From the Greek Septuagint text as used by First Century Christians.
One of the oldest Bible writings, written in an ancient pre-Egyptian-bondage style of Hebrew known as Ugaritic. It was a song or poem that was recorded by Moses sometime after 1550-BCE.
Although the identity of Job among Bible characters is unsure (see the link to Job below), history suggests that he lived sometime between 2140-BCE and 1980-BCE.
Was this a true story and was there really a faithful man named Job? Yes, for God mentioned him by name as being one of the three most faithful men in the Bible book of Ezekiel, and he was also mentioned by Peter, the Apostle of Jesus.

Chapter 1

1 There was a certain man named Job who lived in the land of the AuSitidi. He was true, blameless, righteous, God fearing, and he distanced himself from all that was wicked. 2 He had seven sons, three daughters, and he also had seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred teams of oxen, and five hundred grazing female burros. In addition, he had a huge work force to serve him and many more to care for his land, 3 for the man had been born into a prosperous family from the sunrise in the east.

4 [JobÕs] sons prepared banquets for each other each day, and their three sisters were always invited to eat and drink with them. 5 Then, after all the banqueting was done, Job would get up early each morning to purify them. He offered sacrifices on their behalf, which included a calf as a sin offering for their lives. As Job said:
Ô[IÕm doing this] just in case my children even think something bad about God.Õ
And thatÕs how Job always did things.

6 Then one day, {Look!} the messengers of God went to stand before Jehovah, and the Opposer came along with them. 7 So, Jehovah asked the Opposer:
ÔFrom which place have you come?Õ

And the Opposer replied to Jehovah:
ÔIÕve been on the earth walking around everywhere under the sky.Õ

8 Then Jehovah asked him:
ÔHave you noticed and thought about My child Job? ThereÕs no one else like him on the earth, because heÕs blameless, true, God fearing, and he distances himself from anything that is bad.Õ

9 So the Opposer stood up before Jehovah and said:
ÔIs Job really free to bow before You, Jehovah? 10 HavenÕt You protected him and all in his household from anything that might be harmful to him? YouÕve blest everything he does, and YouÕve provided huge herds of cattle for him that cover the entire land! 11 However, if You were to just reach out Your hand and touch all the things that he has, he would surely rave against You to Your face!Õ

12 Then Jehovah said to the Opposer:
Ô{Look!} IÕm putting everything he has into your handsÉ just donÕt touch him personally.Õ
And at that, the Opposer left the presence of Jehovah.

13 Well, on that day, all of JobÕs sons and daughters had all been enjoying wine in the house of their older brother.

14 But then, {Look!} a messenger came to Job and told him:
ÔWe were plowing with the teams of oxen, and the female burros were grazing nearby, 15 when slavers came and took them all and killed all your servants with swords. IÕm the only one who escaped, so I could bring this message to you!Õ

16 Then while he was still speaking, another messenger arrived and said to Job:
ÔLightning came out of the sky and burned up all the sheepÉ and the shepherds were destroyed the same way. IÕm the only one who escaped, so I came to report it to you!Õ

17 And while he was still speaking, another messenger arrived and said to Job:
ÔThree companies of mounted troops attacked us, then they rounded up the camels and took them, and they killed all your servants with swords. I was the only one who escaped, so IÕve come to report this to you!Õ

18 Well, while that one was still speaking, another messenger arrived and told Job:
ÔYour sons and daughters were eating and drinking with their older brother, 19 when a tornado came toward them from out of the desert and touched down on the four corners of his house and destroyed it, killing all your children. IÕm the only one who escaped, and I came to report it to you!Õ

20 And with that, Job got up and started ripping his clothes, then he cut all the hair off his head, and he bowed all the way to the ground and said:
21 ÔI came from my motherÕs belly naked and I will return there nakedÉ Jehovah gave it, and Jehovah took it away. So, what seems good to Jehovah has come to pass. May the Name of the Lord be praised!Õ

22 Well, despite all these terrible things that happened to him, Job didnÕt sin against Jehovah a single time, nor did he accuse God of foolishness.

Chapter 2

1 Then on another day, when GodÕs messengers came to stand before Jehovah, the Opposer once more came among them to stand before the Lord. 2 And Jehovah asked the Opposer:
ÔSo, from what place have you come?Õ

And the Opposer again replied:
ÔIÕve been on the earth walking around everywhere under the sky.Õ

3 So Jehovah asked him:
ÔHave you been paying attention to my child Job? For there are none others like him on the earth. HeÕs not a wicked manÉ heÕs true, blameless, God fearing, and he avoids anything that is evil, so heÕs still innocent. However, you told me [that he wouldnÕt remain faithful] if everything he had was destroyed without a reason.Õ

4 Then the Opposer said to Jehovah:
ÔSkin for skinÉ a man will give everything he has for his life. 5 For a fact; if You send Your hand to touch his flesh and bones, he will surely rave against You to Your face!Õ

6 And Jehovah replied to the Opposer:
Ô{Look!} IÕm giving him to youÉ just donÕt take his life!Õ

7 So the Opposer left Jehovah and struck Job with terrible sores from his head to his feet. 8 And as the result, [Job] had to carry a broken piece of pottery to scrape the pus as he sat in a pile of ashes.

9 Then his wife said toasked him:
ÔHow much longer are you going to endure this? Just speak a word to God and end it!Õ

10 But he looked at her and said:
ÔWhy are you acting like such a foolish woman? If weÕve looked for good things from the hand of Jehovah, shouldnÕt we also endure the bad?Õ

11 Then, when three of his friends heard of all the bad things that had happened to him, they each came from their lands to see him. There was EliPhaz the Temanite (a king), Baldad the Shuhite (a sovereign ruler), and Zophar the Minaean (a king), and they had all come to visit him for the purpose of comforting him. 12 However, as they approached, they didnÕt even recognize him. So they each started shouting, crying, ripping their clothes, and throwing dust in the air. 13 Then they all sat down beside him for seven days and seven nights without speaking a word, for they recognized that this was an terrible calamity, which was much worse than anything that they had anticipated.

Chapter 3

1 Well, after this, Job opened his mouth and cursed his day, 2 saying:

3 ÔMay the day I was born be destroyed,
Along with the night when they said, ItÕs a boy!

4 ÔMay that night become very dark;
May the Lord up above never seek it,
And may it not see the coming of dawn.
5 May it be taken by darkness
And by the shadow of death.

ÔMay that day forever be dimmedÉ
May that day forever be cursed,
6 And its night carried into the darkness.

ÔNo more, may it be a day of the year,
Nor may it be counted in one of the months.
7 May that night become one of grieving,
Not one thatÕs happy and joyful.

8 ÔMay the One who brought a curse to that day
Also heap curses upon it.
May it be [swallowed by] beasts of the sea
9 And may darkness cover the stars of that night,
So they will no longer be seenÉ
And may they not shine ever after.

ÔMay the morning star not arise,
10 For it failed to close the womb of my mother,
So my eyes wouldnÕt see all of this misery.

11 ÔWhy didnÕt I die in her belly
Instead of having to ever be bornÉ
Why wasnÕt I killed there and thenÉ
12 Why did her knees come to meet me,
And why did her breasts come to nurse me?

13 ÔMay I go to my bed and lie stillÉ
14 May I sleep and find rest among kingsÉ
The councilors of the lands where they once pranced with swordsÉ
15 With the rulers who once had so much gold
And who once filled their houses with silver.

16 ÔO if I had just been miscarried
Within the womb of my mother,
Like babies who donÕt see light of day,
17 And go where the anger and rage of the Godless
Has all been burned up in fire.

ÔItÕs that place where the tired find rest for their bones,
18 And where none who have lived through the ages
Hear tax collectorÕs voices again.
19 ItÕs where the small and the great must all goÉ
The servants [along with] their masters.

20 ÔWhy must those who are bitter see light,
And why is life given to those who are grieved,
21 Then long for death that wonÕt comeÉ
Those rooting for death as though it were treasure,
22 And whoÕd be overjoyed to attain it?

23 ÔFor to such a man, death becomes rest,
When thereÕs nowhere else he can goÉ
Yes, when [our] God has opposed him.

24 ÔMy grain has now become moaning,
And IÕm crying and shaking in fear;
25 For the things I once feared in my dreams have come true,
And wall I held in awe has now met me.
26 IÕm not at peace, or still, or at rest,
For [His] rage has now come upon me.Õ

Chapter 4

1 Then EliPhaz the Temanite decided to speak. He said:

2 ÔDo you often complain of your problemsÉ
Who can stand such strong talk?

3 ÔTo many people, youÕve given advice,
And to the hands of the weak, youÕve brought comfort;
4 YouÕve lifted the timid with words,
And encouraged the ones who had feeble knees.
5 But, now that misery has arrived to touch you,
You tend to be in a hurry.

6 ÔArenÕt you rather in fear of your own foolish waysÉ
Your own wrong hopes and bad paths?
7 Can you think of any who are truly pure
That [God has] ever destroyed,
Or any of the true whoÕve been wiped away?

8 ÔIÕve seen people who plow in strange places,
And those who plant there reap grief for themselves.
9 Then, by [GodÕs] order, they perishÉ
With the spirit of His wrath, they are then wiped away.

10 ÔSo the strength of the lion and the lionessÕ roar,
And the prancing of beasts is no more.
11 Like the lionÕs cubs that die without prey,
The young wonÕt come to each otherÕs aid.

12 ÔSo, if the things that you said are all true,
And if they have all really happened;
Then, none of these things would have happened to you.

ÔShould my ears now start to believe
That He has done something so strange?

13 ÔAn echo in the night brings fear to all menÉ
14 It stuns them, makes them tremble, and rattles their bones.
15 But a spirit once came and looked in my face,
Which made my flesh shudder and my hair stand erect.
16 I jumped, for I didnÕt understand what I saw;
But, there it was in front of my eyes.

ÔThen I felt a breeze and I heard a voice say,
17 Why should a man be pure before God?
For He doesnÕt even trust His own servants,
And He thinks of His angels as crooked.

19 ÔThose who live in houses of clay
Are made from its very same mortar;
So, both are destroyed in the very same way.
20 [They come] in the morning, then by evening, are goneÉ
And they die, if they canÕt help themselves.

ÔHe just breathes upon them and they witherÉ
They perish in their own foolish ways.Õ

Chapter 5

1 ÔSo, shout and see who will listen;
Will holy angels appear?
2 Even a fool will end all his madness,
And a man who wanders will soon end his search.

3 ÔI have seen fools making plansÉ
And then, their homes were destroyed.
4 And though their sons were in a safe place,
At the doors of lesser men, they were crushed;
For, no one would come to their aid.

5 ÔThough the hungry can eat what they harvest;
Those who bear arms can siphon their strength.
6 So the ground will only bring work,
As misery sprouts in the hills.

7 ÔThough a man is just born to do work,
And young vultures are made to fly in the skies;
8 I will still beg to JehovahÉ
Yes, I will still call to the Almighty God
9 Who does great things that canÕt be explainedÉ
Things of honor, unnumbered, and odd.

10 ÔHeÕs the One who sends water down to the ground
And rain to all places under the skies.
11 He the One who raises the humble
And who returns life to the dying.

12 ÔHe alters the plans of the clever,
So that they are unable to do what is true.
13 He conquers the wisdom of the wise,
And surprises the plans of the crafty.

14 ÔFor, in daylight, darkness can still come to meet them,
And at noon, they may grope as though it were night.
15 They may also be killed in a war,
While the weak may escape from the mighty.

16 ÔSo, there is still hope for those without strength,
And unrighteous mouths may also be closed.

17 ÔBlest is the man who is whipped by the Lord,
And those who donÕt ignore the Almighty!
18 For, though He brings pain, He also restoresÉ
He strikes, and then He heals with His hands.

19 ÔSix times, HeÕll save you from problems,
But in the seventh, HeÕll give you whatÕs bad.
20 In times of famine, HeÕll save you from death;
And in war, HeÕll free you from shackles of iron.
21 From the whip of the tongue, He will hide you,
And you wonÕt have to fear the evils that come.

22 ÔThen youÕll laugh at the unrighteous and lawless,
And not have fear of any wild beasts.
23 For with you, the wild will be peaceful,
24 And youÕll know thereÕs peace in your house
When you tent in your home without sin.

25 ÔYouÕll know that your seed will be many,
And your children will sprout like weeds in the fields.
26 Then youÕll go to your grave like grain in the harvestÉ
Like heaps on the floor in the hour itÕs reaped.

27 Ô{Look!} These are the things that we have concluded,
And these are the things that weÕve heard.
But, within yourself, only you know
Whether youÕve done something evil.Õ

Chapter 6

1 Then Job spoke. He said:

2 ÔIf you would use a balancing scale
To measure my anger against all my grief,
YouÕd find that they both balance outÉ
3 But theyÕre still as heavy as the sands of the seas.

