1 Once there was a man called Iyyov (Job) who lived in the Uz region. He was blameless and righteous—both obeying God and avoiding evil. 2 He had seven sons and three daughters, 3 and he owned 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 1,000 cattle, and 500 donkeys, as well as many slaves. Iyyov was richer than anyone else who lived in the area east of the Jordan River. 4 Iyyov’s sons regularly held feasts in their homes, and whenever any of them held a feast, he would invite all his brothers and sisters to share the meal with him. 5 Then once a feast was over, Iyyov would send for his children and consecrate them—he got up early in the morning and offered burnt offerings for each of them, because Iyyov said, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed[fn] God in their hearts.” It was Job’s regular habit to intercede for his children.

6 It was the day that God’s sons[fn] came to present themselves to Yahweh, and the adversary (Satan) was also there among them.[ref] 7 Yahweh asked him, “Where have you just come from?”

“I have come from the earth, where I was travelling around to see what was going on.” Satan replied.

8 “Have you noticed my servant Iyyov?” Yahweh asked. “There’s no one else like him on the whole earth—a blameless and righteous man who obeys me God and avoids anything evil.”

9 “Does Iyyov get nothing back for respecting God?” Satan answered Yahweh. 10 “Don’t you constantly protect him and his household and everything that’s his? You’ve blessed what he works on, and his livestock have multiplied prolifically. 11 However, just stretch out your hand and ruin everything he has, then we’ll see that he’ll curse you to your face.”

12 “Listen, I’ll cede you control over everything he has,” Yahweh replied. “Only just don’t do anything against Iyyov himself.” So the adversary went away from Yahweh’s presence.

13 So one day when Iyyov’s sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house, 14 a messenger came to Iyyov and reported, “While the oxen were plowing and the donkeys were feeding nearby, 15 the Sabeans attacked with their swords and stole them all. They killed all your slaves except that I managed to escape to tell you.”

16 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The fire of God fell from the sky and burnt up the sheep and the shepherds. Only ashes are left, except that I alone escaped to tell you.”

17 While he was still speaking, another one came and explained, “The Chaldeans formed into three bands and raided the camels and took them, and they attacked the slaves with their swords, and I’m the only one who escaped to come and tell you.”

18 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their eldest brother 19 when suddenly a freak wind came from across the desert and struck the house. It collapsed on the young people and killed them, and only I alone have escaped to tell you.”

20 Then Iyyov stood up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he knelt with his face to the ground and worshipped God, 21 saying, “I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will leave this life naked. Yahweh gave, and Yahweh has taken. May Yahweh’s reputation??? be blessed.”

22 Through all of that, Iyyov didn’t disobey God or accuse him of being evil.

2 It was the day that God’s sons came to present themselves to Yahweh and the adversary (Satan) was also there among them. 2 “Where have you come from?” Yahweh asked the adversary.

“From wandering on the earth and going back and forth on it,” he answered.

3 “Have you noticed my servant Iyyov (Job)?” Yahweh asked Satan, “because there’s no one like him on the earth—a blameless and righteous man, striving to obey God and turning from evil. And he’s still holding firmly to his integrity, even though you incited me against him, to ruin him for nothing.”

4 “Skin for skin,” replied the adversary, “actually, a person will give everything they have to save their life. 5 However, just reach out and touch his flesh and bones, and see if he doesn’t curse you to your face.”

6 “Listen,” Yahweh said to him, “I’ll give you power over him, but you must preserve his life.”

7 So the adversary went away from Yahweh’s presence, and he infected Iyyov with bad boils from the sole of his foot to the top of his head. 8 Iyyov picked up a piece of broken pottery to scratch himself with as he sat down in the middle of a pile of ashes.

9 “Are you still holding tightly onto your integrity?” his wife asked him. “Just curse God and die.”

10 “You’re talking like a foolish person,” Iyyov replied. “Should we only accept good from God and not receive the bad?” In all of that, Iyyov didn’t sin in what he said.

11 When Iyyov’s three friends heard about all the troubles that had happened to him, they each came from his place: Elifaz from Teman, Bildad from Shuah, and Zofar from Naamah. They gathered together to come to console and comfort him. 12 but when they saw him from a distance, they barely recognised him. They wailed loudly, and they ripped their own clothes, and they threw dust into the air so that it would fall on their heads. (All three of those were traditional signs of mourning.) 13 Then they sat with him there on the ground for seven days and seven nights without saying a single word to Iyyov because they had seen that his suffering was extreme.

3 After that, Iyyov spoke up and cursed the day of his conception.[ref]

2 He said:

3 May the day on which I was born perish,

and the night that said, ‘A boy has been conceived.’

4 May that day be dark.

May God not search for it from above

and may no light shine on it.

5 May darkness and a dark shadow claim it.

≈May a cloud remain over it.

May the blacknesses of the day terrify it.

6 May gloom take that night.

May it not be happy among the days of the year.

May it not enter into the number of months.

7 Listen, may that night be barren.

May a happy shout never enter it.

8 May those who curse days, curse that one—

yes, those people who’re skillful enough to wake up the large sea monster.

9 May the stars of its twilight be dark.

May it stay waiting for the light that never arrives.

May it not see the dawn breaking.

10 Because it didn’t close the doors of my mother’s womb,

to hide the sorrow from my eyes.

11 Why didn’t I die at birth?

≈Just come out then stop breathing?

12 Why was I accepted onto her lap?

≈And onto those breasts to suckle?

13 Yes, I’d be peacefully lying down now.

≈I would have slept and been at rest,

14 along with kings and counsellors of the earth—

yes, those who built monuments for themselves.

15 Or been asleep with princes and their gold—

those who filled their houses with silver.

16 I might never have been—like a stillborn child.

≈Like some infants who never see the light.

17 Wicked people don’t cause any more trouble there.

Those who’ve run out of strength rest there.

18 Prisoners are able to relax together.

They no longer hear the voice of their taskmaster.

19 Ordinary and famous people are all alike there.

And slaves there no longer have to obey their masters.

20 Why is light given to those who’re miserable?

≈And why’s life given to those who’re bitter inside?

21 They wish for death but it won’t come.[ref]

They dig for it more than for hidden treasure.

22 Those who’re happy for happiness sake,

will celebrate when they find the grave.

23 Why search for a path that’s hidden

when God has hedged them in?

24 Sighing has become more important than eating.

≈My groans just pour out like water.

25 I had my fears and they’ve come to pass.

≈What I dreaded has come to me.

26 I’m not relaxed or peaceful.

≈I can’t rest because only trouble comes.

(4:1–14:22)

4 Then Elifaz (from Teman) replied:

2 If someone tries to talk with you, will it wear you out?

But who can resist answering?

3 Listen, you’ve instructed many other people.

And you’ve encouraged those who were weak.

4 Your words have encouraged those who were stumbling.

You’ve strengthened those whose knees were buckling.

5 But now it’s you in trouble and you’re depressed.

Troubles touch you and you’re discouraged.

6 Doesn’t your faith give you confidence?

What about your hope and your integrity?

7 Remember: Who has ever perished when they were innocent?[fn]

Or when were godly people ever destroyed?

8 Just like I’ve seen those who plant evil and sow mischief harvest it back again,

9 God’s breath causes them to perish,

and with a snort of his nose they come to an end.

10 The lion roars and the UNKNOWN-lion sounds his voice,

AND the teeth of the young lions are broken.

11 The UNKNOWN-lion starves to death because of a lack of prey,

and the lionesses cubs are scattered.

12 Now a message was brought secretly to me,

and my ears caught a whisper of it.

