1  Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said

1  Then Eliphaz the Themanite responded by saying

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?

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?

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,

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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?

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?

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.”

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?

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,

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,

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.

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.

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?

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  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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

23:1  Then Job answered and said

23:2  Even to-day is my complaint bitter; my hand is become heavy because of my groaning.

2  Yea, I know that pleading is out of my reach; and his hand has been made heavy upon my groaning.

2  Now again my conversation is in bitterness, and the force of my scourging weighs more heavily on me because of my mourning.

23:3  Oh that I knew where I might find Him, that I might come even to His seat!

3  Who would then know that I might find him, and come to an end of the matter?

3  Who will grant me that I might know and find him, and that I may approach even to his throne?

23:4  I would order my cause before Him, and fill my mouth with arguments.

4  And I would plead my own cause, and he would fill my mouth with arguments.

4  I would place judgment before his eye, and my mouth would fill with criticism,

23:5  I would know the words which He would answer me, and understand what He would say unto me.

5  And I would know the remedies which he would speak to me, and I would perceive what he would tell me.

5  so that I may know the words that he will answer me and understand what he will say to me.

23:6  Would He contend with me in His great power? Nay; but He would give heed unto me.

6  Though he should come on me in his great strength, then he would not threaten me;

6  I do not want him to contend with me with much strength, nor to overwhelm me with the bulk of his greatness.

23:7  There the upright might reason with Him; so should I be delivered for ever from my Judge.

7  There I might contend justly with him; and I might be justified and acquitted.

23:8  Behold, I go forward, but He is not there, and backward, but I cannot perceive Him;

8  For if I shall go first, and exist no longer, still what do I know concerning the latter end?

8  If I go to the east, he does not appear; if I go to the west, I will not understand him.

23:9  On the left hand, when He doth work, but I cannot behold Him, He turneth Himself to the right hand, but I cannot see Him.

9  If I turn to the left, what can I do? I will not take hold of him. If I turn myself to the right, I will not see him.

23:10  For He knoweth the way that I take; when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

10  Truly, he knows my way and has tested me like gold that passes through fire.

23:11  My foot hath held fast to His steps, His way have I kept, and turned not aside.

11  And I will go forth according to his commandments, for I have kept his ways; and I shall not turn aside from his commandments,

11  My feet have been following his footsteps; I have kept to his way and have not strayed from it.

23:12  I have not gone back from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured up the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.

12  neither shall I transgress; but I have hid his words in my bosom.

12  I have not withdrawn from the commands of his lips, and the words of his mouth I have hidden in my sinews.

23:13  But He is at one with Himself, and who can turn Him? And what His soul desireth, even that He doeth.

13  And if too he has thus judged, who is he that has contradicted, for he has both willed a thing and done it.

13  For he is alone, and no one is able to disturb his intention; and whatever his spirit wills, that he accomplishes.

23:14  For He will perform that which is appointed for me; and many such things are with Him.

14  And when he fulfills his will in me, many other similar ones will also be present with him.

14  But he performs his covenant; and many such things are with him.

23:15  Therefore am I affrighted at His presence; when I consider, I am afraid of Him.

15  Therefore let me take good heed before him: I will consider, and be afraid of him.

15  And, for this reason, I have been troubled at his presence, and, when I consider him, I am approached by fear.

23:16  Yea, God hath made my heart faint, and the Almighty hath affrighted me;

16  But the Lord has softened my heart, and the Almighty has troubled me.

16  For God has troubled my heart, and my mind is confused

23:17  Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither did He cover the thick darkness from my face.

17  For I knew not that darkness would come upon me, and thick darkness has covered me before my face.

17  Yet I have not perished because of the threatening darkness, nor has gloom covered my face.

24:1  Why are times not laid up by the Almighty? And why do not they that know Him see His days?

1  But why have the seasons been hidden from the Lord,

24:2  There are that remove the landmarks; they violently take away flocks, and feed them.

2  while the ungodly have passed over the bound, carrying off the flock with the shepherd?

24:3  They drive away the ass of the fatherless, they take the widow's ox for a pledge.

3  They have driven away the donkey of orphans, and have taken the cow from the widow as collateral.

24:4  They turn the needy out of the way; the poor of the earth hide themselves together.

4  They have turned aside the weak from the right way: and the meek of the earth have hidden themselves together.

4  The wicked hide themselves beside the road, and the meek of the earth hide together.

24:5  Behold, as wild asses in the wilderness they go forth to their work, seeking diligently for food; the desert yieldeth them bread for their children.

5  And they have departed like asses in the field, having gone forth on my account according to their own order: his bread is sweet to his little ones.

24:6  They cut his provender in the field; and they despoil the vineyard of the wicked.

6  They have reaped a field that was not their own before the time: the poor have laboured in the vineyards of the ungodly without pay and without food.

6  They reap a field that is not their own, and they harvest a vineyard that they have taken by force.

24:7  They lie all night naked without clothing, and have no covering in the cold.

7  They have caused many naked to sleep without clothes, and they have taken away the covering of their body.

24:8  They are wet with the showers of the mountains, and embrace the rock for want of a shelter.

8  these are wet with the mountain rain, and, having no covering, they embrace the rocks.

24:9  There are that pluck the fatherless from the breast, and take a pledge of the poor;

9  They have used violence to deprive orphans, and they have robbed the poor common people.

24:10  So that they go about naked without clothing, and being hungry they carry the sheaves;

10  And they have wrongfully caused others to sleep without clothing, and taken away the morsel of the hungry.

10  From the naked and those who do not have enough clothing, and from the hungry, they have taken away sheaves of grain.

24:11  They make oil within the rows of these men; they tread their winepresses, and suffer thirst.

11  They have unrighteously laid wait in narrow places, and have not known the righteous way.

11  Who are bent down under burdens during the reapers' banquets, and are hungry when they carry the large basket and the measure. At times they are hungry at the reapers' banquets; they tread the wine press, but they suffer thirst.

24:12  From out of the populous city men groan, and the soul of the wounded crieth out; yet God imputeth it not for unseemliness.

12  Who have cast forth the poor from the city and their own houses, and the soul of the children has groaned aloud.

12  In the cities, they caused the men to groan and the spirit of the wounded to cry out, and so God does not allow this to go unpunished.

24:13  These are of them that rebel against the light; they know not the ways thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof.

13  Why then has he not visited these? forasmuch as they were upon the earth, and took no notice, and they knew not the way of righteousness, neither have they walked in their appointed paths?

13  They were in God's world; but they knew not his ways; nor did they walk in his paths.

24:14  The murderer riseth with the light, to kill the poor and needy; and in the night he is as a thief.

14  But having known their works, he delivered them into darkness: and in the night one will be as a thief

14  The killer of men rises at first light; he executes the destitute and the poor, but, in truth, he is like a thief in the night.

24:15  The eye also of the adulterer waiteth for the twilight, saying: 'No eye shall see me'; and he putteth a covering on his face.

