just? I dare not lift up my head–

Full of shame and drunken with sorrow.

16 If I rise, like a lion Thou huntest me,

Working fresh marvels upon me,

17 And bringing new witness against me.

Thine anger with me Thou increasest,

Thou musterest fresh hosts against me.

18 O why from the womb didst Thou bring me?

O why died I not all unseen?

19 O to be as though I had not been,

Borne from the womb to the grave!

20 Are the days of my life not few?

O leave me to smile a little,

21 Ere I go to return no more,

To the land of darkness and gloom,

22 To the land of murky darkness,

Of gloom and utter confusion,

Where the very light is as darkness."

Zophar’s Appeal to the Unsearchable Wisdom

11 Then Zophar of Naamah answered and said:

Should a voluble man go unanswered,

A man who but babbles be justified?

3 Must men hold their peace at thy bragging?

Thy mocking is no one to curb?

4 Thou maintainest thy way to be pure,

And thyself to be clean in His sight.

5 But oh that God would speak,

And open His lips against thee,

6 And show thee the secrets of wisdom–

How marvellous are her achievements!

For then thou shouldst know that thy guilt

God remembers not wholly against thee.

7 Canst thou find out the deep things of God,

Or come nigh the Almighty’s perfection?

8 It is higher than heaven – what canst thou?

Deeper than Sheol – what knowest thou?

9 Longer than earth is its measure,

And broader it is than the sea.

10 When He sweeps past and puts men in durance

And calls them to trial, who can turn Him?

11 For well He knoweth vain men:

He looks upon sin and He marks it.

12 Even a senseless man may be taught,

As a wild ass’s colt may be caught.

13 Now, if thou wouldst prepare thy heart,

And stretch out thy hands unto Him,

14 And put away sin from thy hand,

And let wrong dwell no more in thy tent,

15 Then thy face thou wouldst lift without blemish,

And thou wouldst be steadfast and fearless.

16 Yea, thou wouldst forget thy sorrow–

As floods that are passed wouldst thou think of it.

17 Brighter than noon would thy life rise,

Thy darkness would be as the morning.

18 Secure wouldst thou be in thy hope:

Thou couldst lie without trembling or care–

19 Lay thee down without one to affright thee,

And many would sue for thy favour.

20 But the eyes of the wicked shall fail,

The place of their refuge is perished.

Their hope is – to breathe their last.

Job’s Independent Criticism of this World and his Glimpse beyond it

12 Then Job answered and said:

2 Verily ye are the people,

And wisdom shall die with you.

3 But, like you, I have understanding;

Who knoweth not things like these?

4 A laughing-stock to his friend

Is become one whose cry God had answered.

A laughing-stock is the righteous;

The blameless is doomed to disaster.

The man of ease mocks at his fate:

There are thrusts for the feet that are slipping.

6 It is tents of robbers that prosper,

And those who vex God that are safe–

Those who say, "Is not God in my hand?"

7 But inquire of the beasts – they will teach thee;

The birds of the air – they will show thee:

8 The creatures that crawl – they will teach thee;

The fish of the sea – they will tell thee.

9 For which of them all doth not know

That the hand of Jehovah hath wrought this–

10 In whose hand are all living souls

And the breath of all humankind?

11 Doth not the ear test words

As the palate tastes food for itself?

12 Doth wisdom depend upon years,

Understanding on length of days?

13 With Him is wisdom and might,

Understanding and counsel are His.

14 See! He breaketh down, and who buildeth?

Imprisons, and none can set free.

15 See! He holds back the floods and they dry;

Then He hurls them on earth and confounds it.

16 With Him is strength and achievement;

Deceived and deceiver are His.

17 The wise men of earth He makes foolish;

The judges He turns into madmen.

18 The fetters kings rivet He loosens,

And binds their own loins with a chain.

19 He leadeth priests barefoot away;

Ancient families He overturneth.

20 He removeth the speech of the trusty;

The elders He robs of discretion.

21 He poureth contempt upon princes;

He looseth the belt of the strong.

22 He revealeth the deep things of darkness,

The gloom-wrapped He bringeth to light.

23 He makes nations great and destroys them;

Expands them, then hurls them to ruin.

24 Earth’s chiefs He bereaves of their judgment;

They wander in trackles wastes,

25 Where they grope in the unit darkness,

And stagger like drunken men.

