1  THERE was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was whole-hearted and upright, and one that feared God, and shunned evil.

1  There was a certain man in the land of Ausis, whose name was Job; and than man was true, blameless, righteous, and godly, abstaining from everything evil.

2  And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters.

2  And he had seven sons and three daughters.

3  His possessions also were seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she-asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the children of the east.

3  And his cattle consisted of seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred she-asses in the pastures, and a very great household, and he had a great husbandry on the earth; and that man was most noble of the men of the east.

3  And his possession was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, along with five hundred pairs of oxen and five hundred she-donkeys, and also a very large family. And this man was great among all the people of the east.

4  And his sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one upon his day; and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.

4  And his sons visiting one another prepared a banquet every day, taking with them also their three sisters to eat and drink with them.

4  And his sons went and made a feast by houses, each one on his day. And sending, they called their three sisters to eat and drink with them.

5  And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt-offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said: 'It may be that my sons have sinned, and blasphemed God in their hearts.' Thus did Job continually.

5  And when the days of the banquet were completed, Job sent and purified them, having risen up in the morning, and offered sacrifices for them, according to their number, and one calf for a sin-offering for their souls: for Job said, Lest peradventure my sons have thought evil in their minds against God. Thus, then Job did continually.

5  And when the days of their feasting had been completed, Job sent to them and sanctified them, and, getting up at dawn, he offered holocausts for each one. For he said, “Perhaps my sons have sinned and have not praised God in their hearts.” So Job did all the days.

6  Now it fell upon a day, that the sons of God came to present themselves before YHWH, and Satan came also among them.

6  And it came to pass on a day, that behold, the angels of God came to stand before the Lord, and the devil came with them.

6  But on a certain day, when the sons of God came to attend in the presence of the Lord, Satan also arrived among them.

7  And YHWH said unto Satan: 'Whence comest thou?' Then Satan answered the YHWH, and said: 'From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.'

7  And the Lord said to the devil, Whence art thou come? And the devil answered the Lord, and said, I am come from compassing the earth, and walking up and down in the world.

7  The Lord said to him, “Where do you come from?” Answering, he said, “I have circled the land, and walked around in it.”

8  And YHWH said unto Satan: 'Hast thou considered My servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a whole-hearted and an upright man, one that feareth God, and shunneth evil?'

8  And the Lord said to him, Hast thou diligently considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a man blameless, true, godly, abstaining from everything evil?

8  Then the LORD said to Satan, Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, an innocent and upright man, one who reveres God, and turns away from evil?

9  Then Satan answered YHWH, and said: 'Doth Job fear God for nought?

9  Then the devil answered, and said before the Lord, Does Job worship the Lord for nothing?

9  Answering him, Satan said, “Does Job fear God to no purpose?

10  Hast not Thou made a hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath, on every side? Thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions are increased in the land.

10  Have you not fortified him, as well as his house and every one of his belongings around him, blessed the works of his hands, and his possession has increased in the land?

10  Thou hast rested thy hand of protection upon him and upon his house and upon his children and upon everything that he has everywhere; thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.

11  But put forth Thy hand now, and touch all that he hath, surely he will blaspheme Thee to Thy face.'

11  But extend your hand a little, and touch all that he possesses, and see if he still praises you to your face.”

12  And YHWH said unto Satan: 'Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thy hand.' So Satan went forth from the presence of the YHWH.

12  Then the Lord said to the devil, Behold, I give into thine hand all that he has, but touch not himself. So the devil went out from the presence of the Lord.

13  And it fell on a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house,

13  And it came to pass on a certain day, that Job’s sons and his daughters were drinking wine in the house of their elder brother.

13  So, on a certain day, when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine, in the house of their first-born brother,

14  that there came a messenger unto Job, and said: 'The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them;

14  And, behold, there came a messenger to Job, and said to him, The yokes of oxen were ploughing, and the she-asses were feeding near them;

14  a messenger came to Job, who said, “The oxen were plowing, and the donkeys were grazing beside them,

15  and the Sabeans made a raid, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.'

16  While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said: 'A fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.'

16  And while he was still speaking, another arrived, and he said, “The fire of God fell from heaven, and, having struck the sheep and the servants, it consumed them; and I alone escaped to tell you.”

17  While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said: 'The Chaldeans set themselves in three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have taken them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.'

17  And while he also was still speaking, another arrived, and he said, “The Chaldeans organized three attacks, and advanced on the camels and took them; and not only that, but they have struck the servants with the sword; and I alone fled to tell you.”

18  While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said: 'Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house;

18  He was still speaking, and behold, another entered, and he said, “Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine in the house of their first-born brother,

19  And, behold, there came a great wind from across the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.'

19  suddenly a great wind came on from the desert, and caught the four corners of the house, and the house fell upon thy children, and they are dead; and I have escaped alone, and am come to tell thee.

19  when suddenly a severe wind rushed forth from a region of the desert and shook the four corners of the house, which collapsed and crushed your children, and they are dead; and I alone escaped to tell you.”

20  Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped;

20  So Job arose, and rent his garments, and shaved the hair of his head, and fell on the earth, and worshipped,

21  And he said; naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither; YHWH gave, and the YHWH hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.

21  and said, I myself came forth naked from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither; the Lord gave, the Lord has taken away: as it seemed good to the Lord, so has it come to pass; blessed be the name of the Lord.

21  and he said, “Naked I departed from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away. Just as it pleased the Lord, so has it been done. Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

22  For all this Job sinned not, nor ascribed aught unseemly to God.

22  In all these events that befell him Job sinned not at all before the Lord, and did not impute folly to God.

22  In all this, Job did not sin by his lips, nor did he speak any foolish thing against God.

2:1  Again it fell upon a day, that the sons of God came to present themselves before YHWH, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the YHWH.