ÔFor it seems as though youÕve not heard what IÕve saidÉ
4 That my body has been pierced by GodÕs arrowsÉ
That His rage has been drinking my blood,
And this stings me whenever IÕm starting to speak.

5 ÔWhy do wild burros cry out
When they arenÕt looking for grain?
And why do cattle bawl from their stables
When there is plenty of grain?

6 ÔAs bread should be eaten with salt;
What taste can be found in your empty words?
7 Yet, I still canÕt drive them out of my life.

ÔNow I groan when I see my cereal grains;
For [to me], they have the odor of lions.

8 ÔIf He would just give me the things that I askÉ
If the Lord would just give me the things that IÕve hopedÉ
9 But, Jehovah has started to pierce me,
And itÕs not been withdrawn or come to its end!

10 ÔSo if the place of the dead could now be my city,
Onto its walls I would jumpÉ
Yes, I would gladly accept it.

11 ÔSince I havenÕt lied about GodÕs holy words,
Why have I still the strength to remainÉ
Why do I have the strength to live on?
12 Am I as mighty as the rocksÉ
Are my body parts made out of bronze?

13 ÔIn Him, have I not put my trust?
Yet His help has been taken away!
14 Has His mercy to me been forbidden,
And have the visits of the Lord overlooked me?

15 ÔThose closest to me, now see me no more,
For IÕm like a stream thatÕs gone dry,
Or a wave thatÕs already passed by;
For now, everyone just walks past me.

16 ÔThose who once showed deep respect
Now view me like banks of ice or of snow
17 That has melted away in the heat [of the day],
And no longer is seen as what it once was.
18 ThatÕs how IÕve been abandoned by allÉ
IÕm destroyed and IÕve become homeless.

19 ÔBehold the Temanite trails
And all the passes of the Sabaeans,
O you who now think that youÕre seeing things clearly.
20 They [exist because of] those living in towns,
And theyÕre the things that they rely upon there.

21 ÔNow, with no mercy, you all stand [away],
As though youÕre afraid of my sores.
22 Yet, what have I asked you to give me,
And how much of your strength have I asked?
23 Just save me from my enemyÕs hands,
And snatch me away from the mighty!

24 ÔTeach me, and IÕll then remain silentÉ
If IÕve strayed, then prove that itÕs so!
25 For, you view the words of someone whoÕs true
As though theyÕve become very foul.

ÔI havenÕt asked for your strength,
26 And your scolding wonÕt stop me from speaking.
I wonÕt put up with the things that you say;
27 For youÕre coming down on an orphan,
And you are attacking a friend!

28 ÔNow, as I gaze at your faces,
I will tell you no lies.
29 So, just sit here and donÕt be unrighteousÉ
Just sit here together with one who is just;
30 For, nothing wrong has come from my tongue,
And from my throat will come things to consider.Õ

Chapter 7

1 ÔThe purpose of man on the earth
Is surely not just to be tried.
For he lives his life as a hired day worker,
2 And as a servant in awe of his masterÉ
One who stands in the shade of his shadow
As he is awaiting his wages.

3 ÔThus, for months, I have waited in vain,
To only receive nights of grief.
4 For, when I go to bed, I now say:
How long will it be Ôtil day comes again?
And thereafter, I must ask when I rise,
How soon will it become night?

ÔI am filled with grief from morning Ôtil night;
5 For my body is rotting and covered with worms.
Like clods of dirt, I am melting away,
As IÕm scraping away all the pus.
6 My life now weighs less than my words É
It has perished in hopes unattained.

7 ÔMy soul has become like a breeze,
And my eyes no longer see good.
8 The eyes of those searching, donÕt see meÉ
Though their eyes are upon me, IÕm gone
9 Like a cloud that drifts away in the sky.

10 ÔWhen a man goes down to his grave,
He does not come back again.
ThereÕs no way heÕll return to his houseÉ
For, even his home doesnÕt know him.

11 But, I will not close my mouthÉ
Yes, I will still speak of my plight.
I will bear open my soul
To show you the bitterness it holdsÉ
12 I wonÕt be like the seaÕs dragons.

13 ÔI once said that my bed brings me comfort.
But now, all I have to offer myself
Are my own words, as I lie on my cot,
14 Where I am frightened by dreams
And by visions that strike me with terror.

15 Ô[Please] let my breath leave my soul,
And may my bones be handed to death!
16 May I no longer live in [this] ageÉ
For, why must I just keep on waiting,
When all in my life is so empty?

17 ÔO what is a man that YouÕd make him so great,
Or notice the things that he thinks?
18 Why visit him until morning arrives
And judge him as he lies there asleep?

19 ÔHow long will [You] keep me alive
And refuse to provide my release,
As I swallow my spit in my grief?

20 ÔIf I have sinned, then what can I do,
O You who knows the minds of all men?
Why have You made me [a person] who blames You,
And why have You made me Your burden?

21 ÔWhy not rather forget the laws that I broke,
And then cleanse me from all of my sins?
Please let me go into the ground,
And no longer rise early again.Õ

Chapter 8

1 Then Baldad the Shuhite spoke. He said:

2 ÔHow long will you use the breath from your mouth
To speak in such a talkative way?

3 ÔDoes Jehovah sin when He judges,
And does the Maker of all harm the righteous?
4 Surely your sons had sinned before HimÉ
Because they were lawless, He took them away!

5 ÔTo seek Jehovah, you always rose early,
And before the Almighty, youÕve begged.
6 But, if you were truly pure,
HeÕd have listened to all your requests
And restored your position in justice.
7 Then, if at first, your men had been few;
In the end, they would be beyond number.

8 ÔAsk the first generations,
And trace the race of the fathers!
9 For, while they were here, they were not aware
That shadows would cover their lives in the ground.
10 DoesnÕt this tell you and doesnÕt this teachÉ
DonÕt such sayings arise from your heart?

11 ÔCan papyrus live without waterÉ
Can bulrushes live without drinking?
12 As long as the plant has its roots,
And before it has been cut down;
If it canÕt drink from the garden,
DoesnÕt it wither and dry?

13 ÔSo it is with those forgetting Jehovah;
Since there is no hope for the Godless,
14 His home wonÕt be lived in again,
And spiders will spread out their tents there.

15 ÔIf no one comes to care for his house,
It wonÕt be able to standÉ
It wonÕt remain unless it is claimed!

16 ÔWhenever itÕs wet under the sun,
From things that are rotten, a branch starts to sprout.
17 So, on a pile of stones, a man goes to bed,
And he lives there amidst all the gravel;
18 His place then swallows him down,
And thereafter, it covers him over.
HavenÕt you witnessed such things?

19 ÔYes, thatÕs how the godless all come to their endÉ
And then, from the ground, sprouts another.

20 ÔNo way will the Lord harm the good,
And He accepts no gifts from the godless.
21 With laughter, He fills the mouths of the true
And those who use their lips in His praise.
22 To their enemies, He will always bring shame,
And the homes of the Godless, He soon wipes away.Õ

Chapter 9

1 Then Job spoke. He said:

2 ÔI know for a fact, what youÕre saying is true;
For, how can a man say heÕs righteous to God?
3 So, if he wishes to argue this point,
HeÕll not prove God wrong with thousands of words.
4 For, all of GodÕs thoughts are wise, strong, and great.

ÔThus, who can approach Him in anger
And still have some hope of survival?
5 Do the mountains know who destroys them in rage?

6 ÔAll thatÕs under the sky,
He can shake to its coreÉ
And then He can shake all its columns.
7 He can speak to the sun and it will not rise,
And He can also close up the stars.

8 ÔBy Himself, He can stretch out the sky,
And walk on the sea like a floor.
9 HeÕs the One who made the PleiAdes,
As well as Hesperus and ArcTurusÉ
HeÕs the One who arranged the skies in the south.

10 ÔHe does things that are great and unfathomedÉ
Honorable things beyond number and odd.
If He passed over me, IÕd not see itÉ
If He passed me by, IÕd not be aware.

12 ÔWhen He sends someone away,
Who can thereafter return him,
And who can ask why He did it?

13 ÔFor, God doesnÕt turn back His rageÉ
To Him, even the whales bow under the skies!

14 ÔSo, why should He ever obey me,
Or why should He judge all my problems?
15 And if could I prove myself righteous,
HeÕd [have no reason to] hear menÉ
Though IÕd still ask Him for His decisions.

16 ÔThus, should I call, He may not give an ear,
Nor should I trust that HeÕs heard my voice.

17 ÔBut He shouldnÕt destroy me in darkness,
Nor bruise me without any reason.
18 For, though HeÕs allowed me to breathe,
I am now filled with whatÕs bitter.

19 ÔBecause HeÕs so mighty and strong,
Who can stand and oppose Him?
20 So, even if I have been righteous,
My mouth would still say wicked things.
And though I might [truly] be blameless,
IÕd still produce what is wrong.

21 ÔBut, if I am really ungodly,
In my soul, I remain unawareÉ
Though my life has been taken away.

22 ÔIÕve said: The mighty kill in their rage;
23 And for the vile, death isnÕt uncommon.
TheyÕre the ones who laugh at the righteous
24 When theyÕre handed to those who are Godless.
For He covers the eyes of the judgesÉ
And if He doesnÕt do it, who does?

25 ÔO that my soul was as light as a sprinterÉ
Yet, my days have passed by without notice.
26 Can my ship still be seen on the horizon
By eagles in search of their prey?

27 ÔSo to you here before me, IÕll say:
If IÕd just forget about speaking,
Then bow my head and just moan;
28 And if IÕd just let my limbs shiver,
WouldnÕt you still find me guilty?

29 ÔBut, if I am someone whoÕs godless;
Why havenÕt I already died?
30 If IÕd wash myself in the snow,
And if I scrubbed all the dirt from my hands,
31 You would still dip me in filth,
And even my clothes would detest me.

32 ÔYet, you are men just like me
By whom I am judged and compared.
Before His Judgment Seat, we all stand togetherÉ
33 Before the lawyers and accusers,
And in front of the One listens to both.

34 ÔSo, may He set me free from the [whip],
And may I not be twisted in fear.
35 Then, I will speak and I wonÕt be afraid,
For IÕm still unaware of my crimes.Õ

Chapter 10

1 ÔSince my soul has become tired of moaning;
IÕll now tell Him how bad I now feel.
2 Yes, to Jehovah, IÕll say:
DonÕt tell me that I am ungodlyÉ
So, why have You judged me that way?

3 ÔWould You think it good if IÕd sinned,
Or if IÕd disavowed the works of Your hands?
Why do You believe what the godless have said
4 And look at things as do humans?

ÔWhen You look, do You see as men see?
5 Is Your existence like that of a man?
Are Your years as those of just men?

6 ÔSince YouÕve searched for all my law breaking
And YouÕve traced out all of my sins,
7 You must know that IÕm not ungodly;
But, from Your hands, who can wrest me away?

8 ÔIt was Your hands that made me and shaped me,
Then You turned around and You struck me.
9 O remember the day that You shaped me,
Then, stand me erect on the ground once again!

10 ÔYou extracted me as though milking,
And then I was curdled like cheese.
11 You put me together with meat, skin, and bones,
And then, with nerves, You entwined me.
12 In mercy, You put life within me,
Then You watched over me and guarded my breath.

13 ÔYou did all these things by Yourself;
And itÕs a fact that You can do allÉ
ThereÕs nothing that You cannot do.
14 So, if I should sin, please protect meÉ
Declare me free of law breaking.

15 Ô[DonÕt count me] among the ungodly!
Yet, though I am righteous, I canÕt raise my head;
For, I have become so dishonored.

16 ÔIÕve been caught like a lion for slaughterÉ
For YouÕve turned around to destroy me.
sup>17 YouÕve disciplined me once again,
And dealt with me in great rage
By bringing these trials upon me.

18 ÔWhy did you lead me out of the bellyÉ
Why didnÕt I die, so my eyes wouldnÕt see
19 As one who had never been born?
Why wasnÕt I just sent awayÉ
Sent to the tomb as I came from the womb,
20 And why have I lived for so many years?

ÔNow, allow me to rest for a while
21 And go to the place where I will not returnÉ
To a land thatÕs shrouded and dimÉ
22 A land thatÕs dark through the ages,
Where light and life canÕt be seen.Õ

Chapter 11

1 Then Zophar the Minaean spoke, saying:

2 ÔThis One who has so much to say
Should also listen in turn;
Is this one whoÕs so very-well spoken
Proclaiming himself to be just?

ÔThose born of women who live just short lives
3 Are blest, because they have much less to say.

4 ÔNow, no oneÕs comparing himself to you,
And donÕt try to say that your deeds are all pureÉ
That youÕre blameless, as youÕre standing before Him.

5 ÔO that Jehovah would speak
And tell you what He has to say.

6 ÔShould He speak to you of His wisdom?
His wisdom is so much greater than yours!
But if He did, you would know that whatÕs happened
Has come because of your sins against God.

