THE BOOK OF JOB
CHAPTER 1
THERE was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared Elohim, and eschewed evil.
2 And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters.
3 His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.
4 And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.
5 And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed Elohim in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.
6 Now there was a day when the sons of Elohim came to present themselves before Yahowah, and Satan came also among them.
7 And Yahowah said unto Satan, Which come you? Then Satan answered Yahowah, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
8 And Yahowah said unto Satan, Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth Elohim, and escheweth evil?
9 Then Satan answered Yahowah, and said, Does Job fear Elohim for nothing?
10 Have not you made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he has on every side? you have blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.
11 But put forth yours hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to Your face.
12 And Yahowah said unto Satan, Behold, all that he has is in Your power; only upon himself put not forth yours hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of Yahowah.
13 And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house:
14 And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them:
15 And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell you.
16 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of Elohim is fallen from heaven, and has burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell you.
17 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell you.
18 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and Your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house:
19 And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell you.
20 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,
21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked will I return thither: Yahowah gave, and Yahowah has taken away; blessed be the name of Yahowah.
22 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged Elohim foolishly.
CHAPTER 2
AGAIN there was a day when the sons of Elohim came to present themselves before Yahowah, and Satan came also among them to present himself before Yahowah.
2 And Yahowah said unto Satan, From which come you? And Satan answered Yahowah, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
3 And Yahowah said unto Satan, Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth Elohim, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although you movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.
4 And Satan answered Yahowah, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man has will he give for his life.
5 But put forth yours hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse you to Your face.
6 And Yahowah said unto Satan, Behold, he is in yours hand; but save his life.
7 So went Satan forth from the presence of Yahowah, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.
8 And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes.
9 Then said his wife unto him, Dost you still retain yours integrity? curse Elohim, and die.
10 But he said unto her, You speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? will we receive good at the hand of Elohim, and will we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.
11 Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.
12 And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven.
13 So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spoke a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great.
CHAPTER 3
AFTER this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day.
2 And Job spoke, and said,
3 Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said, There is a man child conceived.
4 Let that day be darkness; let not Elohim regard it from above, neither let the light shine upon it.
5 Let darkness and the shadow of death stain it; let a cloud dwell upon it; let the blackness of the day terrify it.
6 As for that night, let darkness seize upon it; let it not be joined unto the days of the year, let it not come into the number of the months.
7 Lo, let that night be solitary, let no joyful voice come therein.
8 Let them curse it that curse the day, who are ready to raise up their mourning.
9 Let the stars of the twilight thereof be dark; let it look for light, but have none; neither let it see the dawning of the day:
10 Because it shut not up the doors of my mother’s womb, nor hid sorrow from mine eyes.
11 Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly?
12 Why did the knees prevent me? or why the breasts that I should suck?
13 For now should I have lain still and been quiet, I should have slept: then had I been at rest,
14 With kings and counsellers of the earth, which built desolate places for themselves;
15 Or with princes that had gold, who filled their houses with silver:
16 Or as an hidden untimely birth I had not been; as infants which never saw light.
17 There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary be at rest.
18 There the prisoners rest together; they hear not the voice of the oppressor.
19 The small and great are there; and the servant is free from his master.
20 Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter in soul;
21 Which long for death, but it cometh not; and dig for it more than for hid treasures;
22 Which rejoice exceedingly, and are glad, when they can find the grave?
23 Why is light given to a man whose way is hid, and whom Elohim has hedged in?
24 For my sighing cometh before I eat, and my roarings are poured out like the waters.
25 For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.
26 I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet; yet trouble came.
CHAPTER 4
THEN Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
2 If we assay to commune with you, will you be grieved? but who can withhold himself from speaking?
3 Behold, you have instructed many, and you have strengthened the weak hands.
4 Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and you have strengthened the feeble knees.
5 But now it is come upon you, and you faintest; it touches you, and you are troubled.
6 Is not this Your fear, Your confidence, Your hope, and the uprightness of Your ways?
7 Remember, I pray you, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off?
8 Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.
9 By the blast of Elohim they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed.
10 The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions, are broken.
11 The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, and the stout lion’s whelps are scattered abroad.
12 Now a thing was secretly brought to me, and mine ear received a little thereof.
13 In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men,
14 Fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake.
15 Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh stood up:
16 It stood still, but I could not discern the form thereof: an image was before mine eyes, there was silence, and I heard a voice, saying,
17 Will mortal man be more just than Elohim? will a man be more pure than his maker?
18 Behold, he put no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged with folly:
19 How much less in them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, which are crushed before the moth?
20 They are destroyed from morning to evening: they perish for ever without any regarding it.
21 Does not their excellency which is in them go away? they die, even without wisdom.
CHAPTER 5
CALL now, if there be any that will answer you; and to which of the saints will you turn?
2 For wrath killeth the foolish man, and envy slays the silly one.
3 I have seen the foolish taking root: but suddenly I cursed his habitation.
4 His children are far from safety, and they are crushed in the gate, neither is there any to deliver them.
5 Whose harvest the hungry eateth up, and taketh it even out of the thorns, and the robber swalloweth up their substance.
6 Although affliction cometh not forth of the dust, neither does trouble spring out of the ground;
7 Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward.
8 I would seek unto Elohim, and unto Elohim would I commit my cause:
9 Which doeth great things and unsearchable; marvellous things without number:
10 Who giveth rain upon the earth, and sendeth waters upon the fields:
11 To set up on high those that be low; that those which mourn may be exalted to safety.
12 He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise.
13 He taketh the wise in their own craftiness: and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong.
14 They meet with darkness in the daytime, and grope in the noonday as in the night.
15 But he saveth the poor from the sword, from their mouth, and from the hand of the mighty.
16 So the poor has hope, and iniquity stoppeth her mouth.
17 Behold, happy is the man whom Elohim correcteth: therefore despise not you the chastening of the Almighty:
18 For he maketh sore, and bindeth up: he woundeth, and his hands make whole.
19 He will deliver you in six troubles: yea, in seven there will no evil touch you.
20 In famine he will redeem you from death: and in war from the power of the sword.
21 You will be hid from the scourge of the tongue: neither will you be afraid of destruction when it cometh.
22 At destruction and famine you will laugh: neither will you be afraid of the beasts of the earth.
23 For you will be in league with the stones of the field: and the beasts of the field will be at peace with you.
24 And you will know that Your tabernacle will be in peace; and you will visit Your habitation, and will not sin.
25 You will know also that Your seed will be great, and yours offspring as the grass of the earth.
26 You will come to Your grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in in his season.
27 Lo this, we have searched it, so it is; hear it, and know you it for Your good.
CHAPTER 6
BUT Job answered and said,
2 Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together!
3 For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my words are swallowed up.
4 For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of Elohim do set themselves in array against me.
5 Does the wild ass bray when he has grass? or loweth the ox over his fodder?
6 Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the white of an egg?
7 The things that my soul refused to touch are as my sorrowful meat.
8 Oh that I might have my request; and that Elohim would grant me the thing that I long for!
9 Even that it would please Elohim to destroy me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!
10 Then should I yet have comfort; yea, I would harden myself in sorrow: let him not spare; for I have not concealed the words of the Holy One.
11 What is my strength, that I should hope? and what is mine end, that I should prolong my life?
12 Is my strength the strength of stones? or is my flesh of brass?
13 Is not my help in me? and is wisdom driven quite from me?
14 To him that is afflicted pity should be showed from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.
15 My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, and as the stream of brooks they pass away;
16 Which are blackish by reason of the ice, and wherein the snow is hid:
17 What time they wax warm, they vanish: when it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.
18 The paths of their way are turned aside; they go to nothing, and perish.
19 The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them.
20 They were confounded because they had hoped; they came thither, and were ashamed.
21 For now You are nothing; You see my casting down, and are afraid.
22 Did I say, Bring unto me? or, Give a reward for me of your substance?
23 Or, Deliver me from the enemy’s hand? or, Redeem me from the hand of the mighty?
24 Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.