13 When troubled by thoughts from dreams in the night,

when people have fallen into deep sleep,

14 I was hit by fear and trembling—

my bones were shaking with fright.

15 A spirit passed over my face,

and the hairs on my body stood on end.

16 It stood still, but I didn’t recognise what it was.

There was an image in front of my eyes.

It was silent and then I heard a voice:

17 ‘Can a mortal human be innocent before God?

Can a person be more pure than the creator of people?‘[fn]

18 Listen, he doesn’t even trust his own servants,

and he accuses his own messengers of making mistakes.

19 How much less for those whose bodies were made from the clay,

whose foundations were made from the dust.

They’re crushed even easier than a moth is.

20 They’re destroyed from morning to evening.

They’re always dying even without anyone doing anything.

21 Their tent cords are pulled out on them.

They die and don’t even know why.

5 Call out to God now. Does anyone answer?

Which of the holy ones will you turn to?

2 Resentment kills foolish people.

Jealousy kills those who’re simple-minded.

3 I’ve seen foolish people taking root,

then I’ve immediately cursed their homes.

4 Their children are far from safety,

and they[fn] are crushed in the gate,[fn]

and no one saves them.

5 Those who’re hungry consume his harvest

even getting it from among the thorns.

Greedy people long for his wealth.

6 Hardship doesn’t just grow up from the dust,

and trouble doesn’t just spring up from the ground.

7 Everyone is born into trouble—

sparks tend to fly up high.

8 But for myself, I’ll search for God

and I’ll approach him with my case.

9 He does incredible things,

and performs wonders without number that are beyond our understanding.

10 He’s the one giving rain all over the earth,

and sending water onto the fields.

11 God helps the humble to prosper,

and he lifts those who’re mourning to a safe place.

12 He frustrates the schemes of the crafty,

so their actions cannot succeed.

13 He catches smart people in their craftiness,

and he hurries along the plans of those who’re deceptive.

14 Even in the daytime, they remain in darkness.

Even at midday, they feel their way around as if it’s nighttime.

15 He saves the poor from the plans of those smart people,

and from the actions of powerful people.

16 So the poor have hope,

and injustice is silenced.

17 Listen, the person who’s corrected by God is blessed.

Don’t despise chastening from God the provider.

18 He wounds and he also bandages up.

He strikes but his hands also heal.

19 If you get in trouble six times, he’ll rescue you.

Even seven times, he’ll prevent you from being harmed.

20 During famines, he’ll rescue you from death,

≈and in war, he’ll save you from slaughter.

21 He’ll hide you away from hurting words,

≈and when destruction comes, you won’t be afraid.

22 You’ll laugh at destruction and at famine,

≈and you won’t be afraid of wild animals,

23 because you have an agreement with the stones in the fields for walls,

≈and the wild animals will be at peace with you.

24 You’ll know that your home is secure,

≈and you’ll inspect your animal shelters and nothing will be missing.

25 You’ll know that your descendants will be numerous,

≈and your offspring like the grass on the land.

26 You’ll reach an old age before you get to the grave,

like grain that’s harvested at the right time.

27 Listen to this: we’ve investigated and it’s true.

Listen to it so you’ll know for yourself.

6 Then Iyyov (Job) responded:

2 If only my anguish could be truly weighed,

and my calamity could be put together with it on the scales.

3 Because now it would be heavier than the sand on the beaches

so that’s why my words have been so rash.

4 Because the arrows of God the provider are in me.

My spirit is drinking in their poison.

God’s terrors are set out against me.

5 Does a wild donkey bray when it has fresh grass to eat,

or a ox bellow when it has its fodder?

6 Do people eat tasteless food without adding salt,

≈or enjoy the taste of purslane leaves by itself?

7 My soul refuses to touch them—

they are like detestable food to me.

8 Who will give me my request?

≈May God give me what I hope for.

9 If only God would be willing to crush me.

≈May he play his hand and cut me off.

10 It still comforts me and gives me inner joy through never-ending pain,

that I haven’t denied the words of the holy one.

11 I don’t have the strength to keep waiting.

≈What future do I have, that I should want to go on living?

12 Am I strong like rock?

≈Is my body made of bronze?

13 Am I in a position to help myself?

It seems that success has been driven away from me.

14 When a man’s in despair, surely his friend should be kind

even if the man stops honouring God the provider.

15 My ‘brothers’ have been as treacherous as a river that dries up in the summer.

They disappear again like dry river beds.

16 They go dark from the ice over them,

and they hide themselves when covered with snow.

17 At the time when they should be flowing, they’re silenced.

When it’s hot, they dry up from their channels.

18 Their paths twist in their courses,

they go out into the wasteland and end there.

19 The camel caravans from Tema look for water.

The caravans from Sheba keep looking forward to them.

20 They were distressed because they had been confident.

They’ve come to the dry stream bed and were stunned.

21 Now you have become of no help.

You see the terror and you’re afraid.

22 Have I ever asked you to give me something?

≈Or to give me a reward from your wealth?

23 Or to save me from my enemy in battle?

Or to pay a ransom to ruthless people in order to free me?

24 Teach me and then I’ll be quiet.

Explain to me where I’ve gone wrong.

25 Truthful words are so painful.

But what does your proof prove to anyone?

26 Do you plan to correct my words?

Do you consider the words of someone in despair to be like wind?

27 You would even draw straws for a fatherless child.

You would make money out of your friend.

28 So now, look at me willingly.

Would I lie to your face?

29 Please turn back—don’t let there be injustice.

≈Turn now—my cause is righteous.

30 Am I being unfair?

Am I incapable of discerning evil?

7 Aren’t people expected to work on earth?

Aren’t a person’s days like the days of a hired labourer?

2 He longs for the shade just like a slave does.

He’s just like a hired man who waits eagerly for his wages.

3 So months of worthlessness have been alloted to me,

and they’ve appointed me to have many nights of trouble.

4 When I lie down I ask myself, ‘When can I get up?’

Thus evening drags on followed by restlessness until dawn.

5 My body is clothed with maggots and encrusted with dust.

≈My skin has become brittle and breaks apart.

6 In the past the days flew by faster than a weaver’s shuttle,

but now they’ve come to an end without any hope.

7 Remember that my life is just a puff of air.

My eyes will never see happiness again.

8 Your eyes won’t see me any more.

They’ll be on me but I’ll be gone.

9 Clouds just pop out of existence again and vanish.

Similarly, the person who goes down to She’ol doesn’t come back up again.

10 That person won’t return to their house again,

and before long their place won’t even know them again.

11 So I won’t restrain my mouth—

I’ll speak in the distress of my spirit.

I will complain with the bitterness of my soul.

12 Do you think that I’m the sea or the sea monster

that you will station a guard to watch me?

13 I thought that my bed would comfort me,

≈and that my couch would take away my complaints.

14 But then you frighten me with dreams,

≈and you terrify me with visions.

15 My inner self chooses strangling—

≈death over life in this body.

16 I REJECT—I won’t live to a VANISHING POINT.

Leave me alone because my days are just a puff of air.

17 What are humans that you make so much of them,

≈and that your mind thinks about them?

18 You visit them in the mornings,

and test them at various times.

19 Will you never look away from me?

Won’t you leave me alone long enough to swallow?

20 If I’ve sinned, what did I do to you, the watcher of people?

Why have you made me your target—

me who feels like I myself am now a burden?

21 Why won’t you forgive my fault

and take away my guilt?

For now I’ll lie down in the dust.

You’ll search for me but I’ll no longer exist.

8 Then Bildad (from Shuah) answered:

2 For how much longer will you keep saying that stuff?

The words coming out of your mouth are like a strong wind.

3 Does God pervert justice?

Does the provider pervert what is right?

