Passage Lookup

Job 29

Job’s Summary Defense

    ¹And Job again^(A) took up his discourse, and said:
    ²"Oh, that I were as in the months of old,
   as in the days when God watched over me,
³when his^(B) lamp shone upon my head,
   and by his light I walked through darkness,
⁴as I was in my prime,^[a]
   when the^(C) friendship of God was upon my tent,
⁵when the Almighty was yet with me,
   when my^(D) children were all around me,
⁶when my steps were^(E) washed with^(F) butter,
   and^(G) the rock poured out for me streams of^(H) oil!
⁷When I went out to^(I) the gate of the city,
   when I prepared my seat in the square,
⁸the young men saw me and withdrew,
   and the aged rose and stood;
⁹the princes refrained from talking
   and^(J) laid their hand on their mouth;
¹⁰the voice of the nobles was hushed,
   and their^(K) tongue stuck to the roof of their mouth.
¹¹When the ear heard, it called me blessed,
   and when the eye saw, it approved,
¹²because I^(L) delivered the poor who cried for help,
   and the fatherless who had none to help him.
^13(M) The blessing of him who was^(N) about to perish came upon me,
   and I caused^(O) the widow’s heart to sing for joy.
¹⁴I^(P) put on righteousness, and it clothed me;
   my justice was like a robe and^(Q) a turban.
¹⁵I was^(R) eyes to the blind
   and feet to the lame.
¹⁶I was a father to the needy,
   and I searched out^(S) the cause of him whom I did not know.
¹⁷I^(T) broke^(U) the fangs of the unrighteous
   and made him drop his prey from his teeth.
^18(V) Then I thought, 'I shall die in my^(W) nest,
   and I shall multiply my days as^(X) the sand,
¹⁹my^(Y) roots spread out to^(Z) the waters,
   with the dew all night on my^(AA) branches,
²⁰my glory fresh with me,
   and my^(AB) bow ever^(AC) new in my hand.'

    ²¹"Men listened to me and waited
   and kept silence for my counsel.
²²After I spoke they did not speak again,
   and my word^(AD) dropped upon them.
²³They waited for me as for the rain,
   and they^(AE) opened their mouths as for the^(AF) spring rain.
²⁴I smiled on them when they had no confidence,
   and^(AG) the light of my^(AH) face they did not cast down.
²⁵I chose their way and sat as chief,
   and I lived like^(AI) a king among his troops,
   like one who comforts mourners.

Job 30

    ¹"But now they^(AJ) laugh at me,
   men who are^(AK) younger than I,
whose fathers I would have disdained
   to set with the dogs of my flock.
²What could I gain from the strength of their hands,
   ^(AL) men whose^(AM) vigor is gone?
³Through want and hard hunger
   they^(AN) gnaw^(AO) the dry ground by night in^(AP) waste and desolation;
⁴they pick saltwort and the leaves of bushes,
   and the roots of the broom tree for their food.^[b]
5(AQ) They are driven out from human company;
   they shout after them as after a thief.
⁶In the gullies of the torrents they must dwell,
   in holes of the earth and of^(AR) the rocks.
⁷Among the bushes they^(AS) bray;
   under^(AT) the nettles they huddle together.
⁸A senseless, a nameless brood,
   they have been whipped out of the land.

    ⁹"And now I have become their^(AU) song;
   I am^(AV) a byword to them.
¹⁰They^(AW) abhor me; they keep aloof from me;
   they do not hesitate to^(AX) spit at the sight of me.
¹¹Because God has loosed my cord and humbled me,
   they have cast off restraint^[c] in my presence.
¹²On my^(AY) right hand the rabble rise;
   they push away my feet;
   they^(AZ) cast up against me their ways of destruction.
¹³They break up my path;
   they promote my^(BA) calamity;
   they need no one to help them.
¹⁴As through a wide^(BB) breach they come;
   amid the crash they roll on.
^15(BC) Terrors are turned upon me;
   my honor is pursued as by the wind,
   and my prosperity has passed away like^(BD) a cloud.