1  And it came to pass on a certain day, that the angels of God came to stand before the Lord, and the devil came among them to stand before the Lord.

1  But it happened that, on a certain day, when the sons of God had arrived and they stood before the Lord, Satan likewise arrived among them, and he stood in his sight.

2:2  And YHWH said unto Satan: 'From whence comest thou?' And Satan answered the YHWH, and said: 'From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.'

2  And the Lord, said to the devil, Whence comest thou? Then the devil said before the Lord, I am come from going through the world, and walking about the whole earth.

2  So the Lord said to Satan, “Where do you come from?” Answering, he said, “I have circled the land, and walked around in it.”

2:3  And YHWH said unto Satan: 'Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a whole-hearted and an upright man, one that feareth God, and shunneth evil? and he still holdeth fast his integrity, although thou didst move Me against him, to destroy him without cause.'

3  And the Lord said to the devil, Hast thou then observed my servant Job, that there is none of men upon the earth like him, a harmless, true, blameless, godly man, abstaining from all evil? and he yet cleaves to innocence, whereas thou has told me to destroy his substance without cause?

3  And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you not considered my servant, Job, that there is no one like him in the land, a simple and honest man, fearing God and withdrawing from evil, and still retaining his innocence? Yet you have stirred me against him, so that I would afflict him to no purpose.”

2:4  And Satan answered YHWH, and said: 'Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.

4  And the devil answered and said to the Lord, Skin for skin, all that a man has will he give as a ransom for his life.

4  Answering him, Satan said, “Skin for skin; and everything that a man has, he will give for his life.

2:5  But put forth Thy hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, surely he will blaspheme Thee to Thy face.'

5  Yet send your hand and touch his bone and his flesh, and then you will see whether or not he blesses you to your face.”

2:6  And YHWH said unto Satan: 'Behold, he is in thy hand; only spare his life.'

6  And the Lord said to the devil, Behold, I deliver him up to thee; only save his life.

6  Therefore, the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your hand, but even so, spare his life.”

2:7  So Satan went forth from the presence of YHWH, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot even unto his crown.

7  So the devil went out from the Lord, and smote Job with sore boils from his feet to his head.

7  And so, Satan departed from the face of the Lord and he struck Job with a very serious ulcer from the sole of the foot all the way to the crown of his head.

2:8  And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself therewith; and he sat among the ashes.

8  And he took a potsherd to scrape away the discharge, and sat upon a dung-heap outside the city.

8  So he took a shard of earthenware and scraped the discharge, while sitting on a heap of refuse.

2:9  Then said his wife unto him: 'Dost thou still hold fast thine integrity? blaspheme God, and die.'

9  And when much time had passed, his wife said to him, How long wilt thou hold out, saying, Behold, I wait yet a little while, expecting the hope of my deliverance? for, behold, thy memorial is abolished from the earth, even thy sons and daughters, the pangs and pains of my womb which I bore in vain with sorrows; and thou thyself sittest down to spend the nights in the open air among the corruption of worms, and I am a wanderer and a servant from place to place and house to house, waiting for the setting of the sun, that I may rest from my labours and my pangs which now beset me: but say some word against the Lord, and die.

9  But his wife said to him, “Do you still continue in your simplicity? Bless God and die.”

2:10  But he said unto her: 'Thou speakest as one of the impious women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?' For all this did not Job sin with his lips.

2:11  Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place, Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite; and they made an appointment together to come to bemoan him and to comfort him.

11  Now his three friends having heard of all the evil that was come upon him, came to him each from his own country: Eliphaz the king of the Thaemans, Baldad sovereign of the Saucheans, Sophar king of he Minaeans: and they came to him with one accord, to comfort and to visit him.

11  And so, three friends of Job, hearing about all the evil that had befallen him, arrived, each one from his own place, Eliphaz the Themanite, and Baldad the Suhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. For they had agreed to come together to visit and console him.

2:12  And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and threw dust upon their heads toward heaven.

12  And when they saw him from a distance they did not know him; and they cried with a loud voice, and wept, and rent every one his garment, and sprinkled dust upon their heads,

12  And when they had raised up their eyes from a distance, they did not recognize him, and, crying out, they wept, and, tearing their garments, they scattered dust over their heads into the sky.

2:13  So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spoke a word unto him; for they saw that his grief was very great.

13  and they sat down beside him seven days and seven nights, and no one of them spoke; for they saw that his affliction was dreadful and very great.

13  And they sat with him on the ground for seven day and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his sorrow was very great.

3:1  After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day.

3:2  And Job spoke, and said

2  saying,

2  and this is what he said

3:3  Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night wherein it was said: 'A man-child is brought forth.'

3  May the day perish on which I was born, and the night, in which it was said, “A man has been conceived.”

3:4  Let that day be darkness; let not God inquire after it from above, neither let the light shine upon it.

4  May that day be turned into darkness, may God not seek it from above, and may light not illuminate it.

3:5  Let darkness and the shadow of death claim it for their own; let a cloud dwell upon it; let all that maketh black the day terrify it.

5  But let darkness and the shadow of death seize it; let blackness come upon it;

5  Let the darkness and the shadow of death cover it; let a cloud overshadow it; let those whose days are bitter be terrified by it.

3:6  As for that night, let thick darkness seize upon it; let it not rejoice among the days of the year; let it not come into the number of the months.

6  let that day and night be cursed, let darkness carry them away; let it not come into the days of the year, neither let it be numbered with the days of the months.

6  Let a whirlwind of darkness take hold of that night, let it not be counted in the days of the year, nor numbered in the months.

3:7  Lo, let that night be desolate; let no joyful voice come therein.

