1  My soul is weary of my life; I will give free course to my complaint; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.

1  Weary in my soul, I will pour my words with groans upon him: I will speak being straitened in the bitterness of my soul.

2  I will say unto God: Do not condemn me; make me know wherefore Thou contendest with me.

2  And I will say to the Lord, Do not teach me to be impious; and wherefore hast thou thus judged me?

2  I will say to God: Do not be willing to condemn me. Reveal to me why you judge me this way.

3  Is it good unto Thee that Thou shouldest oppress, that Thou shouldest despise the work of Thy hands, and shine upon the counsel of the wicked?

3  Is it good before thee if I be unrighteous? for thou hast disowned the work of thy hands, and attended to the counsel of the ungodly.

3  Does it seem good to you, if you find fault with me and oppress me, the work of your own hands, and assist the counsel of the impious?

4  Hast Thou eyes of flesh? or seest Thou as man seeth?

4  Or dost thou see as a mortal sees? or wilt thou look as a man sees?

4  Do you have bodily eyes? Or, just as man sees, will you see?

5  Are Thy days as the days of man, or Thy years as a man's days,

5  Or is thy life human, or thy years the years of a man,

5  Are your days just like the days of man, and are your years as the times of humans,

6  That Thou inquirest after mine iniquity, and searchest after my sin,

6  so that you would inquire about my iniquity and examine my sin?

7  Although Thou knowest that I shall not be condemned; and there is none that can deliver out of Thy hand?

7  And you know that I have done nothing impious, yet there is no one who can deliver from your hand.

8  Thy hands have framed me and fashioned me together round about; yet Thou dost destroy me!

8  Your hands have made me and formed me all around, and, in this way, do you suddenly throw me away?

8  Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: and afterward thou wishest to condemn me, and to destroy me.

9  Remember, I beseech Thee, that Thou hast fashioned me as clay; and wilt Thou bring me into dust again?

9  Remember that thou hast made me as clay, and thou dost turn me again to earth.

9  Remember, I ask you, that you have fashioned me like clay, and you will reduce me to dust.

10  Hast Thou not poured me out as milk, and curdled me like cheese?

10  Have you not extracted me like milk and curdled me like cheese?

10  Thou hast churned me as milk, and curdled me as cheese.

11  Thou hast clothed me with skin and flesh, and knit me together with bones and sinews.

11  And thou didst clothe me with skin and flesh, and frame me with bones and sinews.

11  You have clothed me with skin and flesh. You have put me together with bones and nerves.

12  Thou hast granted me life and favour, and Thy providence hath preserved my spirit.

12  And thou didst bestow upon me life and mercy, and thy oversight has preserved my spirit.

12  You have assigned to me life and mercy, and your visitation has preserved my spirit.

13  Yet these things Thou didst hide in Thy heart; I know that this is with Thee;

13  Having these things in thyself, I know that thou canst do all things; for nothing is impossible with thee.

13  Though you may conceal this in your heart, yet I know that you remember everything.

14  If I sin, then Thou markest me, and Thou wilt not acquit me from mine iniquity.

14  And if I should sin, thou watchest me; and thou hast not cleared me from iniquity.

14  If I have sinned, and you have spared me for an hour, why do you not endure me to be clean from my iniquity?

15  If I be wicked, woe unto me; and if I be righteous, yet shall I not lift up my head--being filled with ignominy and looking upon mine affliction.

15  Or if I should be ungodly, woe is me: and if I should be righteous, I cannot lift myself up, for I am full of dishonour.

15  And if I should be impious, woe to me, and if I should be just, I will not lift up my head, being drenched with affliction and misery.

16  And if it exalt itself, Thou huntest me as a lion; and again Thou showest Thyself marvellous upon me.

16  For I am hunted like a lion for slaughter; for again thou hast changed and art terribly destroying me;

16  And because of pride, you will seize me like a lioness, and having returned, you torment me to an extraordinary degree.

17  Thou renewest Thy witnesses against me, and increasest Thine indignation upon me; host succeeding host against me.

17  renewing against me my torture: and thou hast dealt with me in great anger, and thou hast brought trials upon me.

18  Wherefore then hast Thou brought me forth out of the womb? Would that I had perished, and no eye had seen me!

18  Why then didst thou bring me out of the womb? and why did I not die, and no eye see me,

18  Why did you lead me out of the womb? If only I had been consumed, so that no eye would ever see me!

19  I should have been as though I had not been; I should have been carried from the womb to the grave.

19  and I become as if I had not been? for why was I not 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,

20  Is not the time of my life short? suffer me to rest a little,

20  The days of my life are few; let me alone, that I may be quiet and rest a little

21  Before I go whence I shall not return, even to the land of darkness and of the shadow of death;

21  before I depart and return no more to a land that is dark and covered with the fog of death,

22  A land of thick darkness, as darkness itself; a land of the shadow of death, without any order, and where the light is as darkness.

22  to a land of perpetual darkness, where there is no light, neither can any one see the life of mortals.

22  a land of misery and darkness, where the shadow of death, and nothing else but everlasting horror, dwells.

11:1  Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said

1  But Zophar the Naamathite, responding, said

11:2  Should not the multitude of words be answered? And should a man full of talk be accounted right?

2  He that speaks much, should also hear on the other side: or does the fluent speaker think himself to be righteous? blessed is the short lived offspring of woman.

2  Will he who speaks much, not also listen? Or will a talkative man be justified?

11:3  Thy boastings have made men hold their peace, and thou hast mocked, with none to make thee ashamed;

3  Be not a speaker of many words; for is there none to answer thee?

11:4  And thou hast said: 'My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in Thine eyes.'

4  For say not, I am pure in my works, and blameless before him.

4  For you said: “My word is pure, and I am clean in your sight.”

11:5  But oh that God would speak, and open His lips against thee;

5  But oh that the Lord would speak to thee, and open his lips to thee!

5  Yet I wish that God would speak with you, and would open his lips to you,

11:6  And that He would tell thee the secrets of wisdom, that sound wisdom is manifold! Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.

6  Then shall he declare to thee the power of wisdom; for it shall be double of that which is with thee: and then shalt thou know, that a just recompence of thy sins has come to thee from the Lord.

11:7  Canst thou find out the deep things of God? Canst thou attain unto the purpose of the Almighty?

7  Wilt thou find out the traces of the Lord? or hast thou come to the end of that which the Almighty has made?

7  By chance, will you comprehend the footsteps of God and reach all the way to the perfection of the Almighty?

11:8  It is high as heaven; what canst thou do? Deeper than the nether-world; what canst thou know?

8  He is higher than heaven, and what will you do? He is deeper than hell, but how will you know?

8  Do you know the height of the heaven? Or the depth of Sheol? How can you know?

11:9  The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.

9  Or longer than the measure of the earth, or the breadth of the sea.

9  His measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea.

11:10  If He pass by, and shut up, or gather in, then who can hinder Him?

10  And if he should overthrow all things, who will say to him, What hast thou done?

10  If he overturns all things, or packs them together, who will contradict him?

11:11  For He knoweth base men; and when He seeth iniquity, will He not then consider it?

11  For he knows the works of transgressors; and when he sees wickedness, he will not overlook it.

11  For it is he who knows the beginning of time; and sees wickedness, and considers it.

11:12  But an empty man will get understanding, when a wild ass's colt is born a man.

12  But man vainly buoys himself up with words; and a mortal born of woman is like an ass in the desert.

12  For a pure man inspires courage, and a mighty man helps others.

11:13  If thou set thy heart aright, and stretch out thy hands toward Him--

13  For if thou hast made thine heart pure, and liftest up thine hands towards him;

13  But you have fortified your heart and extended your hands to him.

11:14  If iniquity be in thy hand, put it far away, and let not unrighteousness dwell in thy tents--

14  If you would send away from you the iniquity that is in your hand, and not let injustice remain in your tabernacle,

11:15  Surely then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear;

15  then you would be able to lift up your face without blemish, and you would be steadfast and unafraid.

15  For then you will be courageous; yea, you will not be afraid of distress.

11:16  For thou shalt forget thy misery; thou shalt remember it as waters that are passed away;

16  Misery, likewise, you would forget, or would remember only like waters that have passed by.

11:17  And thy life shall be clearer than the noonday; though there be darkness, it shall be as the morning.

17  And brightness, like that of midday, will rise upon you until evening, and when you would think yourself consumed, you will rise up like the morning star.

17  And the pit will be clearer than the noonday, and the thick darkness will be like the morning.

11:18  And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt look about thee, and shalt take thy rest in safety.