    ¹⁶"And now my soul is^(BE) poured out within me;
   days of affliction have taken hold of me.
^17(BF) The night^(BG) racks my bones,
   and the pain that^(BH) gnaws me takes no rest.
¹⁸With great force my garment is^(BI) disfigured;
   it binds me about like the collar of my tunic.
¹⁹God^[d] has cast me into the mire,
   and I have become like^(BJ) dust and ashes.
²⁰I cry to you for help and you do not answer me;
   I stand, and you only look at me.
²¹You have^(BK) turned cruel to me;
   with the might of your hand you^(BL) persecute me.
^22(BM) You lift me up on the wind; you make me ride on it,
   and you toss me about in the roar of the storm.
^23(BN) For I know that you will bring me to death
   and to the house appointed for^(BO) all living.

    ²⁴"Yet does not one in a^(BP) heap of ruins stretch out his hand,
   and in his disaster cry for help?^[e]
25Did not I^(BQ) weep for him whose day was hard?
   Was not my soul grieved for the needy?
²⁶But^(BR) when I hoped for good, evil came,
   and when I waited for light,^(BS) darkness came.
²⁷My inward parts are in turmoil and never still;
   days of affliction^(BT) come to meet me.
²⁸I^(BU) go about darkened, but not by the sun;
   I stand up in^(BV) the assembly and cry for help.
²⁹I am a brother of^(BW) jackals
   and a companion of^(BX) ostriches.
³⁰My^(BY) skin turns black and falls from me,
   and my^(BZ) bones burn with heat.
³¹My^(CA) lyre is^(CB) turned to mourning,
   and my pipe to the voice of those who weep.

Job 31

Job’s Final Appeal

   
    ¹"I have made a covenant with my^(CC) eyes;
   how then could I gaze at a virgin?
²What would be^(CD) my portion from God above
   and my heritage from the Almighty on high?
³Is not calamity for the unrighteous,
   and disaster for the workers of iniquity?
^4(CE) Does not he see my ways
   and^(CF) number all my steps?

    ⁵"If I have walked with falsehood
   and my foot has hastened to deceit;
⁶(Let me be^(CG) weighed in a just balance,
   and let God know my integrity!)
⁷if my step has turned aside from the way
   and^(CH) my heart has gone after my eyes,
   and if any^(CI) spot has stuck to my hands,
⁸then let me^(CJ) sow, and another eat,
   and let what grows for me^[f] be rooted out.

    ⁹"If my heart has been enticed toward a woman,
   and I have^(CK) lain in wait at my neighbor’s door,
¹⁰then let my wife^(CL) grind for another,
   and let others^(CM) bow down on her.
¹¹For that would be a heinous crime;
   that would be an iniquity^(CN) to be punished by the judges;
¹²for that would be a fire^(CO) that consumes as far as Abaddon,
   and it would burn to the root all my increase.

    ¹³"If I have rejected the cause of my manservant or my maidservant,
   when they brought a complaint against me,
¹⁴what then shall I do when God rises up?
   When he^(CP) makes inquiry, what shall I answer him?
¹⁵Did^(CQ) not he who made me in the womb make him?
   And did not one fashion us in the womb?

    ¹⁶"If I have^(CR) withheld anything that the poor desired,
   or have^(CS) caused the eyes of the widow to fail,
¹⁷or have eaten my morsel alone,
   and the fatherless has not eaten of it
¹⁸(for from my youth the fatherless^[g] grew up with me as with a father,
   and from my mother’s womb I guided the widow^[h]),
¹⁹if I have seen anyone^(CT) perish for^(CU) lack of clothing,
   or the needy without covering,
²⁰if his body has not^(CV) blessed me,^[i]
   and if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep,
²¹if I have raised my hand against^(CW) the fatherless,
   because I saw my help in^(CX) the gate,
²²then let my shoulder blade fall from my shoulder,
   and let my arm be broken from its socket.
²³For I was^(CY) in terror of calamity from God,
   and I could not have faced his majesty.

    ^24(CZ) "If I have made gold my^(DA) trust
   or called^(DB) fine gold my confidence,
²⁵if I have^(DC) rejoiced because my wealth was abundant
   or because^(DD) my hand had found much,
^26(DE) if I have looked at the sun^[j] when it shone,
   or^(DF) the moon moving in splendor,
²⁷and my heart has been secretly enticed,
   and my mouth has kissed my hand,
²⁸this also would be^(DG) an iniquity to be punished by the judges,
   for I would have been false to God above.