7  But let that night be pain, and let not mirth come upon it, nor joy.

7  May that night be alone and unworthy of praise.

3:8  Let them curse it that curse the day, who are ready to rouse up leviathan.

8  But let him that curses that day curse it, even he that is ready to attack the great whale.

8  May they curse it, who curse the day, who are prepared to awaken a leviathan.

3:9  Let the stars of the twilight thereof be dark; let it look for light, but have none; neither let it behold the eyelids of the morning;

9  Let the stars of that night be darkened; let it remain dark, and not come into light; and let it not see the morning star arise

9  Let the stars be concealed with its darkness. Let it expect light, and not see it, nor the rising of the dawn in the East.

3:10  Because it shut not up the doors of my mother's womb, nor hid trouble from mine eyes.

10  For it did not close the doors of the womb that bore me, nor take away evils from my eyes.

3:11  Why died I not from the womb? Why did I not perish at birth?

11  For why died I not in the belly? and why did I not come forth from the womb and die immediately?

11  Why did I not die in the womb? Having left the womb, why did I not immediately perish?

3:12  Why did the knees receive me? And wherefore the breasts, that I should suck?

12  and why did the knees support me? and why did I suck the breasts?

12  Why was I received upon the knees? Why was I suckled at the breasts?

3:13  For now should I have lain still and been quiet; I should have slept; then had I been at rest--

13  Now I should have lain down and been quiet, I should have slept and been at rest,

13  For by now, I should have been sleeping silently, and taking rest in my sleep

3:14  With kings and counsellors of the earth, who built up waste places for themselves;

3:15  Or with princes that had gold, who filled their houses with silver;

15  or with rulers, whose gold was abundant, who filled their houses with silver

15  either with princes, who possess gold and fill their houses with silver,

3:16  Or as a hidden untimely birth I had not been; as infants that never saw light.

16  or I should have been as an untimely birth proceeding from his mother’s womb, or as infants who never saw light.

16  or, like a hidden miscarriage, I should not have continued, just like those who, being conceived, have not seen the light.

3:17  There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary are at rest.

17  There the ungodly have burnt out the fury of rage; there the wearied in body rest.

17  There the impious cease from rebellion, and there the wearied in strength take rest.

3:18  There the prisoners are at ease together; they hear not the voice of the taskmaster.

18  And the men of old time have together ceased to hear the exactor’s voice.

18  And at such times, having been bound together without difficulty, they have not heard the voice of the bailiff.

3:19  The small and great are there alike; and the servant is free from his master.

3:20  Wherewith is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter in soul--

20  For why is light given to those who are in bitterness, and life to those souls which are in griefs?

20  Why is light given to the miserable, and life to those who are in bitterness of soul,

3:21  Who long for death, but it cometh not; and dig for it more than for hid treasures;

21  who desire death, and obtain it not, digging for it as for treasures;

21  who expect death, and it does not arrive, like those who dig for treasure

3:22  Who rejoice unto exultation, and are glad, when they can find the grave?--

22  and would be very joyful if they should gain it?

22  and who rejoice greatly when they have found the grave,

3:23  To a man whose way is hid, and whom God hath hedged in?

23  Death is rest to such a man, for God has hedged him in.

23  Why is light given to a man whose way is hid, whom God has hedged in?

3:24  For my sighing cometh instead of my food, and my roarings are poured out like water.

24  For my groaning comes before my food, and I weep being beset with terror.

24  Before I eat, I sigh; and like overflowing waters, so is my howl,

3:25  For the thing which I did fear is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of hath overtaken me.

25  for the terror that I feared has happened to me, and so has the dread befallen me.

3:26  I was not at ease, neither was I quiet, neither had I rest; but trouble came.

26  Have I not remained hidden? Have I not kept silence? Have I not remained calm? Yet indignation has overcome me.

26  I am not at ease, neither am I calm, nor am I at rest; and yet misfortune came.

4:1  Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said

1  But Eliphaz the Themanite, answering, said

4:2  If one venture a word unto thee, wilt thou be weary? But who can withhold himself from speaking?

2  Hast thou been often spoken to in distress? but who shall endure the force of thy words?

2  If we start to speak to you, perhaps you will take it badly, but who can hold back the words he has conceived?

4:3  Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands.

3  For whereas thou hast instructed many, and hast strengthened the hands of the weak one,

3  Behold, you have taught many, and you have strengthened weary hands.

4:4  Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees.

4  and hast supported the failing with words, and hast imparted courage to feeble knees.

4  Your words have reassured the wavering, and you have fortified the trembling knees.

4:5  But now it is come upon thee, and thou art weary; it toucheth thee, and thou art affrighted.

5  Yet now that pain has come upon thee, and touched thee, thou art troubled.

5  But now the scourge has overcome you, and you falter. It has touched you, and you are disturbed.

4:6  Is not thy fear of God thy confidence, and thy hope the integrity of thy ways?

6  Where is your reverence, your fortitude, your patience, and the perfection of your ways?

6  Behold, your fear is to be blamed, and your trust in the integrity of your way.

4:7  Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? Or where were the upright cut off?

7  Remember then who has perished, being pure? or when were the true-hearted utterly destroyed?

7  Consider this, I beg you: who ever perished being innocent? Or when have the righteous been destroyed?

4:8  According as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow mischief, reap the same.

8  In fact, I have instead seen those who work iniquity and who sow resentments, reap them,

4:9  By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast of His anger are they consumed.

9  They shall perish by the command of the Lord, and shall be utterly consumed by the breath of his wrath.

9  perishing by the breath of God, and being consumed by the wrath of his spirit.

4:10  The lion roareth, and the fierce lion howleth--yet the teeth of the young lions are broken.