4 If your children sinned against him,

then he let their disobedience take them on.

5 If you genuinely search for God,

and you request a favour from the provider,

6 and if you’re pure and honourable,

he’ll rouse himself to help you

and restore your rightful home.

7 Your beginning started off small,

but your ending will see a large increase.

8 Why don’t you ask previous generations,

≈and consider what their ancestors had learnt,

9 because we were born just ‘yesterday’

and don’t know anything.

Our days on the earth are just a shadow in comparison.

10 Won’t they speak to you and teach you?

They’ll advise from their understanding.

11 Can papyrus grow tall where there’s no swamp?

Can reeds grow where there’s no water?

12 They’re not harvested when they’re still flowering,

but they wither before any other plants.

13 The paths of people who forget God are like them.

The hope of godless people will just disappear.

14 Their confidence snaps,

and their trust is broken like a spider’s web.

15 He leans against his house but it collapses.

He takes hold of it, but it doesn’t stand again.

16 It’s a fresh plant in the sunshine,

and its shoots spread out over the garden.

17 Its roots are twisted around over a heap.

They find the cracks between stones.

18 If it’s destroyed from its place,

it’ll deny that it even saw you.

19 That’s the happiness of its path.

Another one will spring up from the dust.

20 God doesn’t reject people who’re blameless.

And he doesn’t join in with those who do evil.

21 He’ll still fill your mouth with laughter,

≈and your lips with a happy shout.

22 Those who hate you will be exposed and shamed,

and the homes of wicked people will cease to exist.

9 Then Iyyov answered saying:

2 Yes, I certainly know that.[ref]

But how can a person be declared innocent before God?

3 If someone wanted to argue with him,

he wouldn’t answer them once out of a thousand times.

4 He’s wise in his thinking and very powerful.

Who has ever challenged him and succeeded?

5 He takes down mountains and they don’t even know who is overturning them with his anger.

6 The one who shakes the earth from its place

≈and makes its pillars shudder.

7 The one who can tell the sun not to shine,

and seals off the stars.

8 The one who stretches out space all by himself,

and treads on the tops of the waves in the sea.

9 The one who made the Bear, Orion, Pleiades,

as well as the southern constellations.

10 The one who does more incredible things than we can find,

and does more marvellous things than we can count.

11 It he went past me, I couldn’t see him,

and if he moved off, I wouldn’t be able to perceive it.

12 When he takes things away, who can stop him,

and who will ask him what he’s doing?

13 God won’t suppress his anger.

Those who help Rahab lie beneath him.

14 I will certainly answer him.

I will choose my words against him.

15 If I was innocent, I wouldn’t answer.

I would ask my judge for mercy.

16 If I called and he answered me,

I wouldn’t believe that he’d listened to my voice.

17 He crushes me with storms,

and wounds me over and over without cause.

18 He doesn’t let me catch my breath.

He fills me with bitterness.

19 Concerning strength, he’s powerful.

Concerning justice, he’ll ask, ‘Who will summon me?’

20 If I was innocent, my mouth would condemn me.

If I was blameless, it would declare me guilty.

21 I’m innocent—I don’t know myself.

I despise my life.

22 It’s the same thing, therefore I said,

‘He’s bringing both the blameless and the wicked to their end.’

23 When a disaster brings sudden death, he mocks the despair of innocent people.

24 The world has been given over to someone wicked.

He covers the judges eyes—so who did it?

25 My days go by faster than a sprinter.

≈They’ve fled by without seeing any good.

26 They pass like boats made with reeds—

≈like an eagle swooping down on its food.

27 If I said that I would forget my complaint,

and soften my expression and smile,

28 I’d be afraid of all my sufferings.

I know that you wouldn’t consider me innocent.

29 I’d be guilty,

so why would I work hard for such vanity?

30 If I washed myself from a clear mountain stream

and cleaned my hands with strong soap,

31 then you’d plunge me into a pit

and my own clothes would abhor me.

32 He’s not a human like me,

so we wouldn’t be going into court together.

33 There’s no mediator between us,

who would have authority over both of us.

34 Let him remove his rod from me,

so his terror won’t frighten me.

35 I would speak and not fear him,

but it’s not like that with me.

10 Inside, I loathe my life.

I’ll release my complaints.

I’ll express my inner bitterness.

2 I’ll tell God not to condemn me.

Help me to know why you’re against me.

3 Does it seem good to you to oppress me?

Have you rejected this creation of yours,

and delighted in wicked people’s plans instead?

4 Do you have actual eyes?

Do you see like people do?

5 Are your days like a person’s days

or your years like a person’s years

6 that you look for my guilt

and search for my sin.

7 Knowing that I’m not guilty,

won’t anyone save me from you?

8 Your hands shaped and moulded me.

Will the same hands now destroy me?

9 Please remember that you made me like the clay.

Will you now turn me to dust?

10 Haven’t you poured me out like milk

≈and curdled me like cheese?

11 You clothed me with flesh and skin,

≈and you knit me together with bones and tendons inside.

12 You have made life and genuine love for me,

and your care has kept my spirit alive.

13 But you hid these things in your heart,

and I know that this is with you.

14 If I sin you’ll be watching me,

and you wouldn’t acquit me of my crime.

15 If I’m guilty, may my end be bad.

If I’m innocent, I won’t raise my head.

I’m full of shame and you’ve seen my suffering.

16 If I get up, the lion will hunt me.

Again, you show me how wonderful you are.

17 You find new witnesses against me.

And you get more angry with me and send changed forces against me.

18 So why did you allow me to come out from the womb?

Better if I’d expired and no one had seen me.

19 If only I’d never existed—

just went straight from the womb to the grave.

20 Aren’t my days few?

So leave me and let me enjoy a little comfort

21 before I go and don’t return to the land of darkness and deep shadow—

22 the land of gloom and deep darkness,

disorderly and with gloomy light.

11 Then Zofar (from Naamah) answered:

2 Shouldn’t these many words be answered?

Or is a man to be acquitted just by what comes from his lips.

3 Will your boasting make people silent?

Or will you mock and no one puts you to shame?

4 You’ve said, ‘My teaching is pure,

and I’m clean in your sight.’

5 But who will allow God to speak

and to open his lips against you

6 and to tell you the secrets of wisdom?

True wisdom has DOUBLE

God will forget some of your offenses for you.

7 Will you find the deep things of God?

Will you discover the limits of the provider?

8 What can you do to the height of the sky?

What do you know that’s deeper than the grave?

9 It measures longer than the land,

and wider than the ocean.

10 If he comes past and imprisons you and convenes a hearing,

who can prevent him?

11 He recognises people who’re deceitful.

He sees wickedness but doesn’t reveal that he’s paying attention.

12 Even a hollow person will gain understanding.

A wild donkey’s colt will give birth to a man.

13 If you’ve directed your heart

and stretched your arms out to him,

14 and put wickedness far away from yourself

and didn’t let injustice live in your home,

15 then you can raise your head without shame

and be firmly establishing without fear.

16 You will forget trouble—

remembering it only like water that’s flowed past.

17 Your life will rise brighter than the midday sun.

Darkness will become like morning.

18 You’ll be confident that there’s hope.

You’ll look around then safely lie down.

19 You’ll lie down without being terrified.

Many people will be after your favour.

20 But the eyes of the wicked will fail

and the way of escape will be invisible to them.

Their hope will be limited to their last gasp of life.

12 Then Iyyov responded to Zofar:

2 Ah, you’re certainly ‘the people’

and wisdom will die with you.

3 But I too have a mind as well as you.

I’m not getting bowled over by you.

Is there anyone who doesn’t know those things?