    ²⁹"If I have^(DH) rejoiced at the ruin of him who hated me,
   or exulted when evil overtook him
³⁰(^(DI) I have not let my mouth sin
   by asking for his life with a curse),
³¹if the men of my tent have not said,
   'Who is there that has not been filled with his^(DJ) meat?'
³²(^(DK) the sojourner has not lodged in the street;
   I have opened my doors to the traveler),
³³if I^(DL) have concealed my transgressions^(DM) as others do^[k]
   by hiding my iniquity in my bosom,
³⁴because I stood in great fear of^(DN) the multitude,
   and the contempt of families terrified me,
   so that I kept silence, and did not go out of doors—
³⁵Oh, that I had one to hear me!
   (Here is my signature! Let the Almighty^(DO) answer me!)
   Oh, that I had^(DP) the indictment written by my adversary!
³⁶Surely I would carry it on my^(DQ) shoulder;
   I would^(DR) bind it on me as^(DS) a crown;
³⁷I would give him an account of all my steps;
   like a prince I would approach him.

    ³⁸"If my land has cried out against me
   and its furrows have wept together,
^39(DT) if I have eaten its yield without payment
   and made its owners^(DU) breathe their last,
⁴⁰let^(DV) thorns grow instead of wheat,
   and foul weeds instead of barley."

   The words of Job are ended.

Job 32

Elihu Rebukes Job’s Three Friends

    ¹So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was^(DW) righteous in his own eyes. ²Then Elihu the son of Barachel^(DX) the Buzite, of the family of Ram, burned with anger. He burned with anger at Job because he justified himself^(DY) rather than God. ³He burned with anger also at Job’s three friends because they had found no answer, although they had^(DZ) declared Job to be in the wrong. ⁴Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were older than he. ⁵And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, he burned with anger.

    ⁶And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said:

   "I am young in years,
   and you are^(EA) aged;
therefore I was timid and afraid
   to declare my opinion to you.
⁷I said, 'Let days speak,
   and many years teach wisdom.'
⁸But it is^(EB) the spirit in man,
   ^(EC) the breath of the Almighty, that makes him^(ED) understand.
^9(EE) It is not the old^[l] who are wise,
   nor the aged who understand what is right.
¹⁰Therefore I say, 'Listen to me;
   let me also declare my opinion.'

    ¹¹"Behold, I waited for your words,
   I listened for your wise sayings,
   while you searched out what to say.
¹²I gave you my attention,
   and, behold, there was none among you who refuted Job
   or who answered his words.
¹³Beware^(EF) lest you say, 'We have found wisdom;
   God may vanquish him, not a man.'
¹⁴He has not directed his words against me,
   and I will not answer him with your speeches.

    ¹⁵"They are dismayed; they answer no more;
   they have not a word to say.
¹⁶And shall I wait, because they do not speak,
   because they stand there, and answer no more?
¹⁷I also will answer with my share;
   I also will declare my opinion.
¹⁸For I am full of words;
   the spirit within me constrains me.
¹⁹Behold, my belly is like wine that has no vent;
   like new^(EG) wineskins ready to burst.
^20(EH) I must speak, that I may find^(EI) relief;
   I must open my lips and answer.
²¹I will not^(EJ) show partiality to any man
   or use flattery toward any person.
²²For I do not know how to flatter,
   else my Maker would soon take me away.

Job 33

Elihu Rebukes Job

   
    ¹"But now, hear my speech, O Job,
   and listen to all my words.
²Behold, I^(EK) open my mouth;
   the tongue in my mouth speaks.
³My words declare the uprightness of my heart,
   and what my lips know they speak sincerely.
^4(EL) The Spirit of God has made me,
   and^(EM) the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
^5(EN) Answer me, if you can;
   ^(EO) set your words in order before me; take your stand.
⁶Behold, I am toward God as you are;
   I too was pinched off from a piece of^(EP) clay.
⁷Behold, no^(EQ) fear of me need terrify you;
   my^(ER) pressure will not be heavy upon you.