10  The strength of the lion, and the voice of the lioness, and the exulting cry of serpents are quenched.

10  The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the lioness, and the teeth of young lions have been worn away.

4:11  The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, and the whelps of the lioness are scattered abroad.

11  The tiger has perished because it does not have prey, and the young lions have been scattered.

4:12  Now a word was secretly brought to me, and mine ear received a whisper thereof.

12  But if there had been any truth in thy words, none of these evils would have befallen thee. Shall not mine ear receive excellent revelations from him?

12  Furthermore, a word was spoken to me in secret, and, as if by theft, my ears received the pulse of its whisper.

4:13  In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men,

13  But as when terror falls upon men, with dread and a sound in the night,

4:14  Fear came upon me, and trembling, and all my bones were made to shake.

14  horror and trembling seized me, and caused all my bones greatly to shake.

14  fear and trembling seized me and all my bones were terrified.

4:15  Then a spirit passed before my face, that made the hair of my flesh to stand up.

15  And a spirit came before my face; and my hair and flesh quivered.

15  And when a spirit passed before me, the hair on my body stood up.

4:16  It stood still, but I could not discern the appearance thereof; a form was before mine eyes; I heard a still voice

16  I arose and perceived it not: I looked, and there, was no form before my eyes: but I only heard a breath and a voice, saying,

16  There appeared an image before my eyes, someone whose face I did not recognize, and I heard a voice like a gentle breeze.

4:17  'Shall mortal man be just before God? Shall a man be pure before his Maker?

17  What, shall a mortal be pure before the Lord? or a man be blameless in regard to his works?

17  Should man be justified in relation to God, or will a man be more pure than his Maker?

4:18  Behold, He putteth no trust in His servants, and His angels He chargeth with folly;

18  Whereas he trust not in his servants, and perceives perverseness in his angels.

18  Behold, those who serve him are not steadfast, and in his angels he finds imperfection.

4:19  How much more them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed before the moth!

19  But as for them that dwell in houses of clay, of whom we also are formed of the same clay, he smites them like a moth.

19  Even those who dwell in decorated houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, shall be humbled before the thick darkness.

4:20  Betwixt morning and evening they are shattered; they perish for ever without any regarding it.

20  And from the morning to evening they no longer exist: they have perished, because they cannot help themselves.

4:21  Is not their tent-cord plucked up within them? They die, and that without wisdom.'

21  For he blows upon them, and they are withered: they have perished for lack of wisdom.

21  But those who are left behind will be taken away from them; they will die, and not in wisdom.

5:1  Call now; is there any that will answer thee? And to which of the holy ones wilt thou turn?

1  But call, if any one will hearken to thee, or if thou shalt see any of the holy angels.

1  Therefore call, if there are any who will respond to you, and turn to one or another of the saints.

5:2  For anger killeth the foolish man, and envy slayeth the silly one.

2  For wrath destroys the foolish one, and envy slays him that has gone astray.

2  Truly, anger condemns the foolish to death, and envy kills the petty.

5:3  I have seen the foolish taking root; but suddenly I beheld his habitation cursed.

3  And I have seen foolish ones taking root: but suddenly their habitation was devoured.

3  I have seen a fool with a strong root, and I have cursed his excellence without hesitation.

5:4  His children are far from safety, and are crushed in the gate, with none to deliver them.

4  Let their children be far from safety, and let them be crushed at the doors of vile men, and let there be no deliverer.

4  His sons will be far from prosperity and will be crushed at the gate, and there will be none who can rescue them.

5:5  Whose harvest the hungry eateth up, and taketh it even out of the thorns, and the snare gapeth for their substance.

5  For what they have collected, the just shall eat; but they shall not be delivered out of calamities: let their strength be utterly exhausted.

5  Their harvest, the starving will eat. The armed man will rob him, and the thirsty will drink his resources.

5:6  For affliction cometh not forth from the dust, neither doth trouble spring out of the ground;

6  For labour cannot by any means come out of the earth, nor shall trouble spring out of the mountains

6  Nothing on earth occurs without a reason, and sorrow does not rise from the earth.

5:7  But man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward.

7  yet man is born to labour, and even so the vulture’s young seek the high places.

5:8  But as for me, I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause;

8  Nevertheless I will beseech the Lord, and will call upon the Lord, the sovereign of all;

8  Therefore, because of this, I will beg the Lord, and place my eloquence before God.

5:9  Who doeth great things and unsearchable, marvellous things without number;

9  who does great things and untraceable, glorious things also, and marvellous, of which there is no number

9  He does great and unfathomable and miraculous things without number.

5:10  Who giveth rain upon the earth, and sendeth waters upon the fields;

10  He gives rain over the face of the earth and irrigates all things with the waters.

5:11  So that He setteth up on high those that are low, and those that mourn are exalted to safety.

11  who exalts the lowly, and raises up them that are lost

11  He places the humble on high and encourages the grieving towards health.

5:12  He frustrateth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands can perform nothing substantial.

12  frustrating the counsels of the crafty, and their hands shall not perform the truth

12  He dispels the thoughts of the spiteful, lest their hands be able to complete what they had begun.

5:13  He taketh the wise in their own craftiness; and the counsel of the wily is carried headlong.

13  He catches the wise in their cleverness and dissipates the counsel of the perverse.

5:14  They meet with darkness in the day-time, and grope at noonday as in the night.

14  In the day darkness shall come upon them, and let them grope in the noon-day even as in the night

14  They handle things in the daytime as though they were in darkness, and grope in the noonday as in the night.

5:15  But He saveth from the sword of their mouth, even the needy from the hand of the mighty.

15  and let them perish in war, and let the weak escape from the hand of the mighty.