7 ÔSearch for the ways of Jehovah,
And youÕll find the AlmightyÕs prepared for your end.

8 ÔBecause the heavens are ever so high;
What can you do and what do you know?

ÔThere are things much deeper than the place of the deadÉ
9 TheyÕre longer than the span of the land,
And wider than the breadth of the seas.
10 And if HeÕd destroy all those on the earth,
Who could question His reason?

11 ÔHe knows the deeds of those who break laws,
And He doesnÕt overlook their wrongdoingÉ
12 Yet, men keep swimming in words.
For all men that are born of a woman,
Are no wiser than the desertÕs wild burros.

13 ÔBut, if you have a truly-pure heart,
And you can spread your hands out before Him;
14 Should He find that you have broken no laws,
And youÕve stayed a long way from injustice
(That youÕve kept it away from your home);
15 Your face would then have a shineÉ
Pure water would wash off your filth,
And you would have nothing to fear.

16 ÔYouÕd forget all your troubles like waves passing by,
And youÕd have no reason for terror.
17 In the morning, your vows would be like the stars,
And at noon, your life would return.

18 ÔYouÕd have some hope, if you would comply,
And have peace in place of trouble and strife.
19 For you, there would be no more battles,
And many would turn and beg for your aid.

20 ÔBut for them, will come no salvation,
Since their only hope is destruction,
And the eyes of the godless will melt.Õ

Chapter 12

1 Then Job spoke. He said:

2 ÔHave you and the men that are with you
Reached the end of your wisdom?

3 ÔI too have a heart thatÕs like yours.
4 But it seems that a man who is righteous and just
Has only been born to be taunted!

5 ÔThereÕs a time appointed when each man must fall,
And for his house to be pillaged by crooksÉ
But, may the wicked not trust [in their ways].
For the guileless will [be given] support,
6 While [the bad] will be taught by GodÕs rage.

7 ÔYou could ask the four-footed creatures
(If they could give you an answer),
Or ask the things that fly in the sky
(If they could give a report)
8 To explain all they know of the earth,
Or to even describe all the fish in the sea.

9 ÔAre there any among them that donÕt realize
That they were made by GodÕs hand?
10 For, in His hands are the lives of all things,
As well as the spirits of men.

11 ÔMen listen with their ears and examine each word,
Then they taste the meanings inside of their throats.

12 ÔWisdom is ancient and knowledge is old,
13 For from Him comes all wisdom and powerÉ
Along with understanding and all good advice.

14 ÔSo, if He chooses to tear something down,
Who can thereafter rebuild it?
And if He chooses to lock up a man,
Who can thereafter release him?

15 ÔIf He should choose to hold back the rain,
All the lands would go dry.
But, He can also choose to release it,
To destroy them and wash them away.

16 ÔIn Him, thereÕs both might and strength;
In Him, there is knowledge and all comprehension.
17 He strips council away from advisors,
And He [can also make fools of] earthÕs judges.

18 ÔHeÕs the One who sets kings on their thrones
And who ties a sash Ôround their waists.
19 But HeÕs also the One who sends priests off as slaves,
And who can wipe away all the mighty.

20 ÔThe lips of the honest, He understands,
And the words of the elders, He knows.
21 Upon rulers, He can pour out dishonor,
While to those who are humble, He heals.

22 ÔHe uncovers the darkness of very deep things,
And from the shadow of death, He can lead into light.

23 ÔHe destroys the nations that stray,
And He cuts down those who mislead them.
24 He knows the hearts of the rulers of lands,
And He leads them in ways they donÕt know.

25 ÔSo, may they corrupt the darkness, not lightÉ
May they wander as though they were drunk.

Chapter 13

1 Ô{Look!} IÕve seen such things with my eyes,
And IÕve heard such things with my ears.

2 ÔI know the same things that all of you know,
And I have as much sense as do you.
3 Thus, I will speak before God,
And IÕll scold you, if He will allow it.

4 ÔFor, you have been unrighteous doctors,
And as healers, youÕve done a very poor job.
5 So, it would be a blessing if you would stay stillÉ
Yes, that would be the course that is wise.

6 ÔNow, hear these things that IÕll tell you,
And heed the judgments that come from my lips.

7 ÔArenÕt you speaking here before God,
And before Him, arenÕt you being deceitful?
8 IsnÕt it time for you to back off;
For, arenÕt you just judging yourselves?

9 ÔIf He should choose to examine your tracks
And pay attention to all that you do,
10 Then discipline you for the [bad] things youÕve doneÉ
YouÕd worry that He sees all your secrets.

11 ÔWouldnÕt He spin you in His awesome powerÉ
WouldnÕt fear of Him overcome you?
12 For your prancing would then become ashes,
And your bodies would turn back to clay.

13 ÔSo, stay still as I pour out my rage;
14 For, IÕll grab my flesh with my teeth now,
And hold myself with my hands.

15 ÔBut, if the Almighty should grab me,
I would still speak to Him and complainÉ
16 IÕd argue that I should be spared,
For HeÕd not find me guilty of evil.

17 ÔListen to meÉ hear my words,
For IÕll shout them into your ears!
18 Look at meÉ yes, gaze upon me!
For, as I stand here before you in judgment,
I know that youÕll not call me righteousÉ
19 Yet, the One whoÕs my judge is impartial.

ÔNow, IÕll say nothing more, because I am through,
20 And IÕll allow you two things to finish me offÉ
Then IÕll go and hide from your presence.
21 But, keep your hands at a distance,
And give me no reason to fear you.

22 ÔYou can call out to me and IÕll listen;
So, speak and IÕll give a reply.
23 Of how many sins am I guilty,
And how many laws have I broken?
Yes, tell me just what they have been!

24 ÔWhat are you hiding from me,
And why do you think I am lesser than you?
25 Will you avoid me like leaves in the wind,
Or face me like grass in the air?

26 ÔAgainst me, youÕve written so many bad things,
And accused me of sins that are common to youthÉ
27 YouÕve opposed me, although I am righteous.
But by now, youÕve examined all of my deeds,
And to the roots of my feet, you have reached.

28 ÔYet, I have been aging [so quickly],
And I look like a bag made of leather,
Or like a robe thatÕs been eaten by moths.Õ

Chapter 14

1 ÔFor men born of women, life is too short,
And our lives are too filled with rageÉ
2 Then we drop like flowers that have blossomed,
And escape like shadows that have passed.

3 ÔBut, you have required an accounting of me,
And though IÕve stood in judgment before You;
4 Which [of you] can claim that youÕre free of all filthÉ
I am sure there is not one among you!

5 ÔMen live but a day on the earth,
And we count off the months of our lives
Until we reach the time weÕre allowedÉ
[A time that] we cannot pass by.
6 Therefore, leave me alone so that I can be still,
And think well of the work that IÕve done.

7 ÔFor a tree, thereÕs still hope after itÕs cut,
Since it may blossom again;
For the sprouting of its shoots never fail,
8 Though its roots may be old in the ground.
Yet, even rocks will grow old,
And even the stones melt away.

9 ÔWhen the trunk of a tree can smell water,
It will blossom and fruit once again,
As though it were something thatÕs new.
10 But, when a man reaches his end,
That will not be undoneÉ
When he falls, he no longer exists.

11 ÔIn time, even the seas will be gone,
And all the rivers will become barren and dry.
12 But,when man goes to sleep, he wonÕt rise again
Until [the stars] are all sewn togetherÉ
From that sleep, we never awaken.

13 ÔO that in the grave, YouÕd hide me and guard me
Until all Your anger has passed.
Please order a time to be set for me,
When YouÕll mention my name once again.

14 ÔCan a man live again after he dies,
Once the days of his life have all past?
As for me; IÕll wait Ôtil I live again,
15 When YouÕll call out to me and IÕll hear YouÉ
Please donÕt undo the work of Your hands!

16 ÔYouÕve counted all the things that IÕve done in my life,
And none of my sins have You overlooked.
17 So, take all the laws that IÕve broken,
Then seal them up in a bag,
And [remove] the ones that I meant not to do.

18 ÔA mountain will fall into ruin,
And a rock wears out where it stands.
19 In water, even stones become smooth,
And floods wash away the earthÕs cliffs.
This is how YouÕve destroyed the lengths of menÕs livesÉ
20 You stab them through and they dieÉ
You just turn Your face and theyÕre gone.

21 ÔWe donÕt know how many descendants weÕll have,
And weÕre unaware if theyÕre few.
22 For, our flesh just knows aches and pains,
And in mourning, our lives have been spent.Õ

Chapter 15

1 Then EliPhaz the Temanite spoke. He said:

2 ÔMay I reply to a man whoÕs so wise,
And in a spirit that he understandsÉ
WhoÕs known misery since he came from the womb,
3 But, who scolds with words that will never be true,
And with things that will never bring profit?

4 ÔHave you forgotten your fear
As you speak before God?
5 What has come from your mouth has proven your guilt;
For youÕve failed to examined the words of the great.
6 So, may your own mouth now correct you (not me);
Since against your own lips, you have spoken.

7 ÔWere you the first man to ever be born
Before the hills had been piled?
8 Did you hear how Jehovah arranged it,
And did God then ask your adviceÉ
Did He gain all His wisdom from you?

9 ÔWhat do you know that we do not know,
And what do you see that weÕve missed?
10 For, we are each much older than you,
And weÕve lived more days than your father!

11 ÔBecause of your sins, youÕve been whipped just a bit,
And youÕve blown this all out of proportion!
12 Dare you see with your eyes or examine with your heart,
How this rage has torn you away from the Lord,
13 By spewing such things from your mouth?

14 ÔWhich man do you know who is free from all blame
Among those who from women are born?
15 For, [God] trusts not even the holyÉ
Before Him, the heavens arenÕt pure!
16 And the filth of man is disgustingÉ
He sucks unrighteousness down like a drink!

17 ÔSo now, pay attention and IÕll give my reportÉ
Yes, I will announce what IÕve seen,
18 And mention the things that the wise men have saidÉ
Things that from their sons, theyÕve not hidden.

19 ÔThis land was once given to our fathers
When there were no strangers among them.
20 And for the ungodly, thereÕs just been confusion,
While years have been added to the mighty.

21 ÔIn times of peace, men listen in fear,
And this brings about their undoing.
22 So, may they not hope to return from the dark
When theyÕre gripped by hands made of iron.

23 ÔFor, the grain of vultures, theyÕve now become,
As they await the death of their bodiesÉ
The dark day that whisks them away,
24 As by distress and disaster, they are sucked down,
And they fall like generals in battle.

25 ÔItÕs against Jehovah that theyÕve raised their hands,
And before the Almighty, they have stiffened their necks.
26 So, for their insolence, theyÕre forced to retreat,
And behind their shields, hide their thickness,
27 Since their faces have been covered with fat,
And their thighs have become very flabby.

28 ÔSo, in abandoned cities, may they now lodge,
And in houses where people no longer liveÉ
Where all those who once had been found there
Have now been carried away.

29 ÔMay they not be rich or keep what they own,
Or cast a shadow again on the ground,
30 Nor may they flee from the darkness.

ÔMay their buds soon wither awayÉ
May their flowers be taken by the wind.
31 May they not trust that they will survive,
For soon, theyÕll have nothing at all.

32 ÔCorruption will prune them away,
So their branches wonÕt grow into trees.
33 May they be gathered like unripened grapes,
And fall like blossoms that donÕt become olives.

34 ÔFor the unrighteous, the judgment is death;
And for those taking bribes, their homes will be burned.
35 This is all that comes from the wombÉ
To all that are born, just comes grief.
Emptiness is all that they will receive,
And in their guts, they must live with their lies.Õ

Chapter 16

1 Then Job spoke, saying:

2 ÔThings like this, IÕve heard all before;
And as those who should offer comfort,
You surely have done a poor job.

3 ÔWhere is the order to your windy words,
And why do you bother to answer?

4 ÔNow, IÕll speak the same as you have been doing,
As though my life had been traded for yours.
Then, with my words, IÕll attack you,
And at you, IÕll now shake my head.

5 ÔO may my mouth be given the strengthÉ
May the movement of my lips serve me well.
6 For, if I speak, my sores will not ache;
And if I would stay silent, could they hurt me less?

7 ÔNow, after He has worn me out,
YouÕve latched onto this festering fool.
8 As IÕm sitting here, IÕve proven what IÕve said,
And IÕve thrown back your lies in your faces.

9 ÔIÕve been debased by the One with whom I must deal,
And against me, HeÕs grinding His teeth.
The arrows of marauders have struck me,
10 And sharp darts from His eyes have been shot in my kneesÉ
TheyÕve all arrived to attack me!

11 ÔHeÕs handed me over to the unrighteous,
And delivered me to the ungodly.
12 HeÕs removed my chance to ever make peace,
And as an example, He plucked the hair from my head.

13 ÔWith their lances, they now have me surrounded,
And theyÕve stabbed them into my kidneysÉ
TheyÕve done nothing at all that would spare me,
And theyÕve poured my bile on the ground.