    ⁸"Surely you have spoken in my ears,
   and I have heard the sound of your words.
⁹You say, 'I am^(ES) pure, without^(ET) transgression;
   I am clean, and there is no iniquity in me.
¹⁰Behold, he finds occasions against me,
   he^(EU) counts me as his enemy,
¹¹he^(EV) puts my feet in the stocks
   and^(EW) watches all my paths.'

    ¹²"Behold, in this you are not right. I will answer you,
   for God is greater than man.
¹³Why do you^(EX) contend against him,
   saying, 'He^(EY) will answer none of man’s^[m] words'?^[n]
14For God^(EZ) speaks in one way,
   ^(FA) and in two, though man^(FB) does not perceive it.
¹⁵In^(FC) a dream, in^(FD) a vision of^(FE) the night,
   when deep sleep falls on men,
   while they slumber on their beds,
¹⁶then he^(FF) opens the ears of men
   and terrifies them with warnings,
¹⁷that he may turn man aside from his^(FG) deed
   and conceal pride from a man;
¹⁸he keeps back his soul from the pit,
   his life from^(FH) perishing by the sword.

    ¹⁹"Man is also rebuked with pain on his bed
   and with continual strife in his^(FI) bones,
²⁰so that his^(FJ) life loathes bread,
   and his appetite^(FK) the choicest food.
²¹His flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen,
   and his bones that were not seen^(FL) stick out.
²²His soul draws near^(FM) the pit,
   and his life to^(FN) those who bring death.
²³If there be for him^(FO) an angel,
   ^(FP) a mediator,^(FQ) one of the thousand,
   to declare to man what is^(FR) right for him,
²⁴and he is merciful to him, and says,
   'Deliver him from going down into the pit;
   I have found^(FS) a ransom;
²⁵let his flesh^(FT) become fresh with youth;
   let him return to the days of his youthful vigor';
²⁶then man^[o](FU) prays to God, and he accepts him;
   he^(FV) sees his face with a shout of joy,
and he^(FW) restores to man his righteousness.
    ²⁷He sings before men and says:
'I^(FX) sinned and perverted what was right,
   and it was not repaid to me.
²⁸He has redeemed my^(FY) soul from going down^(FZ) into the pit,
   and my life shall^(GA) look upon the light.'

    ²⁹"Behold, God does all these things,
   twice,^(GB) three times, with a man,
³⁰to bring back his soul from the pit,
   that he may be lighted with^(GC) the light of life.
³¹Pay attention, O Job, listen to me;
   be silent, and I will speak.
³²If you have any words,^(GD) answer me;
   ^(GE) speak, for I desire to justify you.
³³If not,^(GF) listen to me;
   be silent, and I will teach you wisdom."

Job 34

Elihu Asserts God’s Justice

    ¹Then Elihu answered and said:
    ²"Hear my words, you wise men,
   and give ear to me, you who know;
³for^(GG) the ear tests words
   as the palate tastes food.
⁴Let us choose^(GH) what is right;
   let us know among ourselves what is good.
⁵For Job has said, 'I am^(GI) in the right,
   and^(GJ) God has taken away my right;
⁶in spite of my right I am counted a liar;
   my wound is incurable, though I am^(GK) without transgression.'
⁷What man is like Job,
   who^(GL) drinks up scoffing like water,
⁸who travels in company with evildoers
   and walks^(GM) with wicked men?
⁹For^(GN) he has said, 'It profits a man nothing
   that he should take delight in God.'

    ¹⁰"Therefore, hear me, you men of understanding:
   far be it from God that he should^(GO) do wickedness,
   and from the Almighty that he should do wrong.
¹¹For according to^(GP) the work of a man he will repay him,
   and^(GQ) according to his ways he will make it befall him.
¹²Of a truth, God will not do wickedly,
   and^(GR) the Almighty will not pervert justice.
¹³Who gave him charge over the earth,
   and who^(GS) laid on him^[p] the whole world?
¹⁴If he should^(GT) set his heart to it
   and^(GU) gather to himself his^(GV) spirit and his breath,
¹⁵all flesh would perish together,
   and man would^(GW) return to dust.