18  And, when hope has been set before you, you will have faith, and, when buried, you will sleep secure.

18  Then you will have confidence because there is hope; yea, you lie down and take your rest in safety

11:19  Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; yea, many shall make suit unto thee.

19  For thou shalt be at ease, and there shall be no one to fight against thee; and many shall charge, and make supplication to thee.

19  You will rest, and there will be nothing to make you afraid, and many will make requests before your face.

11:20  But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall have no way to flee, and their hope shall be the drooping of the soul.

20  But safety shall fail them; for their hope is destruction, and the eyes of the ungodly shall waste away.

12:1  Then Job answered and said

12:2  No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.

2  So then ye alone are men, and wisdom shall die with you?

2  Are you, therefore, alone among men, and will wisdom die with you?

12:3  But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you; yea, who knoweth not such things as these?

3  But I also have a heart as well as you.

3  And I have a heart just as you also do, and I am not inferior to you. For who is ignorant of these things, which you know?

12:4  I am as one that is a laughing-stock to his neighbour, a man that called upon God, and He answered him; the just, the innocent man is a laughing-stock,

4  For a righteous and blameless man has become a subject for mockery.

4  And yet he who called upon God became ridiculous to his friends, and he answered him who is pleased with the righteous who are unblemished,

12:5  A contemptible brand in the thought of him that is at ease, a thing ready for them whose foot slippeth.

5  For it had been ordained that he should fall under others at the appointed time, and that his houses should be spoiled by transgressors: let not however any one trust that, being evil, he shall be held guiltless,

5  Who is ready to do away with contempt and iniquity, and to strengthen the slippery feet.

12:6  The tents of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure, in whatsoever God bringeth into their hand.

6  even as many as provoke the Lord, as if there were indeed to be no inquisition made of them.

6  The tabernacles of robbers are numerous, and they provoke God boldly; whereas, it is he who has given all things into their hands.

12:7  But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee;

7  In truth, ask the mules, and they will teach you, and the birds of the sky, and they will reveal to you.

12:8  Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee; and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee;

8  Tell the earth, if it may speak to thee: and the fishes of the sea shall explain to thee.

8  Speak with the earth, and it will respond to you, and the fish of the sea will explain.

12:9  Who knoweth not among all these, that the hand of YHWH hath wrought this?

9  Who then has not known in all these things, that the hand of the Lord has made them?

9  Who is ignorant that the hand of the Lord has made all these things?

12:10  In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.--

10  Whereas the life of all living things is in his hand, and the breath of every man.

10  In his hand is the soul of all the living and the spirit of all the flesh of mankind.

12:11  Doth not the ear try words, even as the palate tasteth its food?

11  For the ear tries words, and the palate tastes meats.

12:12  Is wisdom with aged men, and understanding in length of days?--

12  In length of time is wisdom, and in long life knowledge.

12:13  With Him is wisdom and might; He hath counsel and understanding.

12:14  Behold, He breaketh down, and it cannot be built again; He shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening.

14  If he should cast down, who will build up? if he should shut up against man, who shall open?

14  If he tears down, there is no one who can build up; if he encloses a man, there is no one who can open.

12:15  Behold, He withholdeth the waters, and they dry up; also He sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.

15  If he should withhold the water, he will dry the earth: and if he should let it loose, he overthrows and destroys it.

15  If he restrains the waters, everything will dry up; and if he sends them forth, they will subdue the land.

12:16  With Him is strength and sound wisdom; the deceived and the deceiver are His.

16  With him are strength and power: he has knowledge and understanding.

12:17  He leadeth counsellors away stripped, and judges maketh He fools.

17  He leads advisors to a foolish end and judges to stupidity.

17  He leads kings amazingly, and makes judges fools.

12:18  He looseth the bond of kings, and bindeth their loins with a girdle.

18  He removes the belt of kings and encircles their waist with a rope.

18  He brings kings down to beg at the gates, and girds their loins with girdles of power.

12:19  He leadeth priests away stripped, and overthroweth the mighty.

19  He sends away priests into captivity, and overthrows the mighty ones of the earth.

19  He leads away priests in dishonor and displaces nobles,

12:20  He removeth the speech of men of trust, and taketh away the sense of the elders.

20  He changes the lips of the trusty, and he knows the understanding of the elders.

20  altering the lips of those who speak the truth and sweeping away the teaching of the aged.

12:21  He poureth contempt upon princes, and looseth the belt of the strong.

21  He pours dishonour upon princes, and heals the lowly.

12:22  He uncovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death.

22  Revealing deep things out of darkness: and he has brought into light the shadow of death.

22  He reveals the depths of the darkness, and he brings the shadow of death into the light.

12:23  He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them; He enlargeth the nations, and leadeth them away.

23  Causing the nations to wander, and destroying them: overthrowing the nations, and leading them away.

23  He multiplies peoples, and destroys them, and, having been overthrown, he restores them anew.

12:24  He taketh away the heart of the chiefs of the people of the land, and causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.

24  Perplexing the minds of the princes of the earth: and he causes them to wander in a way, they have not known, saying,

24  He transforms the heart of the leaders of the people on earth, and misleads those who in vain advance upon the inviolable.

12:25  They grope in the dark without light, and He maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.

25  Let them grope in darkness, and let there be no light, and let them wander as a drunken man.

25  They search in darkness without light, and they grope in darkness without understanding; and he makes them stagger like a drunken man.

13:1  Lo, mine eye hath seen all this, mine ear hath heard and understood it.

1  Behold, mine eye has seen these things, and mine ear has heard them.

1  Behold, my eye has seen all these things, and my ear has heard, and I have understood each one.

13:2  What ye know, do I know also; I am not inferior unto you.

2  And I know all that ye too know; and I have not less understanding than you.

2  In conformity with your knowledge, I also know. I am not inferior to you.

13:3  Notwithstanding I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.

3  Nevertheless I will speak to the Lord, and I will reason before him, if he will.

3  But I would speak to the Almighty, and with my reproof would I reason with God.

13:4  But ye are plasterers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value.

4  having first shown that you fabricate lies and cultivate perverse teachings.

13:5  Oh that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it would be your wisdom.

5  But would that ye were silent, and it would be wisdom to you in the end.

5  And I wish that you would remain silent, so that you would be counted among the wise.

13:6  Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips.

6  But hear ye the reasoning of my mouth, and attend to the judgement of my lips.

6  Therefore, listen to my correction, and pay attention to the judgment of my lips.

13:7  Will ye speak unrighteously for God, and talk deceitfully for Him?

7  Do ye not speak before the Lord, and utter deceit before him?

7  Does God require your lie, so that you would speak deceitfully for him?

13:8  Will ye show Him favour? Will ye contend for God?

8  Or will ye draw back? nay do, ye yourselves be judges.

8  Have you taken his place, and do you struggle to give judgment in favor of God?

13:9  Would it be good that He should search you out? Or as one mocketh a man, will ye mock Him?

9  For it were well if he would thoroughly search you: for though doing all things in your power ye should attach yourselves to him,

9  Or, will it please him, from whom nothing can be concealed? Or, will he be deceived, like a man, by your deceitfulness?

13:10  He will surely reprove you, if ye do secretly show favour.

10  he will not reprove you at all the less: but if moreover ye should secretly respect persons,

10  He will accuse you because in secret you have preempted his presence.

13:11  Shall not His majesty terrify you, and His dread fall upon you?

11  As soon as he moves himself, he will disturb you, and his dread will fall over you.

11  His excellency shall seek vengeance of you, and his terror will fall upon you.

13:12  Your memorials shall be like unto ashes, your eminences to eminences of clay.

12  And your glorying shall prove in the end to you like ashes, and your body like a body of clay.

12  Remember that your power is from the earth, and your dwelling place is of clay.

13:13  Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what will.

13  Be silent, that I may speak, and cease from mine anger,

13  Be silent for a little while, so that I may speak whatever my mind suggests to me.

13:14  Wherefore? I will take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand.

14  Why do I wound my flesh with my teeth, and carry my soul in my hands?

14  Why am I so afflicted, and why is my life exposed to danger?

13:15  Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him; but I will argue my ways before Him.

15  Though the Mighty One should lay hand upon me, forasmuch as he has begun, verily I will speak, and plead before him.

15  And now, if he would kill me, I will hope in him; in this, truly, I will correct my ways in his sight.

13:16  This also shall be my salvation, that a hypocrite cannot come before Him.

16  And this shall turn to me for salvation; for fraud shall have no entrance before him.

16  And he will be my savior, for no hypocrite at all will approach in his sight.

13:17  Hear diligently my speech, and let my declaration be in your ears.

17  Listen to my words, and perceive an enigma with your ears.

13:18  Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be justified.

