Job 33
- Wherefore, Job, I pray thee, hear my speeches, and hearken to all my words.
- Behold, now I have opened my mouth, my tongue hath spoken in my mouth.
- My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart: and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly.
- The spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.
- If thou canst answer me, set thy words in order before me, stand up.
- Behold, I am according to thy wish in God's stead: I also am formed out of the clay.
- Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, neither shall my hand be heavy upon thee.
- Surely thou hast spoken in mine hearing, and I have heard the voice of thy words, saying,
- I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me.
- Behold, he findeth occasions against me, he counteth me for his enemy,
- He putteth my feet in the stocks, he marketh all my paths.
- Behold, in this thou art not just: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man.
- Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters.
- For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not.
- In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed;
- Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction,
- That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.
- He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.
- He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain:
- So that his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty meat.
- His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones that were not seen stick out.
- Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers.
- If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness:
- Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.
- His flesh shall be fresher than a child's: he shall return to the days of his youth:
- He shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him: and he shall see his face with joy: for he will render unto man his righteousness.
- He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not;
- He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.
- Lo, all these things worketh God oftentimes with man,
- To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living.
- Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I will speak.
- If thou hast anything to say, answer me: speak, for I desire to justify thee.
- If not, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I shall teach thee wisdom.
Job 34
- Furthermore Elihu answered and said,
- Hear my words, O ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.
- For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat.
- Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good.
- For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment.
- Should I lie against my right? my wound is incurable without transgression.
- What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water?
- Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men.
- For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.
- Therefore hearken unto me ye men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.
- For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.
- Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.
- Who hath given him a charge over the earth? or who hath disposed the whole world?
- If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath;
- All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.
- If now thou hast understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words.
- Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just?
- Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly?
- 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.
- In a moment shall they die, and the people shall be troubled at midnight, and pass away: and the mighty shall be taken away without hand.
- For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.
- There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
- For he will not lay upon man more than right; that he should enter into judgment with God.
- He shall break in pieces mighty men without number, and set others in their stead.
- Therefore he knoweth their works, and he overturneth them in the night, so that they are destroyed.
- He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others;
- Because they turned back from him, and would not consider any of his ways:
- So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted.
- 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:
- That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.
- Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more:
- That which I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more.
- Should it be according to thy mind? he will recompense it, whether thou refuse, or whether thou choose; and not I: therefore speak what thou
knowest.
- Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken unto me.
- Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom.
- My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end because of his answers for wicked men.
- For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God.
Job 35
- Elihu spake moreover, and said,
- Thinkest thou this to be right, that thou saidst, My righteousness is more than God's?
- For thou saidst, What advantage will it be unto thee? and, What profit shall I have, if I be cleansed from my sin?
- I will answer thee, and thy companions with thee.
- Look unto the heavens, and see; and behold the clouds which are higher than thou.
- If thou sinnest, what doest thou against him? or if thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto him?
- If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? or what receiveth he of thine hand?
- Thy wickedness may hurt a man as thou art; and thy righteousness may profit the son of man.
- By reason of the multitude of oppressions they make the oppressed to cry: they cry out by reason of the arm of the mighty.
- But none saith, Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in the night;
- Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven?
- There they cry, but none giveth answer, because of the pride of evil men.
- Surely God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it.
- Although thou sayest thou shalt not see him, yet judgment is before him; therefore trust thou in him.
- But now, because it is not so, he hath visited in his anger; yet he knoweth it not in great extremity:
- Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vain; he multiplieth words without knowledge.
Job 36
- Elihu also proceeded, and said,
- Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee that I have yet to speak on God's behalf.
- I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
- For truly my words shall not be false: he that is perfect in knowledge is with thee.
- Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom.
- He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth right to the poor.
- He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings are they on the throne; yea, he doth establish them for ever, and they are exalted.
- And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction;
- Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded.
- He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity.
- If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.
- But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.
- But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he bindeth them.
- They die in youth, and their life is among the unclean.
- He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth their ears in oppression.
- Even so would he have removed thee out of the strait into a broad place, where there is no straitness; and that which should be set on thy table should be full of fatness.
- But thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold on thee.
- Because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee.
- Will he esteem thy riches? no, not gold, nor all the forces of strength.
- Desire not the night, when people are cut off in their place.
- Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.
- Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him?