15  and the eye of the adulterer has watched for the darkness, saying, Eye shall not perceive me, and he puts a covering on his face.

15  The eye of the adulterer waits for darkness, saying, “No eye will see me,” and he covers his face.

24:16  In the dark they dig through houses; they shut themselves up in the day-time; they know not the light.

16  In darkness he digs through houses: by day they conceal themselves securely: they know not the light.

16  He passes through houses in the nighttime, just as they had agreed among themselves in the daytime; and they are ignorant of the light.

24:17  For the shadow of death is to all of them as the morning; for they know the terrors of the shadow of death.

17  If sunrise should suddenly appear, it is treated by them like the shadow of death; and they walk in darkness, as if in light.

17  Therefore they sought for themselves the shadow of death, and have found it: yea, they are in the terrors of the shadow of death.

24:18  He is swift upon the face of the waters; their portion is cursed in the earth; he turneth not by the way of the vineyards.

18  He is nimble on the surface of water. His place on land is to be accursed. May he not walk by way of the vineyards.

24:19  Drought and heat consume the snow waters; so doth the nether-world those that have sinned.

19  Let them be withered upon the earth; for they have plundered the sheaves of the fatherless.

19  May he cross from the snowy waters to excessive heat, and his sin, all the way to hell.

24:20  The womb forgetteth him; the worm feedeth sweetly on him; he shall be no more remembered; and unrighteousness is broken as a tree.

20  Then is his sin brought to remembrance, and he vanishes like a vapour of dew: but let what he has done be recompensed to him, and let every unrighteous one be crushed like rotten wood.

20  Let mercy forget him. His charm is worms. Let him not be remembered, but instead be broken like an unfruitful tree.

24:21  He devoureth the barren that beareth not; and doeth not good to the widow.

21  For he has not treated the barren woman well, and has had no pity on a feeble woman.

21  An evil barren woman shall never bear; they do not good to the widow.

24:22  He draweth away the mighty also by his power; he riseth up, and he trusteth not his own life.

22  And in wrath he has overthrown the helpless: therefore when he has arisen, a man will not feel secure of his own life.

22  The wealth of a man of power is sustained by his own strength; he does not depend on divine guidance.

24:23  Though it be given him to be in safety, whereon he resteth, yet His eyes are upon their ways.

23  When he has fallen sick, let him not hope to recover: but let him perish by disease.

23  God has given him a place for repentance, and he abuses it with arrogance, but his eyes are upon his ways.

24:24  They are exalted for a little while, and they are gone; yea, they are brought low, they are gathered in as all others, and wither as the tops of the ears of corn.

24  For his exaltation has hurt many; but he has withered as mallows in the heat, or as an ear of corn falling off of itself from the stalk.

24  They are lifted up for a little while, but they will not continue, and they will be brought low, just like all things, and they will be taken away, and, like the tops of the ears of grain, they will be crushed.

24:25  And if it be not so now, who will prove me a liar, and make my speech nothing worth?

25  But if not, who is he that says I speak falsely, and will make my words of no account?

25  But, if this is not so, who is able to prove to me that I have lied and to place my words before God?

25:1  Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said

25:2  Dominion and fear are with Him; He maketh peace in His high places.

2  What beginning or fear is his—even he that makes all things in the highest?

2  Power and terror are with him that makes a pact with those in high places.

25:3  Is there any number of His armies? And upon whom doth not His light arise?

3  For let none think that there is a respite for robbers: and upon whom will there not come a snare from him?

3  Is there any limit to the number of his soldiers or to the number of those over whom his light rises?

25:4  How then can man be just with God? Or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?

4  For how shall a mortal be just before the Lord? or who that is born of a woman shall purify himself?

4  Is it right for man to compare himself to God, or to appear pure though he is born of woman?

25:5  Behold, even the moon hath no brightness, and the stars are not pure in His sight;

5  If he gives an order to the moon, then it shines not; and the stars are not pure before him.

25:6  How much less man, that is a worm! and the son of man, that is a maggot!

6  But alas! man is corruption, and the son of man a worm.

6  Is man much more than rottenness and the son of man much more than worms?

26:1  Then Job answered and said

1  But Job answered and said,

26:2  How hast thou helped him that is without power! How hast thou saved the arm that hath no strength!

2  Whose assistant are you? Is he weak-minded? And do you sustain the arm of him that is not strong?

26:3  How hast thou counselled him that hath no wisdom, and plentifully declared sound knowledge!

3  To whom hast thou given counsel? is it not to him who has all wisdom? whom wilt thou follow? is it not one who has the greatest power?

3  To whom have you given advice? Perhaps it is to him that has no wisdom or prudence that you have revealed your many ideas.

26:4  With whose help hast thou uttered words? And whose spirit came forth from thee?

4  Who is it that you wanted to teach? Was it not him that created the breath of life?

4  To whom have you uttered words? And whose soul has come forth from you?

26:5  The shades tremble beneath the waters and the inhabitants thereof.

5  Shall giants be born from under the water and the inhabitants thereof?

5  Behold, giant things groan under the waters, and they dwell with them.

26:6  The nether-world is naked before Him, and Destruction hath no covering.

6  Hell is naked before him, and destruction has no covering.

6  The underworld is naked before him, and there is no covering for perdition.

26:7  He stretcheth out the north over the empty space, and hangeth the earth over nothing.

7  He stretches out the north wind upon nothing, and he upon nothing hangs the earth;

7  He stretched out the North over emptiness, and he suspended the land over nothing.

26:8  He bindeth up the waters in His thick clouds; and the cloud is not rent under them.

8  binding water in his clouds, and the cloud is not rent under it.

8  He secures the waters in his clouds, so that they do not burst forth downward all at once.

26:9  He closeth in the face of His throne, and spreadeth His cloud upon it.

9  He keeps back the face of his throne, stretching out his cloud upon it.

26:10  He hath described a boundary upon the face of the waters, unto the confines of light and darkness.

10  He has set limits around the waters, until light and darkness shall reach their limit.

26:11  The pillars of heaven tremble and are astonished at His rebuke.

26:12  He stirreth up the sea with His power, and by His understanding He smiteth through Rahab.

12  By his strength, the seas suddenly gather together, and his foresight has struck the arrogant.

12  He rebukes the sea with his power, and by his wisdom he saves many.

26:13  By His breath the heavens are serene; His hand hath pierced the slant serpent.

13  And the barriers of heaven fear him, and by a command he has slain the apostate dragon.

13  His spirit has adorned the heavens, and his birthing hand has brought forth the winding serpent.

26:14  Lo, these are but the outskirts of His ways; and how small a whisper is heard of Him! But the thunder of His mighty deeds who can understand?

14  Behold, these are parts of his way; and we will hearken to him at the least intimation of his word: but the strength of his thunder who knows, when he shall employ it?