18  Behold, I am near my judgement: I know that I shall appear evidently just.

18  If I will be judged, I know that I will be found to be just.

13:19  Who is he that will contend with me? For then would I hold my peace and die.

19  For who is he that shall plead with me, that I should now be silent, and expire?

19  Who is it that will go to judgment with me? Let him approach. Why should I be consumed in silence?

13:20  Only do not two things unto me, then will I not hide myself from Thee

20  But grant me two things: then I will not hide myself from thy face.

20  Do not do such things to me twice, and then I will not hide from your face.

13:21  Withdraw Thy hand far from me; and let not Thy terror make me afraid.

21  Withhold thine hand from me: and let not thy fear terrify me.

21  Take your hand far away from me, and do not let your dread terrify me.

13:22  Then call Thou, and I will answer; or let me speak, and answer Thou me.

22  Then shalt thou call, and I will hearken to thee: or thou shalt speak, and I will give thee an answer.

22  Call me, and I will answer you, or else I will speak, and you can answer me.

13:23  How many are mine iniquities and sins? Make me to know my transgression and my sin.

23  How many are my sins and my transgressions? teach me what they are.

23  How many iniquities and sins do I have? Reveal my crimes and offenses to me.

13:24  Wherefore hidest Thou Thy face, and holdest me for Thine enemy?

24  Why do you conceal your face and consider me to be your enemy?

13:25  Wilt Thou harass a driven leaf? And wilt Thou pursue the dry stubble?

25  Wilt thou be startled at me, as at a leaf shaken by the wind? or wilt thou set thyself against me as against grass borne upon the breeze?

25  Against a leaf, which is carried away by the wind, you reveal your power, and you pursue dry straw.

13:26  That Thou shouldest write bitter things against me, and make me to inherit the iniquities of my youth.

26  for thou hast written evil things against me, and thou hast compassed me with the sins of my youth.

26  For you write bitter things against me, and you want to consume me for the sins of my youth.

13:27  Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, and lookest narrowly unto all my paths; Thou drawest Thee a line about the soles of my feet;

27  And thou hast placed my foot in the stocks; and thou hast watched all my works, and hast penetrated my heels.

27  You have put my feet on a tether, and you have observed all my paths, and you have considered the steps of my feet.

13:28  Though I am like a wine-skin that consumeth, like a garment that is moth-eaten.

28  I am as that which waxes old like a bottle, or like a moth-eaten garment.

28  I will be left to decay like something rotten and like a garment that is being eaten by moths.

14:1  Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.

1  For a mortal born of a woman is short lived, and full of wrath.

1  Man, born of woman, living for a short time, is filled with many miseries.

14:2  He cometh forth like a flower, and withereth; he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.

2  Or he falls like a flower that has bloomed; and he departs like a shadow, and cannot continue.

2  He comes forth like a flower, and is crushed, and he flees, as if a shadow, and never remains in the same state.

14:3  And dost Thou open Thine eyes upon such a one, and bringest me into judgment with Thee?

3  Hast thou not taken account even of him, and caused him to enter into judgement before thee?

3  And do you consider it fitting to look down with your eyes on someone in this way and to lead him into judgment with you?

14:4  Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.

4  For who shall be pure from uncleanness? not even one;

4  Who can make him clean who is conceived of unclean seed? Are you not the only one who can?

14:5  Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months is with Thee, and Thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass;

5  if even his life should be but one day upon the earth: and his months are numbered by him: thou hast appointed him for a time, and he shall by no means exceed it.

5  The days of man are short, and the number of his months is with you; you have determined his limits, which cannot be surpassed.

14:6  Look away from him, that he may rest, till he shall accomplish, as a hireling, his day.

6  Depart from him, that he may be quiet, and take pleasure in his life, though as a hireling.

6  Turn thy face away from him, and his days will be spent like a hireling.

14:7  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.

7  A tree has hope: if it has been cut, it turns green again, and its branches spring forth.

14:8  Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground;

8  For though its root should grow old in the earth, and its stem die in the rock;

8  If its roots grow old in the earth, and its trunk passes into dust,

14:9  Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and put forth boughs like a plant.

9  it will blossom from the scent of water, and will produce a crop, as one newly planted.

9  at the scent of water, it will sprout and bring forth leaves, as when it had first been planted.

14:10  But man dieth, and lieth low; yea, man perisheth, and where is he?

10  But a man that has died is utterly gone; and when a mortal has fallen, he is no more.

10  Truly, when a man dies, and has been left unprotected, and has decayed, I ask you where is he?

14:11  As the waters fail from the sea, and the river is drained dry;

11  For the sea wastes in length of time, and a river fails and is dried up.

11  It is as if the waters had receded from the sea and an emptied river had dried up;

14:12  So man lieth down and riseth not; till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be roused out of their sleep.

12  And man that has lain down in death shall certainly not rise again till the heaven be dissolved, and they shall not awake from their sleep.

12  just so, when a man is fallen asleep, he will not rise again, until the heavens are worn away; he will not awaken, nor rise from his sleep.

14:13  Oh that Thou wouldest hide me in the nether-world, that Thou wouldest keep me secret, until Thy wrath be past, that Thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me!--

13  Who will grant this to me, that you will protect me in the underworld, and hide me until your fury passes by, and establish a time for me, in which you will remember me?

14:14  If a man die, may he live again? All the days of my service would I wait, till my relief should come--

14  For if a man should die, shall he live again, having accomplished the days of his life? I will wait till I exist again?

14  Do you suppose that a dead man will live again? On each of the days in which I now battle, I wait until my transformation occurs.

14:15  Thou wouldest call, and I would answer Thee; Thou wouldest have a desire to the work of Thy hands.

15  You will call me and I will answer you; to the work of your hands, you will extend your right hand.

14:16  But now Thou numberest my steps, Thou dost not even wait for my sin;

16  But thou hast numbered my devices: and not one of my sins shall escape thee?

16  Indeed, you have numbered my steps, but you have been lenient with my sins.

14:17  My transgression is sealed up in a bag, and Thou heapest up mine iniquity.

17  And thou hast sealed up my transgressions in a bag, and marked if I have been guilty of any transgression unawares.

17  You have sealed up my offenses, as if in a purse, but you have cured my iniquity.

14:18  And surely the mountain falling crumbleth away, and the rock is removed out of its place;

18  A falling mountain flows away, and a stone is transferred from its place.

14:19  The waters wear the stones; the overflowings thereof wash away the dust of the earth; so Thou destroyest the hope of man.

19  Waters wear away stones, and with a flood the land is reduced little by little; and similarly, you will destroy man.

14:20  Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth; Thou changest his countenance, and sendest him away.

20  Thou drivest him to an end, and he is gone: thou settest thy face against him, and sendest him away;

20  You have strengthened him for a little while, so that he may cross over into eternity. You will change his face and send him forth.

14:21  His sons come to honour, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, but he regardeth them not.

21  Whether his sons have been noble or ignoble, he will not understand.

21  If his sons multiply, he does not know it; if they decrease, he perceives it not of them.

14:22  But his flesh grieveth for him, and his soul mourneth over him.

22  And in this way his body, while he yet lives, will have grief, and his soul will mourn over himself.

15:1  Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said

1  But Eliphaz the Themanite, answering, said

15:2  Should a wise man make answer with windy knowledge, and fill his belly with the east wind?

2  Will a wise man give for answer a mere breath of wisdom? and does he fill up the pain of his belly,

2  Should a spiritually minded man answer with knowledge and then become enraged?

15:3  Should he reason with unprofitable talk, or with speeches wherewith he can do no good?

3  reasoning with improper sayings, and with words wherein is no profit?

3  You rebuke with words he who is not equal to you, and you speak what is not expedient for you,

15:4  Yea, thou doest away with fear, and impairest devotion before God.

4  Hast not thou moreover cast off fear, and accomplished such words before the Lord?

4  to such an extent that, within yourself, you have expelled reverence and have taken away prayers from the presence of God.

15:5  For thine iniquity teacheth thy mouth, and thou choosest the tongue of the crafty.

5  Thou art guilty by the words of thy mouth, neither hast thou discerned the words of the mighty.

15:6  Thine own mouth condemneth thee, and not I; yea, thine own lips testify against thee.

6  Your own mouth will condemn you, not I; and your own lips will answer you.

15:7  Art thou the first man that was born? Or wast thou brought forth before the hills?

7  What! art thou the first man that was born? or wert thou established before the hills?

7  Are you the first man who was born, or were you formed before the hills?

15:8  Dost thou hearken in the council of God? And dost thou restrain wisdom to thyself?