15  Thereafter, he will act to save the needy from the sword of their mouth, and the poor from the hand of the violent.

5:16  So the poor hath hope, and iniquity stoppeth her mouth.

16  And let the weak have hope, but the mouth of the unjust be stopped.

16  And there will be hope for those in need, for iniquity will diminish its speech.

5:17  Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth; therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty.

17  But blessed is the man whom the Lord has reproved; and reject not thou the chastening of the Almighty.

17  Blessed is the man whom God corrects; therefore, do not reject the chastisement of the Lord.

5:18  For He maketh sore, and bindeth up; He woundeth, and His hands make whole.

18  for he causes a man to be in pain, and restores him again: he smites, and his hands heal.

18  For he wounds and he cures; he strikes and his hands will heal.

5:19  He will deliver thee in six troubles; yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee.

19  Six time he shall deliver thee out of distresses: and in the seventh harm shall not touch thee.

5:20  In famine He will redeem thee from death; and in war from the power of the sword.

20  During famine, he will rescue you from death, and during war, from the hand of the sword.

5:21  Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue; neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh.

21  You will be hidden from the scourge of the tongue, and you will not fear calamity when it arrives.

5:22  At destruction and famine thou shalt laugh; neither shalt thou be afraid of the beasts of the earth.

22  In desolation and in famine, you will laugh, and you will not dread the beasts of the earth.

5:23  For thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field; and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee.

23  For the wild beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee.

23  For you are in harmony with the stones of the land, and the beasts of the earth will make peace with you.

5:24  And thou shalt know that thy tent is in peace; and thou shalt visit thy habitation, and shalt miss nothing.

24  Then shalt thou know that thy house shall be at peace, and the provision for thy tabernacle shall not fail.

24  And you will know that your home has peace, and, concerning your appearance, you will not sin.

5:25  Thou shalt know also that thy seed shall be great, and thine offspring as the grass of the earth.

25  Likewise, you will know that your offspring will be manifold and your progeny will be like the grass of the earth.

5:26  Thou shalt come to thy grave in a ripe age, like as a shock of corn cometh in in its season.

26  And thou shalt come to the grave like ripe corn reaped in its season, or as a heap of the corn-flour collected in proper time.

26  You will enter the grave with abundance, just as a crop of wheat is gathered in its time.

5:27  Lo this, we have searched it, so it is; hear it, and know thou it for thy good.

27  Behold, we have thus sought out these matters; these are what we have heard: but do thou reflect with thyself, if thou hast done anything wrong.

6:1  Then Job answered and said

1  But Job answered and said,

6:2  Oh that my vexation were but weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances altogether!

2  Oh that one would indeed weigh the wrath that is upon me, and take up my griefs in a balance together!

2  I wish that my sins, for which I deserve wrath, and the calamity that I endure, were weighed out on a balance.

6:3  For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas; therefore are my words broken.

3  And verily they would be heavier than the sand by the seashore: but, as it seems, my words are vain.

3  Compared to the sand of the sea, they would appear heavier, and so my words are full of sorrow.

6:4  For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison whereof my spirit drinketh up; the terrors of God do set themselves in array against me.

4  For the arrows of the Lord are in my body, whose violence drinks up my blood: whenever I am going to speak, they pierce me.

6:5  Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox over his fodder?

5  What then? will the wild ass bray for nothing, if he is not seeking food? or again, will the ox low at the manger, when he has a fodder?

5  Will the wild ass bray when he has grass? Or will the ox bellow when he stands before a full manger?

6:6  Can that which hath no savour be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the juice of mallows?

6  Shall bread be eaten without salt? or again, is there taste in empty words?

6  Or can one eat bland food, which is not seasoned with salt? Or can anyone taste that which, if tasted, causes death?

6:7  My soul refuseth to touch them; they are as the sickness of my flesh.

7  For my wrath cannot cease; for I perceive my food as the smell of a lion to be loathsome.

7  My soul is weary of its troubles, I lament like a drunken man in my affliction.

6:8  Oh that I might have my request, and that God would grant me the thing that I long for!

8  For oh that he would grant my desire, and my petition might come, and the Lord would grant my hope!

8  Who will grant that my petition may arrive and that God may bestow on me what I expect,

6:9  Even that it would please God to crush me; that He would let loose His hand, and cut me off!

9  Let the Lord begin and wound me, but let him not utterly destroy me.

6:10  Then should I yet have comfort; yea, I would exult in pain, though He spare not; for I have not denied the words of the Holy One.

10  And may this be my consolation, that in afflicting me with sorrow, although he might not be lenient with me, I still do not contradict the words of the Holy One.

6:11  What is my strength, that I should wait? and what is mine end, that I should be patient?

11  For what is my strength, that I continue? what is my time, that my soul endures?

6:12  Is my strength the strength of stones? or is my flesh of brass?

12  My strength is not the strength of stones, nor is my flesh made of bronze.

6:13  Is it that I have no help in me, and that sound wisdom is driven quite from me?

13  Or have I not trusted in him? but help is far from me.

13  Behold, there is no help for me in myself, and my loved ones also have withdrawn from me.

6:14  To him that is ready to faint kindness is due from his friend, even to him that forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.

14  Mercy has rejected me; and the visitation of the Lord has disregarded me.

14  He who takes away mercy from his friend, abandons the fear of the Lord.

6:15  My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, as the channel of brooks that overflow,

15  My nearest relations have not regarded me; they have passed me by like a failing brook, or like a wave.

15  My brethren have disregarded me, like a torrent that passes swiftly through the steep valleys.

6:16  Which are black by reason of the ice, and wherein the snow hideth itself;

16  They who used to reverence me, now have come against me like snow or congealed ice.

16  Those who fear frost, snow will rush over them.

6:17  What time they wax warm, they vanish, when it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.