27:1  And Job again took up his parable, and said

1  Job also added to this, using figures of speech, and he said

1  MOREOVER Job continued his parable, and said,

27:2  As God liveth, who hath taken away my right; and the Almighty, who hath dealt bitterly with me;

2  As God lives, who has thus judged me; and the Almighty, who has embittered my soul;

27:3  All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils,

3  verily, while my breath is yet in me, and the breath of God which remains to me is in my nostrils,

3  as long as my breath remains in me and the breath of God remains in my nostrils,

27:4  Surely my lips shall not speak unrighteousness, neither shall my tongue utter deceit;

4  my lips shall not speak evil words, neither shall my soul meditate unrighteous thoughts.

4  my lips will not speak iniquity, nor will my tongue devise lies.

27:5  Far be it from me that I should justify you; till I die I will not put away mine integrity from me.

5  God forbid that I should do evil, till I die I will not remove my innocence from me.

27:6  My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go; my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live.

6  but keeping fast to my righteousness I will by no means let it go: for I am not conscious to myself of having done any thing amiss.

6  I will not forsake my justification, which I have just begun to grasp, for my heart does not find blame for me in my whole life.

27:7  Let mine enemy be as the wicked, and let him that riseth up against me be as the unrighteous.

7  Let the impious be as my enemy, and the sinful, as my adversary.

27:8  For what is the hope of the godless, though he get him gain, when God taketh away his soul?

8  For what hope is there for the hypocrite, if he greedily plunders and God does not free his soul?

8  For though he has accumulated riches, what is the hope of the godless at the time when God takes away his life?

27:9  Will God hear his cry, when trouble cometh upon him?

9  Will God pay attention to his cry, when anguish overcomes him?

9  For God will not hear his prayer when trouble comes upon him.

27:10  Will he have his delight in the Almighty, and call upon God at all times?

10  has he any confidence before him? or will God hear him as he calls upon him?

10  But if he should trust in the Almighty, and always call upon God, God will hear him and answer him.

27:11  I will teach you concerning the hand of God; that which is with the Almighty will I not conceal.

11  Yet now I will tell you what is in the hand of the Lord: I will not lie concerning the things which are with the Almighty.

11  But as for you, I will deliver you into the hand of God; so that your works may not be hid from him.

27:12  Behold, all ye yourselves have seen it; why then are ye become altogether vain?

12  Behold, ye all know that ye are adding vanity to vanity.

12  Behold, you know all this, and so why do you speak vain things without a reason?

27:13  This is the portion of a wicked man with God, and the heritage of oppressors, which they receive from the Almighty.

13  This is the portion of an ungodly man from the Lord, and the possession of oppressors shall come upon them from the Almighty.

27:14  If his children be multiplied, it is for the sword; and his offspring shall not have bread enough.

14  And if their children be many, they shall be for slaughter: and if they grow up, they shall beg.

14  If his sons should happen to increase, they will be for the sword, and his grandsons will not be satisfied with bread.

27:15  Those that remain of him shall be buried by pestilence, and his widows shall make no lamentation.

15  And they that survive of him shall utterly perish, and no one shall pity their widows.

15  Whatever will remain of him will be buried in the ruins, and his widows will not weep.

27:16  Though he heap up silver as the dust, and prepare raiment as the clay;

16  If he will amass silver as if it were dirt and fabricate garments as if they were clay,

27:17  He may prepare it, but the just shall put it on, and the innocent shall divide the silver.

17  All these things shall the righteous gain, and the truehearted shall possess his wealth.

17  then yes, he will gather, but the just will be clothed with it and the innocent will divide the silver.

27:18  He buildeth his house as a moth, and as a booth which the keeper maketh.

18  And his house is gone like moths, and like a spider’s web.

18  For the wicked has built his house upon a spider's web, and like a booth he had made his shelter.

27:19  He lieth down rich, but there shall be not to gather; he openeth his eyes, and his wealth is not.

19  The rich man shall lie down, and shall not continue: he has opened his eyes, and he is not.

19  When he falls asleep, the rich man will leave him with nothing; he will open his eyes and find nothing.

27:20  Terrors overtake him like waters; a tempest stealeth him away in the night.

20  Pains have come upon him as water, and darkness has carried him away by night.

20  Destitution will surround him like water; a storm will overwhelm him in the night.

27:21  The east wind carrieth him away, and he departeth; and it sweepeth him out of his place.

21  And a burning wind shall catch him, and he shall depart, and it shall utterly drive him out of his place.

21  A burning wind will pick him up and carry him away, and, like a whirlwind, it will rush him from his place.

27:22  Yea, it hurleth at him, and spareth not; he would fain flee from its power.

22  And God shall cast trouble upon him, and not spare: he would fain flee out of his hand.

22  And it will hurl over him and will not spare him; fleeing from its power, he will go into exile.

27:23  Men shall clap their hands at him, and shall hiss him out of his place.

23  He will clasp his hands over himself, and he will hiss at himself, while considering his situation.

23  He shall smite him with his hand, and shall hiss against him from his dwelling place.

28:1  For there is a mine for silver, and a place for gold which they refine.

1  Silver has its fissures where it is first found, and gold has a place where it is melted.

1  SURELY there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined.

28:2  Iron is taken out of the dust, and brass is molten out of the stone.

2  For iron comes out of the earth, and brass is hewn out like stone.

28:3  Man setteth an end to darkness, and searcheth out to the furthest bound the stones of thick darkness and of the shadow of death.

3  He has established a time for darkness, and he has settled on an end for all things, as well as for the stone that is in the gloom and shadow of death.

3  God sets an end to darkness, and knows the end of everything, the deep and dark mine and the shadow of death.

28:4  He breaketh open a shaft away from where men sojourn; they are forgotten of the foot that passeth by; they hang afar from men, they swing to and fro.

4  There is a cutting off the torrent by reason of dust: so they that forget the right way are weakened; they are removed from among men.

4  They have inherited a ruined mine from an alien people; they are gone astray from the right path and their number has diminished from among men.

28:5  As for the earth, out of it cometh bread, and underneath it is turned up as it were by fire.

5  The land, where bread appeared in its place, has been destroyed by fire.

5  They lay open the earth, out of which comes sustenance; and from under it is turned up material as if it were burned with fire.

28:6  The stones thereof are the place of sapphires, and it hath dust of gold.

6  Her stones are the place of the sapphire: and her dust supplies man with gold.

6  Its stones are embedded with sapphires, and its soil, with gold.

28:7  That path no bird of prey knoweth, neither hath the falcon's eye seen it;

7  There is a path, the fowl has not known it, neither has the eye of the vulture seen it

7  The bird does not know its path, nor has the eye of the vulture beheld it.

28:8  The proud beasts have not trodden it, nor hath the lion passed thereby.

28:9  He putteth forth his hand upon the flinty rock; He overturneth the mountains by the roots.

9  He has stretched forth his hand on the sharp rock, and turned up mountains by the roots

9  The miner puts forth his hand upon the hard rock to break it; he overturns the mountains from their foundations.

28:10  He cutteth out channels among the rocks; and his eye seeth every precious thing.

10  and he has interrupted the whirlpools of rivers, and mine eye has seen every precious thing.