    ¹⁶"If you have understanding, hear this;
   listen to what I say.
^17(GX) Shall one who hates justice govern?
   Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty,
¹⁸who^(GY) says to a king, 'Worthless one,'
   and to nobles, 'Wicked man,'
¹⁹who^(GZ) shows no partiality to princes,
   nor regards the rich^(HA) more than the poor,
   for^(HB) they are all the work of his hands?
²⁰In a moment^(HC) they die;
   at^(HD) midnight the people are shaken and pass away,
   and the mighty are taken away by^(HE) no human hand.

    ²¹"For his eyes are on^(HF) the ways of a man,
   and he sees all his steps.
²²There is no^(HG) gloom or^(HH) deep darkness
   where evildoers may hide themselves.
²³For God^[q] has no need to consider a man further,
   that he should go before God in^(HI) judgment.
²⁴He^(HJ) shatters the mighty without investigation
   and sets^(HK) others in their place.
²⁵Thus, knowing their works,
   he^(HL) overturns them in the night, and they are crushed.
²⁶He strikes them for their wickedness
   in a place for all to see,
²⁷because they turned aside from^(HM) following him
   and had no regard for any of his ways,
²⁸so that they^(HN) caused the cry of the poor to come to him,
   and he^(HO) heard the cry of the afflicted—
²⁹When he is quiet, who can condemn?
   When he hides his face, who can behold him,
   whether it be a nation or a man?—
³⁰that a godless man should not reign,
   that he should not ensnare the people.

    ³¹"For has anyone said to God,
   'I have borne punishment; I will not offend any more;
^32(HP) teach me what I do not see;
   if I have done iniquity, I will do it no more'?
³³Will he then make repayment to suit you,
   because you reject it?
For you must choose, and not I;
   therefore^(HQ) declare what you know.^[r]
34Men of understanding will say to me,
   and the wise man who hears me will say:
³⁵'Job^(HR) speaks without knowledge;
   his words are without insight.'
³⁶Would that Job were tried to the end,
   because he answers like wicked men.
³⁷For he adds rebellion to his sin;
   he^(HS) claps his hands among us
   and multiplies his words against God."

Job 35

Elihu Condemns Job

    ¹And Elihu answered and said:
    ²"Do you think this to be just?
   Do you say,^(HT) 'It is my right before God,'
³that you ask,^(HU) 'What advantage have I?
   How am I better off than if I had sinned?'
⁴I will answer you
   and^(HV) your friends with you.
^5(HW) Look at the heavens, and see;
   and behold the clouds, which are higher than you.
⁶If you have sinned,^(HX) what do you accomplish against him?
   And if your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to him?
^7(HY) If you are righteous, what do you give to him?
   Or what does he receive from your hand?
⁸Your wickedness concerns a man like yourself,
   and your righteousness^(HZ) a son of man.

    ⁹"Because of the multitude of^(IA) oppressions people^(IB) cry out;
   they call for help because of the arm of^(IC) the mighty.^[s]
10But none says, 'Where is God my^(ID) Maker,
   who gives^(IE) songs in the night,
¹¹who teaches us^(IF) more than the beasts of the earth
   and makes us wiser than the birds of the heavens?'
¹²There they^(IG) cry out, but he does not answer,
   because of the pride of evil men.
¹³Surely God does not hear an empty cry,
   nor does the Almighty regard it.
¹⁴How much less when you say that you^(IH) do not see him,
   that the case is before him, and you are^(II) waiting for him!
¹⁵And now, because^(IJ) his anger does not punish,
   and he does not take much note of transgression,^[t]
16Job opens his mouth in empty talk;
   he^(IK) multiplies words^(IL) without knowledge."

Job 36

Elihu Extols God’s Greatness

    ¹And Elihu continued, and said:
    ²"Bear with me a little, and I will show you,
   for I have yet something to say on God’s behalf.
³I will get my knowledge from^(IM) afar
   and ascribe^(IN) righteousness to my^(IO) Maker.
⁴For truly my words are not false;
   one who is^(IP) perfect in knowledge is with you.