14 ÔTheyÕve knocked me down time and againÉ
They have attacked me and won!
15 Then, to my skin, they sewed sackcloth,
And my strength, theyÕve driven into the ground.

16 ÔMy belly now burns from my crying,
And my eyelids are darkened with shadows.
17 Yet, I am guilty of nothing at all,
And my hands are clean from the things that IÕve vowed.

18 ÔO ground, donÕt cover the blood of my flesh,
And donÕt allow room for my cries.

19 ÔLook; the heavens have served as my witness,
And the heights above testify for me.
20 May the things that I beg reach up to Jehovah,
And may the tears from my eyes drip before Him.

21 ÔO that man might plead before God
As he would on behalf of a neighbor.
22 Yet, the days of my life have been counted and reached,
And from where IÕm going, there is no return.Õ

Chapter 17

1 ÔIÕve been destroyed and IÕm borne on the windÉ
IÕve begged to be buried and had no success.
2 So I wearily ask, Just what have I doneÉ
Have I stolen from strangers?
3 For, who has shackled my hands?

4 ÔFrom these menÕs hearts, YouÕve hidden all wisdom,
And You will never exalt them.
5 YouÕll announce their badness to all,
And make the eyes of their sons melt away.

6 ÔBut, among the nations, YouÕve made me a joke;
And thatÕs why theyÕre laughing at me.
7 Yet, my eyes are now callused to their rage,
Since IÕve been attacked by them all.
8 But the righteous have wondered and asked:
Then, why canÕt the just beat the lawless?

9 ÔO may the faithful maintain their [right] course,
And the hands of the clean receive courage.
10 Yes, may it all be established;
For among you here, IÕve found little truth.

11 ÔIn groaning, my days are now spent,
And the hopes of my heart have been ripped away.
12 Night for me is now day,
As the face of darkness draws closer.

13 ÔThough I am still here, the grave is my home,
And IÕll make my bed where itÕs dim.
14 For now, my father is death,
And decay is my mother and sisters.

15 ÔO what hope do I have,
And where will I ever find goodness?
16 Along with me, it has gone to its grave,
And weÕll all be buried together.Õ

Chapter 18

1 Then Baldad the Shuhite spoke, saying:

2 ÔWhen are you going to end it?
Stop for a while and let us speak too!
3 Why must we stay silent before you
Like beasts that walk on four feet?

4 ÔAnger has gotten the better of youÉ
So what, if you have to die!
Will all life under heaven then come to an endÉ
Will mountains be wiped from their bases?

5 ÔThe light of the godless will soon be put out,
And his flame will be there no longer.
6 The light in his home will be darkness,
And his lamp will thereafter be gone.

7 ÔThe least of men search for the things they once owned,
And they trip on their own good advice.
8 So, may his feet fall into a snare,
And in a net, may they get entangled.

9 ÔYes, let him fall into a trap,
And may the snare hold him tighter.
10 For the trip line is hidden under the groundÉ
Yes, that which will grab and destroy him
Is already there in the road.

11 ÔMay grief surround and destroy him,
12 And may hunger encircle his feet.
For him, a downfall has been prepared,
13 And the soles of his feet will be eaten away.

ÔMay death now consume his beautiful things,
14 And may the place of his healing be taken awayÉ
For these things have happened by royal decree
15 That will camp in his tent throughout the night.

16 ÔMay his beautiful things be covered with sulfur;
16 May his roots dry out underneath him.
May what he has reaped fall upon him,
17 And the memory of his face be wiped from the land.

18 ÔMay he be pushed from the light into darknessÉ
19 May even his family forget his name.
May his house remain under the sky;
20 But, may it be lived in by others.

ÔFor, though he once lived in wonder,
In the end, he just sits here and moans.
21 This is the home of someone unrighteousÉ
ItÕs the place where Jehovah is no longer known.Õ

Chapter 19

1 Then Job spoke again and said:

2 ÔHow long are you going to weary my soul,
And demolish me with your words?
All you know is the things God has done,
3 And speak ill of me with no shameÉ
You just keep on pressing against me.

4 ÔItÕs a fact that IÕve been misled,
And delusions are lodging within me.
For IÕm speaking words that should never be saidÉ
That mislead, and at the wrong time.

5 ÔNow you use me to look more important,
And you attack me in scorn.
6 But, know that the Lord is the One whoÕs disturbedÉ
HeÕs the One who built this fortress against me.
7 So look; I now laugh at your scorn!

ÔTherefore, I will stop all this banter;
For if I shout, it wonÕt bring me justice.
8 IÕm stuck in a circle through which I canÕt pass,
And darkness now covers my face.
9 He has taken away all my glory,
And removed the garland that I wore on my head.

10 ÔHe has pulled me apart and scattered [my bones];
I was marked and cut down like a tree.
11 In His rage, HeÕs treated me badly,
As though IÕd been His opposer.
12 His marauders have gathered and attacked me,
And in an ambush, they have me surrounded.

13 ÔNow, all my brothers have left me,
Preferring strangers to me;
And my friends no longer feel pity,
Pretending that they do not know me.

14 ÔThose dearest to me have forgotten my nameÉ
15 IÕm a foreigner to all of my neighbors
And a stranger to the women whoÕve served me.

16 ÔWhen I call to my servant, he doesnÕt obey,
Though, with my mouth, I keep begging.
17 I call out to even my wife,
And call sweetly to my concubinesÕ sons.
18 But they listen notÉ they just stand there.

19 ÔThose who once knew me, dislike me,
And those I once loved, now oppose me.
20 For, my skin and flesh are festered with sores,
And my teeth have come loose from my jaws.

21 ÔPlease show mercyÉ show mercy my friends;
For the hand of Jehovah has touched me!
22 Why treat me the same as Jehovah has doneÉ
ArenÕt you filled enough with my flesh?

23 ÔMay my words be written down in a scroll,
And be preserved though the ages.
24 With a pen of iron, inscribe them on lead,
And may they be set within stone.

25 ÔFor I know that the One who made me this weak
Has walked Ôround the earth through the ages;
26 And itÕs due to Him, that my skin has grown tiredÉ
IÕm worn out because of Jehovah.

27 ÔAll IÕm aware of and seen with my eyes,
Has happened to me, not to others.
28 But, what can I ask and what can I sayÉ
Is the root of my problem in Him?

29 ÔPlease turn around and send me whatÕs good,
Or just cover me over.
May Your rage be sent to the lawless insteadÉ
May they be the ones who reap this reward.Õ

Chapter 20

1 Then Zophar the Minaean spoke, saying:

2 ÔSo far, IÕve not disagreed
With any of the words that youÕve spoken,
Since we both view things in much the same way.
3 So IÕll heed your instructions that shame me,
And note the spirit of your reply.

4 ÔBut, havenÕt you known about all these thingsÉ
That since man was put on this earth,
5 The irreverent oneÕs glee brings his downfall,
And the joy of lawbreakers brings their destruction?

6 ÔFor, even if his gifts should ascend to the heavens,
And his offerings should reach to the clouds;
7 When he thinks that allÕs going well,
ThatÕs when heÕll meet with his end.

ÔThen, those who know him will ask where he is.
8 But like dreams, heÕll no longer be found.
9 From then on, all eyes will overlook him,
And no one will note where heÕs been.

10 ÔThough his sons once destroyed weaker [peoples],
And their hands lit fires that brought others griefÉ
11 Their bones that once held the vigor of youth
Will make their beds under the ground.

12 ÔFor, evil was sweet in their mouths,
So they hid it under their tongues.
13 It wasnÕt left or abandoned,
But they brought it up from their throats.

14 ÔSo, now they canÕt help themselves;
For, the poison of asps is inside of their guts.
15 And all the wealth that theyÕve unjustly gained
Will be collected and vomited out,
As angels drag them out of their homes.

16 ÔMay they have to endure the rage of wild beastsÉ
May the tongues of snakes now destroy them.
17 May they never again see cows being milked,
Or see pastures of butter and honey.

18 ÔThen their wealth will seem empty and vain,
And for such things, they will lose all their taste,
Since theyÕll become too tough to be chewed,
And theyÕll find that they canÕt take it with them.

19 ÔAnd though they once crushed the homes of the mighty,
And by force, taken their houses;
What they have will be no longer theirsÉ
20 For, what they owned, will no longer be safe,
And they wonÕt keep the things that they loved.

21 ÔFor them, thereÕll be no more food,
And good things will no longer blossom.
22 Though they once had [all they desired],
Problems arose and then it was cursed.

23 ÔWhen theyÕve have enough to fill up their bellies,
God sends someone else to succeed them.
So, may He now send His anger and rage,
And upon them, pour out floods of grief.

24 ÔFrom hands of iron, may they not be savedÉ
May they be shot through by brass bows.
25 May the arrows go clean through their bodies,
And may fear then walk through their homes.

26 ÔMay they have to wait in the darkness,
To be burned by the fire of the ages.
May strangers bring whatÕs bad to their homes;
27 May the heavens uncover all their lawless deeds;
And may the ground rise up against them.

28 ÔMay their homes be destroyed Ôtil the end,
And may the day of rage come upon them.
29 For, this is what the irreverent getÉ
ItÕs their reward from the One who keeps watch.Õ

Chapter 21

1 Then Job spoke, saying:

2 ÔListen to meÉ hear my words!
I donÕt need such comfort from you!
3 Now, please help me up, and IÕll speak;
For, I wonÕt accept such abuse!

4 ÔSince itÕs by men that IÕm being accused,
DonÕt I have a good reason for rage?

5 ÔWhy are you looking at me in such wonder,
As you put your hands under your jaws?
6 When I try to think of a reason,
I tend to be a bit quick to conclude,
Because of the grief in my flesh.

7 ÔWhy do the godless continue to live,
And why do they grow rich and old?
8 For, they plant whatever their souls might desire,
And their children are there in front of their eyes.

9 ÔTheir houses continue to prosper,
And they donÕt seem to know any fear;
For they fail to feel the whip of the Lord.

10 ÔNone of their cattle are stillborn,
And their pregnant are also protected;
So, none of them stumble or fall.

11 ÔTheir sheep remain through the ages,
And their children are playing before them.
12 They hold their flutes to their mouths,
And enjoy sacred hymns strummed on harps.

13 ÔFor as long as they live, they have good thingsÉ
Then they lie down to rest in the grave.
14 They say that God doesnÕt see,
Since theyÕve chosen to not to know of His ways.

15 ÔSo, why should we continue to serve HimÉ
For us, what good does it do,
16 Since He doesnÕt inspect godless hands;
So, theyÕre always filled with whatÕs good?

17 ÔBut, their lamps will soon be extinguishedÉ
Their reward is to feel the pain of His rage.
18 TheyÕll be like straw thatÕs blown in the wind,
And as clouds of dust in a storm.

19 ÔMay their possessions and sons all be lost,
And may they know that God has repaid them.
20 May they see their slaughter with their own eyes,
When God wonÕt there to save them.
21 Then, what joy will they have in their homes
When they see that their months have been numbered?

22 ÔDoesnÕt Jehovah send wisdom?
For who else gives people their insightÉ
IsnÕt it He the One who makes judges wise?

23 ÔYet, this one dies doing just as he wished,
Enjoying prosperity and pleasureÉ
24 Full, fat, and filled up with marrow.
25 While another ends life with whatÕs bitter,
Having never tasted whatÕs good.
26 Then they both go to sleep in the ground;
And with decay, theyÕre both covered.

27 ÔSo, I know what youÕll say as youÕre pressuring me:
28 Where are the houses where princes will live
And safe tents where the godless will dwell?

29 ÔAsk those passing by on the roads, and youÕll see
That the signs are all very clear;
30 For the day of destruction will come
When He will enlighten the wickedÉ
And in that day of His rage, theyÕll be gone.

31 ÔThen, to their faces, HeÕll accuse them,
And speak of the bad things theyÕve done.
Yes, He will come to repay them
32 As they lie awake upon heaps of trash,
And then, to their tombs, theyÕll be led.

33 ÔIn gravel, thereafter, they will be covered,
As other men come to see themÉ
Yes, theyÕll come in great numbers to stand there.

34 ÔSo, why waste your time to offer me comfort,
Since you have done nothing to bring any rest!Õ

Chapter 22

1 Then EliPhaz the Temanite spoke, saying:

2 ÔDoesnÕt wisdom and understanding come from the Lord?
3 So, why should He be concerned
If what youÕve been doing is pure?

ÔWhat good [do you think] it would do Him
If all of your ways had been clean?
4 Will He discipline you for the things that you say,
Or join with you in your judgments?

5 ÔHavenÕt you done many bad thingsÉ
Could anyone count all your sins?
6 HavenÕt you taken what your brothers need
Without any justification?
HavenÕt you claimed the clothes of the nakedÉ
7 Refused to give water to the thirstyÉ
And taken scraps of food from the famished?