28:11  He bindeth the streams that they trickle not; and the thing that is hid bringeth he forth to light.

11  And he has laid bare the depths of rivers, and has brought his power to light.

11  The depths of rivers he has also examined, and he has brought hidden things into the light.

28:12  But wisdom, where shall it be found? And where is the place of understanding?

12  But whence has wisdom been discovered? and what is the place of knowledge?

12  But, in truth, where is wisdom to be found, and where is the place of understanding?

28:13  Man knoweth not the price thereof; neither is it found in the land of the living.

13  A mortal has not known its way, neither indeed has it been discovered among men.

13  Man does not know its price, nor is it found in the land of those who live in sweetness.

28:14  The deep saith: 'It is not in me'; and the sea saith: 'It is not with me.'

14  The abyss declares, “It is not in me.” And the sea says, “It is not with me.”

14  The depth says, It is not in me, and the sea says, It is not with me.

28:15  It cannot be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof.

15  One shall not give fine gold instead of it, neither shall silver be weighed in exchange for it.

15  The finest gold will not be paid for it, nor will silver be weighed in exchange for it.

28:16  It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire.

16  Neither shall it be compared with gold of Sophir, with the precious onyx and sapphire.

16  It will not be compared with the dyed colors of India, nor with the very costly stone sardonyx, nor with the sapphire.

28:17  Gold and glass cannot equal it; neither shall the exchange thereof be vessels of fine gold.

17  Neither gold nor crystal will be its equal; neither will vessels of gold be fitted for it.

17  The gold and the crystal cannot equal it; nor can precious pearls, jewels, and emeralds equal it.

28:18  No mention shall be made of coral or of crystal; yea, the price of wisdom is above rubies.

18  The exalted and the eminent will not be remembered in comparison with it. Yet wisdom is drawn out of concealment.

28:19  The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, neither shall it be valued with pure gold.

19  For the price of wisdom is above everything, and nothing can equal it. The pearls of Ethiopia and the topaz cannot equal it.

28:20  Whence then cometh wisdom? And where is the place of understanding?

20  So then, where does wisdom begin, and where is the place of understanding?

28:21  Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the fowls of the air.

21  It has escaped the notice of every man, and has been hidden from the birds of the sky.

21  It has been hidden from the eyes of all living things, just as the birds of the heavens escape notice.

28:22  Destruction and Death say: 'We have heard a rumor thereof with our ears.'

22  Perdition and death have said, “With our ears, we have heard its fame.”

28:23  God understandeth the way thereof, and He knoweth the place thereof.

23  God has well ordered the way of it, and he knows the place of it.

23  Because only God understands the way of it, and he knows the place thereof.

28:24  For He looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven;

24  For he surveys the whole earth under heaven, knowing the things in the earth

24  For he beholds the limits of the world, and he looks upon all things that are under heaven.

28:25  When He maketh a weight for the wind, and meteth out the waters by measure.

28:26  When He made a decree for the rain, and a way for the storm of thunders;

26  At that time, he gave a law to the rain and a path to the resounding storms.

28:27  Then did He see it, and declare it; He established it, yea, and searched it out.

27  Then he saw it, and declared it: he prepared it and traced it out.

27  Then he saw and explained it, and he made ready and examined it.

28:28  And unto man He said: 'Behold, the fear of YHWH, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.'

28  And he said to man, Behold, godliness is wisdom: and to abstain from evil is understanding.

29:1  And Job again took up his parable, and said

1  Job also added to this, using figures of speech, and he said

1  MOREOVER Job continued his parable, and said,

29:2  Oh that I were as in the months of old, as in the days when God watched over me;

2  Who will grant to me that I might be as I was in former months, according to the days when God kept watch over me?

2  O that I were as in months past, as in the days when God took care of me;

29:3  When His lamp shined above my head, and by His light I walked through darkness;

3  At that time, his lamp shined over my head, and by his light, I walked through the darkness.

3  When he put his worship high upon my head, when his lamp shone over me; and when by his light I walked through darkness.

29:4  As I was in the days of my youth, when the converse of God was upon my tent;

4  As when I steadfastly pursued my ways, when God took care of my house.

4  O, that I were as in the days when I was in favor, when God abode in my tabernacle;

29:5  When the Almighty was yet with me, and my children were about me;

5  When I was very fruitful, and my children were about me;

5  At that time, the Almighty was with me and my children surrounded me.

29:6  When my steps were washed with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil!

6  when my ways were moistened with butter, and the mountains flowed for me with milk.

6  Then, I washed my feet with butter, and a boulder poured out rivers of oil for me.

29:7  When I went forth to the gate unto the city, when I prepared my seat in the broad place,

7  When I went out to the gate of the city and called on the people; and sat down like a poor man in the street,

29:8  The young men saw me and hid themselves, and the aged rose up and stood;

8  The youths saw me and hid themselves, and the elders, rising up, remained standing.

29:9  The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth;

9  And the great men ceased speaking, and laid their finger on their mouth.

9  The leaders stopped talking, and they placed a finder over their mouth.

29:10  The voice of the nobles was hushed, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.

10  And they that heard me blessed me, and their tongue clave to their throat.

10  The commanders subdued their voice, and their tongue adhered to their throat.

29:11  For when the ear heard me, then it blessed me, and when the eye saw me, it gave witness unto me;

11  For the ear heard, and blessed me; and the eye saw me, and turned aside.

11  The ear that heard me, blessed me, and the eye that saw me, gave testimony for me.

29:12  Because I delivered the poor that cried, the fatherless also, that had none to help him.

12  For I saved the poor out of the hand of the oppressor, and helped the fatherless who had no helper.

12  This was because I had freed the poor, who cried out, and the orphan, who had no helper.

29:13  The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me; and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.

13  Let the blessing of the perishing one come upon me; yea, the mouth of the widow has blessed me.

29:14  I put on righteousness, and it clothed itself with me; my justice was as a robe and a diadem.

14  Also I put on righteousness, and clothed myself with judgement like a mantle.

14  I put on justice, and I clothed myself with my judgment, like a robe and a diadem.

29:15  I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.

15  I was an eye for the blind and a foot for the lame.

29:16  I was a father to the needy; and the cause of him that I knew not I searched out.

16  I was the father of the helpless; and I searched out the cause which I knew not.

16  I was the father of the poor; and if I lacked knowledge about any case, I investigated very diligently.

29:17  And I broke the jaws of the unrighteous, and plucked the prey out of his teeth.

17  I crushed the jaws of the impious, and I took away prey from his teeth.

29:18  Then I said: 'I shall die with my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the phoenix;

18  And I said, My age shall continue as the stem of a palm-tree; I shall live a long while.

18  Then I said, I shall become straight like a reed, I shall deliver the poor and multiply my days like the sand of the seas.

29:19  My root shall be spread out to the waters, and the dew shall lie all night upon my branch;

19  My roots are planted by the waters, and the dew lies all night upon my boughs, and at the harvest season I shall be invited to the feast.

