The Book Of Job (Job, an upright and pious man, has been struck by a series of disasters which have destroyed his family, his great wealth, and finally his health, leaving him only his shrewish wife

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The Book Of Job

(Job, an upright and pious man, has been struck by a series of disasters which have destroyed his family, his great wealth, and finally his health, leaving him only his shrewish wife. In a society where it was believed that God rewarded the just and punished the evil, Job’s sufferings pre?sented a terrible problem.)

Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that had come upon him, they came each from his own place, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamath?ite. They made an appointment together to come and comfort him. And when they saw him from afar, they did not recognize him; and they raised their voices and wept; and they rent their robes and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven.

After this Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth. And Job said:

Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night which said, “A man child is con?ceived.”

Let that day be darkness! May God above not seek it, nor light shine upon it.

Let the stars of its dawn be dark; let it hope for light, but have none, nor see the eyelids of the morning; because it did not shut the doors of my mother’s womb, nor hide trouble from my eyes.

Why did I not die at birth, come forth from the womb and expire?

Why did the knees receive me? Or why did the breasts, that I should suck?

For then I should have lain down and been quiet; I should have slept; then I should have been at rest, with Kings and coun?selors of the earth who rebuilt ruins for themselves, or with princes who had gold, who filled their houses with silver.

Why is light given to him that is in misery and life to the bitter in soul?

Why is light given to a man whose way is hid, whom God has hedged in?

Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered:

If one ventures a word with you, will you be offended?

Is not your fear of God your confidence, and the integrity of your ways your hope?

Think now, who that was innocent ever per?ished? Or where were the upright cut off?

As I have seen, those who plow inequity and sow trouble reap the same.

By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast of his anger they are consumed. Can mortal man be righteous before God? Can a man be pure before his maker?

For affliction does not come from the dust, nor does trouble sprout from the ground; but man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward.

Behold, happy is the man whom God re?proves; therefore despise not the chastening of the Almighty.

For he wounds, but he binds up; he smites, but his hands heal.

Then Job answered:

Teach me and I will be silent; make me under?stand how I have erred.

How forceful are honest words! But what does reproof from you reprove?

You would even cast lots over the fatherless, and bargain over your friend.

Therefore I will not restrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit. I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.

Then Bildad the Shuhite answered:

How long will you say these things, and the words of your mouth be a great wind?

Does God pervert justice? Or does the almighty pervert the right?

Behold, God will not reject a blameless man, nor take the hand of evildoers.

Then Job answered:

Truly I know that it is so: But how can a man be just before God?

If one wished to contend with him, one could not answer him once in a thousand times.

How then can I answer him; choosing my words with him?

Though I am innocent, I cannot answer him;

I must appeal for mercy to my accuser.

There is no umpire between us, who might lay his hand upon us both.

Let him take his rod away from me, and let not dread of him terrify me.

Then I would speak without fear of him, for I am not so in myself.

Then Zophar the Naamathite answered:

Should your babble silence men, and when you mock, shall no one shame you?

For you say, “My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in God’s eyes.”

But oh, that God would speak, and open his lips to you, and that he would tell you the secrets of wisdom!

If you set your heart aright, you will stretch out your hands toward him.

Surely then you will lift up your face without blemish; you will be secure, and will not fear.

Then Job answered:

No doubt you are the people, and wisdom will die with you.

But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you.

Who does not know such things as these?

I am a laughingstock to my friends; I, who called upon God and he answered me, a just and blameless man, am a laughing?stock.

But I would speak to the Almighty, and I de?sire to argue my case with God.

Man that is born of woman, is of a few days and full of trouble.

He comes forth like a flower, and withers....

Since his days are determined, and the number of his months is with thee, and thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass, look away from him and desist, that he may enjoy, like a hireling, his day.

Why do the wicked live, reach old age, and grow mighty in power?

Their houses are safe from fear, and no rod of God is upon them.

They say to God, “Depart from us! We do not desire the knowledge of thy ways. What is the Almighty that we should serve him?

And what profit do we get if we pray to Him?”

Behold, is not their prosperity in their hand? The counsel of the wicked is far from me.

As God lives, who has taken away my right, and the Almighty, who has made my soul bitter;

as long as my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils;

my lips will not speak falsehood, and my tongue will not utter deceit.

Till I die I will not put away my integrity from me.

I will hold fast to my righteousness, and will not let it go; my heart does not reproach me for any of my days.

Let me be weighed in just balance, and let God know my integrity!

Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind:

Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?

Gird up your loins like a man, I will question you, and you shall declare to me.

Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?

Tell me, if you have understanding: Who de?termined its measurements? Surely you know!

Or who stretched the line upon it?

On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone

when the morning stars sang together,

and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

Or who shut in the sea with doors, when it burst forth from the womb;

when I made clouds its garment, and thick darkness its swaddling band, and prescribed bounds for it, and set bars and doors, and said,

“Thus far shall you come, and no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stayed”?

Where is the way to the dwelling of light, and where is the place of darkness, that you may take it to its territory and that you may discern the paths to its home?

You know, for you were born then, and the number of your days is great!

Do you give the horse his might? Do you clothe his neck with strength?

Is it by your wisdom that the hawk soars, and spreads his wings toward the south?

Is it at your command that the eagle mounts up and makes his nest on high?

Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it.

Deck yourself with majesty and dignity; clothe yourself with glory and splendor.

Pour forth the overflowings of your anger, and look on everyone that is proud and abase him.

Look on everyone that is proud and bring him low; and tread down the wicked where they stand.

Hide them all in the dust together; bind their faces in the world below.

Then will I also acknowledge to you, that your own right hand can give you victory.

Who has given to me, that I should repay him? Whatever is under the whole heaven is mine.

Then Job answered the Lord:

I know that thou canst do all things, and that no purpose of thine can be thwarted.

Who is this that hides counsel without knowl?edge?

Therefore I have uttered what I did not un?derstand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.

Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you declare to me.

I had but heard of thee by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees thee; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.