4 I’m laughed at by my friends.

I was calling on God and he answered,

but an innocent man becomes someone to laugh at.

5 People who’re comfortable have contempt for misfortune—

for those whose feet seem to be slipping away.

6 Robbers relax in their tents,

and those who provoke God seem secure—

those who carry their gods in their hands.

7 But please ask the animals and they’ll teach you.

Ask the birds in the sky and they’ll tell you.

8 Or complain to the ground and it’ll teach you,

and the fish in the sea will declare it to you.

9 Which of them doesn’t know that Yahweh has done all this?

10 The life of everything that lives is in his hands,

as is the spirit in the body of every person.

11 Doesn’t the ear have to test the words it hears?

And the palate has to taste the food that’s eaten?

12 Wisdom comes with age,

and understanding comes from a long life.

13 Wisdom and power belong to him.

Counsel and understanding belong to him.

14 What he tears down won’t be rebuilt.

What he closes on a person won’t be opened.

15 When he holds back the waters they dry up,

and when he sends them out they overwhelm the earth.

16 Strength and sound wisdom belong to him.

The deceived and the deceiver are both his.

17 He leads counsellors away barefoot,

and makes judges look foolish.

18 He undoes the chains of the king’s prisoners,

and wraps a cloth around their naked loins.

19 He leads priests away barefoot,

and overthrows powerful people.

20 He deprives trusted advisors of the opportunity to speak,

and he takes discernment away from the elders.

21 He pours contempt on successful people,

and unties the belt that powerful people put onto others.

22 He reveals the deep things of darkness,

and he brings deep darkness into the light.

23 He makes nations great and he also destroys nations.

He enlarges nations and he has them led away as slaves.

24 He removes the heart from the leaders of the people of the land,

and makes them wander in wasteland where there’s no paths.

25 They grope in the darkness without any light,

and he makes them stagger around as if they’re drunk.

13 Look here, my eyes have seen all that,

≈my ears have heard it and understood.

2 I also know everything that you know,

≈I’m not way behind you.

3 But I would like to talk to the provider,

≈and I desire to plead with God.

4 But you’re all smearers of lies,

≈all of you are worthless healers.

5 If only you all would remain silent,

then you all might be considered wise.

6 Please listen to my argument,

≈and pay attention to the pleading of my lips.

7 Will you all speak faithlessly on God’s behalf,

≈and will you talk deceitfully for him?

8 Will you show partiality to him,

or argue the case for God?

9 Is it good that he’ll examine you all,

or will you deceive him like deceiving a person?

10 He would certainly rebuke you all,

if you were secretly showing partiality.

11 Shouldn’t his majesty make you all afraid,

≈and his dread fall on you all?

12 Your traditional sayings are proverbs of ashes.

≈Your defenses might as well be made of clay.

13 Be silent in my presence and let me speak,

and let come to me what may.

14 Why should I bite my flesh with my own teeth,

≈and take my life in my own hands?

15 Even if he kills me, my hope will still be in him.

I will certainly defend my behaviour to him in person.

16 Even that would result in my salvation.

A godless person wouldn’t enter his presence.

17 Listen carefully to my words,

≈and may my declaration be in the ears of you all.

18 I’ve now arranged my case.

I know that I’m in the right.

19 Who will conduct my case?

I’ll keep silent now and die.

20 Just don’t do these two things to me,

then I won’t hide myself from your presence:

21 Don’t take your hand far away from me,

and don’t terrify me with your dread.

22 Then call me and I’ll answer,

or let me speak and answer me.

23 How many errors and sins do I have?

Let me know how I disobeyed and sinned.

24 Why are you keeping away from me,

and treating me like an enemy?

25 Would you terrify a leaf blown by the wind?

≈Would you chase a dry stalk to punish it?

26 You write bitter things against me,

and even recall the errors of my youth.

27 You lock my feet in stocks.[ref]

You watch all my paths and mark the soles of my feet.

28 He decays like something rotten.

≈He’s like a garment that’s eaten by moths.

14 Humans, born from women,

live relatively short lives with lots of turmoil.

2 People appear and then wither, just like the flowers.

≈They don’t stay around, but rush away like shadows.

3 Do you watch over even creatures like this?

Do you bring me in to be judged?

4 Who can make something innocent out of something impure?

No one.

5 Since a person’s lifespan is already determined,

≈then you already know the number of months.

You’ve set the limit and we won’t live past that.

6 Stop watching us.

Give us relief so we can take some pleasure in our daily work.

7 There’s even hope for a tree that gets cut down.

It will sprout again and its new shoots won’t fail.

8 Even when its roots in the ground get old,

≈and its base is rotting in the soil,

9 when it detects water it’ll send up branches like a young plant.

10 But a person dies and is laid out—

≈a person breathes their last and now where are they?

11 The water disappears from a lake,

≈and the river level goes down then dries up.

12 So too people lie down and don’t get up again.

≈They won’t wake up until the sky no longer exists.

≈For now they can’t be roused out of their sleep.

13 If only you’d allow me to be hidden in the grave,

that you’d conceal me until your anger is passed.

but set a limit and then remember me.

14 If a person dies, will they ever live again.

I’ll keep doing my work here until I’m released from it.

15 You’ll call me and I’ll answer you.

You’ll desire the creature you’ve made.

16 Now you’ll count my steps.

You won’t keep watch on my sins.

17 My disobedience would be sealed up in a bag,

≈and you’d plaster over my wickedness.

18 But mountains fall and crumble,

≈and rocks move out of their places.

19 Flowing water wears down stones,

≈and its torrents wash away the soil.

You destroy humankind’s hope.

20 You’re forever overpowering us and we depart.

You are changing the expression on our faces and sending us away.

21 If our children achieved some honour, we wouldn’t even know it.

Or if they’re put to shame, we wouldn’t be there to see it.

22 Only our own bodies feel the pain.

≈Only our inner selves mourn.

(15:1–21:34)

15 Then Elifaz (from Teman) replied:

2 Do wise people just answer with knowledge full of wind?

≈Do they just fill themselves with the east wind?

3 Should a person argue against useless talk,

≈or against words that have no value?

4 You turn people from the fear of God,

≈and discourage them from godly meditation.

5 Thus your wickedness drives your words,

≈and you choose the language of crafty people.

6 It’s not me who condemns you, but it’s your own mouth.

≈Your own lips testify against you.

7 Were you the first person ever born?

≈Were you created before the hills were made?

8 Do you listen to God’s advice,

or limit wisdom to your own experience?

9 What do you know that we don’t?

≈What do you understand that’s not clear to us?

10 Both the gray-haired and the elderly are on our side,

≈People who’ve lived longer than your father.

11 Isn’t it enough when God comforts you?

≈Aren’t his gentle words enough for you?

12 Why do your emotions get carried away?

≈Why do your eyes flash with anger?

13 Are you turning your spirit against God

as your words pour out of your mouth?

14 What person could ever be pure,[ref]

≈and how could someone born from a woman be righteous?

15 He doesn’t even trust his holy ones,

and the heavens aren’t pure from his viewpoint.

16 Certainly not someone who’s corrupt and abhorrent,

≈or a person who drinks wickedness like water.

17 I’ll show you—listen to me—

what I’ve seen and will tell everyone.

18 What’s been told by wise people—

≈that hasn’t been hidden from their ancestors.

19 The land was given to them alone,

≈and no stranger had come in among them.

20 Wicked people squirm in pain for their entire lifetime.

≈Those who oppress others have a number of years of pain stored up for them.

21 Sounds of terrors are in their ears.

The destroyer comes while they’re enjoying prosperity.

22 They don’t believe that the darkness will ever end.

They’re destined for the sword.