29:20  My glory shall be fresh in me, and my bow shall be renewed in my hand.'

20  I shall take my bow with me, and renew it in my hand.

29:21  Unto me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence for my counsel.

21  Those who heard me, expected vindication, and they listened closely in silence to my counsel.

29:22  After my words they spoke not again; and my speech dropped upon them.

22  At my word they spoke not again, and they were very glad whenever I spoke to them.

22  To my words, they dared to add nothing, and my eloquence poured over them.

29:23  And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.

23  As the thirsty earth expecting the rain, so they waited for my speech.

23  They waited for me as for rain, and they opened their mouth as for belated rains.

29:24  If I laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down.

24  Were I to laugh on them, they would not believe it; and the light of my face has not failed.

24  If I had ever laughed at them, they would not have believed it, and the light of my face was not cast down towards the ground.

29:25  I chose out their way, and sat as chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners.

25  If I wished to go to them, I sat down first, and, though I sat like a king surrounded by an army, yet I was a comforter to whose who mourned.

25  I searched out their ways, and then returned and dwelt as a king in his army, like one who comforts the mourners.

30:1  But now they that are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I disdained to set with the dogs of my flock.

1  But now the youngest have laughed me to scorn, now they reprove me in their turn, whose fathers I set at nought; whom I did not deem worthy to be with my shepherd dogs.

1  BUT now they laugh at me, those who are less than I,

30:2  Yea, the strength of their hands, whereto should it profit me? men in whom ripe age is perished.

2  the strength of whose hands was nothing to me, and they were considered unworthy of life itself.

30:3  They are gaunt with want and famine; they gnaw the dry ground, in the gloom of wasteness and desolation.

3  One is childless in want and famine, such as they that fled but lately the distress and misery of drought.

3  Yea, the strength of their hands, of what use would it have been to me?

30:4  They pluck salt-wort with wormwood; and the roots of the broom are their food.

4  Who compass the salt places on the sounding shore, who had salt herbs for their food, and were dishonorable and of no repute, in want of every good thing; who also ate roots of trees by reason of great hunger.

4  For they had lost their power completely.

30:5  They are driven forth from the midst of men; they cry after them as after a thief.

5  Thieves have risen up against me,

5  They were forced by bare necessities, like a thief swept off his feet,

30:6  In the clefts of the valleys must they dwell, in holes of the earth and of the rocks.

6  whose houses were the caves of the rocks, who lived under the wild shrubs.

6  They lived in the parched desert and in caves underground or above the rocks.

30:7  Among the bushes they bray; under the nettles they are gathered together.

7  They will cry out among the rustling bushes.

30:8  They are children of churls, yea, children of ignoble men; they were scourged out of the land.

8  These are the sons of foolish and base men, not even paying any attention to the land.

8  The children of fools shall be overthrown together with the children of the wicked; they shall be brought lower than the earth.

30:9  And now I am become their song, yea, I am a byword unto them.

9  But now I am their music, and they have me for a by-word.

9  Now I become their song, and I have been made into their proverb.

30:10  They abhor me, they flee far from me, and spare not to spit in my face.

10  And they stood aloof and abhorred me, and spared not to spit in my face.

10  They loathe me, and so they flee far from me, and they are not reluctant to spit in my face.

30:11  For He hath loosed my cord, and afflicted me, and they have cast off the bridle before me.

11  For he has opened his quiver and afflicted me: they also have cast off the restraint of my presence.

11  Because they began to deride me and humiliate me, they have also put their bridle in my mouth.

30:12  Upon my right hand rise the brood; they entangle my feet, and they cast up against me their ways of destruction.

12  They have risen up against me on the right hand of their offspring; they have stretched out their foot, and directed against me the ways of their destruction.

12  Immediately, upon rising, my calamities rise up to the right. They have overturned my feet and have pressed me down along their way like waves.

30:13  They break up my path, they further my calamity, even men that have no helper.

13  My paths are ruined; for they have stripped off my raiment: he has shot at me with his weapons.

13  They have diverted my journeys; they have waited to ambush me, and they have prevailed, and there was no one who might bring help.

30:14  As through a wide breach they come; in the midst of the ruin they roll themselves upon me.

14  And he has pleaded against me as he will: I am overwhelmed with pains.

14  They shall suffer a great ruin; they shall be broken by the hurricane.

30:15  Terrors are turned upon me, they chase mine honour as the wind; and my welfare is passed away as a cloud.

15  My pains return upon me; my hope is gone like the wind, and my safety as a cloud.

15  I have been reduced to nothing. You have taken away my desire like a wind, and my health has passed by like a cloud.

30:16  And now my soul is poured out within me; days of affliction have taken hold upon me.

16  Even now my life shall be poured forth upon me; and days of anguish seize me.

16  But now my soul withers within myself, and the days of affliction take hold of me.

30:17  In the night my bones are pierced, and fall from me, and my sinews take no rest.

17  And by night my bones are confounded; and my sinews are relaxed.

17  At night, my bone is pierced with sorrows, and those who feed on me, do not sleep.

30:18  By the great force of my disease is my garment disfigured; it bindeth me about as the collar of my coat.

18  I have put on my garment; and girded up myself with my robe.

30:19  He hath cast me into the mire, and I am become like dust and ashes.

19  And thou hast counted me as clay; my portion in dust and ashes.

19  I have been treated like dirt, and I have been turned into embers and ashes.

30:20  I cry unto Thee, and Thou dost not answer me; I stand up, and Thou lookest at me.

20  And I have cried to thee, but thou hearest me not: but they stood still, and observed me.

20  I cry to you, and you do not heed me. I stand up, and you do not look back at me.

30:21  Thou art turned to be cruel to me; with the might of Thy hand Thou hatest me.

21  They attacked me also without mercy: thou hast scourged me with a strong hand.

21  You have changed me into hardness, and, with the hardness of your hand, you oppose me.

30:22  Thou liftest me up to the wind, Thou causest me to ride upon it; and Thou dissolvest my substance.

22  And thou hast put me to grief, and hast cast me away from safety.

22  You have lifted me up, and, placing me as if on the wind, you have thrown me down powerfully.

30:23  For I know that Thou wilt bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all living.

23  I know that you will hand me over to death, where a home has been established for all the living.

23  And yet I know that thou wilt bring me back from death to the meeting place for all living.

30:24  Surely none shall put forth his hand to a ruinous heap, neither because of these things shall help come in one's calamity,

24  Truly, then, you do not extend your hand in order to consume them, and if they fall down, you will save them.

24  But he will not stretch out his hand against me, and when I cry to him he will save me.

30:25  If I have not wept for him that was in trouble, and if my soul grieved not for the needy.

25  Yet I wept over every helpless man; I groaned when I saw a man in distress.

25  Once, I wept over him who was afflicted, and my soul had compassion on the poor.

30:26  Yet, when I looked for good, there came evil; and when I waited for light, there came darkness.

26  But I, when I waited for good things, behold, days of evils came the more upon me.

26  I expected good things, but evil things have come to me. I stood ready for light, yet darkness burst forth.

30:27  Mine inwards boil, and rest not; days of affliction are come upon me.