8  Or hast thou heard the ordinance of the Lord? or has God used thee as his counsellor? and has wisdom come only to thee?

8  Have you heard the intentions of God, and will his wisdom be inferior to you?

15:9  What knowest thou, that we know not? What understandest thou, which is not in us?

9  What do you know, about which we are ignorant? What do you understand that we do not know?

15:10  With us are both the gray-headed and the very aged men, much older than thy father.

10  Truly among us are both the old and very aged man, more advanced in days than thy father.

10  There are with us both aged and ancient men, even more senior than your fathers.

15:11  Are the consolations of God too small for thee, and the word that dealeth gently with thee?

11  Is it so important that God should console you? But your own depraved words prevent this.

11  Now talk less of God's threats, and speak comfortingly to yourself.

15:12  Why doth thy heart carry thee away? And why do thine eyes wink?

12  What has thine heart dared? or what have thine eyes aimed at,

12  Why does your heart exalt you, and why do you gaze with your eyes, as if thinking great things?

15:13  That thou turnest thy spirit against God, and lettest such words go out of thy mouth.

13  Why does your spirit stir against God, so as to utter such speeches from your mouth?

15:14  What is man, that he should be clean? And he that is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?

14  For who, being a mortal, is such that he shall be blameless? or, who that is born of a woman, that he should be just?

15:15  Behold, He putteth no trust in His holy ones; yea, the heavens are not clean in His sight.

15  Forasmuch as he trusts not his saints; and the heaven is not pure before him.

15  Behold, among his holy ones not one is immutable, and even the heavens are not pure in his sight.

15:16  How much less one that is abominable and impure, man who drinketh iniquity like water!

16  Alas then, abominable and unclean is man, drinking unrighteousness as a draught.

16  Even though man should be rejected and afflicted, yet he shall drink iniquity like water.

15:17  I will tell thee, hear thou me; and that which I have seen I will declare--

17  But I will tell thee, hearken to me; I will tell thee now what I have seen;

15:18  Which wise men have told from their fathers, and have not hid it;

18  things wise men say, and their fathers have not hidden.

18  The wise acknowledge, and they do not leave behind, their fathers,

15:19  Unto whom alone the land was given, and no stranger passed among them.

19  To them alone the earth was given, and no stranger came upon them.

15:20  The wicked man travaileth with pain all his days, even the number of years that are laid up for the oppressor.

20  All the life of the ungodly is spent in care, and the years granted to the oppressor are numbered.

20  The impious is arrogant for all his days, and the number of the years of his tyranny is uncertain.

15:21  A sound of terrors is in his ears: in prosperity the destroyer shall come upon him.

21  And his terror is in his ears: just when he seems to be at peace, his overthrow will come.

21  The sound of terror is always in his ears; and when there is peace, he always suspects treason.

15:22  He believeth not that he shall return out of darkness, and he is waited for of the sword.

22  Let him not trust that he shall return from darkness, for he has been already made over to the power of the sword.

22  He does not believe that it is possible for him to be turned from darkness into the light, for he sees around him the sword on every side.

15:23  He wandereth abroad for bread: 'Where is it?' He knoweth that the day of darkness is ready at his hand.

23  And he has been appointed to be food for vultures; and he knows within himself that he is doomed to be a carcass: and a dark day shall carry him away as with a whirlwind.

15:24  Distress and anguish overwhelm him; they prevail against him, as a king ready to the battle.

24  Tribulation will terrify him, and anguish will prevail over him, like a king who is being prepared to go to battle.

24  Trouble and anguish shall overtake him, like a king ready for the battle,

15:25  Because he hath stretched out his hand against God, and behaveth himself proudly against the Almighty;

25  For he has lifted his hands against the Lord, and he has hardened his neck against the Almighty Lord.

15:26  He runneth upon him with a stiff neck, with the thick bosses of his bucklers.

26  He has rushed against him with his throat exposed, and he has been armed with a fat neck.

15:27  Because he hath covered his face with his fatness, and made collops of fat on his loins;

27  For he has covered his face with his fat, and made layers of fat upon his thighs.

27  Thickness has covered his face, and lard hangs down from his sides.

15:28  And he hath dwelt in desolate cities, in houses which no man would inhabit, which were ready to become heaps.

28  He has lived in desolate cities and deserted houses, which have been turned into tombs.

15:29  He shall not be rich, neither shall his substance continue, neither shall their produce bend to the earth.

29  Neither shall he at all grow rich, nor shall his substance remain: he shall not cast a shadow upon the earth.

29  He will not be enriched, nor will his basic necessities endure, nor will he establish his root in the earth.

15:30  He shall not depart out of darkness; the flame shall dry up his branches, and by the breath of His mouth shall he go away.

30  Neither shall he in any wise escape the darkness: let the wind blast his blossom, and let his flower fall off.

30  He will not withdraw from the darkness; the flame will burn up his branches, and he will be defeated by the breath of his own mouth.

15:31  Let him not trust in vanity, deceiving himself; for vanity shall be his recompense.

31  Let him not think that he shall endure; for his end shall be vanity.

31  He will not believe, being vainly deceived by error, that he could be redeemed at any price.

15:32  It shall be accomplished before his time, and his branch shall not be leafy.

32  He shall dry up before his time, and the work of his hands shall not be found.

15:33  He shall shake off his unripe grape as the vine, and shall cast off his flower as the olive.

33  And let him be gathered as the unripe grape before the time, and let him fall as the blossom of the olive.

33  He will be wounded like a grapevine, when its cluster is in first flower, and like an olive tree that casts off its flower.

15:34  For the company of the godless shall be desolate, and fire shall consume the tents of bribery.

34  For death is the witness of an ungodly man, and fire shall burn the houses of them that receive gifts.

34  For the congregation of the hypocrites is fruitless, and fire will devour the tabernacles of those who love to accept money.

15:35  They conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity, and their belly prepareth deceit.

35  And he shall conceive sorrows, and his end shall be vanity, and his belly shall bear deceit.

35  He has conceived sorrow, and he has brought forth iniquity, and his womb prepares deceit.

16:1  Then Job answered and said

1  But Job answered and said,

16:2  I have heard many such things; sorry comforters are ye all.

2  I have often heard such things; you are all aggravating comforters.

16:3  Shall windy words have an end? Or what provoketh thee that thou answerest?

3  Will there be no end to windy words? Or is it at all a burden to you, if you speak?

3  Do not grieve my spirit with words; even though you speak, I will not answer.

16:4  I also could speak as ye do; if your soul were in my soul's stead, I could join words together against you, and shake my head at you.

4  I also will speak as ye do: if indeed your soul were in my soul’s stead,

5  then would I insult you with words, and I would shake my head at you.

4  I, too, can speak like you; and I also wish that your soul favored my soul.

5  I would also comfort you with speeches and would wag my head over you.

16:5  I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips would assuage your grief.

5  And would there were strength in my mouth, and I would not spare the movement of my lips.

5  I would prove you with your own words, and the words of my lips would not spare you.

16:6  Though I speak, my pain is not assuaged; and though I forbear, what am I eased?

6  For if I should speak, I shall not feel the pain of my wound: and if I should be silent, how shall I be wounded the less?

6  But what can I do? When I am speaking, my grief will not be quiet; and if I am quiet, it will not withdraw from me.

16:7  But now He hath made me weary; Thou hast made desolate all my company.

7  But now my grief has crushed me, and all my limbs have been reduced to nothing.

16:8  And Thou hast shrivelled me up, which is a witness against me; and my leanness riseth up against me, it testifieth to my face.

8  My falsehood has become a testimony, and has risen up against me: it has confronted me to my face.

8  My wrinkles bear witness against me, and a liar rises up against my face, contradicting me.

16:9  He hath torn me in His wrath, and hated me; He hath gnashed upon me with His teeth; mine adversary sharpeneth his eyes upon me.

9  In his anger he has cast me down; he has gnashed his teeth upon me: the weapons of his robbers have fallen upon me.

16:10  They have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek scornfully; they gather themselves together against me.

10  He has attacked me with the keen glances of his eyes; with his sharp spear he has smitten me down upon my knees; and they have run upon me with one accord.

10  They have opened their mouths against me, and, reproaching me, they have struck me on the cheek; they are nourished by my sufferings.

16:11  God delivereth me to the ungodly, and casteth me into the hands of the wicked.

11  For the Lord has delivered me into the hands of unrighteous men, and thrown me upon the ungodly.

11  God has confined me with the immoral, and he has delivered me into the hands of the impious.

16:12  I was at ease, and He broke me asunder; yea, He hath taken me by the neck, and dashed me to pieces; He hath also set me up for His mark.