8 ÔYouÕve shown favor to the faces of some,
While you removed the poor from their land.
9 YouÕve sent away widows with nothing at all,
And orphans, you have treated badly.
10 So, the snares that youÕve set have now captured you,
And this is why such a war has arrived.

11 ÔSo, light for you is now darkness,
And when you sleep, youÕre covered in dew.
12 For the Living One is paying attention,
And He humbles those who think themselves high.

13 ÔYouÕve asked, What does the Almighty know?
And, Can He judge what happens in darkness?
14 HeÕs concealed by the clouds, so He canÕt be seen
As He travels across the arc of the sky!

15 ÔYou canÕt guard the roads of the ages,
Which have been walked by the righteous
16 Who were taken away in untimely [deaths],
Like rivers overflowing their banks!
17 Yet, even they had once asked,
What will God do to usÉ
Yes, what will the Almighty bring?

18 ÔHeÕs the One who filled their homes with good things,
While the council of the the Godless, He has pushed away.
19 The righteous all laugh when they see this,
And the blameless sneer at such ones.
20 For, their supports will soon vanish,
And their clothes will be burned up in fire.

21 ÔSo you must be strong if you want to survive,
And then youÕll receive your reward
For all the good things that youÕve done.
22 Remove all the [bad] from your mouth,
And keep His words in your heart!

23 ÔTurn back and be humbled by God,
And stay away from wrongdoing!
24 Then youÕll lay away gold as though it were dust
From the rivers of OphirÉ
25 The Almighty will then watch over you,
And you will have plenty of silver.

26 ÔSo, confess [your sins] to Jehovah,
And look to the heavens in joy.
27 Make vows to Him and HeÕll listen to you,
Then HeÕll give you the strength to do as youÕve vowed
28 And restore you to a righteous condition,
So your ways can be bright once again.

29 ÔFor, those who humble themselves
Will admit that theyÕve been too proud;
And [God] will save those who are humble.
30 Yes, HeÕll rescue those free from guiltÉ
But first, you must keep your hands clean!Õ

Chapter 23

1 Then Job spoke, saying:

2 ÔI know for a fact that my change of state
Is something thatÕs out of my hands.
For, itÕs His hand that has been heavy on me,
And He is the source of my moaning.
3 So who knows if IÕll ever find Him again,
And bring these things to a conclusion.

4 ÔNow, on myself, IÕll pass judgment,
And with scolding words, I will fill my mouth.
5 Then IÕll learn the cure, for HeÕll show it to meÉ
IÕll understand, because HeÕll explain it!

6 ÔHeÕll come to me with great strength,
And I know He wonÕt do so unsurely.
7 HeÕll send me truth and correction,
And bring an end to my case.

8 ÔBut, if I should be the first one to go,
And if I should no longer be;
How could I know how it ends?

9 ÔWith His left hand, He actsÉ I canÕt stop Him;
And what He covers with His right, I canÕt see.
10 He already knows all my ways;
For HeÕs searched me through as though I were gold.

11 ÔMy feet have walked in His footstepsÉ
IÕve kept His ways and not swerved.
12 I have never rejected commands from His lips,
And IÕve held in esteem the words from His mouth.
13 But, if He has judged me as guilty,
Who can say that HeÕs wrong?

14 ÔSo IÕve always turned toward Him quickly,
And when IÕm corrected, I keep Him in mind.
15 For, grave are the things that come from His faceÉ
TheyÕre things that leave me in terror.

16 ÔYet, Jehovah has softened my heartÉ
The Almighty has moved me to action.
17 For, I never suspected that darkness would come
And that before my face, all would go dim.

Chapter 24

1 ÔWhy hasnÕt Jehovah noticed this time
2 When the godless are overrunning our bordersÉ
Those who seize both the shepherds and sheep?

3 ÔFrom the orphans, theyÕve taken their burros,
And the cows upon which the widows relied.
4 They keep the disabled from walking upright,
So the gentle of the land have run off and hide.

5 ÔThey act like burros that stray into fields
And find the bread of infants delicious.
6 They harvest in fields not their own,
And reap it before it is ripe.

ÔThe godless hire the disabled
And put them to work in their vineyardsÉ
But then, they donÕt pay them or feed them!
7 They leave them naked, without any clothes,
And they take all they need to survive.
8 So, in mountain mists, such poor ones must bathe,
And hide in the rocks for protection.

9 ÔThey then snatch away babiesÉ
They take them away from the breasts
In payment for debts that are owed.
10 They mistreat and rest on the naked,
And take scraps of food from the famished.

11 ÔIn alleys, they lie in wait to do harm,
And righteous ways, they donÕt know.
12 They throw people from their homes in the cities,
And bring moaning to the lives of their children.

13 ÔSo, why does the One who is watching
Fail to act on this earth,
While people like this just ignore Him,
Disregarding all that is just
And taking the easiest way?

14 ÔIn the cover of darkness, they murder,
And during the night, they break in and steal.

15 ÔThe adulterer waits for darkness and says:
TheyÕll not know that my eyes will be watching.
And as he keeps his face hidden,
He carves peepholes in homes in the night.

16 ÔThen, during the day, he locks himself in,
So he never comes to know light.
17 For at dawn, he would see the shadow of death,
And observe the bad things it bringsÉ
18 But when he looks in the water, he still sees a good face.

ÔMay his portion on the earth forever be cursed,
And may all that he plants wither and dryÉ
19 For he even grabs arms of the orphans!

20 ÔSo, [please] remember his sins!
Like fog, may he soon pass away,
And may he vanish like dew.

ÔPlease repay him for all that heÕs doneÉ
Like rotting wood, may he just waste away.
21 For, those with no sons, heÕs mistreated,
And he shows no mercy to those who need aid.

22 ÔThe disabled, heÕs knocked to the ground in his rage;
So, no manÕs life can ever feel secure.
23 Thus, may he get sick and never be healedÉ
And may his illness then lead to his death!

24 ÔSince many are harmed by his arrogant ways,
Like mallows, may he wither in heatÉ
Like an ear of grain that just falls on its own.

25 ÔIf such things arenÕt so, then say that IÕve lied,
And disregard all that IÕve said.Õ

Chapter 25

1 Then Baldad the Shuhite spoke and said:

2 ÔWhat kind of insight and fear does he haveÉ
This one who makes it sound so important?

3 ÔLetÕs not think that [God] will save us from robbers
Or that we will never be ambushed.
4 For, which man can say heÕs righteous to GodÉ
Can men born of women make themselves pure?

5 Ô[God] can order the moon not to shine,
And before Him, the stars are impure.
6 [So to Him], all mankind is rotten,
And the sons of men are like worms.Õ

Chapter 26

1 Then Job spoke, saying:

2 ÔWho are the ones that are closest to youÉ
Those whom youÕd turn to for aid?
ArenÕt they the ones who are mightyÉ
Those with great muscled arms?

3 ÔTo whom do you turn when you need adviceÉ
IsnÕt it to those who are known to be wise?
And whom do you chose to followÉ
IsnÕt it those who have power?

4 So, to whom are you speaking these words,
And whose breath is now coming from you?
5 Will giants start acting like midwives
And go under the water for neighbors?

6 ÔFor, the grave lies naked before Him,
And HeÕs wrapped in a robe of destruction.
7 He stretches the north wind on nothing,
And on nothing, He has hung the earth.

8 ÔHe takes water and binds it in clouds;
Yet, the bottoms of the clouds never rip.
9 And He hides the face of [the moon]
By spreading the clouds as its cover.

10 ÔBy His order, the seaÕs face is round,
From where the light reaches to darkness.
11 The columns of the skies, HeÕs spread all around,
And they shake when they hear of His rage.

12 ÔBy His might, He settled the seas in their beds,
And in wisdom, He spread it for whales.
13 Of Him, the bolts in the skies stand in awe,
And by His order, the dragon defector is killed.

14 Ô{Look!} These are just a small part of His ways;
For when He breathes a word, we will listen!
So, who knows when He will bring changeÉ
When HeÕll bring the strength of His thunder?Õ

Chapter 27

1 Then Job continued in his own defense.

2 ÔAs God lives; HeÕs the One who has judged meÉ
ItÕs the Almighty whoÕs made my life bitter.
3 But, as long as my spirit is in me
And the Divine OneÕs Breath remains in my nose;
4 My lips wonÕt speak lawless things,
And my life wonÕt contemplate wrong;
5 For, such things bring the sentence of death!

ÔIÕm not saying that IÕm free from blameÉ
6 But, IÕll cling to whatÕs right and never let go,
For, I know when IÕm doing whatÕs wrong.

7 ÔMay my enemies disappear with the godless
And my opposers be destroyed with lawbreakers.

8 ÔWhat kind of hope have the godless?
Do they think theyÕll be saved by JehovahÉ
9 That God will hear what they pray,
Or HeÕll come when they are in need?
10 Can they stand before Him securely
As those who can call and be heard?

11 ÔIÕll tell you of the things [God] holds in His handsÉ
I wonÕt lie about the Almighty.
12 {Look!} For, He piles whatÕs foolish on the foolishÉ
13 This is what the impious will get from the Lord,
And itÕs what their most mighty receive.

14 ÔShould the Almighty One come to their aid,
And should the sons [of the wicked] grow many? No!
Their purpose is just to be slaughtered,
And theyÕll beg to be allowed to grow into men.
15 But, those who remain will die of the plague,
And on their widows, none will show mercy.

16 ÔIf they gather silver as though it were dirt,
And set aside gold as though mortar;
17 The righteous will [soon] own these things,
And those who are true will control it.

18 ÔThen his house will belong to the moths
And to the cobwebs of spiders.
19 The rich man will sleep and not rise againÉ
HeÕll be dead, though his eyes are wide open.

20 ÔGrief will pour on him like water,
And dark will overtake him during the night.
21 A burning wind will snatch him away,
And like chaff, heÕll be blown from his place.

22 ÔHeÕll be sent where no one can save himÉ
By [GodÕs] hands, heÕll be taken to exile.
23 Then, all men will be clapping their hands,
And theyÕll whistle at him from wherever they are.Õ

Chapter 28

1 ÔThere is a place where silver is mined,
And a place where gold is refined.
2 Men take iron out of the ground,
And copper is quarried like stones.
3 This is how HeÕs established an order for darkness,
And precisely set all its limits.

ÔLike the darkness [thatÕs inside a mine]É
So is the shadow of death.
4 And as they [pan gold] in fast-running streams,
The ways of the just are discoveredÉ
By mortal men, they are sifted.
5 Even our bread comes out of the ground
As though roasted in fires down below.

6 ÔThere are places where sapphires are found,
And places where gold may be mined.
7 There are also roads that birds do not knowÉ
By the eyes of eagles, theyÕre overlooked.
8 They havenÕt been walked by sons of the rich,
Nor have lions ever been there.

9 ÔFor, He sticks out His hand and chisels a place,
And the roots of mountains, He overturns.
10 The banks of rivers, He has destroyedÉ
And my eyes have beheld such great things.

11 ÔThe depths of rivers, He has laid bare,
And in the [day]light, HeÕs shown all their might.
12 But, where can wisdom be found,
And what is the source of great knowledge?

13 ÔFor, no man really knows of its ways,
Since such ways canÕt be found among men.
14 Says the abyss, ItÕs not found in me,
And says the sea, Nor in me!
15 So, no one can make an investment in it,
And with silver, it cannot be bought.

16 ÔIt canÕt be compared to all OphirÕs gold,
Nor to precious onyx or sapphires.
17 With [diamonds] and gold, it canÕt be compared,
And it canÕt be bought with gold coins.

18 ÔI wonÕt compare it to crystals or coral,
For wisdom is higher than all we could want.
19 To topaz from Etheopia, it canÕt be compared,
Nor can it equaled by finest gold.

20 ÔSo, where can wisdom be found,
And from where comes great understanding?
21 It escapes the notice of every man,
And itÕs hidden from the birds in the skies.

22 ÔThus, say the days of destruction and death:
We have heard of its fame,
23 For, God speaks well its ways,
And He alone knows where it is found.

24 ÔHe looks down from the heavens above,
And from there, He passes inspectionÉ
For He sees all that happens throughout the earth.

25 ÔHe also weighs the things that He makesÉ
HeÕs measured the wind and the waterÉ
26 When He made them, He saw them and counted it all,
Then He made a way for the thunder.

27 ÔHe saw [what He made] and described itÉ
The One who prepared it has tracked all its ways,
28 And this is what HeÕs concluded:
{Look!} Wisdom is being like God,
And higher knowledge is staying away from whatÕs bad.Õ

Chapter 29

1 Then Job continued, saying this:

2 ÔO that HeÕd let me return,
Back to that month once againÉ
To those days when He watched over me,
And His lamp was lit over my head,
3 By His light, I traveled through darkness,
4 As I walked down the streets in importance,
And when God watched over my houseÉ
5 When I was exceedingly plump,
And I had all my children around meÉ
6 When all that I did poured like butter thatÕs warm,
And mountainous things poured like milkÉ
7 When, in the morning, I entered the city,
And theyÕd set a chair for me in the square.