- Who hath enjoined him his way? or who can say, Thou hast wrought iniquity?
- Remember that thou magnify his work, which men behold.
- Every man may see it; man may behold it afar off.
- Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out.
- For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof:
- Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly.
- Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle?
- Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it, and covereth the bottom of the sea.
- For by them judgeth he the people; he giveth meat in abundance.
- With clouds he covereth the light; and commandeth it not to shine by the cloud that cometh betwixt.
- The noise thereof sheweth concerning it, the cattle also concerning the vapour.
Job 37
- At this also my heart trembleth, and is moved out of his place.
- Hear attentively the noise of his voice, and the sound that goeth out of his mouth.
- He directeth it under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto the ends of the earth.
- After it a voice roareth: he thundereth with the voice of his excellency; and he will not stay them when his voice is heard.
- God thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend.
- For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength.
- He sealeth up the hand of every man; that all men may know his work.
- Then the beasts go into dens, and remain in their places.
- Out of the south cometh the whirlwind: and cold out of the north.
- By the breath of God frost is given: and the breadth of the waters is straitened.
- Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud: he scattereth his bright cloud:
- 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.
- He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy.
- Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.
- Dost thou know when God disposed them, and caused the light of his cloud to shine?
- Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge?
- How thy garments are warm, when he quieteth the earth by the south wind?
- Hast thou with him spread out the sky, which is strong, and as a molten looking glass?
- Teach us what we shall say unto him; for we cannot order our speech by reason of darkness.
- Shall it be told him that I speak? if a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up.
- And now men see not the bright light which is in the clouds: but the wind passeth, and cleanseth them.
- Fair weather cometh out of the north: with God is terrible majesty.
- 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.
- Men do therefore fear him: he respecteth not any that are wise of heart.
Job 38
- Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
- Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
- Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.
- Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
- Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?
- Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;
- When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
- Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?
- When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it,
- And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors,
- And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?
- Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place;
- That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?
- It is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment.
- And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm shall be broken.
- Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the search of the depth?
- Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death?
- Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if thou knowest it all.
- Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof,
- That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof?
- Knowest thou it, because thou wast then born? or because the number of thy days is great?
- Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,
- Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?
- By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the east wind upon the
earth?
- Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder;
- To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man;
- To satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?
- Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew?
- Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?
- The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.
- Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?
- Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?
- Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?
- Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee?
- Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go and say unto thee, Here we are?
- Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart?
- Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven,
- When the dust groweth into hardness, and the clods cleave fast together?
- Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions,
- When they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait?
- Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.
Job 39
- Knowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? or canst thou mark when the hinds do calve?
- Canst thou number the months that they fulfil? or knowest thou the time when they bring forth?
- They bow themselves, they bring forth their young ones, they cast out their sorrows.
- Their young ones are in good liking, they grow up with corn; they go forth, and return not unto them.
- Who hath sent out the wild ass free? or who hath loosed the bands of the wild ass?
- Whose house I have made the wilderness, and the barren land his dwellings.
- He scorneth the multitude of the city, neither regardeth he the crying of the driver.
- The range of the mountains is his pasture, and he searcheth after every green thing.
- Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or abide by thy crib?
- Canst thou bind the unicorn with his band in the furrow? or will he harrow the valleys after thee?
- Wilt thou trust him, because his strength is great? or wilt thou leave thy labour to him?
- Wilt thou believe him, that he will bring home thy seed, and gather it into thy barn?
- Gavest thou the goodly wings unto the peacocks? or wings and feathers unto the ostrich?
- Which leaveth her eggs in the earth, and warmeth them in dust,
- And forgetteth that the foot may crush them, or that the wild beast may break them.
- She is hardened against her young ones, as though they were not her's: her labour is in vain without fear;
- Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he imparted to her understanding.
- What time she lifteth up herself on high, she scorneth the horse and his rider.
- Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder?
- Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper? the glory of his nostrils is terrible.
- He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth on to meet the armed men.
- He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted; neither turneth he back from the sword.
- The quiver rattleth against him, the glittering spear and the shield.
- He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage: neither believeth he that it is the sound of the trumpet.
- He saith among the trumpets, Ha, ha; and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.
- Doth the hawk fly by thy wisdom, and stretch her wings toward the south?
- Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high?
- She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place.
- From thence she seeketh the prey, and her eyes behold afar off.
- Her young ones also suck up blood: and where the slain are, there is she.
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