12  When I was at peace he distracted me: he took me by the hair of the head, and plucked it out: he set me up as a mark.

12  I, who once was wealthy, am now crushed. He has grabbed me by my neck; he has broken me and has place me before him as a sign.

16:13  His archers compass me round about, He cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; He poureth out my gall upon the ground.

13  They surrounded me with spears, aiming at my reins: without sparing me they poured out my gall upon the ground.

13  He has surrounded me with his lances. He has severely wounded my lower back, he has not been lenient, and he has poured out my organs upon the earth.

16:14  He breaketh me with breach upon breach; He runneth upon me like a giant.

14  They overthrew me with fall upon fall: they ran upon me in their might.

14  He has cut me with wound after wound. He has rushed upon me like a giant.

16:15  I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and have laid my horn in the dust.

15  They sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and my strength has been spent on the ground.

16:16  My face is reddened with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death;

16  My belly has been parched with wailing, and darkness is on my eyelids.

16  My face is swollen from weeping, and my eyelids have dimmed my vision.

16:17  Although there is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure.

17  These things I have endured without iniquity in my hand, while I held pure prayers before God.

17  But not for any iniquity in my hands; my prayer also is pure.

16:18  O earth, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry have no resting-place.

18  Earth, cover not over the blood of my flesh, and let my cry have no place.

18  O earth, do not conceal my blood, nor let my outcry find a hiding place in you.

16:19  Even now, behold, my Witness is in heaven, and He that testifieth of me is on high.

19  And now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my advocate is on high.

16:20  Mine inward thoughts are my intercessors, mine eye poureth out tears unto God;

20  Let my supplication come to the Lord, and let mine eye weep before him.

20  My friends are full of words; my eye rains tears upon God.

16:21  That He would set aright a man contending with God, as a son of man setteth aright his neighbour!

21  Oh that a man might plead before the Lord, even as the son of man with his neighbor!

21  And I wish that a man might be so judged before God, just as the son of man is judged with his assistant!

16:22  For the years that are few are coming on, and I shall go the way whence I shall not return.

22  For behold, a few years pass by, and I am walking a path by which I will not return.

17:1  My spirit is consumed, my days are extinct, the grave is ready for me.

1  I perish, carried away by the wind, and I seek for burial, and obtain it not.

1  My spirit will be wasted, my days will be shortened, and only the grave will left for me.

17:2  Surely there are mockers with me, and mine eye abideth in their provocation.

2  Weary I intreat; and what have I done? and strangers have stolen my goods.

2  I have not sinned, yet my eye remains in bitterness.

17:3  Give now a pledge, be surety for me with Thyself; who else is there that will strike hands with me?

3  Who is this? let him join hands with me.

3  Free me, O Lord, and set me beside you, and let the hand of anyone you wish fight against me.

17:4  For Thou hast hid their heart from understanding; therefore shalt Thou not exalt them.

4  You have set their heart far from discipline; therefore, they will not be praised.

17:5  He that denounceth his friends for the sake of flattery, even the eyes of his children shall fail.

5  He shall promise mischief to his companions: but their eyes have failed for their children.

5  He promises prey to his companions, but the eyes of his sons will grow faint.

17:6  He hath made me also a byword of the people; and I am become one in whose face they spit.

6  But thou has made me a byword amoung the nations, and I am become a scorn to them.

6  He has granted power to the nations; I shall be derided before them.

17:7  Mine eye also is dimmed by reason of vexation, and all my members are as a shadow.

7  For my eyes are dimmed through pain; I have been grievously beset by all.

7  My eyesight has been clouded by indignation, and my limbs have been reduced, as if to nothing.

17:8  Upright men are astonished at this, and the innocent stirreth up himself against the godless.

8  Wonder has seized true men upon this; and let the just rise up against the transgressor.

17:9  Yet the righteous holdeth on his way, and he that hath clean hands waxeth stronger and stronger.

9  But let the faithful hold on his own way, and let him that is pure of hands take courage.

9  And the just will cling to his way, and clean hands will increase strength.

17:10  But as for you all, do ye return, and come now; and I shall not find a wise man among you.

10  Howbeit, do ye all strengthen yourselves and come now, for I do not find truth in you.

10  Therefore, be converted, all of you, and approach, for I do not find in you any wisdom.

17:11  My days are past, my purposes are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart.

11  My days have passed in groaning, and my heart-strings are broken.

11  O you time wasters! Dawdlers! Who think about nothing! O you destroyers of the hearts of the people!

17:12  They change the night into day; the light is short because of darkness.

12  They have turned night into day, and I hope for light again after the darkness.

12  You change the night into day; and you bring forth the light before the darkness is over.

17:13  If I look for the nether-world as my house; if I have spread my couch in the darkness;

13  For if I remain, Hades is my habitation: and my bed has been made in darkness.

17:14  If I have said to corruption: 'Thou art my father', to the worm: 'Thou art my mother, and my sister';

14  I have called upon death to be my father, and corruption to be my mother and sister.

14  I have said to decay and to worms: “You are my father, my mother, and my sister.”

17:15  Where then is my hope? And as for my hope, who shall see it?

15  Therefore, where is my expectation now, and who is it that considers my patience?

15  Where is now my hope and my trust? As for my hope, who shall find it?

17:16  They shall go down to the bars of the nether-world, when we are at rest together in the dust.

16  Will they go down with me to Hades, or shall we go down together to the tomb?

16  Everything of mine will descend into the deepest underworld; do you think that, in that place at least, there will be rest for me?

18:1  Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said

1  But Baldad the Suhite responded by saying

18:2  How long will ye lay snares for words? Consider, and afterwards we will speak.

2  How long wilt thou continue? forbear, that we also may speak.

18:3  Wherefore are we counted as beasts, and reputed dull in your sight?

3  For wherefore have we been silent before thee like brutes?

3  Why have we been treated like mules, as if we were unworthy before you?

18:4  Thou that tearest thyself in thine anger, shall the earth be forsaken for thee? Or shall the rock be removed out of its place?

4  Anger has possessed thee: for what if thou shouldest die; would the earth under heaven be desolate? or shall the mountains be overthrown from their foundations?

4  You, who ruins your own soul in your fury, will the earth be forsaken because of you, and will the cliffs be moved from their place?

18:5  Yea, the light of the wicked shall be put out, and the spark of his fire shall not shine.

5  But the light of the ungodly shall be quenched, and their flame shall not go up.

5  Will not the light of the impious be put out, and the flame of his fire refuse to shine?

18:6  The light shall be dark in his tent, and his lamp over him shall be put out.

6  Light will become darkness in his tabernacle, and the lamp that is over him will be extinguished.

18:7  The steps of his strength shall be straitened, and his own counsel shall cast him down.

7  Let the meanest of men spoil his goods, and let his counsel deceive him.

7  His strong steps will be constrained, and his own counsel will cast him down uncontrollably.

18:8  For he is cast into a net by his own feet, and he walketh upon the toils.

8  His foot also has been caught in a snare, and let it be entangled in a net.

8  For he has caused his own feet to go into a net, and he has walked into its web.

18:9  A gin shall take him by the heel, and a snare shall lay hold on him.

9  And let snares come upon him: he shall strengthen those that thirst for his destruction.

9  His heel will be held in a snare, and thirst will rage against him.

18:10  A noose is hid for him in the ground, and a trap for him in the way.

10  His snare is hid in the earth, and that which shall take him is by the path.

10  A trap has been hidden for him in the earth, and a decoy, along his path.

18:11  Terrors shall overwhelm him on every side, and shall entrap him at his feet.

11  Let pains destroy him round about, and let many enemies come about him,

11  Horrifying things will terrify him everywhere and will entangle his feet.

18:12  His trouble shall be ravenous, and calamity shall be ready for his fall.

12  vex him with distressing hunger: and a signal destruction has been prepared for him.

12  Let famine be his grief, let destruction be ready for his posterity.

18:13  It shall devour the members of his body, yea, the first-born of death shall devour his members.

13  Let it devour the beauty of his skin; let the ancient death consume his arms.

13  Let force devour his towns, let his first-born die in violence.

18:14  That wherein he trusteth shall be plucked out of his tent; and he shall be brought to the king of terrors.

14  And let health be utterly banished from his tabernacle, and let distress seize upon him with a charge from the king.

18:15  There shall dwell in his tent that which is none of his; brimstone shall be scattered upon his habitation.

15  It shall dwell in his tabernacle in his night: his excellency shall be sown with brimstone.

15  Let the companions of he who is not, dwell in his tabernacle; let brimstone rain down upon his tabernacle.

18:16  His roots shall dry up beneath, and above shall his branch wither.