8 ÔBefore me, the young ran and hid,
And the elders arose in respect.
9 Stout men would all stop their speaking,
And place their fingers over their mouths.

10 ÔThen, all who listened said I was blest,
And their tongues would stick in their throats.
11 With their ears, they listened and praised me,
And when they saw me, they all stepped aside.
12 For I rescued the poor from the hands of the mighty,
And to helpless orphans, I supplied aid.

13 ÔSo, you who are dying; please praise me againÉ
May the mouths of the widows praise me once more!
14 For, I once dressed up to give justice
In a robe doubled over;
15 Then I served as eyes for the blind,
As well as feet for the lameÉ
16 And to the disabled, I became like a father.

ÔWhen I didnÕt know the right thing to do,
It worked out well anyhow.
17 I broke the molars of the unrighteous,
And I snatched their prey from their teeth.

18 ÔI said: IÕll grow old and round like the trunk of a palm,
And I will live for many more years;
19 For my roots have reached deep to the water,
And on my harvest, the dew always settles.

20 ÔBack then, my glory meant little to me;
For, I had entrusted my bow to His hands.
21 Then, men would pay close attention to me,
And stay silent as I offered council.

22 ÔWhen I was speaking, they never spoke;
And they were joyful whenever I talkedÉ
23 As the ground enjoys rain when itÕs thirsty,
ThatÕs how they thought of my words.

24 ÔFor at them, I never laughedÉ
Which is why they trusted my council.
For the light of my face was before them,
25 And I showed them the right ways to go.
So, I was always their prince.
And though I camped like a king Ômidst his army,
I remembered to comfort the mourning.Õ

Chapter 30

1 ÔNow, even their least are laughing at me;
And those whose fathers IÕve viewed with contempt
Now dare to give me correctionÉ
Those whom I once thought unworthy
To serve as dogs to watch over my flocks.

2 ÔSo, what value is the strength of their hands before me,
Since their vigor has already perished?
3 TheyÕre in need and hungry, with nothingÉ
TheyÕre miserable, like those who flee from a war
To hide in a place with no water!

4 ÔThey stand on the shore and pick seaweed;
For, plants from the sea are their grain.
They have no honor, and nothing to give;
TheyÕre looked on as worthless and lacking all good.

ÔIn hunger, theyÕve gnawed upon tree rootsÉ
5 These whoÕve risen against me like thievesÉ
6 Those who once burrowed in rocks.

7 ÔBut now, they look for places to yell
(Such ones with homes made of sticks).
8 TheyÕre the sons of dishonored fools,
Whose fame will be wiped from the land.

9 ÔYet now, theyÕre strumming their harps about meÉ
IÕm the topic of all their discussions.
10 They dislike me and stay far away,
And into my face, they now spit.

11 ÔFor [GodÕs] opened His quiver and shot me,
Then He led me away from His presence.

12 ÔSo, the hands of their sons have risen against meÉ
They stick out their legs and kick me!
13 TheyÕve wiped my ways from their wicked paths,
And theyÕve taken the clothes that I wore.

ÔFor, HeÕs run me through with His spear,
14 And HeÕs judged me the way that He wished.
Thus, with anguish, IÕm now befouled,
15 And all of my grief has returned.
My hope has passed by like the wind,
And my salvation has faded like clouds.

16 ÔSo, may my life soon be poured out,
Since IÕve had enough days of this grief.
17 All night long, my bones are burning within me,
And my nerves are broken and shattered.
18 With great power, my robe has been wrinkledÉ
And within its folds, IÕve been wrapped.

19 ÔSo, now you treat me like dirt,
And think that ashes are all I deserve.
20 Though IÕve cried out to you, you donÕt listenÉ
You just stand and think of my plight.

21 ÔTogether, youÕve joined to attack me,
And with mighty hands, you have whipped me.
22 YouÕve handed me over to grief
And removed any hope of salvation.

23 ÔI know that death will soon wipe me away,
For the ground is the home of all mortals.
24 So, should I consider killing myself,
Or ask someone else to do it?

25 ÔThough IÕve cried over all the disabled,
And moaned when I saw people in need,
26 IÕm still waiting for good things to come,
And I hope for good days, not bad.

27 ÔMy belly is noisy and rumbles,
As more days of suffering confront me.
28 IÕm moaning because of discomfort,
And among the gathering, I weep.

29 ÔTo trapped demons, IÕm now a brother,
And to the ostrich, I am a companion.
30 My skin has become very dark,
As my bones continue to swelter in heat.

31 ÔSo in mourning, I now strum my harp,
And my hymns are all about weeping for me.

Chapter 31

1 ÔIÕve made a vow that my eyes
Will not pay attention to virgins.
2 For, what I have, came from God up aboveÉ
ItÕs the inheritance of what the Almighty saw fit.

3 ÔTo the godless comes woe and destruction,
And those who break laws are alone.
4 So, why wonÕt He look at my ways
And count all the footsteps IÕve taken?
5 For, I havenÕt traveled with those who play jokes,
And my feet havenÕt rushed to do evil.
6 So, I can now step on a scale
And prove myself just in the balance.

ÔFor, Jehovah knows that I havenÕt done wrong
7 And my feet havenÕt turned from His way
(Though my eyes often follow my heart),
And my hands have never touched bribes.
8 Yet, what I have planted, others now eatÉ
I no longer have roots in the ground.

9 ÔIf my heart had followed another manÕs wife,
And if I had stood in wait at her door;
10 May my wife then please other men,
And my babies be humbled thereafter.
11 For, the One who dirties another manÕs wife
Should receive [GodÕs] unrestrained anger.
12 May a fire burn in all of his parts,
And may he be destroyed to his roots.

13 ÔIf IÕve disregarded what I owe my servants,
And if my maids ever had to beg before me;
14 What could I say to my God
When I am beaten by HimÉ
When He visits, how could I reply?
15 For, werenÕt they also born from a wombÉ
DidnÕt they come from the belly?

16 ÔBut the disabled and needy never missed out,
And the eyes of the widows werenÕt wasted.
17 For, when I ate my food all alone,
I always set some aside for the orphans.
18 Like a father, I fed them the food from my mouth,
And I led them as though from my own motherÕs womb.

19 ÔIf I hadnÕt provided for those without clothes,
20 Or to the disabled, failed to give aid,
Unless they gave me a blessing;
Or if IÕd refused to take my lambÕs wool
And used it to warm up their shoulders;
21 If I failed to lift a hand to aid orphans,
Or helped those who trusted in me to give aid;
22 May my shoulders be pulled from my collars
And my arms be broken at the elbows.

23 ÔIt was the fear of Jehovah that caused me to act;
For, without His care, I couldnÕt endure.
24 If I had trusted in gold for my strength,
Or in gems, had put all my trust;
25 If I [did these things] to make myself rich,
Or to get my hands on great treasure;
26 May my eyes see the sun growing dim,
And the moon, as itÕs starting to darken.

27 ÔSo, if my heart has deceived me,
And if IÕve secretly [kissed] my own hand;
28 May this be considered the worst of my crimes,
For IÕve lied to the Most High, Jehovah.

29 ÔIf I rejoiced at my enemyÕs fall,
And if IÕd said in my heart, Well done;
30 Then, let my ears hear the curses IÕm due,
And may everyone speak of my badness.

31 ÔIÕve never said to my female attendants,
Please give me some of your flesh!
32 Nor have I forgotten the need to be kind,
And to lodge strangers, my door was kept open.

33 ÔUnintentional sins, IÕve not hidden,
And IÕve never been swayed by the masses.
34 The disabled, IÕve never turned from my door,
Or with empty stomachs, sent them away.

35 ÔSo, please may I find a person to listenÉ
Someone in awe of the hand of the Lord!
For IÕve never sent anyone bills,
36 Nor read what they owed me while wearing a crown.
37 I just tore up [the debts] and returned them,
Without getting whatever they owed.

38 ÔHave I given the ground a reason to moanÉ
Have I given her furrows reasons to weep?
39 If I have taken some of her strength,
40 And ate it alone without paying;
Or, if IÕve made the landÕs owner mad,
And he has been bothered by this;
41 May my wheat just become stinging nettles,
And may my barley be turned into weeds.Õ

Well with that, Job stopped speaking.

Chapter 32

1 Then, for a while, all got quiet, and JobÕs three friends stopped contradicting him, for they started thinking that he was truly a righteous man. 2 ThatÕs when EliHu (the son of BarachiEl the Buzite, a descendant of Ram from Ausis) became very angry with Job for declaring himself righteous before God. 3 And he was also indignant with JobÕs three friends, because they couldnÕt give Job a reply and they found him to be a righteous man.

4 EliHu had patiently waited to give Job an answer, because the others were much older than him. 5 But when he saw that no more replies were coming from the mouths of these men, he became angry and went into a rage. 6 So, EliHu (the son of BarachiEl the Buzite) then said:
ÔBecause I am younger in years,
And you are much older than me;
IÕve chosen not to speak until now,
For I feared to say the things I must say.

7 I said:
This isnÕt the time to speak out;
For, with their years, they have gained much more wisdom.
8 Yet, though thereÕs a spirit in humans,
The AlmightyÕs Breath does the teaching.
9 And since the wise donÕt live long enough,
The old donÕt always know what is right.

10 ÔNow, I beg you all to listen to me,
And IÕll tell you the things that I know.
11 Give an ear to what I will say,
And IÕll speak to you free of charge.

12 ÔExamine my words and youÕll see
That youÕve not given Job the correction.
13 DonÕt say that youÕve found wisdom from God,
14 For you got your commission from men!Õ

15 Well at that, they were all afraid and they refused to say anything more, because the words they were hearing had the sound of age. 16 Also, he had waited and refused to speak until they stood there with no answer.

17 So EliHu said:
ÔNow, I am ready to speak,
And I have many things that I wish to say.

18 ÔI cannot hold back the wind in my chest,
19 For within me, it bubbles like very young wineÉ
ItÕs been tied up in me like a bellows,
And awaiting the time to break out.
20 So now, I will speak and give myself rest,
For the time has arrived to open my lips.

21 ÔIÕm not embarrassed to speak before men,
Nor will I feel shame before humans.
22 For, if I should show special favor to men,
By moths, may I then be devoured.

Chapter 33

1 ÔListen, O Job, to my wordsÉ
Give ear to what I am saying!
2 For, {Look!} I will now open my mouth
And use my tongue to instruct.
3 These words are pure and come from my heart,
And what comes from my lips is all clean.

4 ÔBy the Breath of [God], I was made;
And by the AlmightyÕs Spirit, I have been taught.
5 So, if you are able to answer,
Then, reply to me concerning these things!
Yes, waitÉ just stand here [and face] me,
And I will now stand up to you!

6 ÔYou and I were both make of clayÉ
From the same dirt, we were formed;
7 So, donÕt twist against me in fear.

8 ÔNow, the things that I heard you say,
And the claims that I heard you make, are:
9 I am pure and I have not sinnedÉ
IÕm blameless and IÕve broken no laws.
10 Yet, though He doesnÕt have a complaint,
God thinks me to be His opponent.
11 For HeÕs put my feet into stocks made of wood,
Though HeÕs watched all the things that IÕve done.

ÔBut, how can you claim to be righteous
And say that HeÕs paid no attention to you?
12 For, He has lived through the ages,
And HeÕs far above all us mortals.
13 Yet, you ask, Why hasnÕt He seen my just waysÉ
Why hasnÕt He heard what IÕve said?

14 ÔJehovah may only speak once,
Or He may reply even twice.
15 He may send a dream or a vision at night,
Bringing us fear as we lie in our beds.

16 ÔHe uncovers the things that men think,
And He sees the things that we fearÉ
Then He uses such things just to scare usÉ
17 To turn us away from our sins
And to rescue our bodies from downfall.
18 From death, He is saving our lives,
And protecting us from many battles.

19 ÔWhen we are sick in our beds,
And when our bones cannot move;
This discipline is coming from Him.
20 So, when weÕre offered grain, we wonÕt take it,
Though food is the thing that we really need.

21 ÔOur flesh will just lie there and fester
Until our bones can be seen
22 And death has finally approachedÉ
Then it sends our lives down to the grave.

23 ÔBut, though thousands of angels may come to bring death,
No way will one pierce you through,
If in your heart, youÕd just make a change,
And turn to Jehovah again.

ÔSo, itÕs about ourselves that we should complainÉ
We should speak of the laws that weÕve broken;
24 For then, our God would support usÉ
Not allow us to fall into death.

ÔThen, like someone who plasters a wall,
HeÕd make our bodies new once again,
Refilling our bones with their marrow,
25 And renewing our flesh like a child,
To restore us to what weÕd once been.