25 How forcible are right words! but what does your arguing reprove?
26 Do You imagine to reprove words, and the speeches of one that is desperate, which are as wind?
27 Yea, You overwhelm the fatherless, and You dig a pit for your friend.
28 Now therefore be content, look upon me; for it is evident unto you if I lie.
29 Return, I pray you, let it not be iniquity; yea, return again, my righteousness is in it.
30 Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern perverse things?
CHAPTER 7
IS there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling?
2 As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow, and as an hireling looketh for the reward of his work:
3 So am I made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me.
4 When I lie down, I say, When will I arise, and the night be gone? and I am full of tossings to and fro unto the dawning of the day.
5 My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken, and become loathsome.
6 My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, and are spent without hope.
7 O remember that my life is wind: mine eye will no more see good.
8 The eye of him that has seen me will see me no more: yours eyes are upon me, and I am not.
9 As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so he that goeth down to the grave will come up no more.
10 He will return no more to his house, neither will his place know him any more.
11 Therefore I will not refrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.
12 Am I a sea, or a whale, that you settest a watch over me?
13 When I say, My bed will comfort me, my couch will ease my complaint;
14 Then you scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions:
15 So that my soul chooseth strangling, and death rather than my life.
16 I loathe it; I would not live alway: let me alone; for my days are vanity.
17 What is man, that you should magnify him? and that you should set yours heart upon him?
18 And that you should visit him every morning, and try him every moment?
19 How long will you not depart from me, nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle?
20 I have sinned; what will I do unto you, O you preserver of men? why have you set me as a mark against you, so that I am a burden to myself?
21 And why dost you not pardon my transgression, and take away mine iniquity? for now will I sleep in the dust; and you will seek me in the morning, but I will not be.
CHAPTER 8
THEN answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,
2 How long will you speak these things? and how long will the words of Your mouth be like a strong wind?
3 Does Elohim pervert judgment? or does the Almighty pervert justice?
4 If Your children have sinned against him, and he have cast them away for their transgression;
5 If you would seek unto Elohim betimes, and make Your supplication to the Almighty;
6 If you wert pure and upright; surely now he would awake for you, and make the habitation of Your righteousness prosperous.
7 Though Your beginning was small, yet Your latter end should greatly increase.
8 For inquire, I pray you, of the former age, and prepare thyself to the search of their fathers:
9 (For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow:)
10 Will not they teach you, and tell you, and utter words out of their heart?
11 Can the rush grow up without mire? can the flag grow without water?
12 Whilst it is yet in his greenness, and not cut down, it withereth before any other herb.
13 So are the paths of all that forget Elohim; and the hypocrite’s hope will perish:
14 Whose hope will be cut off, and whose trust will be a spider’s web.
15 He will lean upon his house, but it will not stand: he will hold it fast, but it will not endure.
16 He is green before the sun, and his branch shooteth forth in his garden.
17 His roots are wrapped about the heap, and seeth the place of stones.
18 If he destroy him from his place, then it will deny him, saying, I have not seen you.
19 Behold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the earth will others grow.
20 Behold, Elohim will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he help the evil doers:
21 Till he fill Your mouth with laughing, and Your lips with rejoicing.
22 They that hate you will be clothed with shame; and the dwelling place of the wicked will come to nothing.
CHAPTER 9
THEN Job answered and said,
2 I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with Elohim?
3 If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.
4 He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who has hardened himself against him, and has prospered?
5 Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger.
6 Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.
7 Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars.
8 Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.
9 Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.
10 Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.
11 Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not.
12 Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What do you?
13 If Elohim will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him.
14 How much less will I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him?
15 Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.
16 If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.
17 For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.
18 He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness.
19 If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who will set me a time to plead?
20 If I justify myself, mine own mouth will condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it will also prove me perverse.
21 Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.
22 This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.
23 If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent.
24 The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereth the faces of the judges thereof; if not, where, and who is he?
25 Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good.
26 They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hasteth to the prey.
27 If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort myself:
28 I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that you will not hold me innocent.
29 If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?
30 If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;
31 Yet will you plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes will abhor me.
32 For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment.
33 Neither is there any daysman between us, that might lay his hand upon us both.
34 Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me:
35 Then would I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.
CHAPTER 10
MY soul is weary of my life; I will leave my complaint upon myself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.
2 I will say unto Elohim, Do not condemn me; shew me wherefore you contendest with me.
3 Is it good unto you that you should oppress, that you should despise the work of yours hands, and shine upon the counsel of the wicked?
4 Have you eyes of flesh? or see you as man seeth?
5 Are Your days as the days of man? are Your years as man’s days,
6 That you inquirest after mine iniquity, and searchest after my sin?
7 You know that I am not wicked; and there is none that can deliver out of yours hand.
8 your hands have made me and fashioned me together round about; yet you dost destroy me.
9 Remember, I beseech you, that you have made me as the clay; and will you bring me into dust again?
10 Have you not poured me out as milk, and curdled me like cheese?
11 You have clothed me with skin and flesh, and have fenced me with bones and sinews.
12 You have granted me life and favour, and Your visitation has preserved my spirit.
13 And these things have you hid in yours heart: I know that this is with you.
14 If I sin, then you markest me, and you will not acquit me from mine iniquity.
15 If I be wicked, woe unto me; and if I be righteous, yet will I not lift up my head. I am full of confusion; therefore see you mine affliction;
16 For it increaseth. You huntest me as a fierce lion: and again you shewest thyself marvellous upon me.
17 You renewest Your witnesses against me, and increasest yours indignation upon me; changes and war are against me.
18 Wherefore then have you brought me forth out of the womb? Oh that I had given up the ghost, and no eye had seen me!
19 I should have been as though I had not been; I should have been carried from the womb to the grave.
20 Are not my days few? cease then, and let me alone, that I may take comfort a little,
21 Before I go which I will not return, even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death;
22 A land of darkness, as darkness itself; and of the shadow of death, without any order, and where the light is as darkness.
CHAPTER 11
THEN answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,
2 Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified?
3 Should Your lies make men hold their peace? and when you mockest, will no man make you ashamed?
4 For you have said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in yours eyes.
5 But oh that Elohim would speak, and open his lips against you;
6 And that he would shew you the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is! Know therefore that Elohim exacteth of you less than yours iniquity deserveth.
7 Canst you by searching find out Elohim? canst you find out the Almighty unto perfection?
8 It is as high as heaven; what canst you do? deeper than hell; what canst you know?
9 The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.
10 If he cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then who can hinder him?
11 For he knoweth vain men: he seeth wickedness also; will he not then consider it?
12 For vain man would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass’s colt.
13 If you prepare yours heart, and stretch out yours hands toward him;
14 If iniquity be in yours hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in Your tabernacles.
15 For then will you lift up Your face without spot; yea, you will be stedfast, and will not fear:
16 Because you will forget Your misery, and remember it as waters that pass away:
17 And yours age will be clearer than the noonday; you will shine forth, you will be as the morning.
18 And you will be secure, because there is hope; yea, you will dig about you, and you will take Your rest in safety.
19 Also you will lie down, and none will make you afraid; yea, many will make suit unto you.
20 But the eyes of the wicked will fail, and they will not escape, and their hope will be as the giving up of the ghost.
CHAPTER 12
AND Job answered and said,
2 No doubt but You are the people, and wisdom will die with you.
3 But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yea, who knoweth not such things as these?
4 I am as one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon Elohim, and he answereth him: the just upright man is laughed to scorn.
5 He that is ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease.
6 The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke Elohim are secure; into whose hand Elohim bringeth abundantly.
7 But ask now the beasts, and they will teach you; and the fowls of the air, and they will tell you:
8 Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you: and the fishes of the sea will declare unto you.