16  Let his roots be dried up from beneath him, and his harvest be crushed from above.

18:17  His remembrance shall perish from the earth, and he shall have no name abroad.

17  Let his memorial perish out of the earth, and his name shall be publicly cast out.

17  Let the memory of him perish from the earth, and let not his name be celebrated in the streets.

18:18  He shall be driven from light into darkness, and chased out of the world.

18  Let one drive him from light into darkness.

18  He will expel him from light into darkness, and he will remove him from the world.

18:19  He shall have neither son nor son's son among his people, nor any remaining in his dwellings.

19  Neither his offspring, nor his descendents, will exist among his people, nor will there be any remnants in his country.

18:20  They that come after shall be astonished at his day, as they that went before are affrighted.

20  But strangers shall dwell in his possessions: the last groaned for him, and wonder seized the first.

20  The last will be astonished at his day, and the first will be overcome with horror.

18:21  Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked, and this is the place of him that knoweth not God.

21  These are the houses of the unrighteous, and this is the place of them that know not the Lord.

21  And so, these are the tabernacles of the sinful, and this the place of he who does not know God.

19:1  Then Job answered and said

1  But Job answered by saying

19:2  How long will ye vex my soul, and crush me with words?

19:3  These ten times have ye reproached me; ye are not ashamed that ye deal harshly with me.

3  Ye speak against me; ye do not feel for me, but bear hard upon me.

3  So, ten times you confound me and are not ashamed to oppress me.

19:4  And be it indeed that I have erred, mine error remaineth with myself.

4  Yea verily, I have erred in truth, (but the error abides with myself) in having spoken words which it was not right to speak; and my words err, and are unreasonable.

4  Now, of course, if I have been ignorant, my ignorance will be with me.

19:5  If indeed ye will magnify yourselves against me, and plead against me my reproach;

5  But alas! for ye magnify yourselves against me, and insult me with reproach.

19:6  Know now that God hath subverted my cause, and hath compassed me with His net.

6  At least now you should understand that God has not afflicted me with a balanced judgment, though he has encompassed me with his scourges.

19:7  Behold, I cry out: 'Violence!' but I am not heard; I cry aloud, but there is no justice.

7  Behold, I will cry out, enduring violence, and no one will hear. I will announce loudly, but there is no one who may judge.

7  If I howl, no one answers me; and if I complain, there is no one to avenge me.

19:8  He hath fenced up my way that I cannot pass, and hath set darkness in my paths.

8  I am fenced round about, and can by no means escape: he has set darkness before my face.

8  He has hemmed in my path, and I cannot pass; he has added darkness to my difficult path.

19:9  He hath stripped me of my glory, and taken the crown from my head.

9  And he has stripped me of my glory, and has taken the crown from my head.

9  He has plundered me of my glory, and he has stolen the crown from my head.

19:10  He hath broken me down on every side, and I am gone; and my hope hath He plucked up like a tree.

10  He has torn me around about, and I am gone: and he has cut off my hope like a tree.

10  He has destroyed me on every side, and I am lost, and, like an uprooted tree, he has taken away my hope.

19:11  He hath also kindled His wrath against me, and He counteth me unto Him as one of His adversaries.

11  And he has dreadfully handled me in anger, and has counted me for an enemy.

11  His fury has raged against me, and in this way he has treated me like his enemy.

19:12  His troops come on together, and cast up their way against me, and encamp round about my tent.

12  His troops have gathered together, and they have made their way to me, and they have besieged my tabernacle all around.

19:13  He hath put my brethren far from me, and mine acquaintance are wholly estranged from me.

13  My brethren have stood aloof from me; they have recognized strangers rather than me: and my friends have become pitiless.

13  My brothers are far off from me, and my acquaintances have deserted me.

19:14  My kinsfolk have failed, and my familiar friends have forgotten me.

14  My nearest of kin have not acknowledged me, and they that knew my name, have forgotten me.

14  My kinsmen have forsaken me, and those who knew me, have forgotten me.

19:15  They that dwell in my house, and my maids, count me for a stranger; I am become an alien in their sight.

15  As for my household, and my maid-servants, I was a stranger before them.

15  The inhabitants of my house and my maidservants treat me just as if I were a stranger, and I have been like an sojourner in their eyes.

19:16  I call unto my servant, and he giveth me no answer, though I entreat him with my mouth.

16  I called my servant, and he hearkened not; and my mouth intreated him.

19:17  My breath is abhorred of my wife, and I am loathsome to the children of my tribe.

17  And I besought my wife, and earnestly intreated the sons of my concubines.

19:18  Even urchins despised me; if I arise, they speak against me.

18  But they rejected me for ever; whenever I rise up, they speak against me.

18  Even the foolish have looked down on me, and, when I withdrew from them, they spoke ill of me.

19:19  All my intimate friends abhor me; and they whom I loved are turned against me.

19  They that saw me abhorred me: the very persons whom I had loved, rose up against me.

19  Those who were sometime my counselors, treat me like an abomination; and he whom I valued the most has turned against me.

19:20  My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, and I am escaped with the skin of my teeth.

20  My flesh is corrupt under my skin, and my bones are held in my teeth.

20  Since my flesh has been consumed, my bone adheres to my skin, and only my lips have been left around my teeth.

19:21  Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O ye my friends; for the hand of God hath touched me.

21  Pity me, pity me, O friends; for it is the hand of the Lord that has touched me.

21  Have mercy on me, have compassion on me, at least you my friends, because the hand of the Lord has touched me.

19:22  Why do ye persecute me as God, and are not satisfied with my flesh?

22  Wherefore do ye persecute me as also the Lord does, and are not satisfied with my flesh?

22  Why do you also persecute me like God, and you are not satisfied with the hurt of my flesh?

19:23  Oh that my words were now written! Oh that they were inscribed in a book!

23  For oh that my words were written, and that they were recorded in a book forever,

23  Who will grant to me that my words may be written down? Who will grant to me that they may be inscribed in a book,

19:24  That with an iron pen and lead they were graven in the rock for ever!

24  with an iron pen and lead, or graven in the rocks!

19:25  But as for me, I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He will witness at the last upon the dust;

25  For I know that he is eternal who is about to deliver me,

25  For I know that my Redeemer lives, and on the last day I will rise out of the earth.

19:26  And when after my skin this is destroyed, then without my flesh shall I see God;

26  and to raise up upon the earth my skin that endures these sufferings: for these things have been accomplished to me of the Lord;

26  Although devouring worms have covered my skin and my flesh,

19:27  Whom I, even I, shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another's. My reins are consumed within me.

27  Yet, if my eyes shall see God, then my heart also will see the light; but now my body is consumed.

19:28  If ye say: 'How we will persecute him!' seeing that the root of the matter is found in me;

28  Why then do you now say: “Let us pursue him, and let us find a basis to speak against him?”

28  For you will say, Why did we persecute him? For a good report will follow me and vindicate me.

19:29  Be ye afraid of the sword; for wrath bringeth the punishments of the sword, that ye may know there is a judgment.

20:1  Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said

1  Then Zophar the Naamathite answered by saying

20:2  Therefore do my thoughts give answer to me, even by reason of mine agitation that is in me.

2  I did not suppose that thou wouldest answer thus: neither do ye understand more than I.

2  In response, various thoughts succeed one another in me, and my mind moves quickly through different ideas.

20:3  I have heard the reproof which putteth me to shame, but out of my understanding my spirit answereth me.

3  I will hear my shameful reproach; and the spirit of my understanding answers me.

3  The teaching you use to admonish me, I will hear, and the spirit of my understanding will respond for me.

20:4  Knowest thou not this of old time, since man was placed upon earth,

4  Hast thou not known these things of old, from the time that man was set upon the earth?

4  This, I know, is from the beginning, from the time that man was set over the earth

20:5  That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the godless but for a moment?

5  But the mirth of the ungodly is a signal downfall, and the joy of transgressors is destruction

5  that the praise of the impious shall be short, and the joy of the hypocrite lasts only a moment.

20:6  Though his excellency mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds;

6  although his gifts should go up to heaven, and his sacrifice reach the clouds.

6  If his pride ascends even towards the heavens, and his head touches the clouds,

20:7  Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung; they that have seen him shall say: 'Where is he?'

7  For when he shall seem to be now established, then he shall utterly perish: and they that knew him shall say, Where is he?

7  in the end, he will be destroyed like a trash heap, and those who had seen him will say: “Where is he?”

20:8  He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found; yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night.

8  Like a dream that has fled away, he shall not be found; and he has fled like a vision of the night.

20:9  The eye which saw him shall see him no more; neither shall his place any more behold him.