26 ÔIf you make a vow to Jehovah,
And your vow is thereafter accepted,
YouÕll walk away with a face that is clean
And a mouth thatÕs speaking His praisesÉ
For, He always deals justly with men.

27 ÔSo, we each should blame ourselves and then say,
What are the things that IÕve done?
What have I done to be disciplined,
And what are the sins IÕve committed?
28 O save my soul from corruption,
So I can see light once again!

29 Ô{Look!} This is how the Almighty deals with each one,
And theyÕre the three things that He does.
30 For, from death, He has rescued my soul,
So my life can go on to praise Him in light.

31 ÔO Job;
Lend me an ear and hear what I sayÉ
Be quiet, for I am now speaking!
32 But, if there are words you can use to reply,
Then speak, for you should be given your due!
33 Yet, if you donÕt, then just hear me outÉ
Be quiet and IÕll tell you whatÕs wise!Õ

Chapter 34

1 Then EliHu continued:

2 ÔAnd hear me now, O you wise menÉ
Give ear, O you who have knowledge!
3 For the ear judges words as the mouth tastes itÕs foodÉ
4 And thatÕs how we should be judging ourselves,
Since we already know if we have been good!

5 ÔNow, Job has said, Although I am righteous,
Jehovah has ended my case,
6 And when He judged me, He lied.
So, at His injustice, I now shake my spear!

7 ÔThough Job is a man who drinks [wine],
And sneers as though it were water,
8 He says heÕs not sinful or godless,
And had nothing to do with the lawless,
Or gone along with those who show no respect.

9 ÔNow, perhaps you think it all wrong
For someone to watch over men.
10 Yet, we all are watched by Jehovah,
And He searches through all of our hearts.

ÔListen, yes hear me, my God;
For, no way do I wish to show direspectÉ
May the Almighty not think me unjust!

11 ÔHe pays men back for all they deserve,
And in his own paths, each man finds Him.

12 ÔCan you imagine Jehovah being guilty of wrong,
Or the Almighty One of being unjust?
Is not the earth His creationÉ
13 DidnÕt He make all thatÕs under the skies?

14 ÔSo, if He would hold back His power,
Or if HeÕd remove all His Breath;
15 Life on earth would come to an end,
And mortals would return to where they were formed.

16 ÔBut, what if He didnÕt correct us?
ShouldnÕt we hear the sounds of His words?
17 {Look!} HeÕs the One who hates all lawbreaking,
And through the ages, HeÕs proven to be righteous;
So, He will destroy all the wicked!

18 ÔItÕs impertinent to say to a king,
You have broken the law!
Or to say to a prince,
You have acted ungodly!

19 ÔSo, who may show disrespect
To such a person of honor?
For, He has never appointed the mighty
Because He thought well of their faces.

20 ÔNothing good can come when we cry out to men;
For theyÕre all unrighteous and they wonÕt help the poor.
21 But, He observes all the things that they do,
And their deeds donÕt escape His attention.

22 ÔThere is no place where the lawless can hide;
23 For, He tolerates men no more than He must.
24 So all men are inspected by God,
And He notices tall who are doing whatÕs wrong.

ÔHe observes the things that are hidden,
As well as things to be honoredÉ
Extraordinary things unnumbered.
25 He knows all the [bad] things we do,
And He humbles us during the night.

26 ÔHe wipes away the ungodly
Because He can see the things that theyÕve doneÉ
27 When they have turned from GodÕs Laws,
And given no thought to His rules.

28 ÔThe cries of the needy reach up to Him,
And He hears the calls of the poor.
29 So, since HeÕs the One who is bringing them rest,
Who would dare to condemn Him?

ÔIf He hides His face, who will see Him,
Whether a nation or just a man?
30 But, He can appoint a hypocrite king
If He finds the people unruly.

31 ÔHas anyone heard a mighty one say,
IÕm so blest, so I really donÕt need Him?
32 Or, Unless He can prove that He knows of my sins,
There is nothing that He can require?

33 ÔWill He pay for the things that youÕve thrown away?
Give me an answerÉ yes, tell me!

34 ÔUnderstanding hearts will reply to such things,
And a wise man will hear what IÕve said.
35 But, Job hasnÕt thought about this,
Since his words donÕt reflect higher knowledge.

36 ÔSo learn, O JobÉ donÕt be a foolÉ
37 DonÕt add any more to your sins!
For weÕre all considered law breakers
When we stand and speak [before God].Õ

Chapter 35

1 Then EliHu continued:

2 ÔWhy does justice matter to youÉ
Who are you to call yourself righteous,
And say you deserve no vengeance from God?

3 ÔYouÕve asked what sins youÕve committed.
And about this, IÕll give you an answer,
Then IÕll tell it to these, your three friends.

4 ÔLook up to the sky and see
How high the clouds are above you!
5 So, if you have sinned, what will you do?
6 Yes, what can you do if youÕve broken [GodÕs] laws?

7 ÔAnd if you are truly so righteous,
What things can you offer to Him,
And what will He take from your hands?
8 Will He accept irreverence from men,
Or unrighteousness from all their children?

9 ÔMany call out when they have been robbedÉ
But, they yell at the strong one who robbed them!
10 They donÕt ask, Where is [God] who made meÉ
The One whoÕs in charge of night watches,
11 And made me different from the beasts of the earth,
As well as from the birds in the sky?

12 ÔOh, they can cry out, but no one will listen;
For, thereÕs insolence in those who are wicked.
13 Yet, thereÕs nothing that goes unnoticed by God,
Because He is the Almighty.

14 ÔHe observes all those who break laws,
And you can ask Him to save youÉ
That is, if youÕre praising Him now!

15 ÔHe assigns no numbers to His rage,
And He sets no limits on sins.
16 Yet, Job has foolishly opened his mouth,
And in ignorance, heÕs weighed out his words.Õ

Chapter 36

1 EliHu continued, saying:

2 ÔBe patient for a while and IÕll teach you;
Because, I still have [much] more to say.

3 ÔI was taught in a faraway land,
And IÕve learned to do as I say.
4 So, IÕll speak of whatÕs true and righteous,
And youÕll find that IÕm not telling lies.

5 ÔI know that Jehovah wonÕt harm a good manÉ
One whoÕs mighty and has strength of heart.
6 But, to the irreverent, He wonÕt return life.

ÔHe will give justice to those who are poor,
7 And He doesnÕt turn His eyes from the righteous.
For, theyÕll sit as kings upon thronesÉ
TheyÕll be raised and treated like winners!

8 ÔThe crook who is led off in shackles,
In povertyÕs cords, will be wrapped.
9 Then, HeÕll speak of all the bad things heÕs done,
And of his many transgressions.

10 ÔBut, [God] listens to what the righteous ones say,
And He warns them to turn from all badness.
11 So, if they should listen and serve [Him],
They will live a very long time
And spend many years having good things.
Then, when they come to the end of their days,
Many beautiful things, they will own.

12 ÔBut the godless will not be preserved;
For, they fail to look to Jehovah.
And though theyÕve been warned time and again,
They keep on refusing to listen.

13 ÔThough the hypocriteÕs heart will know rage,
He wonÕt call out, for [God] has him bound.
14 So his life will end while he is still young,
Since angels will come here to pierce himÉ
15 If heÕs mistreated the weak and disabled.
Yet, they will be fair to the humble.

16 ÔWhen an enemy uses his mouth to deceive,
[God] opens a pit underneath him,
Where his table of good things is thrown.

17 ÔTo the righteous, HeÕll always bring justice,
18 While on the impious, He sends His rage.
For if, in godless ways, theyÕve taken bribes;
In justice, theyÕll receive what they deserve.

19 ÔSo donÕt be blind to the cries of disabled,
Or send away those who seeking aid in the night.
20 Rather, you should go out and help them,
So that others can see your example.
21 Be careful to never mistreat them,
Or take advantage of their lowly condition.

22 Ô{Look!} Though the strong use their strength to overpowerÉ
Who are these that are feeling so mighty?
23 Who examines the things that they do,
And tells them when they have done wrong?

24 ÔRemember that itÕs the great things we do
That give us control over men.
25 And each man knows deep within his own heart
How many mortals he has stabbed through.

26 Ô{Look!} The Almighty is greatÉ
Yet, we do not really know Him;
For, there is no end to His years.
27 He can count the number of rain drops
Before theyÕre even formed in the clouds.
28 Then they fall and flow past the things that grow oldÉ
Past the shadows of the uncounted dead.

ÔHeÕs established a time for the animalÕs lives,
And this order of things, they comprehend.
Yet, you havenÕt bothered to think about this,
And your heart doesnÕt know your own body.
29 But remember, as you watch the clouds passing byÉ
This will also happen to the tent that is you.

30 Ô{Look!} He has stretched the light out above us,
And the roots of the seas, HeÕs covered.
31 Then, between them, He judges the people,
And He nourishes those whoÕve shown strength.

32 ÔHe can cover the light with His hands,
And tell the clouds what to do.
33 Yet, we can trust that HeÕll speak to His friends,
And provide them a haven from evil.

Chapter 37

1 ÔSo, this is what has bothered my heartÉ
TheyÕre the things that make my heart drop.
2 Pay attention to my report on GodÕs rage;
For, what IÕve said has come from His mouth!

3 ÔHeÕs the sovereign of all under the heavens,
And His light shines to the wings of the earth.

4 ÔThough voices may yell out against Him;
He thunders at the sound of their insults.
For, He must bargain with no oneÉ
With none of those who may hear His voice.

5 ÔWhen the Almighty speaks, itÕs like thunder,
Which tells of the great things HeÕs done.
6 He orders the snow in the winter,
And instructs it to cover the groundÉ
And the rain also follows His orders

7 ÔHeÕs the One who shackles menÕs hands,
To make them aware of their weakness.

8 ÔWild beasts live within His protection;
So, in their lairs, they are tranquil,
9 While in your bedrooms comes grief,
And from far away, comes a chill.

10 ÔFrom the AlmightyÕs Breath comes the ice,
And water is steered where He chooses.
11 If He covers a cloud, it passes away,
Followed by light in its order.

12 ÔCyclones are turned aside by His rules
(The ways by which they must work),
13 Sparing the land on which He shows mercyÉ
HeÕs the One who orders such things for the land.

14 ÔSo, pay attention, O Job!
You should stand in awe of GodÕs power!
15 For we know that it all comes from God,
Who created light from the darkness.

16 ÔHe know the difference between every cloud,
As well as the ways that the wicked will fall.

17 ÔSo, though your clothes are all hot and sticky;
From the south, blows peace for this land.

18 ÔCan you join Him as He spreads out the skies,
And turns them into bronze mirrors?

19 ÔSo now, teach me what I should tell Him,
And letÕs bring an end to this banter!
20 Is there a scribe with a scroll next to me,
To whom must I now be pleasing?

21 ÔFor the light is now shining so brightly,
To illuminate all that is old.
ItÕs as though He has parted the clouds,
22 And made them glow like gold in the north.
So, their honor and glory reflect the Almighty;
23 For, in no one else may such strength be found.

ÔSince HeÕs the One who brings honest judgments;
DonÕt you think that He has listened to you?
24 So, we all have good reasons to fear HimÉ
Even those who think their hearts wise.

Chapter 38

1 Then, after EliHu finished his speech, Jehovah spoke to Job from the clouds during a storm, saying:

2 ÔWho is it thatÕs hiding counsel from Me,
And thinks he can cover the things in his heart?
3 Now, wrap up your loins and act like a man,
For IÕll ask the questions and you answer Me!

4 ÔWhere were you when I laid the foundations of earth?
Tell me, if you know, and if you understand!
5 Who planned and laid out its measuresÉ do you know?
And who laid the string down upon it?
6 Upon what have its hooks been supported,
And who set the slabs for its foundation?

7 ÔWhen I did this, all the stars praised Me,
And My angels shouted a cheer.
8 Then I locked the seas in their gates,
When they first burst from the womb.

9 ÔI established the clouds as clothes [for the seas],
And I wrapped it in fog, like a child.
10 Thereafter, I established its limits
And I bolted its gates into place.
11 I said, This is as far as you goÉ
You cannot go any farther,
So your waves must now break within you.

12 ÔDid I use you to bring morning light,
Or to set the morning star in its place?
13 [Can you] grab the wings of the earth,
And shake off all the ungodly?

14 ÔHave you picked up a piece of clay from the ground,
And used it to make something living?
And who brought the powers of speech to the earth?

15 ÔHave you removed the light from the godless,
Or broken the arms of the proud?
16 Have you found the springs of the seas,
And walked in the tracks of the deep?

17 ÔDo the gates of death open before you,
And do the keepers of the place of the dead
Get alarmed whenever they see you?

18 ÔIf youÕve been told about all under heaven;
Then, tell Me how great it all is!
19 Where is the land from which the light comes,
And from what kind of place comes the darkness?

20 ÔIf you could lead Me up to their limits
(That is, even if you even knew of their paths),
21 YouÕd already know all these things.
And if you were born on that day,
Your years by now, would be many.