27  My belly boiled, and would not cease: the days of poverty prevented me.

27  My insides have seethed, without any rest, for the days of affliction have prevented it.

30:28  I go mourning without the sun; I stand up in the assembly, and cry for help.

28  I went mourning without restraint: and I have stood and cried out in the assembly.

28  I went forth mourning, without anger, and rising up, I cried out in confusion.

30:29  I am become a brother to jackals, and a companion to ostriches.

29  I was the brother of snakes, and the companion of ostriches.

30:30  My skin is black, and falleth from me, and my bones are burned with heat.

30  And my skin has been greatly blackened, and my bones are burned with heat.

30  My skin has become blackened over me, and my bones have dried up because of the heat.

30:31  Therefore is my harp turned to mourning, and my pipe into the voice of them that weep.

31  My harp also has been turned into mourning, and my song into my weeping.

31:1  I made a covenant with mine eyes; how then should I look upon a maid?

1  I reached an agreement with my eyes, that I would not so much as think about a virgin.

1  I MADE a vow with my eyes that I would never lust after a virgin.

31:2  For what would be the portion of God from above, and the heritage of the Almighty from on high?

2  Now what portion has God given from above? and is there an inheritance given of the Mighty One from the highest?

2  For what portion should God from above hold for me, and what inheritance should the Almighty from on high keep?

31:3  Is it not calamity to the unrighteous, and disaster to the workers of iniquity?

3  Is not destruction held for the wicked and repudiation kept for those who work injustice?

31:4  Doth not He see my ways, and count all my steps?

4  Will he not see my way, and number all my steps?

4  He sees my ways, and counts all my steps.

31:5  If I have walked with vanity, and my foot hath hasted to deceit--

5  But if I had gone with scorners, and if too my foot has hasted to deceit

31:6  Let me be weighed in a just balance, that God may know mine integrity--

6  (for I am weighed in a just balance, and the Lord knows my innocence:)

6  let him weigh me in a just balance, and let God know my simplicity.

31:7  If my step hath turned out of the way, and my heart walked after mine eyes, and if any spot hath cleaved to my hands;

7  If my steps have turned aside from the way, or if my heart has followed my eyes, or if a blemish has clung to my hands,

31:8  Then let me sow, and let another eat; yea, let the produce of my field be rooted out.

8  then may I sow, and let another consume, and let my offspring be eradicated.

8  But when I sowed, then I ate, and when I planted, then I cultivated and gathered the crops.

31:9  If my heart have been enticed unto a woman, and I have lain in wait at my neighbour's door;

9  If my heart has gone forth after another man’s wife, and if I laid wait at her doors;

9  And if my heart has been enticed by a strange woman, or if I have lain in wait at my neighbor's door;

31:10  Then let my wife grind unto another, and let others bow down upon her.

31:11  For that were a heinous crime; yea, it were an iniquity to be punished by the judges.

11  For the rage of anger is not to be controlled, in the case of defiling another man’s wife.

11  For this is a crime and a very great injustice.

31:12  For it is a fire that consumeth unto destruction, and would root out all mine increase.

12  It is a fire devouring all the way to perdition, and it roots out all that springs forth.

31:13  If I did despise the cause of my man-servant, or of my maid-servant, when they contended with me--

13  If I have despised being subject to judgment with my servant or my maid, when they had any complaint against me,

31:14  What then shall I do when God riseth up? And when He remembereth, what shall I answer Him?

14  then what will I do when God rises to judge, and, when he inquires, how will I respond to him?

14  Without saying, What then shall I do when God rises up in judgment, and when he inquires, what shall I answer him?

31:15  Did not He that made me in the womb make him? And did not One fashion us in the womb?

15  Were not they too formed as I also was formed in the womb? yea, we were formed in the same womb.

31:16  If I have withheld aught that the poor desired, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail;

16  But the helpless missed not whatever need they had, and I did not cause the eye of the widow to fail.

16  If I have denied the poor what they wanted and have made the eyes of the widow wait;

31:17  Or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof--

17  And if too I ate my morsel alone, and did not impart of it to the orphan;

17  if I have eaten my morsel of food alone, while orphans have not eaten from it;

31:18  Nay, from my youth he grew up with me as with a father, and I have been her guide from my mother's womb.

18  (for I nourished them as a father from my youth and guided them from my mother’s womb.)

18  (Because from my youth I was brought up in sorrows, and from my mother's womb with sighing);

31:19  If I have seen any wanderer in want of clothing, or that the needy had no covering;

19  And if too I overlooked the naked as he was perishing, and did not clothe him;

19  if I have looked down on him who was perishing because he had no clothing and the poor without any covering,

31:20  If his loins have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep;

20  and if the poor did not bless me, and their shoulders were not warmed with the fleece of my lambs;

20  (But they were reared upon my knees, and were warmed with the fleece of my sheep);

31:21  If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, because I saw my help in the gate;

21  if I lifted my hand against an orphan, trusting that my strength was far superior to his

21  if I have lifted up my hand over an orphan, even when it might seem to me that I the advantage over him at the gate;

31:22  Then let my shoulder fall from the shoulder-blade, and mine arm be broken from the bone.

22  then may my shoulder fall from its joint, and may my arm, with all its bones, be broken.

31:23  For calamity from God was a terror to me, and by reason of His majesty I could do nothing.

23  For the fear of the Lord constrained me, and I cannot bear up by reason of his burden.

23  For I have always feared God, like waves flowing over me, whose weight I was unable to bear.

31:24  If I have made gold my hope, and have said to the fine gold: 'Thou art my confidence';

24  If I made gold my treasure, and if too I trusted the precious stone;

31:25  If I rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because my hand had gotten much;

25  and if too I rejoiced when my wealth was abundant, and if too I laid my hand on innumerable treasures

25  if I have rejoiced over my great success, and over the many things my hand has obtained;

31:26  If I beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness;

26  (do we not see the shining sun eclipsed, and the moon waning? for they have not power to continue:)

26  if I gazed upon the sun when it shined and the moon advancing brightly,

31:27  And my heart hath been secretly enticed, and my mouth hath kissed my hand;

27  and if my heart was secretly deceived, and if I have laid my hand upon my mouth and kissed it

27  so that my heart rejoiced in secret and I kissed my hand with my mouth,

31:28  This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judges; for I should have lied to God that is above.

28  which is a very great iniquity and a denial against the most high God;

28  Then God has seen my crafty ways, and I have lied before him.

31:29  If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, or exulted when evil found him--

29  And if too I was glad at the fall of mine enemies, and mine heart said, Aha!

31:30  Yea, I suffered not my mouth to sin by asking his life with a curse.

30  let then mine ear hear my curse, and let me be a byword among my people in my affliction.

30  (But I have neither suffered my mouth to sin, nor has my soul wished for any of these things;

31:31  If the men of my tent said not: 'Who can find one that hath not been satisfied with his meat?'