17  When it has melted at the approach of heat, it is not known what it was.

17  At that time, when they are scattered, they will perish, and when it becomes hot, they will be freed from their place.

6:18  The paths of their way do wind, they go up into the waste, and are lost.

18  Thus I also have been deserted of all; and I am ruined, and become an outcast.

6:19  The caravans of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them--

19  Behold the ways of the Thaemanites, ye that mark the paths of the Sabaeans.

19  Consider the paths of Thema, the ways of Saba, and wait a little while.

6:20  They were ashamed because they had hoped; they came thither, and were confounded.

20  They too that trust in cities and riches shall come to shame.

20  They have been thrown into confusion, just as I had hoped; they have even come to me and are overwhelmed with shame.

6:21  For now ye are become His; ye see a terror, and are afraid.

21  But ye also have come to me without pity; so that beholding my wound ye are afraid.

21  Now you have arrived, and merely by seeing my affliction, you are afraid.

6:22  Did I say: 'Give unto me'? or: 'Offer a present for me of your substance'?

22  What? have I made any demand of you? or do I ask for strength from you,

6:23  or: 'Deliver me from the adversary's hand'? or: 'Redeem me from the hand of the oppressors'?

23  to deliver me from enemies, or to rescue me from the hand of the mighty ones?

23  or, “Free me from the hand of the enemy and rescue me from the hand of the strong?”

6:24  Teach me, and I will hold my peace; and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.

24  Teach ye me, and I will be silent: if in anything I have erred, tell me.

24  Teach me, and I will be silent, and if by chance I have been ignorant of anything, instruct me.

6:25  How forcible are words of uprightness! But what doth your arguing argue?

25  But as it seems, the words of a true man are vain, because I do not ask strength of you.

25  Why have you diminished the words of truth, when there is none of you who is able to offer proof against me?

6:26  Do ye hold words to be an argument, but the speeches of one that is desperate to be wind?

26  You prepare speeches as so much noise, and you offer words into the wind.

26  Behold you are seeking to find words with which to reprove, and against my soul you are conjuring up words.

6:27  Yea, ye would cast lots upon the fatherless, and dig a pit for your friend.

27  You encroach upon the orphan, and you strive to undermine your friend.

27  Behold, you overwhelm the fatherless, and you grieve your friend.

6:28  Now therefore be pleased to look upon me; for surely I shall not lie to your face.

28  But now, having looked upon your countenances, I will not lie.

28  Such is true, so finish what you have begun. Listen closely, and see if I lie.

6:29  Return, I pray you, let there be no injustice; yea, return again, my cause is righteous.

29  Sit down now, and let there not be unrighteousness; and unite again with the just.

6:30  Is there injustice on my tongue? Cannot my taste discern crafty devices?

30  For there is no injustice in my tongue; and does not my throat meditate understanding?

30  And you will not find iniquity on my tongue, nor will foolishness resound in my throat.

7:1  Is there not a time of service to man upon earth? And are not his days like the days of a hireling?

1  The life of a man on the earth is a battle, and his days are like the days of a hired hand.

7:2  As a servant that eagerly longeth for the shadow, and as a hireling that looketh for his wages;

2  Or as a servant that fears his master, and one who has grasped a shadow? or as a hireling waiting for his pay?

2  Just as a servant desires the shade, and just as the hired hand looks forward to the end of his work,

7:3  So am I made to possess--months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me.

3  So have I also endured months of vanity, and nights of pain have been appointed me.

3  so also have I had empty months and have counted my burdensome nights.

7:4  When I lie down, I say: 'When shall I arise?' But the night is long, and I am full of tossings to and fro unto the dawning of the day.

4  Whenever I lie down, I say, When will it be day? and whenever I rise up, again I say when will it be evening? and I am full of pains from evening to morning.

4  If I lie down to sleep, I will say, “When will I rise?” And next I will hope for the evening and will be filled with sorrows even until darkness.

7:5  My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin closeth up and breaketh out afresh.

5  And my body is covered with loathsome worms; and I waste away, scraping off clods of dust from my eruption.

7:6  My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope.

6  And my life is lighter than a word, and has perished in vain hope.

6  My days have passed by more quickly than threads are cut by a weaver, and they have been consumed without any hope.

7:7  O remember that my life is a breath; mine eye shall no more see good.

7  Remember then that my life is breath, and mine eye shalt not yet again see good.

7:8  The eye of him that seeth me shall behold me no more; while Thine eyes are upon me, I am gone.

8  Neither will the sight of man gaze upon me; your eyes are upon me, and I will not endure.

7:9  As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away, so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more.

9  I am as a cloud that is cleared away from the sky: for if a man go down to the grave, he shall not come up again

9  Just as a cloud is consumed and passes away, so he who descends to hell will not ascend.

7:10  He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him any more.

10  and he shall surely not return to his own house, neither shall his place know him any more.

10  He will not return again to his house, nor will his own place know him any longer.

7:11  Therefore I will not refrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.

11  Then neither will I refrain my mouth: I will speak being in distress; being in anguish I will disclose the bitterness of my soul.

11  And because of this, I will not restrain my mouth. I will speak in the affliction of my spirit. I will converse from the bitterness of my soul.

7:12  Am I a sea, or a sea-monster, that Thou settest a watch over me?

12  Am I an ocean or a whale, that you have encircled me in a prison?

7:13  When I say: 'My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaint';

13  I said that my bed should comfort me, and I would privately counsel with myself on my couch.

13  If I say, “My bed will comfort me, and I will find rest, speaking with myself on my blanket,”

7:14  Then Thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions;

7:15  So that my soul chooseth strangling, and death rather than these my bones.