13 Lo! all this mine eye hath seen,

Mine ear hath heard it and marked it.

2 What ye know, that I know too;

I am not one whit behind you.

3 But I would address the Almighty–

With God I am longing to reason:

4 For ye are smearers of lies,

Good-for-nothing physicians-each man of you.

5 O that ye were but silent–

Then might ye be counted as wise.

6 Now listen to this mine indictment,

Attend to the plea of my lips.

7 Is it God that ye utter your lies for?

Do ye speak you deceit for him?

8 And to Him would ye show your favour?

And God’s is the cause ye would plead?

9 Were it well if He searched you out?

Can ye mock Him as men are mocked?

10 For He will punish you sore,

If ye secretly show Him your favour.

11 Shall His majesty not make you shudder?

Shall the dread of Him not full upon you?

12 Your maxims are proverbs of ashes;

Your bulwarks are bulwarks of clay.

13 Be still, let me be: I will speak–

Then upon me come what may.

14 I will take my flesh in my teeth;

I will put my life in my hand.

15 See! He slays me, I cannot endure;

But my ways will I defend to His face:

16 And this, also, shall be my salvation,

That a hypocrite dare not approach Him.

17 Hear now my speech with attention,

As I declare in your ears.

18 Attend as I set forth my case;

I know that the right is with me.

19 And if any disputeth against me,

Then I would be silent and die.

20 But two things alone do not unto me,

Then I will not hide from Thy face.

21 Lift the weight of Thy hand from off me,

And let not Thy terrors appal me:

22 Then call Thou, and I will answer;

Or let me speak, and answer Thou me.

23 How great is my guilt and transgressions?

Acquaint me with my sin.

24 O why dost Thou hide Thy face,

And count me as Thine enemy?

25 Wilt Thou harass a leaf that is tossed?

Wilt Thou chase the withered stubble,

26 That Thou passest a judgment so bitter,

Entailing upon me the sins of my youth?

27 Thou dost fasten a block on my feet,

And set watch over all my ways.

Round my roots Thou cuttest a line,

5c Setting bounds tha they may not pass;

28 While man doth waste with decay,

Like a garment devoured of the moth.

14 Man that is born of a woman

Is of few days and filled with trouble.

2 He comes forth like a flower and he withers;

He flees like a shadow and stays not.

3 On such dost Thou open Thine eyes?

And him wouldst Thou bring to Thy judgment?

4 Who can bring from the unclean the clean?

Not one is free from sin.

5a Seeing, then, that his days are decreed,

5b And the tale of his months is with Thee,

6 Look away, and let him have peace,

To enjoy like a hireling his day.

7 For hope there may be for a tree:

Though cut down, it may sprout once again,

And the shoots there from need to fail.

8 Though its root in the earth wax old,

And its stem be dead in the ground,

9 It may bud at the scent of water,

And put forth boughs like a plant.

10 But the strong man dies and lies prostrate;

Man breathes his last and where is he?

11 Like the floods of a vanished sea,

Like a river dry and withered–

12b Till the heavens be no more, he awakes not,

12c Nor ever is roused from his sleep.

13 O wouldst Thou but hide me in Sheol

Out of sight, till Thine anger be past,

And then call me to mind in Thine own set time!

14 If a dead man may live once again,

I could wait all the days of my warfare

Until my release shoud come.

15 Thou shouldst call, and I would answer:

Thou wouldst year for the work of Thy hands.

16 But now Thou countest my steps,

And passest not over my sin.

17 My transgressions is sealed in a bag;

Thou hast fastened secure mine iniquity.

18 But the very hills crumble to pieces,

The rocks are moved out of their place;

19 Water wears stone to dust,

The floods wash the soil away:

So the hope of man Thou destroyest;

12a He lieth, to rise up no more.

20 Thou dost worst him for ever; he passeth,

Dismissed – with his face how changed!

21 Honour comes to his sons, but he knows not:

Or shame, but he doth not perceive it.

22 But the flesh upon him feels pain,

And the soul within him is sorrowful.

JOB C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8 C9 C10 C11 C12 C13 C14 C15 C16 C17 C18 C19 C20 C21 C22 C23 C24 C25 C26 C27 C28 C29 C30 C31 C32 C33 C34 C35 C36 C37 C38 C39 C40 C41 C42