9 Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of Yahowah has wrought this?
10 In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.
11 Does not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat?
12 With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding.
13 With him is wisdom and strength, he has counsel and understanding.
14 Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built again: he shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening.
15 Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up: also he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.
16 With him is strength and wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver are his.
17 He leadeth counsellers away spoiled, and maketh the judges fools.
18 He looseth the bond of kings, and girdeth their loins with a girdle.
19 He leadeth princes away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty.
20 He removeth away the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the aged.
21 He poureth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the strength of the mighty.
22 He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death.
23 He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them again.
24 He taketh away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth, and causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.
25 They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.
CHAPTER 13
LO, mine eye has seen all this, mine ear has heard and understood it.
2 What You know, the same do I know also: I am not inferior unto you.
3 Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with Elohim.
4 But You are forgers of lies, You are all physicians of no value.
5 O that You would altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom.
6 Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips.
7 Will You speak wickedly for Elohim? and talk deceitfully for him?
8 Will You accept his person? will You contend for Elohim?
9 Is it good that he should search you out? or as one man mocketh another, do You so mock him?
10 He will surely reprove you, if You do secretly accept persons.
11 Will not his excellency make you afraid? and his dread fall upon you?
12 Your remembrances are like unto ashes, your bodies to bodies of clay.
13 Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what will.
14 Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in mine hand?
15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.
16 He also will be my salvation: for an hypocrite will not come before him.
17 Hear diligently my speech, and my declaration with your ears.
18 Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I will be justified.
19 Who is he that will plead with me? for now, if I hold my tongue, I will give up the ghost.
20 Only do not two things unto me: then will I not hide myself from you.
21 Withdraw yours hand far from me: and let not Your dread make me afraid.
22 Then call you, and I will answer: or let me speak, and answer you me.
23 How many are mine iniquities and sins? make me to know my transgression and my sin.
24 Wherefore hidest you Your face, and holdest me for yours enemy?
25 Wilt you break a leaf driven to and fro? and will you pursue the dry stubble?
26 For you writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth.
27 You puttest my feet also in the stocks, and lookest narrowly unto all my paths; you settest a print upon the heels of my feet.
28 And he, as a rotten thing, consumeth, as a garment that is moth eaten.
CHAPTER 14
MAN that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.
2 He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.
3 And dost you open yours eyes upon such an one, and bringest me into judgment with you?
4 Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.
5 Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with you, you have appointed his bounds that he cannot pass;
6 Turn from him, that he may rest, till he will accomplish, as an hireling, his day.
7 For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.
8 Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground;
9 Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant.
10 But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?
11 As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up:
12 So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they will not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.
13 O that you would hide me in the grave, that you would keep me secret, until Your wrath be past, that you would appoint me a set time, and remember me!
14 If a man die, will he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.
15 You will call, and I will answer you: you will have a desire to the work of yours hands.
16 For now you numberest my steps: dost you not watch over my sin?
17 My transgression is sealed up in a bag, and you sewest up mine iniquity.
18 And surely the mountain falling cometh to nothing, and the rock is removed out of his place.
19 The waters wear the stones: you washest away the things which grow out of the dust of the earth; and you destroyest the hope of man.
20 You prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth: you changest his countenance, and sendest him away.
21 His sons come to honour, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them.
22 But his flesh upon him will have pain, and his soul within him will mourn.
CHAPTER 15
THEN answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said,
2 Should a wise man utter vain knowledge, and fill his belly with the east wind?
3 Should he reason with unprofitable talk? or with speeches wherewith he can do no good?
4 Yea, you castest off fear, and restrainest prayer before Elohim.
5 For Your mouth uttereth yours iniquity, and you choosest the tongue of the crafty.
6 your own mouth condemneth you, and not I: yea, yours own lips testify against you.
7 Art you the first man that was born? or were you made before the hills?
8 Have you heard the secret of Elohim? and dost you restrain wisdom to thyself?
9 What know you, that we know not? what understandest you, which is not in us?
10 With us are both the grayheaded and very aged men, much elder than Your father.
11 Are the consolations of Elohim small with you? is there any secret thing with you?
12 Why does yours heart carry you away? and what do Your eyes wink at,
13 That you turnest Your spirit against Elohim, and lettest such words go out of Your mouth?
14 What is man, that he should be clean? and he which is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?
15 Behold, he putteth no trust in his saints; yea, the heavens are not clean in his sight.
16 How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh iniquity like water?
17 I will shew you, hear me; and that which I have seen I will declare;
18 Which wise men have told from their fathers, and have not hid it:
19 Unto whom alone the earth was given, and no stranger passed among them.
20 The wicked man travaileth with pain all his days, and the number of years is hidden to the oppressor.
21 A dreadful sound is in his ears: in prosperity the destroyer will come upon him.
22 He believeth not that he will return out of darkness, and he is waited for of the sword.
23 He wandereth abroad for bread, saying, Where is it? he knoweth that the day of darkness is ready at his hand.
24 Trouble and anguish will make him afraid; they will prevail against him, as a king ready to the battle.
25 For he stretcheth out his hand against Elohim, and strengtheneth himself against the Almighty.
26 He runneth upon him, even on his neck, upon the thick bosses of his bucklers:
27 Because he covereth his face with his fatness, and maketh collops of fat on his flanks.
28 And he dwelleth in desolate cities, and in houses which no man inhabiteth, which are ready to become heaps.
29 He will not be rich, neither will his substance continue, neither will he prolong the perfection thereof upon the earth.
30 He will not depart out of darkness; the flame will dry up his branches, and by the breath of his mouth will he go away.
31 Let not him that is deceived trust in vanity: for vanity will be his recompence.
32 It will be accomplished before his time, and his branch will not be green.
33 He will shake off his unripe grape as the vine, and will cast off his flower as the olive.
34 For the congregation of hypocrites will be desolate, and fire will consume the tabernacles of bribery.
35 They conceive mischief, and bring forth vanity, and their belly prepareth deceit.
CHAPTER 16
THEN Job answered and said,
2 I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are You all.
3 Will vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth you that you answerest?
4 I also could speak as You do: if your soul were in my soul’s stead, I could heap up words against you, and shake mine head at you.
5 But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage your grief.
6 Though I speak, my grief is not asswaged: and though I forbear, what am I eased?
7 But now he has made me weary: you have made desolate all my company.
8 And you have filled me with wrinkles, which is a witness against me: and my leanness rising up in me beareth witness to my face.
9 He teareth me in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth upon me with his teeth; mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me.
10 They have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me.
11 Elohim has delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked.
12 I was at ease, but he has broken me asunder: he has also taken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces, and set me up for his mark.
13 His archers compass me round about, he cleaveth my reins asunder, and does not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground.
14 He breaketh me with breach upon breach, he runneth upon me like a giant.
15 I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and defiled my horn in the dust.
16 My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death;
17 Not for any injustice in mine hands: also my prayer is pure.
18 O earth, cover not you my blood, and let my cry have no place.
19 Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high.
20 My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto Elohim.
21 O that one might plead for a man with Elohim, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour!
22 When a few years are come, then I will go the way which I will not return.
CHAPTER 17
MY breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves are ready for me.
2 Are there not mockers with me? and does not mine eye continue in their provocation?
3 Lay down now, put me in a surety with you; who is he that will strike hands with me?
4 For you have hid their heart from understanding: therefore will you not exalt them.
5 He that speaketh flattery to his friends, even the eyes of his children will fail.
6 He has made me also a byword of the people; and aforetime I was as a tabret.
7 Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, and all my members are as a shadow.