9  The eye has looked upon him, but shall not see him again; and his place shall no longer perceive him.

9  The eyes that had seen him, will not see him; no longer will his own place admire him.

20:10  His children shall appease the poor, and his hands shall restore his wealth.

10  Let his inferiors destroy his children, and let his hands kindle the fire of sorrow.

10  His sons will be worn away by poverty, and his own hands will deliver his grief to him.

20:11  His bones are full of his youth, but it shall lie down with him in the dust.

11  His bones will be filled with the vices of his youth, and they will sleep with him in the dust.

20:12  Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue;

12  For, when evil will be sweet in his mouth, he will hide it under his tongue.

20:13  Though he spare it, and will not let it go, but keep it still within his mouth;

13  He will permit it, and not abandon it, and he will conceal it in his throat.

20:14  Yet his food in his bowels is turned, it is the gall of asps within him.

14  yet he shall not at all be able to help himself; the gall of an asp is in his belly.

14  His bread in his belly will be turned into the venom of snakes within him.

20:15  He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again; God shall cast them out of his belly.

15  His wealth unjustly collected shall be vomited up; a messenger of wrath shall drag him out of his house.

15  The riches that he devours, he will vomit up, and from his stomach God will draw them out.

20:16  He shall suck the poison of asps; the viper's tongue shall slay him.

16  And let him suck the poison of serpents, and let the serpent’s tongue slay him.

16  He will suck the head of snakes, and the tongue of the viper will kill him.

20:17  He shall not look upon the rivers, the flowing streams of honey and curd.

17  Let him not see the milk of the pastures, nor the supplies of honey and butter.

17  (May he never see the streams of the river, the torrents of honey and butter.)

20:18  That which he laboured for shall he give back, and shall not swallow it down; according to the substance that he hath gotten, he shall not rejoice.

18  He has laboured unprofitably and in vain, for wealth of which he shall not taste: it is as a lean thing, unfit for food, which he cannot swallow.

18  He will be repaid for all he has done, yet he will not be consumed; according to the multitude of his schemes, so also will he suffer.

20:19  For he hath oppressed and forsaken the poor; he hath violently taken away a house, and he shall not build it up.

19  For, having broken in, he stripped the poor. He has quickly stolen away a house he did not build.

19  Because he has thought to forsake the poor; because he has violently taken away a house which he did not build.

20:20  Because he knew no quietness within him, in his greed he suffered nought to escape,

20  There is no security to his possessions; he shall not be saved by his desire.

20  And yet his stomach will not be satisfied, and when he has the things he desires, he will not be able to possess them.

20:21  There was nothing left that he devoured not--therefore his prosperity shall not endure.

21  There is nothing remaining of his provisions; therefore his goods shall not flourish.

21  Nothing remained of his portion, and, because of this, nothing will continue of his kind.

20:22  In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits; the hand of every one that is in misery shall come upon him.

22  When he will be satisfied, he will be constrained; he will seethe, and all anguish will fall upon him.

22  With the measure with which he had measured, he shall be recompensed; the hand of the wicked shall come upon him.

20:23  It shall be for the filling of his belly; He shall cast the fierceness of His wrath upon him, and shall cause it to rain upon him into his flesh.

23  If by any means he would fill his belly, let God send upon him the fury of wrath; let him bring a torrent of pains upon him.

23  May his stomach be filled, so that God may send forth the fury of his wrath to him and may rain down his battle upon him.

20:24  If he flee from the iron weapon, the bow of brass shall strike him through.

20:25  He draweth it forth, and it cometh out of his body; yea, the glittering point cometh out of his gall; terrors are upon him.

25  And let the arrow pierce through his body; and let the stars be against his dwelling-place: let terrors come upon him.

25  It is drawn, and it brings forth his inward parts; and the skin of his gall shall be pierced; terror shall be upon him continually.

20:26  All darkness is laid up for his treasures; a fire not blown by man shall consume him; it shall go ill with him that is left in his tent.

26  And let all darkness wait for him: a fire that burns not out shall consume him; and let a stranger plague his house.

26  All darkness has been hidden in his secrecy. A fire that has not been set will devour him; he will be thrown down and forsaken in his tabernacle.

20:27  The heavens shall reveal his iniquity, and the earth shall rise up against him.

27  The heaven shall reveal his sins; and the earth avenge itself upon him.

20:28  The increase of his house shall depart, his goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath.

28  Let destruction bring his house to an end; let a day of wrath come upon him.

28  The offspring of his house will be exposed; he will be pulled down in the day of God’s wrath.

20:29  This is the portion of a wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed unto him by God.

21:1  Then Job answered and said

1  But Job answered and said,

21:2  Hear diligently my speech; and let this be your consolations.

2  Hear ye, hear ye my words, that I may not have this consolation from you.

2  I beseech you to hear my words and to do penance.

21:3  Suffer me, that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.

3  Raise me, and I will speak; then ye shall not laugh me to scorn.

3  Permit me, and I will speak, and afterwards, if you see fit, you can laugh at my words.

21:4  As for me, is my complaint to man? Or why should I not be impatient?

4  I will utter my complaint to men, why my spirit is distressed.

21:5  Turn unto me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.

5  Look upon me, and wonder, laying your hand upon your cheek.

5  Listen to me and be astonished, and place a finger over your mouth.

21:6  Even when I remember I am affrighted, and horror hath taketh hold on my flesh.

6  For even when I remember, I am alarmed, and pains seize my flesh.

6  As for me, when I think it over, I am afraid, and trembling convulses my body.

21:7  Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, wax mighty in power?

7  Why then do the impious live, having been lifted up and strengthened with riches?

7  Why do the ungodly live, and why are the mighty in power full of years?

21:8  Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.

8  They see their offspring continue before them: a commotion of close relatives and of children’s children in their sight.

21:9  Their houses are safe, without fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.

9  Their houses are prosperous, neither have they any where cause for fear, neither is there a scourge from the Lord upon them.

9  Their houses have been secure and peaceable, and there is no staff of God over them.

21:10  Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.

10  Their cow does not cast her calf, and their beast with young is safe, and does not miscarry.

10  Their cattle have conceived and have not miscarried; their cow has given birth and is not deprived of her newborn.

21:11  They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.

11  And they remain as an unfailing flock, and their children play before them, taking up the psaltery and harp;

11  Their little ones go out like a flock, and their children jump around playfully.

21:12  They sing to the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.

12  and they rejoice at the voice of a song.

12  They take the timbrels and harps, and rejoice at the sound of singing.

21:13  They spend their days in prosperity, and peacefully they go down to the grave.

13  And they spend their days in wealth, and fall asleep in the rest of the grave.

13  Their days are prolonged in wealth, yet, in an instant, they descend into hell.

21:14  Yet they said unto God: 'Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of Thy ways.

14  Who has said to God, “Depart from us, for we do not want the knowledge of your ways.

21:15  What is the Almighty, that we should serve Him? And what profit should we have, if we pray unto Him?'--

15  Who is the Almighty that we should serve him? And how is it helpful to us if we pray to him?”

15  Moreover, they say, Who is God, that we should serve him? And what would we gain, that we should pray to him?

21:16  Lo, their prosperity is not in their hand; the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

16  For their good things were in their hands, but he regards not the works of the ungodly.

16  It is true that their good things are not in their power. May the counsel of the impious be far from me!

21:17  How oft is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out? that their calamity cometh upon them? that He distributeth pains in His anger?

17  Nevertheless, the lamp of the ungodly also shall be put out, and destruction shall come upon them, and pangs of vengeance shall seize them.

17  How often will the lamp of the wicked be extinguished, and a deluge overtake them, and how often will he distribute the afflictions of his wrath?

21:18  That they are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm stealeth away?

18  They will be like chaff before the face of the wind, and like ashes that the whirlwind scatters.

21:19  'God layeth up his iniquity for his children!'--let Him recompense it unto himself, that he may know it.

19  Let his substance fail to supply his children: God shall recompense him, and he shall know it.

19  God will preserve the grief of the father for his sons, and, when he repays, then he will understand.

21:20  Let his own eyes see his destruction, and let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.

20  His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.

21:21  For what pleasure hath he in his house after him? seeing the number of his months is determined.

21  For his desire is in his house with him, and the number of his months has been suddenly cut off.

21  For what does he care what happens to his house after him, or if the number of its months are reduced by half?

21:22  Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing it is He that judgeth those that are high.

22  Is it not the Lord who teaches understanding and knowledge? and does not he judge murders?

22  Can anyone teach holy knowledge to God, who judges the exalted?

21:23  One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet;

23  This one dies strong and healthy, rich and happy.

21:24  His pails are full of milk, and the marrow of his bones is moistened.