23 They wander around searching for food that must be there.

They know that dark days are ahead—already prepared.

24 They’re terrified by distress and anguish.

≈That dread overwhelms them like a king who’s ready for a battle.

25 These things happen to wicked people because they oppose God.

≈They’ve behaved arrogantly to the provider.

26 They rush against him in defiance,

trusting the thick reinforcing of their shields.

27 Though their faces are round and fat,

and their bodies have rolls on their hips,

28 they’ll live in broken-down houses

which people normally wouldn’t live in because they’re marked for demolition.

29 They won’t be rich and their wealth won’t endure,

≈and their herds and flocks won’t spread across the land.

30 Wicked people will never escape the darkness.

A flame will wither their branches,

and with one breath of their mouths, they’ll be gone.

31 Don’t let them trust in emptiness or they’ll be led astray,

and worthlessness will be their only reward.

32 They’ll be finished before their time,

and their branches won’t flourish and produce leaves.

33 They’ll be like grapevines that drop their grapes when they’re still unripe,

and like olive trees that shed their blossoms.

34 Yes, the company of godless people is worthless,

and anything gained from bribery will be burnt up in the fire.

35 They dream about trouble and encourage wickedness,

and they give birth to deceitful plots.

16 Then Iyyov answered Elifaz:

2 I’ve heard many things like that before.

You come to comfort, but bring trouble instead.

3 You need to limit your words full of wind.

What makes you keep responding?

4 I could also speak like you all if you were in my place.

I could string words together against you all and shake my head at you.

5 Alternatively, I could use my mouth to encourage you all.

My lips could be used instead to bring relief.

6 Even when I speak, it doesn’t take away my pain.

But if I hold back, how will it go away?

7 However, he’s now worn me out.

My entire household has been devastated.

8 You’ve made me lose so much weight that everyone can’t help notice it.

≈My being so thin is used against me so people think from my face that I must be guilty.

9 His anger has ripped my body open

≈and in his hate he’s gnashed at me with his teeth.

Even my enemy locks his eyes on me.

10 People stare at me with their mouths wide open.

They slap my cheek in contempt as they join together against me.

11 God has handed me over to a YOUNG BOY

and he throws me into the hands of wicked people.

12 I was just living my life and he shattered me.

≈He grabbed me by the neck and dashed me to pieces.

He set me up as a his target.

13 ≈Soldiers with bows and arrows surround me.

He pierces my kidneys but doesn’t care.

≈He splits my gallbladder and pours my bile out on the ground.

14 He keeps breaking through my protective walls.

≈He charges against me like a warrior.

15 I’ve dressed in sackcloth to show I’m mourning.

≈I’ve tossed my horn into the dust to show I’m defeated.

16 My face is red from so much crying.

My eyelids are surrounded by dark shadows.

17 I haven’t committed any violence.

My prayer is pure.

18 Earth, don’t just cover over my blood.

Don’t just become a hiding place for my cries.

19 Even now, my witness is there in the heavens,[ref]

≈and my advocate is up on high.

20 My friends scorn me.

The tears of my eyes are directed to God.

21 May someone plead with God for a man,

and a son of humanity plead for his friend.

22 When a certain number of years have passed,

I’ll go on a path that I won’t return from.

17 My spirit is broken,

my days are extinguished,

≈only the grave is left.

2 Surely there’s mockers with me.

My eye is held by their provocations.

3 Please give yourself to cover my bail.

Who else would put up security for me?

4 You’ve closed their minds from being able to understand,

so therefore you won’t elevate them over me.

5 People who’d denounce their friends for some gain,

should expect their children to be selfish also.

6 He’s made me into a local gossip point.

Someone to spit at in the face.

7 My eyes have become dark from my grief.

≈Every one of my body parts is just like a shadow.

8 Godly people are appalled by this,

≈and innocent people are stirred up against those who’re godless.

9 But those who obey will be able to stay on the correct road,

≈and those who haven’t done anything wrong will become stronger.

10 But all of them and you all may return now and come,

and I wouldn’t find a wise person among you all.

11 My good days have passed.

My plans are shattered,

even my secret desires.

12 They change night into day in their minds—

≈making light seem near while staring into the darkness.

13 If I wait for the grave to become my home,

if I’ve spread out my blankets ready to sleep in the darkness,

14 if I’ve called out and told the pit that it’s my father,

and to the worm that it’s my mother and my sister,

15 then where would my hope be placed?

Who would know that I had any hope?

16 Will they go down to the gates of the grave?

≈Will we go down together into the ground?

18 Then Bildad (from Shuah) responded again:

2 How long until you stop all these words?

Think first, and then afterwards we can speak.

3 Why are we regarded as cattle,

as if we’re considered by you all as being stupid?

4 People who tear themselves apart in anger,

will the ground be abandoned for your sakes,

or the rock removed out of its place?

5 Indeed, the light of wicked people[fn] is extinguished.

≈the flame of their fire won’t shine.

6 The light in their tents will go dark.

≈and the lamps that hang over their heads will go out.

7 Their strong steps will get shorter,

and their own schemes make them depressed.

8 Yes, they’ll get their feet caught in a net,

≈and they’ll wander around in a maze.

9 They’ll get their heels caught in traps,

≈the sprung jaws will keep hold of them.

10 A rope is hidden in the ground,

≈and a noose lies there on their paths.

11 Sudden noises around them will terrify them,

and follow their steps as they run away.

12 Their strength dissolves into hunger,

and disaster has been prepared for them to stumble into.

13 It devours parts of their skin,

≈death begins by devouring their body parts.

14 They’re pulled from their tents where they felt secure,

and taken away to the king of terrors.

15 Other people will live in their tents.

Sulfur is scattered over their homes.

16 Their roots dry up underneath them,

≈and their branches above them all wither.

17 No one on the earth will remember them any more,

≈and no streets will be named after them.[fn]

18 They’ll be driven from the light out into the darkness,

≈and they’ll be chased out of this world.

19 You won’t find any of their children or grandchildren in their town.

≈nor find any survivor where they previously lived.

20 Those in the west are appalled at their fate,

≈and those in the east are getting the shudders.

21 That’s certainly how the homes of wicked people end up,

≈and that’s the place for people who don’t know God.

19 Iyyov responded to Bildad and companions again:

2 How much longer will I be tormented

and crushed with words?

3 You all have scolded me ten times now.

You all should be ashamed for how you’ve ill-treated me.

4 And even if I had truly done something wrong,

my error would remain with me.

5 If you truly think that you’re all better than me,

and use my disgrace to argue against me,

6 then you need to know that God has wronged me,

and he’s closed his net around me.

7 There, I cry out that I’m being attacked and get no answer.

≈I call for help but there’s no justice.

8 He’s blocked my road so I can’t get past,

≈and he places darkness over my paths.

9 He’s taken away all my honour,

and removed the crown from on my head.

10 He’s battered me from every direction and I’m gone.

He’s removed my hope like a tree that’s been uprooted.

11 He’s directed his anger against me,

and treats me as one of his enemies.

12 His troops advance in formation.

They build up a siege ramp against me,

and set-up themselves up around my tent.

13 He’s moved my brothers far away from me,

≈and my acquaintances have certainly kept out of my way.

14 My relatives have deserted me,

≈and my close friends have forgotten me.

15 Those who’ve stayed in my home, and even the female servants regard me as a stranger.

≈I’ve become a foreigner in their eyes.

16 When I call my servant, he doesn’t answer.

≈I try to persuade him with my words.

17 My breath is repugnant to my wife,

and abhorrent to my siblings.

18 Even young boys reject me.

When I stand they speak against me.