8 Upright men will be astonied at this, and the innocent will stir up himself against the hypocrite.
9 The righteous also will hold on his way, and he that has clean hands will be stronger and stronger.
10 But as for you all, do You return, and come now: for I cannot find one wise man among you.
11 My days are past, my purposes are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart.
12 They change the night into day: the light is short because of darkness.
13 If I wait, the grave is mine house: I have made my bed in the darkness.
14 I have said to corruption, You are my father: to the worm, You are my mother, and my sister.
15 And where is now my hope? as for my hope, who will see it?
16 They will go down to the bars of the pit, when our rest together is in the dust.
CHAPTER 18
THEN answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,
2 How long will it be ere You make an end of words? mark, and afterwards we will speak.
3 Wherefore are we counted as beasts, and reputed vile in your sight?
4 He teareth himself in his anger: will the earth be forsaken for you? and will the rock be removed out of his place?
5 Yea, the light of the wicked will be put out, and the spark of his fire will not shine.
6 The light will be dark in his tabernacle, and his candle will be put out with him.
7 The steps of his strength will be straitened, and his own counsel will cast him down.
8 For he is cast into a net by his own feet, and he walks upon a snare.
9 The gin will take him by the heel, and the robber will prevail against him.
10 The snare is laid for him in the ground, and a trap for him in the way.
11 Terrors will make him afraid on every side, and will drive him to his feet.
12 His strength will be hungerbitten, and destruction will be ready at his side.
13 It will devour the strength of his skin: even the firstborn of death will devour his strength.
14 His confidence will be rooted out of his tabernacle, and it will bring him to the king of terrors.
15 It will dwell in his tabernacle, because it is none of his: brimstone will be scattered upon his habitation.
16 His roots will be dried up beneath, and above will his branch be cut off.
17 His remembrance will perish from the earth, and he will have no name in the street.
18 He will be driven from light into darkness, and chased out of the world.
19 He will neither have son nor nephew among his people, nor any remaining in his dwellings.
20 They that come after him will be astonied at his day, as they that went before were affrighted.
21 Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked, and this is the place of him that knoweth not Elohim.
CHAPTER 19
THEN Job answered and said,
2 How long will You vex my soul, and break me in pieces with words?
3 These ten times have You reproached me: You are not ashamed that You make yourselves strange to me.
4 And be it indeed that I have erred, mine error remaineth with myself.
5 If indeed You will magnify yourselves against me, and plead against me my reproach:
6 Know now that Elohim has overthrown me, and has compassed me with his net.
7 Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard: I cry aloud, but there is no judgment.
8 He has fenced up my way that I cannot pass, and he has set darkness in my paths.
9 He has stripped me of my glory, and taken the crown from my head.
10 He has destroyed me on every side, and I am gone: and mine hope has he removed like a tree.
11 He has also kindled his wrath against me, and he counteth me unto him as one of his enemies.
12 His troops come together, and raise up their way against me, and encamp round about my tabernacle.
13 He has put my brethren far from me, and mine acquaintance are verily estranged from me.
14 My kinsfolk have failed, and my familiar friends have forgotten me.
15 They that dwell in mine house, and my maids, count me for a stranger: I am an alien in their sight.
16 I called my servant, and he gave me no answer; I intreated him with my mouth.
17 My breath is strange to my wife, though I intreated for the children’s sake of mine own body.
18 Yea, young children despised me; I arose, and they spoke against me.
19 All my inward friends abhorred me: and they whom I loved are turned against me.
20 My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, and I am escaped with the skin of my teeth.
21 Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O You my friends; for the hand of Elohim has touched me.
22 Why do You persecute me as Elohim, and are not satisfied with my flesh?
23 Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book!
24 That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever!
25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he will stand at the latter day upon the earth:
26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh will I see Elohim:
27 Whom I will see for myself, and mine eyes will behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.
28 But You should say, Why persecute we him, seeing the root of the matter is found in me?
29 Be You afraid of the sword: for wrath bringeth the punishments of the sword, that You may know there is a judgment.
CHAPTER 20
THEN answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,
2 Therefore do my thoughts cause me to answer, and for this I make haste.
3 I have heard the check of my reproach, and the spirit of my understanding causeth me to answer.
4 Knowest you not this of old, since man was placed upon earth,
5 That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?
6 Though his excellency mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds;
7 Yet he will perish for ever like his own dung: they which have seen him will say, Where is he?
8 He will fly away as a dream, and will not be found: yea, he will be chased away as a vision of the night.
9 The eye also which saw him will see him no more; neither will his place any more behold him.
10 His children will seek to please the poor, and his hands will restore their goods.
11 His bones are full of the sin of his youth, which will lie down with him in the dust.
12 Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue;
13 Though he spare it, and forsake it not; but keep it still within his mouth:
14 Yet his meat in his bowels is turned, it is the gall of asps within him.
15 He has swallowed down riches, and he will vomit them up again: Elohim will cast them out of his belly.
16 He will suck the poison of asps: the viper’s tongue will slay him.
17 He will not see the rivers, the floods, the brooks of honey and butter.
18 That which he laboured for will he restore, and will not swallow it down: according to his substance will the restitution be, and he will not rejoice therein.
19 Because he has oppressed and has forsaken the poor; because he has violently taken away an house which he builded not;
20 Surely he will not feel quietness in his belly, he will not save of that which he desired.
21 There will none of his meat be left; therefore will no man look for his goods.
22 In the fulness of his sufficiency he will be in straits: every hand of the wicked will come upon him.
23 When he is about to fill his belly, Elohim will cast the fury of his wrath upon him, and will rain it upon him while he is eating.
24 He will flee from the iron weapon, and the bow of steel will strike him through.
25 It is drawn, and cometh out of the body; yea, the glittering sword cometh out of his gall: terrors are upon him.
26 All darkness will be hid in his secret places: a fire not blown will consume him; it will go ill with him that is left in his tabernacle.
27 The heaven will reveal his iniquity; and the earth will rise up against him.
28 The increase of his house will depart, and his goods will flow away in the day of his wrath.
29 This is the portion of a wicked man from Elohim, and the heritage appointed unto him by Elohim.
CHAPTER 21
BUT Job answered and said,
2 Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations.
3 Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.
4 As for me, is my complaint to man? and if it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled?
5 Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
6 Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh.
7 Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?
8 Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.
9 Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of Elohim upon them.
10 Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.
11 They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.
12 They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.
13 They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave.
14 Therefore they say unto Elohim, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of Your ways.
15 What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?
16 Lo, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
17 How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! Elohim distributeth sorrows in his anger.
18 They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away.
19 Elohim layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he will know it.
20 His eyes will see his destruction, and he will drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
21 For what pleasure has he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst?
22 Will any teach Elohim knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high.
23 One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.
24 His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow.
25 And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure.
26 They will lie down alike in the dust, and the worms will cover them.
27 Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which You wrongfully imagine against me.
28 For You say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked?
29 Have You not asked them that go by the way? and do You not know their tokens,
30 That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they will be brought forth to the day of wrath.
31 Who will declare his way to his face? and who will repay him what he has done?
32 Yet will he be brought to the grave, and will remain in the tomb.
33 The clods of the valley will be sweet unto him, and every man will draw after him, as there are innumerable before him.
34 How then comfort You me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood?
CHAPTER 22
THEN Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
2 Can a man be profitable unto Elohim, as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself?
3 Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that you are righteous? or is it gain to him, that you makest Your ways perfect?
4 Will he reprove you for fear of you? will he enter with you into judgment?
5 Is not Your wickedness great? and yours iniquities infinite?
6 For you have taken a pledge from Your brother for nothing, and stripped the naked of their clothing.
7 You have not given water to the weary to drink, and you have withholden bread from the hungry.
8 But as for the mighty man, he had the earth; and the honourable man dwelt in it.
9 You have sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.
10 Therefore snares are round about you, and sudden fear troubleth you;
11 Or darkness, that you canst not see; and abundance of waters cover you.
12 Is not Elohim in the height of heaven? and behold the height of the stars, how high they are!
13 And you sayest, How does Elohim know? can he judge through the dark cloud?
14 Thick clouds are a covering to him, that he seeth not; and he walks in the circuit of heaven.
15 Have you marked the old way which wicked men have trodden?
16 Which were cut down out of time, whose foundation was overflown with a flood:
17 Which said unto Elohim, Depart from us: and what can the Almighty do for them?
18 Yet he filled their houses with good things: but the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
19 The righteous see it, and are glad: and the innocent laugh them to scorn.
20 Whereas our substance is not cut down, but the remnant of them the fire consumeth.
21 Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good will come unto you.