22 ÔHave you found the treasuries of the snow?
Have you seen where the hail is all stored?
23 For you, has the hour of enemies been reserved,
Or the days for battle and war?

24 ÔWhen the frost leaves, where does it go?
And where under the skies goes the south wind?
25 Who prepares the storms when they blow,
26 And who holds back rain from the ground?

27 ÔWho made the deserts where no men can live,
But then fills unwalked, uninhabited lands
With sprouts and new shoots of green?

28 ÔWho is the father of rain,
And who gives birth to the dewdrops?
29 In whose womb does the ice start to form,
And who gives birth to frost from the skies,
30 Then turns it into drops to make streams?

ÔWho is it that changes the face of the godless,
And who creates their alarm?

31 ÔHave you seen what bonds the Pleiades?
Have you opened the barriers of Orion?
32 Have you opened MazurOth when it can be seen,
Or have you led Hesperus by its tail?

33 ÔDo you know how the orbits of the heavens all work,
Or how things under the sky work together?
34 Can you call to a cloud and cause it to shake,
Then obey you and pour out a storm?

35 ÔAre you able to send for the lightning?
Will it ask, What is it, and obey you?

36 ÔWho gave women the wisdom to weave,
And who gave them the skill to embroider?

37 ÔWho in his wisdom can count all the cloudsÉ
Who can lean on the sky and the ground?

38 ÔWho poured out the powder that created the earth,
And stuck it together as a stone block?

39 ÔWill you hunt for lions as prey,
And be filled with the souls of wild beasts?
40 Yet, they must be feared when theyÕre in their lairs,
Or when theyÕre lying in wait in the woods.

41 ÔWho gives carrion to the crows for their young,
As they call to Jehovah while searching for grain?Õ

Chapter 39

1 ÔTell Me this, if you know:
When do rock antelopes give birth,
And have you seen the birthing of hinds?
2 Have you counted the months for them to give birth,
And do you know how long they have birth pangs?

3 ÔDo you know how their offspring are fed,
And can you bring an end to their labor?
4 For their young rip out and many are bornÉ
Then they just walk away.

5 ÔWho is it that set zebras freeÉ
Who untied them from bondage?
6 I am the One who [gave him] his home
There in the deserts and in the salt flatsÉ
IÕm the One who gave him his dwelling.

7 ÔHe laughs at the complaints of those living in towns,
And tax collectors, he can ignore.
8 He views the mountains as his pastures,
As he searches for green things to eat.

9 ÔCan you make the rhinoceros do what you say?
Can you force him to sleep in your barn?
10 Can you tie him with straps and put on a yoke,
Then use him to plow up your fields?

11 ÔCan you trust him to do this because of his strength,
And will he lighten the work that you do?
12 Can you trust him to carry your grain,
And haul it to threshing-floors for you?

13 ÔConsider the wings of the ostrichÉ
Whose feathers the storks use for their nests.
14 They lay their eggs on the ground,
Then incubate them in the dust.

15 ÔIf she forgets them, they then may be lost,
Or crushed by wild beasts in the fields.
16 So, sheÕs hardened herself against her own young,
And she isnÕt sad when her work is in vain.

17 ÔIt was God who removed all her wisdom,
And gave her such scant understanding.
18 But, when she spreads her feathers to run,
She laughs at the horse and its rider.

19 ÔWas it you who gave the horse all its strength,
Or who caused his neck [to tremble] in fear?
20 Are you the one who gave him full armor,
And put the glory of daring in his breast?

21 ÔIn the fields, he grazes and prances,
And with strength, he runs in the plains.
22 He laughs when he meets up with spears,
And from weapons of iron, he never retreats.

23 ÔWhen heÕs struck by arrows and swords,
24 He just gets angry and tears up the ground.
He doesnÕt quit Ôtil the trumpet is blown,
25 And then he just says, Well done!

ÔHe can even smell war from a distance,
Then he stands on his [back] legs and whinnies.

26 ÔWas it you who gave hawks their look of defiance
As they set their wings to fly toward the south?
27 Was it by your order that eagles fly high,
Or vultures to lodge in nests 28 among rocks?

29 ÔFrom such places, [these birds] search for food,
For their eyes can see from a distance.
30 Then their young become covered in blood,
Because they can find whatever has died.Õ

31 Then Jehovah God said this to Job:

32 ÔHave you chosen to correct this One whoÕs so mightyÉ
And can one who teaches God give an answer?Õ

33 Then Job replied to Jehovah:

34 ÔSo, why must I still go on begging,
And for what am I being correctedÉ
Why are my prayers just being ignored?

ÔSince I canÕt reply [to Your questions],
IÕll just cover my mouth with my handsÉ
35 IÕve spoken and IÕll say no more.Õ

Chapter 40

1 Then Jehovah God replied to Job, saying:

2 ÔAre you judging the One whoÕs so mightyÉ
And when someone scolds God, must He reply?Õ

3 So Job thought about this and then he asked the Lord:

4 ÔBut, why must I stand here and begÉ
Being scolded and disciplined by God?

ÔNo, I am nothing at all,
And yes, I have heard all that You said;
So what answer can I give in reply?

ÔNow. IÕll cover my mouth with my hands,
5 For IÕve spoken and IÕll say no more.Õ

6 Then the Lord once again spoke to Job from out of the clouds, saying:

7 ÔNow, wrap up your waist and act like a man;
Then, I will ask you, and you must reply!

8 ÔShould you undo My decisions?
And do you think it was Me who sent these [bad] things,
Or that youÕd have to prove yourself righteous to Me?

9 ÔIs your arm like the arm of Jehovah?
Is your voice like HisÉ can it thunder?
10 If so, lift yourself in stature and might,
And clothe yourself with glory and honor;
11 Then, send out [His] angels in rage
To humble those who are proud,
12 And to bring an end to the haughtyÉ
Right now, cause the godless to rot!
13 Hide them together inside of the ground,
And with dishonor, then cover their faces!
14 For, surely you know that your right hand can save!

15 ÔNow, notice the dragon thatÕs standing beside you;
He eats the same grass as the ox.
16 Yes, behold the strength in his loins,
And the power in the navel of his belly.

17 ÔHe makes his tail tall like a cypress,
And his nerves are all closely entwined.
18 His sides are like something thatÕs made out of brass,
And his spine is much like cast iron.

19 ÔHeÕs the beginning of the things [that I] shaped,
And he was made to be mocked by My angels.

20 ÔWhen he climbs upon chiseled mountains,
He brings joy to those four-footed beasts
That within Tartarus dwell.

21 ÔHe sleeps under all kinds of treesÉ
By the papyrus, reeds, and bulrushes.
22 In his shadow, [rest] birds in the trees,
Who unknowingly sway in [his branches].

23 ÔWhen storms come, he pays no attention;
For, he trusts that it runs to the Jordan,
And from there, it flows into his mouth.

24 ÔWhen he is on watch, who can take him?
But if, in a snare, you could catch him,
Would you drill [a hole] through his nose?

Chapter 41

NOTE: It is our studied opinion that many of the following verses have been corrupted to some extent in both the Hebrew and Greek texts,
since much of what follows is disjointed and unclear. We feel that part of the reason for this is due to the fact that those who sang this song, those who copied it,
and those who translated it simply didnÕt understand its cryptic messageÉ that the ÔbeastÕ or ÔdragonÕ being spoken of in these and in the previous verses was
the evil spirit who was bringing these woes upon Job.

1 ÔCan you lead this dragon around with a hook;
Can you put a halter Ôround his nose?
2 Will you put a hook though his nose as a clasp,
And bore a hole in his lip?

3 ÔWill he speak and beg you in an earnest, soft wayÉ
4 Will he make an agreement with youÉ
Will you keep him as your servant through the age?

5 ÔWill you play with him like a birdÉ
Would you cage him like a sparrow for a child?
6 WouldnÕt you rather feed him to the ethnicsÉ
To Phoenicians, carve him as [steaks]?

7 ÔIf all that floats were assembled,
ThereÕs no way they could carry his hide or his tail,
Nor could fishermenÕs boats bear his head.

8 ÔCould you lay your hands down upon him,
Then, consider the war in his flesh,
And make it no longer take place?

9 Ô[While itÕs true] that you cannot see him.
HavenÕt those who have spoken ever wonderedÉ
10 ArenÕt they in awe of this thing IÕve prepared?

ÔBut, who can really stand and oppose MeÉ
11 Yes, who can resist Me and win,
Since all under heaven is Mine?

12 ÔSo, I wonÕt remain silent for his sake;
For, the word of My power to show mercy
Is greater than all that he has to say.

13 ÔWho will uncover the front of his clothes
And enter the fold of his chest plate?
14 Yes, who will open the gates of his face,
And see that in his teeth, there really is fear?

15 ÔHis insides are like shields of brass,
And his sinews are like emery stone.
16 They each cleave tightly together,
And no wind [can blow] through themÉ
17 TheyÕre as close as a man and his brother,
And they cannot be driven apart.

18 ÔHis sneezing brings about brightness,
And his eyes are like morning stars.
19 From his mouth come lamps that are burning
Like the scattered coals of a fire.

20 ÔFrom his nostrils come the smoke of a furnace,
Burning with the fire of live coals.
21 For his soul is much like live coals,
And flames shoot out of his mouth.

22 ÔWithin his neck, there is power,
And before him, there is much destruction.
23 The flesh of his body cleaves tightly,
So, heÕs never bothered by rain.

24 ÔHis heart is fixed like a stoneÉ
He stands as an anvil that cannot be bent.
25 When he turns, he frightens the four-footed beasts,
As well as those [flying over] the ground.

26 ÔWith lances, he cannot be harmed,
Nor does he fear armor or spears.
27 He views iron weapons as straw,
And brass ones, just like rotting wood.

28 ÔBy bows of brass, he cannot be pierced,
And he views [stone] slingers as grass.
29 He thinks of hammers as stubble,
And he laughs at the quaking of those who bear fire.

30 ÔHis bed is strewn with sharp needles;
And all the gold in the seas,
Under him, are as coals on the grates or as mud.

31 ÔFrom the abyss, he breaks, as though a brass pot;
He thinks of the seas as his own ointment jar,
32 And the dephts of Tartarus as his captive.
For to him, the abyss is just a promenade.

33 ÔNothing else on the earth is quite like himÉ
He was made to be mocked by My angels.

34 ÔHe can see all things that are lofty,
And heÕs the ruler over all in the waters.Õ

Chapter 42

1 Then Job spoke to the Lord saying:

2 ÔI know that You can do all,
And there is no end to Your power.
3 So, who can hide their thoughts before You,
And who can hold back their words,
Thinking that You cannot [hear them]?

ÔYouÕve just told me some things that I never knewÉ
Great and wonderful things,
Of which I had no understanding.

4 ÔSo, listen to me, O my Lord,
For, there are things that IÕd like to sayÉ
IÕll ask You, and You can teach me!

5 ÔIn the past, IÕve heard men talk about You,
But now that IÕve seen You with my own eyes,
6 I think of myself as having no value.
For before You, IÕve melted away,
And I think of myself as ashes and dirt.Õ

7 Well, after the Lord had spoken about all these things to Job, Jehovah then said this to EliPhaz the Temanite:

ÔYou and your two friends have sinned;
For, you havenÕt spoken the truth,
As did My faithful friend Job.
8 So, take seven calves and seven rams,
And carry them to My faithful friend Job,
So that he can offer them on your behalfÉ
For, no way do I hold him blame.

ÔBut for him, I would have destroyed you,
Because of what youÕve said to My faithful friend.Õ

9 So, EliPhaz the Temanite, Baldad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Minaean went and did as Jehovah had told them. Then He forgave the sins that they had committed against Job.

10 Thereafter, Jehovah blest Job. And because they were his friends, he vowed to forgive those men for all their sins.

Then Jehovah [blest Job] with double, giving him twice as much as he had before.

11 And when his brothers and sisters heard of the good things that had happened to him, they all went to see him, and he ended up with twice as many friends as he had at first. Everyone ate and drank with him, and they offered him much consolation. Yet, they each wondered about all the things that had happened, and about all the things that Jehovah had done. Then each one gave him a lamb and an unmarked four-drachma coin.

12 So, Jehovah blest the ending for Job, and he gained much more than he had before. For He came to have ten thousand cows, four thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand oxen teams, and a thousand grazing mares.

13 Seven more sons were also born to him, and he had three more daughters. 14 He named the first daughter Day, he named the second one Cinnamon, and he named the third one Horn of Plenty. 15 And among all the women under the sky, none were prettier than the daughters of Job. He also gave them an inheritance among their brothers.

16 Well, after his calamity had passed, Job lived on for a hundred and seventy more years, reaching the age of two hundred and forty. Job lived to see his sons and the sons of his sons through the fourth generation.

17 Thereafter, Job finally came to his end, an old man whoÕd lived a full life.

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