19 All my closest friends abhor me,

and those I love have turned on me.

20 My skin and flesh cling to my bones.

I’ve escaped by the skin of my teeth.

21 Pity me, pity me, you my friends,

because God’s hand has touched me.

22 Why do you chase me as if you’re God?

Won’t you be satisfied with destroying my body?

23 Who will permit that my words be written down?

≈Who will allow them to be inscribed onto a scroll

24 with a pen made of iron and lead,

≈or engraved onto stone with a chisel.

25 I do know that my redeemer lives,

and that he will stand on the dust at the end.

26 After my skin has been struck off,

then in my flesh, I’ll see God,

27 yes, I’ll see him for myself.

My eyes will see, and not a stranger.

My heart will feel faint within my chest.

28 You all will say, ‘How will we persecute him

because the root of the matter is found in him?’

29 You all should be afraid of the sword,

because anger bring punishment by then sword,

so that you will know that there is judgement.

20 Then Zofar (from Naamah) responded to Iyyov:

2 My anxious thoughts force me to answer,

because of the turmoil that’s within me.

3 I’ve heard your correction and it insults me,

and a spirit beyond my understanding answers me.

4 Do you know this from long ago,

≈from back when humankind was placed on the earth:

5 that the excited shout of wicked people is brief,

≈and the happiness of godless people only lasts a moment?

6 Although their arrogance rises up to the sky,

and their heads reach into the clouds,

7 they will vanish forever like their own dung—

≈those who had seen them will ask, ‘Where are they now?’

8 They’ll fly away like a dream that can’t be found again,

≈and be chased away like a vision in the night.

9 Whoever saw them won’t see them again,

≈and even the place where they lived won’t see them again.

10 Their children will be seeking the favour of poor people,

≈because their own hands must return their wealth.

11 Although their bones were full of youthful vigour,

that same strength will lie down with them in the dust.

12 Although their evil tastes sweet in their mouths,

they hide it under their tongues.

13 They would miss it too much to let it go,

and they keep it there in the middle of their mouths.

14 But that food changes in their stomachs.

≈It becomes like snake venom inside them.

15 They swallow up wealth but then vomit it up.

≈God forces it out of their stomachs.

16 They’ll suck on cobra poison.

≈The viper’s fangs will kill them.

17 Those wicked people won’t enjoy the streams,

or the fast-flowing rivers of honey and yoghurt.

18 They will return what they’ve gained and not swallow it down.

≈They won’t get any enjoyment from the profits of their trading.

19 They’ve oppressed others and ignored the poor.

≈They’ve seized homes that they didn’t build.

20 Their bellies are never at ease.

They never deliver what they desire.

21 There’s nothing left over from their eating,

so their prosperity won’t endure.

22 They’ll be so full but it’ll only bring distress.

Every troublemaker will come to them.

23 Maybe when they’ve filled their bellies,

God will send his anger against them,

raining down on them and their meal.

24 They flee from weapons made of iron.

≈A bow made of brass sends its arrows right through them.

25 They pull them through and out their backs.

The tips have shiny liver on them—terrors come over them.

26 Total darkness is reserved for their treasures.

A fire which no one started will devour them.

Only sorry remnants will survive in their tents.

27 The heavens will reveal their evils,

and the earth will rise up against them.

28 The contents of their houses will be removed—

washed away in his severe anger.

29 That’s what God serves up to wicked people,

≈and the heritage that God has decreed for them.

21 Then Iyyov responded to Zofar and the others:

2 Listen carefully to my words,

and let this be a consolation for you all.

3 Bear with me while I speak,

and after I’ve finished, you can continue mocking then.

4 As for me, is my complaint against any person?

If it was, then you might expect me to be impatient.

5 Turn and look at me and be appalled.

≈Yes, put your hands over your mouths in shock.

6 When I remember what happened, I’m horrified,

and my body starts shuddering.

7 Why do wicked people live?

≈Why do they grow old and become more powerful?

8 Their children become established around them,

≈and their offspring become settled in front of them.

9 Their homes are safe and free from fear.

≈God isn’t punishing them.

10 Their bulls mate productively,

≈and their cows calve without miscarrying.

11 They send out their little ones like a flock,

≈and their children dance all around.

12 They pick up their tambourines and harps,

≈and they’re happy to hear the sound of the flutes.

13 They spend their days in prosperity,

and they go peacefully down to the grave.

14 They tell God, “Leave us alone.

We’re not interested in knowing about your ways.

15 Who is ‘the provider’ and why should we serve him.

What would we gain if we made requests to him?”

16 However, their prosperity isn’t in their hands.

I keep far away from the advice of wicked people.

17 How often is the lamp of wicked people extinguished and calamity hits them?

In his anger, does he dole out pain to them?

18 Are they just like straw blown by the wind,

≈and like chaff that’s carried away by a gale.

19 God saves up their evil for their children.

Let God repay them so they’ll know.

20 Let them watch their own destruction,

and let them drink the severe anger of the provider.

21 After they’re gone, why would they care about their families?

≈Why would they count the months after they’ve already been cut off?

22 Can any person teach knowledge to God

since he judges the high and mighty?

23 Some people die in full strength,

completely secure and at ease.

24 Their buckets are full of milk,

and their bone marrow is nicely moistened.

25 But others die full of bitterness,

and they haven’t tasted prosperity.

26 Both kinds of people lie together in the dust,

and worms cover them both.

27 Yes, I know what you’re all thinking,

and the schemes that you’d all use against me.

28 You all say, ‘Which is the house of that respected person?

And which are the tents that the wicked people live in?’

29 Haven’t you all asked those travelling on the roads?

Don’t you all accept their reports

30 that evil people are spared from the day of calamity—

that they are led away from that day of anger?

31 Who will denounce their actions to their faces?

≈Who will repay them for the evil they’ve done?

32 They’ll be carried off to the cemetery,

≈and someone will keep watch over their tombs.

33 The clods of the riverbed will be sweet to them.

Everyone will follow along behind them,

≈and no one can count those who go in front of them.

34 So how can vanity be of comfort to me?

It’s only faithlessness that remains from the replies that you all have given.

(22:1–27:23)

22 Then Elifaz (from Teman) responded to Iyyov:

2 Can a human be of use to God?[ref]

≈Might a wise person be of any use to him?

3 Does it give pleasure to the provider if you’re innocent?

≈Will he benefit if you’re blameless in your actions?

4 Does he scold you for your religiosity?

≈Does he go with you into judgement?

5 Your wickedness is really bad,

≈and there’s no end to your evil actions.

6 You’ve forced your brothers into unnecessary debt to you.

≈You’ve demanded clothes in payment and left people naked.

7 You never gave exhausted people anything to drink,

≈and you refused to give food to those who were hungry.

8 The land belongs to a powerful man.

≈A man who was honoured lives on it.

9 You sent widows away empty-handed,

≈and the strength of orphans has been crushed.

10 Because of that there’s traps set all around you,

and sudden fear terrifies you,

11 or darkness so you can’t see,

and a flood of water covers you.

12 Isn’t God as high as the sky,

and look at how high the tops of those stars are!

13 You might ask, ‘What does God know?

Will he judge through thick darkness?

14 Clouds block things off from him so he can’t see.

He walks around way up there on top of the heavens.’

15 Will you stay on the ancient paths,

on which wicked people regularly tred?

16 They were captured at an inappropriate time—

a torrent of water poured over their foundations.

17 They had told God, ‘Leave us alone,’

and ‘What can the provider do for us?’

18 But he had filled their houses with good things,

and I keep far away from the advice of wicked people.

19 Godly people are happy when they see that, WHAT?

≈and innocent people mock them. WHO?