22 Receive, I pray you, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in yours heart.
23 If you return to the Almighty, you will be built up, you will put away iniquity far from Your tabernacles.
24 Then will you lay up gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks.
25 Yea, the Almighty will be Your defence, and you will have plenty of silver.
26 For then will you have Your delight in the Almighty, and will lift up Your face unto Elohim.
27 You will make Your prayer unto him, and he will hear you, and you will pay Your vows.
28 You will also decree a thing, and it will be established unto you: and the light will shine upon Your ways.
29 When men are cast down, then you will say, There is lifting up; and he will save the humble person.
30 He will deliver the island of the innocent: and it is delivered by the pureness of yours hands.
CHAPTER 23
THEN Job answered and said,
2 Even to day is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning.
3 Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat!
4 I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.
5 I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.
6 Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me.
7 There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge.
8 Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him:
9 On the left hand, where he does work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him:
10 But he knoweth the way that I take: when he has tried me, I will come forth as gold.
11 My foot has held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.
12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.
13 But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.
14 For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him.
15 Therefore am I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid of him.
16 For Elohim maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me:
17 Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither has he covered the darkness from my face.
CHAPTER 24
WHY, seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty, do they that know him not see his days?
2 Some remove the landmarks; they violently take away flocks, and feed thereof.
3 They drive away the ass of the fatherless, they take the widow’s ox for a pledge.
4 They turn the needy out of the way: the poor of the earth hide themselves together.
5 Behold, as wild asses in the desert, go they forth to their work; rising betimes for a prey: the wilderness yieldeth food for them and for their children.
6 They reap every one his corn in the field: and they gather the vintage of the wicked.
7 They cause the naked to lodge without clothing, that they have no covering in the cold.
8 They are wet with the showers of the mountains, and embrace the rock for want of a shelter.
9 They pluck the fatherless from the breast, and take a pledge of the poor.
10 They cause him to go naked without clothing, and they take away the sheaf from the hungry;
11 Which make oil within their walls, and tread their winepresses, and suffer thirst.
12 Men groan from out of the city, and the soul of the wounded cries out: yet Elohim layeth not folly to them.
13 They are of those that rebel against the light; they know not the ways thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof.
14 The murderer rising with the light killeth the poor and needy, and in the night is as a thief.
15 The eye also of the adulterer waiteth for the twilight, saying, No eye will see me: and disguiseth his face.
16 In the dark they dig through houses, which they had marked for themselves in the daytime: they know not the light.
17 For the morning is to them even as the shadow of death: if one know them, they are in the terrors of the shadow of death.
18 He is swift as the waters; their portion is cursed in the earth: he beholdeth not the way of the vineyards.
19 Drought and heat consume the snow waters: so does the grave those which have sinned.
20 The womb will forget him; the worm will feed sweetly on him; he will be no more remembered; and wickedness will be broken as a tree.
21 He evil entreateth the barren that beareth not: and doeth not good to the widow.
22 He draweth also the mighty with his power: he riseth up, and no man is sure of life.
23 Though it be given him to be in safety, whereon he resteth; yet his eyes are upon their ways.
24 They are exalted for a little while, but are gone and brought low; they are taken out of the way as all other, and cut off as the tops of the ears of corn.
25 And if it be not so now, who will make me a liar, and make my speech nothing worth?
CHAPTER 25
THEN answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,
2 Dominion and fear are with him, he maketh peace in his high places.
3 Is there any number of his armies? and upon whom does not his light arise?
4 How then can man be justified with Elohim? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?
5 Behold even to the moon, and it shineth not; yea, the stars are not pure in his sight.
6 How much less man, that is a worm? and the son of man, which is a worm?
CHAPTER 26
BUT Job answered and said,
2 How have you helped him that is without power? how savest you the arm that has no strength?
3 How have you counselled him that has no wisdom? and how have you plentifully declared the thing as it is?
4 To whom have you uttered words? and whose spirit came from you?
5 Dead things are formed from under the waters, and the inhabitants thereof.
6 Hell is naked before him, and destruction has no covering.
7 He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.
8 He bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds; and the cloud is not rent under them.
9 He holdeth back the face of his throne, and spreadeth his cloud upon it.
10 He has compassed the waters with bounds, until the day and night come to an end.
11 The pillars of heaven tremble and are astonished at his reproof.
12 He divideth the sea with his power, and by his understanding he smiteth through the proud.
13 By his spirit he has garnished the heavens; his hand has formed the crooked serpent.
14 Lo, these are parts of his ways: but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand?
CHAPTER 27
MOREOVER Job continued his parable, and said,
2 As Elohim liveth, who has taken away my judgment; and the Almighty, who has vexed my soul;
3 All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of Elohim is in my nostrils;
4 My lips will not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit.
5 Elohim forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me.
6 My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart will not reproach me so long as I live.
7 Let mine enemy be as the wicked, and he that riseth up against me as the unrighteous.
8 For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he has gained, when Elohim taketh away his soul?
9 Will Elohim hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him?
10 Will he delight himself in the Almighty? will he always call upon Elohim?
11 I will teach you by the hand of Elohim: that which is with the Almighty will I not conceal.
12 Behold, all You yourselves have seen it; why then are You thus altogether vain?
13 This is the portion of a wicked man with Elohim, and the heritage of oppressors, which they will receive of the Almighty.
14 If his children be multiplied, it is for the sword: and his offspring will not be satisfied with bread.
15 Those that remain of him will be buried in death: and his widows will not weep.
16 Though he heap up silver as the dust, and prepare raiment as the clay;
17 He may prepare it, but the just will put it on, and the innocent will divide the silver.
18 He buildeth his house as a moth, and as a booth that the keeper maketh.
19 The rich man will lie down, but he will not be gathered: he openeth his eyes, and he is not.
20 Terrors take hold on him as waters, a tempest stealeth him away in the night.
21 The east wind carrieth him away, and he departeth: and as a storm hurleth him out of his place.
22 For Elohim will cast upon him, and not spare: he would fain flee out of his hand.
23 Men will clap their hands at him, and will hiss him out of his place.
CHAPTER 28
SURELY there is a vein for the silver, and a place for gold where they fine it.
2 Iron is taken out of the earth, and brass is molten out of the stone.
3 He setteth an end to darkness, and searcheth out all perfection: the stones of darkness, and the shadow of death.
4 The flood breaketh out from the inhabitant; even the waters forgotten of the foot: they are dried up, they are gone away from men.
5 As for the earth, out of it cometh bread: and under it is turned up as it were fire.
6 The stones of it are the place of sapphires: and it has dust of gold.
7 There is a path which no fowl knoweth, and which the vulture’s eye has not seen:
8 The lion’s whelps have not trodden it, nor the fierce lion passed by it.
9 He putteth forth his hand upon the rock; he overturneth the mountains by the roots.
10 He cutteth out rivers among the rocks; and his eye seeth every precious thing.
11 He bindeth the floods from overflowing; and the thing that is hid bringeth he forth to light.
12 But where will wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding?
13 Man knoweth not the price thereof; neither is it found in the land of the living.
14 The depth says, It is not in me: and the sea says, It is not with me.
15 It cannot be gotten for gold, neither will silver be weighed for the price thereof.
16 It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire.
17 The gold and the crystal cannot equal it: and the exchange of it will not be for jewels of fine gold.
18 No mention will be made of coral, or of pearls: for the price of wisdom is above rubies.
19 The topaz of Ethiopia will not equal it, neither will it be valued with pure gold.
20 Which then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding?
21 Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the fowls of the air.