31  And if too my handmaids have often said, Oh that we might be satisfied with his flesh; (whereas I was very kind

31  My friends said, Oh this man would give us even of his own flesh! but we are not satisfied,

31:32  The stranger did not lodge in the street; my doors I opened to the roadside.

32  for the stranger did not lodge without, and my door was opened to every one that came:)

32  And the stranger I did not let lodge in the street, and I opened my door to the guest);

31:33  If after the manner of men I covered my transgressions, by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom--

33  or if too having sinned unintentionally, I hid my sin;

33  If I have covered up my sins like some men, or if I have hid my guilt in secret places;

31:34  Because I feared the great multitude, and the most contemptible among families terrified me, so that I kept silence, and went not out of the door.

34  (for I did not stand in awe of a great multitude, so as not to declare boldly before them:) and if too I permitted a poor man to go out of my door with an empty bosom

31:35  Oh that I had one to hear me!--Lo, here is my signature, let the Almighty answer me--and that I had the indictment which mine adversary hath written!

35  then, would he grant me a hearing, so that the Almighty would listen to my desire, and he who judges would himself write a book,

31:36  Surely I would carry it upon my shoulder; I would bind it unto me as a crown.

36  I would place it as a chaplet on my shoulders, and read it.

36  which I would then carry on my shoulder and wrap around me like a crown?

31:37  I would declare unto him the number of my steps; as a prince would I go near unto him.

37  And if I did not read it and return it, having taken nothing from the debtor

37  With each of my steps, I would pronounce and offer it, as if to a prince.

31:38  If my land cry out against me, and the furrows thereof weep together;

38  So, if my land cries out against me, and if its furrows weep with it,

38  Let the earth lament over me, let its furrows weep together,

31:39  If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, or have caused the tillers thereof to be disappointed--

39  and if I ate its strength alone without price, and if I too grieved the heart of the owner of the soil, by taking aught from him

39  if I have used its fruits for nothing but money and have afflicted the souls of its tillers,

31:40  Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and noisome weeds instead of barley. The words of Job are ended.

40  then let the nettle come up to me instead of wheat, and a bramble instead of barley. And Job ceased speaking.

40  then, may thistles spring forth for me instead of grain, and thorns instead of barley. (This ended the words of Job.)

32:1  So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.

1  And his three friends also ceased any longer to answer Job: for Job was righteous before them.

32:2  Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram; against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God.

2  Then Elius the son of Barachiel, the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram, of the country of Ausis, was angered: and he was very angry with Job, because he justified himself before the Lord.

2  And Eliu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram, was angry and indignant. But he was angry against Job because he described himself to be just in the presence of God.

32:3  Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.

3  And he was also very angry with his three friends, because they were not able to return answers to Job, yet set him down for an ungodly man.

3  Moreover, he was indignant with his friends because they had not found a reasonable response, except in so far as they condemned Job.

32:4  Now Elihu had waited to speak unto Job, because they were older than he.

4  But Elius had forborne to give an answer to Job, because they were older than he.

4  Therefore, Eliu waited while Job was talking, for these were his elders that were speaking.

32:5  And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, his wrath was kindled.

5  But when he saw that these three were not able to respond, he was extremely angry.

5  When Elihu saw that these three were unable to answer Job, then he was incensed.

32:6  And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said: I am young, and ye are very old; wherefore I held back, and durst not declare you mine opinion.

6  And Elius the Buzite the son of Barachiel answered and said, I am younger in age, and ye are elder, wherefore I kept silence, fearing to declare to you my own knowledge.

6  And so Eliu the son of Barachel the Buzite responded by saying: I am younger in years, and you are more ancient; therefore, I kept my head low, for I was afraid to reveal to you my opinion.

32:7  I said: 'Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom.'

7  And I said, It is not time that speaks, though in many years men know wisdom

7  For I had hoped that greater age would speak, and that a multitude of years would teach wisdom.

32:8  But it is a spirit in man, and the breath of the Almighty, that giveth them understanding.

8  but there is a spirit in mortals; and the inspiration of the Almighty is that which teaches.

8  But I see now that there is only breath in men, and that it is the inspiration of the Almighty that gives understanding.

32:9  It is not the great that are wise, nor the aged that discern judgment.

9  The long-lived are not wise as such; neither do the aged know judgement.

32:10  Therefore I say: 'Hearken to me; I also will declare mine opinion.'

10  Wherefore I said, Hear me, and I will tell you what I know.

10  Therefore, I will speak. Listen to me, and so I will show you my wisdom.

32:11  Behold, I waited for your words, I listened for your reasons, whilst ye searched out what to say.

11  Hearken to my words; for I will speak in your hearing, until ye shall have tried the matter with words

11  For I have endured your words; I have paid attention to your deliberations, while you were being argumentative with words.

32:12  Yea, I attended unto you, and, behold, there was none that convinced Job, or that answered his words, among you.

12  and I shall understand as far as you; and, behold, there was no one of you that answered Job his words in argument,

12  And as long as I supposed that you were saying something, I considered; but now I see that there is none of you that is able to argue with Job and to respond to his words.

32:13  Beware lest ye say: 'We have found wisdom; God may vanquish him, not man!'

13  lest ye should say, We have found that we have added wisdom to the Lord.

13  So that you will not say, “We have found wisdom,” God has thrown him down, not man.

32:14  For he hath not directed his words against me; neither will I answer him with your speeches.

14  And ye have commissioned a man to speak such words.

14  He has said nothing to me, and I will not respond to him according to your words.

32:15  They are amazed, they answer no more; words are departed from them.

15  They were afraid, they answered no longer; they gave up their speaking.

15  Then they were filled with dread, and so they no longer responded, and they withdrew from their speechmaking.

32:16  And shall I wait, because they speak not, because they stand still, and answer no more?

16  They did not speak; they stood still, and answered him no more.

32:17  I also will answer my part, I also will declare mine opinion.

17  And Elius continued, and said, I will again speak,

17  I will answer also on my part; I also will show my knowledge.

32:18  For I am full of words; the spirit within me constraineth me.

32:19  Behold, mine inwards are as wine which hath no vent; like new wine-skins which are ready to burst.

19  And my belly is as a skin of sweet wine, bound up and ready to burst; or as a brazier’s labouring bellows.

32:20  I will speak, that I may find relief; I will open my lips and answer.

20  I should speak, but I will also breathe a little; I will open my lips, and I will answer.

32:21  Let me not, I pray you, respect any man's person; neither will I give flattering titles unto any man.

21  For truly I will not be awed because of man, nor indeed will I be confounded before a mortal.

21  I will not esteem the reputation of a man, and I will not equate God with man.

32:22  For I know not to give flattering titles; else would my Maker soon take me away.

22  For I do not know how long I will continue, and whether, after a while, my Maker might take me away.

33:1  Howbeit, Job, I pray thee, hear my speech, and hearken to all my words.