    ⁵"Behold, God is mighty, and^(IQ) does not despise any;
   he is^(IR) mighty in strength of understanding.
⁶He does not keep the wicked alive,
   but gives^(IS) the afflicted their right.
⁷He does not withdraw his^(IT) eyes from the righteous,
   but with^(IU) kings on the throne
   he sets them forever, and they are^(IV) exalted.
⁸And if they are^(IW) bound in chains
   and caught in the cords of affliction,
⁹then he declares to them their work
   and their transgressions, that they are^(IX) behaving arrogantly.
¹⁰He^(IY) opens their ears to instruction
   and commands that they^(IZ) return from iniquity.
^11(JA) If they listen and serve him,
   they^(JB) complete their days in prosperity,
   and their years in pleasantness.
¹²But if they do not listen, they^(JC) perish by the sword
   and die^(JD) without knowledge.

    ¹³"The^(JE) godless in heart cherish anger;
   they do not cry for help when he^(JF) binds them.
¹⁴They^(JG) die in youth,
   and their life ends among the cult prostitutes.
¹⁵He delivers^(JH) the afflicted by their affliction
   and^(JI) opens their ear by adversity.
¹⁶He also allured you out of distress
   into^(JJ) a broad place where there was no cramping,
   and what was set on your^(JK) table was full of^(JL) fatness.

    ¹⁷"But you are full of the judgment on the wicked;
   judgment and justice seize you.
¹⁸Beware lest wrath entice you into scoffing,
   and let not the greatness of^(JM) the ransom turn you aside.
¹⁹Will your^(JN) cry for help avail to keep you from distress,
   or all the force of your strength?
²⁰Do not long for^(JO) the night,
   when peoples vanish^(JP) in their place.
²¹Take care;^(JQ) do not turn to iniquity,
   for this you have chosen rather than affliction.
²²Behold, God is exalted in his power;
   who is^(JR) a teacher like him?
²³Who has^(JS) prescribed for him his way,
   or who can say,^(JT) 'You have done wrong'?

    ²⁴"Remember to^(JU) extol his work,
   of which men have^(JV) sung.
²⁵All mankind has looked on it;
   man beholds it from afar.
²⁶Behold, God is great, and we^(JW) know him not;
   the number of his^(JX) years is unsearchable.
²⁷For he draws up the drops of water;
   they distill his^(JY) mist in^(JZ) rain,
²⁸which^(KA) the skies pour down
   and drop on mankind abundantly.
²⁹Can anyone understand^(KB) the spreading of the clouds,
   the thunderings of his^(KC) pavilion?
³⁰Behold, he scatters his lightning about him
   and covers the roots of the sea.
³¹For by these he^(KD) judges peoples;
   he gives^(KE) food in abundance.
³²He covers his^(KF) hands with the lightning
   and commands it to strike the mark.
³³Its crashing declares his presence;^[u]
   the cattle also declare that he rises.

Job 37

Elihu Proclaims God’s Majesty

   
    ¹"At this also my heart trembles
   and leaps out of its place.
²Keep listening to the thunder of his voice
   and the rumbling that comes from his mouth.
³Under the whole heaven he lets it go,
   and his^(KG) lightning to the^(KH) corners of the earth.
⁴After it^(KI) his voice roars;
   ^(KJ) he thunders with his majestic voice,
   and he does not restrain the lightnings^[v] when his voice is heard.
⁵God thunders wondrously with his voice;
   he does^(KK) great things that we cannot^(KL) comprehend.
⁶For to^(KM) the snow he says, 'Fall on the earth,'
   likewise to the downpour, his mighty downpour.
⁷He^(KN) seals up the hand of every man,
   that all men whom he made may^(KO) know it.
⁸Then the beasts go into their^(KP) lairs,
   and remain in their^(KQ) dens.
⁹From^(KR) its chamber^(KS) comes the whirlwind,
   and^(KT) cold from the scattering winds.
¹⁰By the breath of God^(KU) ice is given,
   and^(KV) the broad waters are frozen fast.
¹¹He loads the thick cloud with moisture;
   the clouds scatter his lightning.
¹²They^(KW) turn around and around by his^(KX) guidance,
   ^(KY) to accomplish all that he commands them
   on the face of the habitable world.
¹³Whether for^(KZ) correction or for his^(LA) land
   or for^(LB) love, he causes it to happen.

Footnotes:

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.