22 Destruction and death say, We have heard the fame thereof with our ears.
23 Elohim understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof.
24 For he looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven;
25 To make the weight for the winds; and he weigheth the waters by measure.
26 When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder:
27 Then did he see it, and declare it; he prepared it, yea, and searched it out.
28 And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of Yahowah, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.
CHAPTER 29
MOREOVER Job continued his parable, and said,
2 Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when Elohim preserved me;
3 When his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness;
4 As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of Elohim was upon my tabernacle;
5 When the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me;
6 When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil;
7 When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street!
8 The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose, and stood up.
9 The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.
10 The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.
11 When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me:
12 Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him.
13 The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.
14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem.
15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.
16 I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.
17 And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.
18 Then I said, I will die in my nest, and I will multiply my days as the sand.
19 My root was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch.
20 My glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand.
21 Unto me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel.
22 After my words they spoke not again; and my speech dropped upon them.
23 And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.
24 If I laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down.
25 I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners.
CHAPTER 30
BUT now they that are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my flock.
2 Yea, whereto might the strength of their hands profit me, in whom old age was perished?
3 For want and famine they were solitary; fleeing into the wilderness in former time desolate and waste.
4 Who cut up mallows by the bushes, and juniper roots for their meat.
5 They were driven forth from among men, (they cried after them as after a thief;)
6 To dwell in the clifts of the valleys, in caves of the earth, and in the rocks.
7 Among the bushes they brayed; under the nettles they were gathered together.
8 They were children of fools, yea, children of base men: they were viler than the earth.
9 And now am I their song, yea, I am their byword.
10 They abhor me, they flee far from me, and spare not to spit in my face.
11 Because he has loosed my cord, and afflicted me, they have also let loose the bridle before me.
12 Upon my right hand rise the youth; they push away my feet, and they raise up against me the ways of their destruction.
13 They mar my path, they set forward my calamity, they have no helper.
14 They came upon me as a wide breaking in of waters: in the desolation they rolled themselves upon me.
15 Terrors are turned upon me: they pursue my soul as the wind: and my welfare passeth away as a cloud.
16 And now my soul is poured out upon me; the days of affliction have taken hold upon me.
17 My bones are pierced in me in the night season: and my sinews take no rest.
18 By the great force of my disease is my garment changed: it bindeth me about as the collar of my coat.
19 He has cast me into the mire, and I am become like dust and ashes.
20 I cry unto you, and you dost not hear me: I stand up, and you regardest me not.
21 You are become cruel to me: with Your strong hand you opposest thyself against me.
22 You liftest me up to the wind; you causest me to ride upon it, and dissolvest my substance.
23 For I know that you will bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all living.
24 Howbeit he will not stretch out his hand to the grave, though they cry in his destruction.
25 Did not I weep for him that was in trouble? was not my soul grieved for the poor?
26 When I looked for good, then evil came unto me: and when I waited for light, there came darkness.
27 My bowels boiled, and rested not: the days of affliction prevented me.
28 I went mourning without the sun: I stood up, and I cried in the congregation.
29 I am a brother to dragons, and a companion to owls.
30 My skin is black upon me, and my bones are burned with heat.
31 My harp also is turned to mourning, and my organ into the voice of them that weep.
CHAPTER 31
I MADE a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?
2 For what portion of Elohim is there from above? and what inheritance of the Almighty from on high?
3 Is not destruction to the wicked? and a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity?
4 Does not he see my ways, and count all my steps?
5 If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot has hasted to deceit;
6 Let me be weighed in an even balance, that Elohim may know mine integrity.
7 If my step has turned out of the way, and mine heart walked after mine eyes, and if any blot has cleaved to mine hands;
8 Then let me sow, and let another eat; yea, let my offspring be rooted out.
9 If mine heart have been deceived by a woman, or if I have laid wait at my neighbour’s door;
10 Then let my wife grind unto another, and let others bow down upon her.
11 For this is an heinous crime; yea, it is an iniquity to be punished by the judges.
12 For it is a fire that consumeth to destruction, and would root out all mine increase.
13 If I did despise the cause of my manservant or of my maidservant, when they contended with me;
14 What then will I do when Elohim riseth up? and when he visiteth, what will I answer him?
15 Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not one fashion us in the womb?
16 If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail;
17 Or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless has not eaten thereof;
18 (For from my youth he was brought up with me, as with a father, and I have guided her from my mother’s womb;)
19 If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or any poor without covering;
20 If his loins have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep;
21 If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, when I saw my help in the gate:
22 Then let mine arm fall from my shoulder blade, and mine arm be broken from the bone.
23 For destruction from Elohim was a terror to me, and by reason of his highness I could not endure.
24 If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, You are my confidence;
25 If I rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because mine hand had gotten much;
26 If I beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness;
27 And my heart has been secretly enticed, or my mouth has kissed my hand:
28 This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have denied the Elohim that is above.
29 If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found him:
30 Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by wishing a curse to his soul.
31 If the men of my tabernacle said not, Oh that we had of his flesh! we cannot be satisfied.
32 The stranger did not lodge in the street: but I opened my doors to the traveller.
33 If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom:
34 Did I fear a great multitude, or did the contempt of families terrify me, that I kept silence, and went not out of the door?
35 Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me, and that mine adversary had written a book.
36 Surely I would take it upon my shoulder, and bind it as a crown to me.
37 I would declare unto him the number of my steps; as a prince would I go near unto him.
38 If my land cry against me, or that the furrows likewise thereof complain;
39 If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, or have caused the owners thereof to lose their life:
40 Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and cockle instead of barley. The words of Job are ended.
CHAPTER 32
SO these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.
2 Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram: against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than Elohim.
3 Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.
4 Now Elihu had waited till Job had spoken, because they were elder than he.
5 When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, then his wrath was kindled.
6 And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said, I am young, and You are very old; wherefore I was afraid, and durst not shew you mine opinion.
7 I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom.
8 But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.
9 Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand judgment.
10 Therefore I said, Hearken to me; I also will shew mine opinion.
11 Behold, I waited for your words; I gave ear to your reasons, whilst You searched out what to say.
12 Yea, I attended unto you, and, behold, there was none of you that convinced Job, or that answered his words:
13 Lest You should say, We have found out wisdom: Elohim thrusteth him down, not man.
14 Now he has not directed his words against me: neither will I answer him with your speeches.
15 They were amazed, they answered no more: they left off speaking.
16 When I had waited, (for they spoke not, but stood still, and answered no more;)
17 I said, I will answer also my part, I also will shew mine opinion.
18 For I am full of matter, the spirit within me constraineth me.
19 Behold, my belly is as wine which has no vent; it is ready to burst like new bottles.
20 I will speak, that I may be refreshed: I will open my lips and answer.
21 Let me not, I pray you, accept any man’s person, neither let me give flattering titles unto man.
22 For I know not to give flattering titles; in so doing my maker would soon take me away.
CHAPTER 33
WHEREFORE, Job, I pray you, hear my speeches, and hearken to all my words.
2 Behold, now I have opened my mouth, my tongue has spoken in my mouth.
3 My words will be of the uprightness of my heart: and my lips will utter knowledge clearly.
4 The Spirit of Elohim has made me, and the breath of the Almighty has given me life.
5 If you canst answer me, set Your words in order before me, stand up.
6 Behold, I am according to Your wish in Elohim’s stead: I also am formed out of the clay.
7 Behold, my terror will not make you afraid, neither will my hand be heavy upon you.
8 Surely you have spoken in mine hearing, and I have heard the voice of Your words, saying,
9 I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me.
10 Behold, he finds occasions against me, he counteth me for his enemy,
11 He putteth my feet in the stocks, he marketh all my paths.
12 Behold, in this you are not just: I will answer you, that Elohim is greater than man.
13 Why dost you strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters.
14 For Elohim speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not.
15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed;
16 Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction,
17 That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.
18 He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.
19 He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain:
20 So that his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty meat.
21 His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones that were not seen stick out.
22 Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers.