15  Thou wilt separate life from my spirit; and yet keep my bones from death.

15  Thou hast drawn my life out of destruction, and my bones out of death.

7:16  I loathe it; I shall not live alway; let me alone; for my days are vanity.

16  For I shall not live for ever, that I should patiently endure: depart from me, for my life is vain.

7:17  What is man, that Thou shouldest magnify him, and that Thou shouldest set Thy heart upon him,

17  For what is man, that thou hast magnified him? or that thou givest heed to him?

7:18  And that Thou shouldest remember him every morning, and try him every moment?

18  Wilt thou visit him till the morning, and judge him till the time of rest?

18  You visit him at dawn, and you test him unexpectedly.

7:19  How long wilt Thou not look away from me, nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle?

19  How long will you not spare me, nor release me to ingest my saliva?

7:20  If I have sinned, what do I unto Thee, O Thou watcher of men? Why hast Thou set me as a mark for Thee, so that I am a burden to myself?

20  I have sinned; what should I do for you, O keeper of men? Why have you set me against you, so that I have become burdensome even to myself?

20  If I have sinned; what have I done to thee, O thou Creator of men? Why hast thou caused me to encounter thee? Thou hast become a burden to me.

7:21  And why dost Thou not pardon my transgression, and take away mine iniquity? For now shall I lie down in the dust; and Thou wilt seek me, but I shall not be.

21  Why hast thou not forgotten my iniquity, and purged my sin? but now I shall depart to the earth; and in the morning I am no more.

21  Why do you not steal away my sin, and why do you not sweep away my iniquity? Behold, now I will sleep in the dust, and if you seek me in the morning, I will not remain.

8:1  Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said

1  But Baldad the Suhite, responding, said

8:2  How long wilt thou speak these things, seeing that the words of thy mouth are as a mighty wind?

2  How long will you speak this way, so that the words of your mouth are like a changeable wind?

8:3  Doth God pervert judgment? Or doth the Almighty pervert justice?

3  Will the Lord be unjust when he judges; or will he that has made all things pervert justice?

3  Does God supplant judgment, or does the Almighty subvert that which is just?

8:4  If thy children sinned against Him, He delivered them into the hand of their transgression.

8:5  If thou wouldest seek earnestly unto God, and make thy supplication to the Almighty;

5  But be thou early in prayer to the Lord Almighty.

5  even so, you should arise early to God, so as to beseech the Almighty.

8:6  If thou wert pure and upright; surely now He would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous.

6  If you approach with purity and honesty, he will quickly be attentive to you, and a peaceful life will repay your righteousness,

8:7  And though thy beginning was small, yet thy end should greatly increase.

7  so much so that, if your former things were small, your latter things would be multiplied greatly.

8:8  For inquire, I pray thee, of the former generation, and apply thyself to that which their fathers have searched out--

8  For ask of the former generation, and search diligently among the race of our fathers

8  For inquire of the earliest generation, and investigate diligently the history of the fathers,

8:9  For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow--

9  (for we are of yesterday, and know nothing; for our life upon the earth is a shadow:)

9  (of course, we are but of yesterday and are ignorant that our days on earth are like a shadow,)

8:10  Shall not they teach thee, and tell thee, and utter words out of their heart?

10  and they will teach you; they will speak with you and will offer you the eloquence of their hearts.

10  And, behold, they shall teach you, and tell you, and utter words out of their heart.

8:11  Can the rush shoot up without mire? Can the reed-grass grow without water?

11  Does the rush flourish without water, or shall the flag grow up without moisture?

11  Can papyrus grow in a thirsty land? Can reeds grow where there is no water?

8:12  Whilst it is yet in its greenness, and not cut down, it withereth before any other herb.

12  When it is yet on the root, and though it has not been cut down, does not any herb wither before it has received moisture?

12  When it is still in flower, and has not been pulled up by hand, it withers before all other plants.

8:13  So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hope of the godless man shall perish;

13  Thus then shall be the end of all that forget the Lord: for the hope of the ungodly shall perish.

13  Just so are the ways of all who forget God, and the hope of the hypocrite will perish.

8:14  Whose confidence is gossamer, and whose trust is a spider's web.

14  For his house shall be without inhabitants, and his tent shall prove a spider’s web.

14  His frenzy will not please him, and his faith will be like a spider’s web.

8:15  He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand; he shall hold fast thereby, but it shall not endure.

15  If he should prop up his house, it shall not stand: and when he has taken hold of it, it shall not remain.

15  He will lean on his house, and it will not stand; he will prop it up, but it will not rise.

8:16  He is green before the sun, and his shoots go forth over his garden.

16  For it is moist under the sun, and his branch shall come forth out of his dung-heap.

16  He seems to have moisture before the sun arrives; and at sunrise, his sprout shoots forth.

8:17  His roots are wrapped about the heap, he beholdeth the place of stones.

17  He lies down upon a gathering of stones, and shall live in the mist of flints.

17  He shall see his house a heap of stones.

8:18  If he be destroyed from his place, then it shall deny him: 'I have not seen thee.'

18  If God should destroy him, his place shall deny him. Hast thou not seen such things,

18  If someone is devoured right beside him, he will deny him and will say: “I do not know you.”

8:19  Behold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the earth shall others spring.

19  that such is the overthrow of the ungodly? and out of the earth another shall grow.

19  For this is the benefit of his way, that others in turn may spring up from the earth.

8:20  Behold, God will not cast away an innocent man, neither will He uphold the evil-doers;

20  For the Lord will by no means reject the harmless man; but he will not receive any gift of the ungodly.

20  God will not discard the simple, nor will he extend his hand to the spiteful,

8:21  Till He fill thy mouth with laughter, and thy lips with shouting.