20 If he didn’t destroy our enemies, MEANING?

and fire has destroyed what was left. MEANING?

21 Now be reconciled with him and at peace.

Doing that will bring good to you.

22 Just accept his advice,

≈and keep thinking about his words.

23 If you return to the provider, you’ll be encouraged.

He’ll remove injustice from your living situation.

24 Throw your gold onto the dust on the ground,

≈and fine gold onto the stones in the riverbed.

25 Then the provider will be your gold,

≈and be heaps of silver to you.

26 Then you’ll enjoy your relationship with the provider,

≈and you’ll raise your head towards God.

27 You’ll pray to him and he’ll listen to you,

and you’ll fulfil your promises to him.

28 Once you decide on something, it’ll be done for you,

≈and light will shine on all your paths.

29 People are humbled and then honoured again,

≈and he will save those who humble themselves.

30 He will set free those who aren’t innocent,

≈and they’ll be rescued with the cleanness of your hands.

23 Then Iyyov responded to Elifaz and the others:

2 Even today my complaint is bitter.

≈I’m groaning because my situation is so difficult.

3 If only I knew where to find him

I would have gone to his place.

4 I would present my case to him,

≈and I would expound all my arguments,

5 I want to know how he’d answer,

≈and to understand what he’ll say to me.

6 Would he use his incredible power to dispute my case?

No, surely he’d pay attention to me.

7 An honest person could reason with him there,

and I would be set free forever by the one judging me.

8 Look, I go to the east but he isn’t there,

≈and to the west but I can’t detect him there.

9 He works in the north, but I can’t see him,

≈and when he turned south, I didn’t spot him.

10 Nevertheless, he knows the path that I’ve taken.

He’s tested me and I’ve come out like refined gold.

11 My feet have followed in his tracks.

≈I’ve kept to the path without wavering.

12 I’ve always obeyed what he commanded,

and I’ve valued his words more than my daily food.

13 But he’s independent so who could dissuade him?

≈He does whatever he wants to do.

14 He carries out what’s been decided for me,

≈and he knows so much about me.

15 That’s why I’m terrified in his presence,

≈I’m afraid of him when I consider all that.

16 God has caused me to be faint-hearted.

≈The provider has terrified me.

17 I haven’t been silenced when facing the darkness,

or by the fog that covers my face.

Iyyov complains about continued evil

24 Why doesn’t the provider a title="נִצְפְּנוּ (niʦp~~SCHWA~~nū, VNp3cp)" href="../../ref/HebWrd/JOBc24v1w4.htm#Top" class="hebVrb">store up the times,

and those who know him never see him age?

2 People move boundaries.

They steal sheep and goats and graze them.

3 They drive away the donkey of a family who lost the husband.

≈They take the widow’s ox as payment for a pledge.

4 They turn needy people off the road.

≈The poor people in the land mustn’t be seen.

5 Indeed, the poor work in the desert.

≈The wilderness is their field where they search for something to eat.

6 They harvest whatever they can find in the countryside,

≈and they gather grapes left behind in the wicked peoples’ vineyards.

7 They spend the night under-dressed from lack of clothing,

≈and have nothing to cover themselves with in the cold.

8 They get soaked by the showers in the hills,

≈and huddle against the rocky ledge for shelter.

9 They pull the fatherless baby from the breast,

≈and take the children from poor families to pay their debt.

10 Without clothing, they walk around under-dressed.

≈Harvesting for others, they’re feeling hungry.

11 They squeeze out olive oil at the press.

≈They tread the juice out of the grapes while they thirst.

12 People groan in the cities,

≈and wounded souls cry out.

but God seems to not be offended.

13 They’re in with those rebelling against the light.

They take no notice of his ways,

≈and they don’t stay on his paths.

14 At first light, the murderer gets up and kills the poor,

≈and in the night he’s like a thief.

15 The adulterer watches out for the twilight,

saying that no one will see him,

and he puts a covering over his face.

16 They dig into people’s houses in the dark,

but they stay hidden away during the day—

they don’t know what daylight is.

17 To them, morning is like deep darkness.

They’re familiar with the terrors of deep darkness.

18 They’re swift on the surface of the waters.

Their portion of the land is cursed.

No one goes in the direction of their vineyards.

19 Drought as well as heat will snatch away the snow.

≈The grave will do the same to those who have sinned.

20 The womb will forget them—the worm will dine on them.

≈They won’t be remembered again—injustice is like a broken tree.

21 He devours the barren woman who’s never had a child.

He doesn’t do anything good to the widow.

22 He uses his strength to drag powerful people away.

He rises but no one trusts in life. WHAT???

23 He gives him support and security,

and his eyes are on their ways.

24 They’re promoted for a while then they’re gone.

Then they’re cut down and gathered up like wheat,

≈then they wither like the stalks of grain.

25 If that isn’t true, then who will prove me a liar

≈and demonstrate that my words mean nothing?

25 Then Bildad (from Shuah) responded to Iyyov:

2 Dominion and fear belong to God.

He establishes peace in his high places.

3 Can his troops be counted?

Is there anyone who his light doesn’t shine on?

4 How can a person be innocent before God?

≈How could a human born from a women be pure?

5 Look, even the moon isn’t clear to us,

≈and the stars aren’t pure in our sight.

6 Indeed, a person’s just like an insect,

≈and human offspring are as insignificant as worms.

26 Then Iyyov responded to Bildad:

2 How have you helped those without power?

≈How have you saved those who are weak?

3 How well you have advised those without wisdom,

≈and displayed many good things.

4 Who did you tell all that to,

and whose spirit spoke through you?

5 The dead will be made to tremble

from beneath the water and their inhabitants. ???

6 The grave is wide open before him,

≈and ABADDON has no covering.

7 He stretches out the north over empty space.

≈He hangs the earth upon nothing at all.

8 He attaches the water into his clouds,

but the cloud isn’t torn apart by it.

9 He covers the surface of the THRONE/MOON.

He spreads his cloud above it.

10 He’s drawn a circle to mark the limit of the waters,

and to mark the boundary between light and darkness.

11 The pillars of heaven shake,

and they’re astounded when he scolds them.

12 He stirs up the sea with his power,

and using his know-how he smashed RAHAB.

13 By his breath he makes the skies clear.

His hand pierced the fleeing snake.

14 Listen, those are the ends of his ways,

and how we hear just a whisper of a word.

And who can interpret the thunder of his power?

27 Then Iyyov continued speaking:

2 Although God lives, who’s taken justice away from me,

≈and the provider who’s made my soul bitter,

3 I still have my breath in me,

≈and God’s breath remains in my nostrils.

4 If my lips speak wickedness,

≈if my tongue speaks deceitfully,

5 I’ll never say that you all are correct—

I won’t set aside my integrity before I die.

6 I’m holding tight to my innocence and won’t let it go.

≈There hasn’t been a single day when my conscience has reproached me.

7 May my enemies get the same reward as wicked people,

≈and may my opponents receive the same as unjust people.

8 What hope do godless people have

when he cuts them off,

≈when God takes away their lives?

9 Will God hear their cries

when troubles hit them?

10 If they delight themselves in the provider,

will they call on God at all times?

11 I’ll teach you all about God’s power.

≈I won’t hide anything about the provider.

12 Yes, all of you have seen this for yourselves,

so why do you vainly speak such nonsense?

13 This is the wicked people’s portion from God,

≈and the inheritance that ruthless people will receive from the provider:

14 If they have many children, they’ll die in battle,

≈and their offspring won’t have enough food to eat.

15 Those who remain will be buried by the plague,

and their widows won’t be there to weep for them.