23 If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness:
24 Then he is gracious unto him, and says, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.
25 His flesh will be fresher than a child’s: he will return to the days of his youth:
26 He will pray unto Elohim, and he will be favourable unto him: and he will see his face with joy: for he will render unto man his righteousness.
27 He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not;
28 He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life will see the light.
29 Lo, all these things worketh Elohim oftentimes with man,
30 To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living.
31 Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me: hold Your peace, and I will speak.
32 If you have any thing to say, answer me: speak, for I desire to justify you.
33 If not, hearken unto me: hold Your peace, and I will teach you wisdom.
CHAPTER 34
FURTHERMORE Elihu answered and said,
2 Hear my words, O You wise men; and give ear unto me, You that have knowledge.
3 For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat.
4 Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good.
5 For Job has said, I am righteous: and Elohim has taken away my judgment.
6 Should I lie against my right? my wound is incurable without transgression.
7 What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water?
8 Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walks with wicked men.
9 For he has said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with Elohim.
10 Therefore hearken unto me, You men of understanding: far be it from Elohim, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.
11 For the work of a man will he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.
12 Yea, surely Elohim will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.
13 Who has given him a charge over the earth? or who has disposed the whole world?
14 If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath;
15 All flesh will perish together, and man will turn again unto dust.
16 If now you have understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words.
17 Will even he that hateth right govern? and will you condemn him that is most just?
18 Is it fit to say to a king, You are wicked? and to princes, You are ungodly?
19 How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands.
20 In a moment will they die, and the people will be troubled at midnight, and pass away: and the mighty will be taken away without hand.
21 For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.
22 There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
23 For he will not lay upon man more than right; that he should enter into judgment with Elohim.
24 He will break in pieces mighty men without number, and set others in their stead.
25 Therefore he knoweth their works, and he overturneth them in the night, so that they are destroyed.
26 He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others;
27 Because they turned back from him, and would not consider any of his ways:
28 So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted.
29 When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only:
30 That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.
31 Surely it is meet to be said unto Elohim, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more:
32 That which I see not teach you me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more.
33 Should it be according to Your mind? he will recompense it, whether you refuse, or whether you choose; and not I: therefore speak what you know.
34 Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken unto me.
35 Job has spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom.
36 My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end because of his answers for wicked men.
37 For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against Elohim.
CHAPTER 35
ELIHU spoke moreover, and said,
2 Thinkest you this to be right, that you saidst, My righteousness is more than Elohim’s?
3 For you saidst, What advantage will it be unto you? and, What profit will I have, if I be cleansed from my sin?
4 I will answer you, and Your companions with you.
5 Look unto the heavens, and see; and behold the clouds which are higher than you.
6 If you sinnest, what do you against him? or if Your transgressions be multiplied, what do you unto him?
7 If you be righteous, what givest you him? or what receiveth he of yours hand?
8 Thy wickedness may hurt a man as you are; and Your righteousness may profit the son of man.
9 By reason of the multitude of oppressions they make the oppressed to cry: they cry out by reason of the arm of the mighty.
10 But none says, Where is Elohim my maker, who giveth songs in the night;
11 Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven?
12 There they cry, but none giveth answer, because of the pride of evil men.
13 Surely Elohim will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it.
14 Although you sayest you will not see him, yet judgment is before him; therefore trust you in him.
15 But now, because it is not so, he has visited in his anger; yet he knoweth it not in great extremity:
16 Therefore does Job open his mouth in vain; he multiplieth words without knowledge.
CHAPTER 36
ELIHU also proceeded, and said,
2 Suffer me a little, and I will shew you that I have yet to speak on Elohim’s behalf.
3 I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
4 For truly my words will not be false: he that is perfect in knowledge is with you.
5 Behold, Elohim is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom.
6 He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth right to the poor.
7 He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings are they on the throne; yea, he does establish them for ever, and they are exalted.
8 And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction;
9 Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded.
10 He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity.
11 If they obey and serve him, they will spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.
12 But if they obey not, they will perish by the sword, and they will die without knowledge.
13 But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he bindeth them.
14 They die in youth, and their life is among the unclean.
15 He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth their ears in oppression.
16 Even so would he have removed you out of the strait into a broad place, where there is no straitness; and that which should be set on Your table should be full of fatness.
17 But you have fulfilled the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold on you.
18 Because there is wrath, beware lest he take you away with his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver you.
19 Will he esteem Your riches? no, not gold, nor all the forces of strength.
20 Desire not the night, when people are cut off in their place.
21 Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this have you chosen rather than affliction.
22 Behold, Elohim exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him?
23 Who has enjoined him his way? or who can say, You have wrought iniquity?
24 Remember that you magnify his work, which men behold.
25 Every man may see it; man may behold it afar off.
26 Behold, Elohim is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out.
27 For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof:
28 Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly.
29 Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle?
30 Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it, and covereth the bottom of the sea.
31 For by them judgeth he the people; he giveth meat in abundance.
32 With clouds he covereth the light; and commandeth it not to shine by the cloud that cometh between.
33 The noise thereof sheweth concerning it, the cattle also concerning the vapour.
CHAPTER 37
AT this also my heart trembleth, and is moved out of his place.
2 Hear attentively the noise of his voice, and the sound that goeth out of his mouth.
3 He directeth it under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto the ends of the earth.
4 After it a voice roareth: he thundereth with the voice of his excellency; and he will not stay them when his voice is heard.
5 Elohim thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend.
6 For he says to the snow, Be you on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength.
7 He sealeth up the hand of every man; that all men may know his work.
8 Then the beasts go into dens, and remain in their places.
9 Out of the south cometh the whirlwind: and cold out of the north.
10 By the breath of Elohim frost is given: and the breadth of the waters is straitened.
11 Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud: he scattereth his bright cloud:
12 And it is turned round about by his counsels: that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the world in the earth.
13 He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy.
14 Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of Elohim.
15 Dost you know when Elohim disposed them, and caused the light of his cloud to shine?
16 Dost you know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge?
17 How Your garments are warm, when he quieteth the earth by the south wind?
18 Have you with him spread out the sky, which is strong, and as a molten looking glass?
19 Teach us what we will say unto him; for we cannot order our speech by reason of darkness.
20 Will it be told him that I speak? if a man speak, surely he will be swallowed up.
21 And now men see not the bright light which is in the clouds: but the wind passeth, and cleanseth them.
22 Fair weather cometh out of the north: with Elohim is terrible majesty.
23 Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict.
24 Men do therefore fear him: he respecteth not any that are wise of heart.
CHAPTER 38
THEN Yahowah answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
2 Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
3 Gird up now Your loins like a man; for I will demand of you, and answer you me.
4 Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if you have understanding.
5 Who has laid the measures thereof, if you know? or who has stretched the line upon it?
6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;
7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of Elohim shouted for joy?
8 Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?
9 When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it,
10 And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors,
11 And said, Hitherto will you come, but no further: and here will Your proud waves be stayed?
12 Have you commanded the morning since Your days; and caused the dayspring to know his place;
13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?
14 It is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment.
15 And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm will be broken.
16 Have you entered into the springs of the sea? or have you walked in the search of the depth?
17 Have the gates of death been opened unto you? or have you seen the doors of the shadow of death?
18 Have you perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if you know it all.
19 Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof,
20 That you should take it to the bound thereof, and that you should know the paths to the house thereof?
21 Knowest you it, because you were then born? or because the number of Your days is great?
22 Have you entered into the treasures of the snow? or have you seen the treasures of the hail,
23 Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?