24  and his inwards are full of fat, and his marrow is diffused throughout him.

21:25  And another dieth in bitterness of soul, and hath never tasted of good.

25  In truth, another dies in bitterness of soul, without any resources.

21:26  They lie down alike in the dust, and the worm covereth them.

26  But they lie down in the earth together, and corruption covers them.

26  And yet they will sleep together in the dust, and worms will cover them.

21:27  Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me.

27  So I know you, that ye presumptuously attack me

27  Surely, I know your thoughts and your sinful judgments against me.

21:28  For ye say: 'Where is the house of the prince? And where is the tent wherein the wicked dwelt?'

28  so that ye will say, Where is the house of the prince? and where is the covering of the tabernacles of the ungodly?

28  For you say, “Where is the house of the ruler, and where are the tabernacles of the impious?”

21:29  Have ye not asked them that go by the way; and will ye misdeem their tokens,

29  Ask those that go by the way, and do not disown their tokens.

29  Ask any passerby whom you wish, and you will realize that he understands these same things

21:30  That the evil man is reserved to the day of calamity, that they are led forth to the day of wrath?

30  For the wicked hastens to the day of destruction: they shall be led away for the day of his vengeance.

30  For the evil man is reserved for the day of destruction, he shall be remembered in the day of wrath.

21:31  But who shall declare his way to his face? And who shall repay him what he hath done?

31  Who will tell him his way to his face, whereas he has done it? who shall recompense him?

31  Who can show him the way? And who shall repay him for what he has done?

21:32  For he is borne to the grave, and watch is kept over his tomb.

32  And he has been led away to the tombs, and he has watched over the heaps.

21:33  The clods of the valley are sweet unto him, and all men draw after him, as there were innumerable before him.

33  He has been found acceptable to the banks of the River of Lamentation, and he will draw any man towards him, and there are countless before him.

33  The depths of the valley shall swallow him, and many shall be drawn in after him, even as there are innumerable ahead of him.

21:34  How then comfort ye me in vain? And as for your answers, there remaineth only faithlessness?

34  Therefore, how long will you console me in vain, when your answer is shown to be repugnant to truth?

22:1  Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said

1  Then Eliphaz the Themanite responded by saying

22:2  Can a man be profitable unto God? Or can he that is wise be profitable unto Him?

2  Is it not the Lord that teaches understanding and knowledge?

2  Can man be compared with God, even if he were perfect in knowledge?

22:3  Is it any advantage to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? Or is it gain to Him, that thou makest thy ways blameless?

3  What advantage is it to God, if you were just? Or what do you provide for him, if your way should be immaculate?

22:4  Is it for thy fear of Him that He reproveth thee, that He entereth with thee into judgment?

4  Wilt thou maintain and plead thine own cause? and will he enter into judgement with thee?

4  Will he reprove you and take you to judgment for being afraid,

22:5  Is not thy wickedness great? And are not thine iniquities without end?

5  and not because of your many evil deeds and your infinite unfairness?

5  Behold, your wickedness is great, and there is no end to your sins.

22:6  For thou hast taken pledges of thy brother for nought, and stripped the naked of their clothing.

6  And thou hast taken security of thy brethren for nothing, and hast taken away the clothing of the naked.

6  For you have taken away the collateral of your brothers without cause, and stripped them naked of their clothing.

22:7  Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink, and thou hast withholden bread from the hungry.

7  Neither hast thou given water to the thirsty to drink, but hast taken away the morsel of the hungry.

7  You have not given water to the weary; you have taken bread away from the hungry.

22:8  And as a mighty man, who hath the earth, and as a man of rank, who dwelleth in it,

8  And thou hast accepted the persons of some; and thou hast established those that were already settled on the earth.

8  By the strength of your arm, you took possession of the land, and you retain it by being the strongest.

22:9  Thou hast sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.

9  But thou hast sent widows away empty, and has afflicted orphans.

9  You have sent widows away empty, and you have crushed the shoulders of orphans.

22:10  Therefore snares are round about thee, and sudden dread affrighted thee,

10  Because of this, you are surrounded by traps, and unexpected fears will disturb you.

22:11  Or darkness, that thou canst not see, and abundance of waters cover thee.

11  The light has proved darkness to thee, and water has covered thee on thy lying down.

11  And did you think that you would not see darkness and that you were not to be overwhelmed by the on-rush of overflowing waters?

22:12  Is not God in the height of heaven? And behold the topmost of the stars, how high they are!

12  Does not he that dwells in the high places observe? and has he not brought down the proud?

22:13  And thou sayest: 'What doth God know? Can He judge through the dark cloud?

13  And you say: “Well, what does God know?” and, “He judges, as if through a fog,”

13  And yet you say, How does God know? Can he judge through the thick darkness?

22:14  Thick clouds are a covering to Him, that He seeth not; and He walketh in the circuit of heaven.'

14  A cloud is his hiding-place, and he shall not be seen; and he passes through the circle of heaven.

14  and, “The clouds are his hiding-place,” and, “He does not examine us closely,” and, “He makes his rounds at the limits of the heavens.”

22:15  Wilt thou keep the old way which wicked men have trodden?

15  Do you not want to tend the path of the ages, which wicked men have spurned?

15  Have you marked well the old way which wicked men have trodden long ago?

22:16  Who were snatched away before their time, whose foundation was poured out as a stream;

16  These were taken away before their time, and a flood overthrew their foundation.

16  Those who were cut down before their time, who were stopped at the crossing place of the river of life, and then did not remember who had laid down their pattern of living,

22:17  Who said unto God: 'Depart from us'; and what could the Almighty do unto them?

17  Who say, What will the Lord do to us? or what will the Almighty bring upon us?

17  They said to God, “Withdraw from us,” and they treated the Almighty as if he could do nothing,

22:18  Yet He filled their houses with good things--but the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

18  though he had filled their houses with good things. May their way of thinking be far from me.

22:19  The righteous saw it, and were glad, and the innocent laugh them to scorn

19  The righteous have seen it, and laughed, and the blameless one has derided them.

19  The just will see and will rejoice, and the innocent will mock them.

22:20  'Surely their substance is cut off, and their abundance the fire hath consumed.'

20  Verily their substance has been utterly destroyed, and the fire shall devour what is left of their property.

20  Has not their haughtiness been cut down, and has not fire devoured the remnants of them?

22:21  Acquaint now thyself with Him, and be at peace; thereby shall thine increase be good.

21  Be firm, I pray thee, if thou canst endure; then thy fruit shall prosper.

21  Make now an agreement with God, and offer to him of your good crops.

22:22  Receive, I pray thee, instruction from His mouth, and lay up His words in thy heart.

22  And receive a declaration from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart.

22  Accept the law from his mouth, and place his words in your heart.

22:23  If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up--if thou put away unrighteousness far from thy tents,

23  And if thou shalt turn and humble thyself before the Lord, thou hast thus removed unrighteousness far from thy habitation.

23  If you will return to the Almighty, you will be rebuilt, and you will put sinfulness far from your tabernacle.

22:24  And lay thy treasure in the dust, and the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks;

24  Thou shalt lay up for thyself treasure in a heap on the rock; and Sophir shall be as the rock of the torrent.

24  He will give you stone in place of dirt, and torrents of gold in place of stone.

22:25  And the Almighty be thy treasure, and precious silver unto thee;

25  So the Almighty shall be thy helper from enemies, and he shall bring thee forth pure as silver that has been tried by fire.

25  Yea, God shall be your defense, and you shall have plenty of silver.

22:26  Then surely shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God.

26  Then shalt thou have boldness before the Lord, looking up cheerfully to heaven.

26  For then you shall lift up your face to God.

22:27  Thou shalt make thy prayer unto Him, and He will hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows;

27  You will plead with him, and he will listen to you, and you will pay your vows.

27  And you shall make your prayer to him, and he shall hear you, and you shall fulfill your vows.

22:28  Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee, and light shall shine upon thy ways.

28  You will decide on something, and it will come to you, and the light will shine in your ways.

22:29  When they cast thee down, thou shalt say: 'There is lifting up'; for the humble person He saveth.

29  Because thou hast humbled thyself; and thou shalt say, Man has behaved proudly, but he shall save him that is of lowly eyes.

29  For he who had been humbled, will be in glory; and he who will lower his eyes, will be the one saved.

22:30  He delivereth him that is innocent, yea, thou shalt be delivered through the cleanness of thy hands.

30  He shall deliver the innocent, and do thou save thyself by thy pure hands.

30  The innocent will be saved, and he will be saved with purity in his hands.