16 If they heap up silver like the dust,

≈and pile up clothes like clay mounds,

17 although the wicked piled it up, the godly people will wear them,

≈and innocent people will divide up the silver.

18 The wicked build easily-broken houses like the moths do,

and like temporary shelters that a guard quickly makes.

19 They’re wealthy when they lie down, but that’s that—

when they open their eyes, it’s gone.

20 Terrors overtake them like a flood.

≈A gale carries them away in the night.

21 The east wind carries them away then they’re gone,

≈and it sweeps them out from their places.

22 It hurls itself against them without mercy.

They hurriedly flee from its power.

23 That wind claps its hands at them,

≈and hisses at them from its place.

28 Surely there’s a mine where silver is extracted,

≈and a place where gold is refined.

2 Iron is taken from the ground,

≈and copper is smelted from rock.

3 People have ways to end the darkness.

They search the furtherest places

for the stone of gloom and deep darkness. ???

4 They break open a shaft far from villages—

where feet have forgotten to go.

They hang down on ropes and swing around far from people.

5 Food comes from the land on the surface of the earth,

but underneath it keeps changing like fire.

6 Its rocks are a source of sapphires,

≈and its dust a source of gold.

7 The birds of prey don’t know that path,

≈and the falcon’s eye hasn’t seen it.

8 The sons of pride haven’t walked on it.

≈The lion hasn’t passed over it.

9  The miner works the flinty rock with his hands.

He overturns mountains by their roots.

10 He splits open shafts in the rocks,

and his eyes notice everything that’s valuable.

11 He dams up rivers upstream towards the source,

then hidden things are brought into the light.

12 But where can wisdom be found,

≈and where does understanding live?

13 People don’t know their worth,

and it’s not found in the land of the living.

14 The deep waters say, ‘I don’t have it,’

≈and the ocean says, ‘It’s not in me.’

15 Gold can’t be used to obtain it,

≈and silver can’t be weighed out to match its price.

16 Even the gold from Ofir can’t be used to pay for wisdom,

nor can precious onyx stones and sapphires.

17 Neither gold nor clear glass can equal it,

≈and it can’t be exchanged for a gold goblet.

18 It’s not even worth mentioning coral and jasper.

≈Yes, wisdom is way more expensive than pearls.

19 The good topaz from Ethiopia can’t be compared with it.

≈It can’t be paid for with gold.

20 So then, where does wisdom come from?

≈Where then, does understanding live?

21 It’s hidden from the eyes of every living creature.

≈It’s even concealed from the birds in the sky.

22 Destruction and death say,

‘We’ve heard a rumour about it with our ears.’

23 But God understands the path to wisdom,

≈and he knows where it lives,

24 because he can see right around the earth,

and he notices everything under the sky.

25 God determined the weight of the atmosphere,

≈and he dished out the ocean with his measuring cup.

26 He told the rain how to behave,

≈and made the paths for the lightning bolts when it thunders.

27 Then he saw wisdom and declared it.

≈and He established it then searched it out.

28 Then he told humankind,[ref]

‘Listen, obeying the master—that’s wisdom,

along with turning away from doing evil.’

29 Then Iyyov continued speaking:

2 How I wish for my life in the months of the past,

≈in the days when God watched over me.

3 When his lamp shone over my head.

≈When I walked in the darkness by his light.

4 I was still in my prime in those days,

when God’s friendship could be noticed in my home.

5 When the provider was still with me.

≈When my children were all around me.

6 When my path was greased with butter,

≈and the rock poured streams of olive oil out for me.

7 When I went to the gathering of the city elders at the city gate.

≈When I took my seat in the public square.

8 Young men saw me and got out of the way,

≈and the old people got up and remained standing.

9 The leaders would stop their conversations,

and put their hands over their mouths.

10 The voices of the nobles were hushed,

≈and their tongues stayed on the roofs of their mouths.

11 Those who listened to me commended me,

≈and those who saw me approved of me,

12 because I rescued the poor who cried out,

≈and the fatherless who had no one to help them.

13 Those who were close to dying gave me their blessing,

≈and widows were very pleased that I’d helped them.

14 I put on obedience like a cloak.

≈My justice was like a robe and a turban.

15 I was the eyes for the blind,

≈and the feet for the lame.

16 I was a father for the needy,

≈and I helped strangers present their cases.

17 I broke the jaws[fn] of unjust people,

so they had to drop their prey from their teeth.

18 I had thought that I would die in my own home,

having multiplied my days like the sand.

19 My roots are spread out to reach water,

≈and the dew will lie on my branches overnight.

20 People were always honouring me,

and the bow in my hand will always seem new.

21 They listened to me and they waited,

≈and they kept silent ready to hear my advice.

22 After my talk, they still didn’t speak,

because my words slowly sunk into them like the dew.

23 They waited for me like a farmer waits for rain,

≈and they opened their mouths wide like soil expecting the wet weather.

24 I smiled at them even when they didn’t believe me,

and they didn’t cause the delight on my face to falter.

25 I chose their path and I sat as a chief,

and I lived like a king with his troops,

like when someone comforts those who’re mourning.

30 But now those who’re younger than me laugh at me—

those whose fathers I would have refused to have join my sheepdogs!

2 What use was the strength of their arms to me?

Their contentment with life has gone.

3 They’re useless due to poverty and hunger.

Gnawing at the dry land that’s devastated and uninhabited.

4 They pick mallow leaves off the wild bushes,

≈and roots of broom trees have become their food.

5 They’re driven away from the community,

and people shout at them as if they’re thieves,

6 They live out in the river valleys—

in holes in the ground and caves in the cliffs.

7 They bray like animals out between the shrubs.

≈They’re huddled together under the thorn bushes.

8 They’re the children of fools, without any name to them.

They’ve been driven out of the land.

9 But now I’m mocked in their songs,

and my name has been made into a joke by them.

10 They despise me and keep their distance,

yet don’t hesitate to spit in my face.

11 God has unstrung my bow and humbled me,

so they don’t restrain themselves in my presence.

12 A rabble appears on one side and push my feet away.

≈They pile up their destructive paths against me.

13 They’ve torn down my path.

They benefit from my destruction—

there’s no helper for them.

14 They come quickly like through a wide breach in the wall.

They have rolled themselves under the devastation.

15 Terrors have been turned against me.

They pursue my honour like the wind,

≈and my prosperity has disappeared like cloud.

16 Now my life pours itself out within me.

≈Days of suffering have taken hold of me.

17 Night pierces my bones from upon me,

≈and the pains that gnaw at me never rest.

18 My clothing is transformed through great strength.

≈My garment ties me up by the collar.

19 He throws me into the mud,

≈and I’ve become like dust and ashes.

20 I call out to you for help

but you don’t answer me.

I’ve stood here and you just look at me.

21 You’ve changed yourself to become cruel to me.

≈You use your strength to persecute me.

22 You hold me up to the wind and let it take me.

≈You toss me around in the storm.

23 I know you are bringing me towards death,

≈and to the final appointment that everyone has.

24 Doesn’t someone who’s collapsed into a heap stretch out their hand.

≈In a disaster they cry out for help.

25 Didn’t I weep for those having a troubled day?

≈I was upset when I saw the poor.

26 I waited for good, but it was evil that came.

≈I waited for light, but it was gloom that came.

27 My insides feel like they’re boiling—

they never feel settled,

and my suffering confronts me every day.

28 I go around being dark, but not from the sun.

I’ve stood in the assembly and called out for help.

29 I’ve become a brother to jackals,

≈and a companion of young ostriches.

30 My skin has turned black,

≈and my bones are burning with fever.

31 So my harp is used for mourning.

≈My flute accompanies those who’re weeping.