24 By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the east wind upon the earth?
25 Who has divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder;
26 To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man;
27 To satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?
28 Hath the rain a father? or who has begotten the drops of dew?
29 Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who has gendered it?
30 The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.
31 Canst you bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?
32 Canst you bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst you guide Arcturus with his sons?
33 Knowest you the ordinances of heaven? canst you set the dominion thereof in the earth?
34 Canst you lift up Your voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover you?
35 Canst you send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto you, Here we are?
36 Who has put wisdom in the inward parts? or who has given understanding to the heart?
37 Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven,
38 When the dust groweth into hardness, and the clods cleave fast together?
39 Wilt you hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions,
40 When they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait?
41 Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto Elohim, they wander for lack of meat.
CHAPTER 39
KNOWEST you the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? or canst you mark when the hinds do calve?
2 Canst you number the months that they fulfil? or know you the time when they bring forth?
3 They bow themselves, they bring forth their young ones, they cast out their sorrows.
4 Their young ones are in good liking, they grow up with corn; they go forth, and return not unto them.
5 Who has sent out the wild ass free? or who has loosed the bands of the wild ass?
6 Whose house I have made the wilderness, and the barren land his dwellings.
7 He scorneth the multitude of the city, neither regardeth he the crying of the driver.
8 The range of the mountains is his pasture, and he searcheth after every green thing.
9 Will the unicorn be willing to serve you, or abide by Your crib?
10 Canst you bind the unicorn with his band in the furrow? or will he harrow the valleys after you?
11 Wilt you trust him, because his strength is great? or will you leave Your labour to him?
12 Wilt you believe him, that he will bring home Your seed, and gather it into Your barn?
13 Gavest you the goodly wings unto the peacocks? or wings and feathers unto the ostrich?
14 Which leaveth her eggs in the earth, and warmeth them in dust,
15 And forgetteth that the foot may crush them, or that the wild beast may break them.
16 She is hardened against her young ones, as though they were not hers: her labour is in vain without fear;
17 Because Elohim has deprived her of wisdom, neither has he imparted to her understanding.
18 What time she lifteth up herself on high, she scorneth the horse and his rider.
19 Have you given the horse strength? have you clothed his neck with thunder?
20 Canst you make him afraid as a grasshopper? the glory of his nostrils is terrible.
21 He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth on to meet the armed men.
22 He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted; neither turneth he back from the sword.
23 The quiver rattleth against him, the glittering spear and the shield.
24 He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage: neither believeth he that it is the sound of the trumpet.
25 He says among the trumpets, Ha, ha; and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.
26 Does the hawk fly by Your wisdom, and stretch her wings toward the south?
27 Does the eagle mount up at Your command, and make her nest on high?
28 She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place.
29 From thence she seeketh the prey, and her eyes behold afar off.
30 Her young ones also suck up blood: and where the slain are, there is she.
CHAPTER 40
MOREOVER Yahowah answered Job, and said,
2 Will he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth Elohim, let him answer it.
3 Then Job answered Yahowah, and said,
4 Behold, I am vile; what will I answer you? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.
5 Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further.
6 Then answered Yahowah unto Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
7 Gird up Your loins now like a man: I will demand of you, and declare you unto me.
8 Wilt you also disannul my judgment? will you condemn me, that you may be righteous?
9 Have you an arm like Elohim? or canst you thunder with a voice like him?
10 Deck thyself now with majesty and excellency; and array thyself with glory and beauty.
11 Cast abroad the rage of Your wrath: and behold every one that is proud, and abase him.
12 Look on every one that is proud, and bring him low; and tread down the wicked in their place.
13 Hide them in the dust together; and bind their faces in secret.
14 Then will I also confess unto you that yours own right hand can save you.
15 Behold now behemoth, which I made with you; he eateth grass as an ox.
16 Lo now, his strength is in his loins, and his force is in the navel of his belly.
17 He moves his tail like a cedar: the sinews of his stones are wrapped together.
18 His bones are as strong pieces of brass; his bones are like bars of iron.
19 He is the chief of the ways of Elohim: he that made him can make his sword to approach unto him.
20 Surely the mountains bring him forth food, where all the beasts of the field play.
21 He lieth under the shady trees, in the covert of the reed, and fens.
22 The shady trees cover him with their shadow; the willows of the brook compass him about.
23 Behold, he drinketh up a river, and hasteth not: he trusteth that he can draw up Jordan into his mouth.
24 He taketh it with his eyes: his nose pierceth through snares.
CHAPTER 41
CANST you draw out leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord which you lettest down?
2 Canst you put an hook into his nose? or bore his jaw through with a thorn?
3 Will he make many supplications unto you? will he speak soft words unto you?
4 Will he make a covenant with you? will you take him for a servant for ever?
5 Wilt you play with him as with a bird? or will you bind him for Your maidens?
6 Will the companions make a banquet of him? will they part him among the merchants?
7 Canst you fill his skin with barbed irons? or his head with fish spears?
8 Lay yours hand upon him, remember the battle, do no more.
9 Behold, the hope of him is in vain: will not one be cast down even at the sight of him?
10 None is so fierce that dare stir him up: who then is able to stand before me?
11 Who has prevented me, that I should repay him? whatsoever is under the whole heaven is mine.
12 I will not conceal his parts, nor his power, nor his comely proportion.
13 Who can discover the face of his garment? or who can come to him with his double bridle?
14 Who can open the doors of his face? his teeth are terrible round about.
15 His scales are his pride, shut up together as with a close seal.
16 One is so near to another, that no air can come between them.
17 They are joined one to another, they stick together, that they cannot be sundered.
18 By his neesings a light does shine, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning.
19 Out of his mouth go burning lamps, and sparks of fire leap out.
20 Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a seething pot or caldron.
21 His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth.
22 In his neck remaineth strength, and sorrow is turned into joy before him.
23 The flakes of his flesh are joined together: they are firm in themselves; they cannot be moved.
24 His heart is as firm as a stone; yea, as hard as a piece of the nether millstone.
25 When he raiseth up himself, the mighty are afraid: by reason of breakings they purify themselves.
26 The sword of him that layeth at him cannot hold: the spear, the dart, nor the habergeon.
27 He esteemeth iron as straw, and brass as rotten wood.
28 The arrow cannot make him flee: slingstones are turned with him into stubble.
29 Darts are counted as stubble: he laugheth at the shaking of a spear.
30 Sharp stones are under him: he spreadeth sharp pointed things upon the mire.
31 He maketh the deep to boil like a pot: he maketh the sea like a pot of ointment.
32 He maketh a path to shine after him; one would think the deep to be hoary.
33 Upon earth there is not his like, who is made without fear.
34 He beholdeth all high things: he is a king over all the children of pride.
CHAPTER 42
THEN Job answered Yahowah, and said,
2 I know that you canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from you.
3 Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.
4 Hear, I beseech you, and I will speak: I will demand of you, and declare you unto me.
5 I have heard of you by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth you.
6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.
7 And it was so, that after Yahowah had spoken these words unto Job, Yahowah said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against you, and against Your two friends: for You have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job has.
8 Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job will pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that You have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job.
9 So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went, and did according as Yahowah commanded them: Yahowah also accepted Job.
10 And Yahowah turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also Yahowah gave Job twice as much as he had before.
11 Then came there unto him all his brethren, and all his sisters, and all they that had been of his acquaintance before, and did eat bread with him in his house: and they bemoaned him, and comforted him over all the evil that Yahowah had brought upon him: every man also gave him a piece of money, and every one an earring of gold.
12 So Yahowah blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses.
13 He had also seven sons and three daughters.
14 And he called the name of the first, Jemima; and the name of the second, Kezia; and the name of the third, Keren-happuch.
15 And in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job: and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren.
16 After this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons’ sons, even four generations.
17 So Job died, being old and full of days.