1  Howbeit hear, Job, my words, and hearken to my speech.

1  Therefore, hear my speeches, Job, and listen to all my words.

33:2  Behold now, I have opened my mouth, my tongue hath spoken in my mouth.

2  For behold, I have opened my mouth, and my tongue has spoken.

33:3  My words shall utter the uprightness of my heart; and that which my lips know they shall speak sincerely.

3  My words are from my simple heart, and my lips will speak a pure judgment.

3  The words of my mouth are upright, and the utterances of my lips are pure.

33:4  The spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty given me life.

4  The Divine Spirit is that which formed me, and the breath of the Almighty that which teaches me.

33:5  If thou canst, answer thou me, set thy words in order before me, stand forth.

5  If thou canst, give me an answer: wait therefore; stand against me, and I will stand against thee.

5  If you can, answer me, and oppose me to my face.

33:6  Behold, I am toward God even as thou art; I also am formed out of the clay.

6  Thou art formed out of the clay as also I: we have been formed out of the same substance.

6  Behold, God has made me, just as he also has made you, and I, likewise, have been formed of the same clay.

33:7  Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, neither shall my pressure be heavy upon thee.

7  So, truly, do not let my wonders terrify you, and do not let my eloquence be burdensome to you.

7  Therefore my admonishings will not make you to tremble, neither will my rebuke be heavy upon you.

33:8  Surely thou hast spoken in my hearing, and I have heard the voice of thy words;

8  But thou hast said in mine ears, (I have heard the voice of thy words;) because thou sayest, I am pure, not having sinned;

8  For you have spoken in my hearing, and I have heard the voice of your words, saying

33:9  'I am clean, without transgression, I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me;

9  I am blameless, for I have not transgressed.

9  I am blameless without transgressions, I am righteous; and there is no iniquity in me, and I am far removed from wickedness.

33:10  Behold, He findeth occasions against me, He counteth me for His enemy;

10  Yet he has discovered a charge against me, and he has reckoned me as an adversary.

33:11  He putteth my feet in the stocks, He marketh all my paths.'

11  And he has put my foot in the stocks, and has watched all my ways.

11  He has put my feet in fetters; he has kept watch over all my ways.”

33:12  Behold, I answer thee: In this thou art not right, that God is too great for man;

12  For how sayest thou, I am righteous, yet he has not hearkened to me? for he that is above mortals is eternal.

33:13  Why hast thou striven against Him? seeing that He will not answer any of his words.

13  But thou sayest, Why has he not heard every word of my cause?

13  Do you contend against him because he has not responded to all of your words?

33:14  For God speaketh in one way, yea in two, though man perceiveth it not.

14  For when the Lord speaks once, or a second time,

14  God speaks once, and he does not repeat the same thing a second time.

33:15  In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed;

15  sending a dream, or in the meditation of the night; (as when a dreadful alarm happens to fall upon men, in slumberings on the bed:)

15  Through a dream in a vision of the night, when a deep sleep falls over men, and they are sleeping in their beds,

33:16  Then He openeth the ears of men, and by their chastisement sealeth the decree,

16  then opens he the understanding of men: he scares them with such fearful visions

16  then, he opens the ears of men, and, educating them, he teaches discipline,

33:17  That men may put away their purpose, and that He may hide pride from man;

17  to turn a man from unrighteousness, and he delivers his body from a fall.

17  so that he may divert a man from the things that he is doing, and may free him from pride,

33:18  That He may keep back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.

18  He spares also his soul from death, and suffers him not to fall in war.

18  rescuing his soul from corruption and his life from passing away by the sword.

33:19  He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and all his bones grow stiff;

19  And again, he chastens him with sickness on his bed, and the multitude of his bones is benumbed.

19  Likewise, he rebukes by sorrow in bed, and he causes all of his bones to become weak.

33:20  So that his life maketh him to abhor bread, and his soul dainty food.

20  And he shall not be able to take any food, though his soul shall desire meat;

20  Bread becomes abominable to him in his life, and, to his soul, the meat which before he desired.

33:21  His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones corrode to unsightliness.

21  until his flesh shall be consumed, and he shall shew his bones bare.

21  His body will waste away, and his bones, which had been covered, will be revealed.

33:22  Yea, his soul draweth near unto the pit, and his life to the destroyers.

22  His soul also draws nigh to death, and his life is in Hades.

22  His soul has approached corruption, and his life has drawn near to what is deadly.

33:23  If there be for him an angel, an intercessor, one among a thousand, to vouch for a man's uprightness;

23  Though there should be a thousand messengers of death, not one of them shall wound him: if he should purpose in his heart to turn to the Lord, and declare to man his fault, and shew his folly;

23  If a man have an angel to whom one would listen once in a thousand times, the angel would show him the way of uprightness

33:24  Then He is gracious unto him, and saith: 'Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom.'

24  he will support him, that he should not perish, and will restore his body as fresh plaster upon a wall; and he will fill his bones with morrow.

24  he will have mercy on him, and he will say, “Free him, so that he will not descend to destruction. I have found a reason to be favorable to him.

33:25  His flesh is tenderer than a child's; he returneth to the days of his youth;

25  And he will make his flesh tender as that of a babe, and he will restore him among men in his full strength.

33:26  He prayeth unto God, and He is favourable unto him; so that he seeth His face with joy; and He restoreth unto man his righteousness.

26  And he shall pray to the Lord, and his prayer shall be accepted of him; he shall enter with a cheerful countenance, with a full expression of praise: for he will render to men their due.

26  He will beg pardon from God, and he will be soothing to him; and he will look upon his face in jubilation, and he will restore his justice to man.

33:27  He cometh before men, and saith: 'I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not.'

27  Even then a man shall blame himself, saying, What kind of things have I done? and he has not punished me according to the full amount of my sins.

27  He will consider mankind, and he will say: “I have sinned and truly I have offended, yet I was not treated as I deserved.”

33:28  So He redeemeth his soul from going into the pit, and his life beholdeth the light.

28  Deliver my soul, that it may not go to destruction, and my life shall see the light.

28  He has freed his soul from continuing into destruction, so that, in living, it may see the light.

33:29  Lo, all these things doth God work, twice, yea thrice, with a man,

29  Behold, all these things, the Mighty One works in a threefold manner with a man.

33:30  To bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of the living.

30  And he has delivered my soul from death, that my life may praise him in the light.

30  so that he may revive their souls from corruption and enlighten them with the light of life.

33:31  Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me; hold thy peace, and I will speak.

31  Hearken, Job, and hear me: be silent, and I will speak.

31  Pay attention Job, and listen to me; and remain silent, while I speak.

33:32  If thou hast any thing to say, answer me; speak, for I desire to justify thee.

32  Yet, if you have anything to say, answer me and speak, for I want you to be treated justly.

32  If you have anything to say, answer me; for I desire that you may be justified.

33:33  If not, hearken thou unto me; hold thy peace, and I will teach thee wisdom.

33  But if you do not have anything to say, then listen to me. Be quiet and I will teach you wisdom.

33  But if you will not listen, then be silent, and I shall teach you wisdom.