21  But he will fill with laughter the mouth of the sincere, and their lips with thanksgiving.

21  even until your mouth is filled with laughter and your lips with rejoicing.

8:22  They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame; and the tent of the wicked shall be no more.

22  But their adversaries shall clothe themselves with shame; and the habitation of the ungodly shall perish.

22  Those who hate you, will be clothed with confusion, and the tabernacle of the impious will not continue.

9:1  Then Job answered and said

1  And Job, responding, said

9:2  Of a truth I know that it is so; and how can man be just with God?

2  I know of a truth that it is so: for how shall a mortal man be just before the Lord?

2  Truly, I know that it is so, and that man cannot be justified compared with God.

9:3  If one should desire to contend with Him, he could not answer Him one of a thousand.

3  For if he would enter into judgement with him, God would not hearken to him, so that he should answer to one of his charges of a thousand.

3  If he chooses to contend with him, he is not able to respond to him once out of a thousand times.

9:4  He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength; who hath hardened himself against Him, and prospered?

4  For he is wise in mind, and mighty, and great: who has hardened himself against him and endured?

4  He is understanding in heart and mighty in strength; who has resisted him and yet had peace?

9:5  Who removeth the mountains, and they know it not, when He overturneth them in His anger.

5  He has moved mountains, and those whom he overthrew in his fury did not know it.

5  He who removes mountains and overthrows them with his anger, does he not know?

9:6  Who shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.

6  Who shakes the earth under heaven from its foundations, and its pillars totter.

6  He shakes the earth out of its place and its pillars tremble.

9:7  Who commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars.

7  He commands the sun and it does not rise, and he closes the stars as if under a seal.

9:8  Who alone stretcheth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.

8  Who alone has stretched out the heavens, and walks on the sea as on firm ground.

8  He alone extends the heavens, and he walks upon the waves of the sea.

9:9  Who maketh the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.

9  He fashions Arcturus, and Orion, and Hyades, and the interior of the south.

9:10  Who doeth great things past finding out; yea, marvellous things without number.

10  Who does great and unsearchable things; glorious also and excellent things, innumerable.

9:11  Lo, He goeth by me, and I see Him not. He passeth on also, but I perceive Him not.

11  If he approaches me, I will not see him; if he departs, I will not understand.

11  Lo, if he will pass by me, I will see him not; and if he will circle around me, I will not perceive him.

9:12  Behold, He snatcheth away, who can hinder Him? Who will say unto Him: 'What doest Thou?'

12  If he would take away, who shall turn him back? or who shall say to him, What hast thou done?

12  If he suddenly should question, who will answer him? Or who can say, “Why did you do so?”

9:13  God will not withdraw His anger; the helpers of Rahab did stoop under Him.

13  For if he has turned away his anger, the whales under heaven have stooped under him.

13  God, whose wrath no one is able to resist, and under whom they bend who carry the world,

9:14  How much less shall I answer Him, and choose out my arguments with Him?

14  Oh then that he would hearken to me, or judge my cause.

9:15  Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer; I would make supplication to Him that contendeth with me.

15  For though I be righteous, he will not hearken to me: I will intreat his judgement.

15  If I am not justified I would not resist, but I would make supplication to my judge.

9:16  If I had called, and He had answered me; yet would I not believe that He would hearken unto my voice--

16  And if I should call and he should not hearken, I cannot believe that he has listened to my voice.

9:17  He that would break me with a tempest, and multiply my wounds without cause;

17  Let him not crush me with a dark storm: but he has made by bruises many without cause.

17  For he will crush me in a whirlwind and multiply my wounds, even without cause.

9:18  That would not suffer me to take my breath, but fill me with bitterness.

18  For he suffers me not to take breath, but he has filled me with bitterness.

18  He does not permit my spirit to rest, and he fills me with bitterness.

9:19  If it be a matter of strength, lo, He is mighty! and if of justice, who will appoint me a time?

19  For indeed he is strong in power: who then shall resist his judgement?

19  If strength is sought, he is most strong; if equity in judgment, no one would dare to give testimony for me.

9:20  Though I be righteous, mine own mouth shall condemn me; though I be innocent, He shall prove me perverse.

20  If I wanted to justify myself, my own mouth will condemn me; if I would reveal my innocence, he would prove me depraved.

9:21  I am innocent--I regard not myself, I despise my life.

21  For even if I have sinned, I know it not in my soul: but my life is taken away.

21  Though I am pure, yet I would not know my soul; I would despise my life.

9:22  It is all one--therefore I say: He destroyeth the innocent and the wicked.

22  Wherefore I said, Wrath slays the great and mighty man.

22  There is one thing that I have said: both the innocent and the impious he consumes.

9:23  If the scourge slay suddenly, He will mock at the calamity of the guiltless.

23  For the worthless die, but the righteous are laughed to scorn.

9:24  The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; he covereth the faces of the judges thereof; if it be not He, who then is it?

24  Since the earth has been given into the hand of the impious, he covers the face of its judges; for if it is not him, then who is it?

9:25  Now my days are swifter than a runner; they flee away, they see no good.

25  But my life is swifter than a post: my days have fled away, and they knew it not.

25  My days have been swifter than a messenger; they have fled and have not seen goodness.

9:26  They are passed away as the swift ships; as the vulture that swoopeth on the prey.

26  Or again, is there a trace of their path left by ships? or is there one of the flying eagle as it seeks its prey?

26  They have passed by like ships carrying fruits, just like an eagle flying to food.

9:27  If I say: 'I will forget my complaint, I will put off my sad countenance, and be of good cheer',

27  I have forgotten my bitterness; if my mind or my thought would leave me alone, then I would find rest.

9:28  I am afraid of all my pains, I know that Thou wilt not hold me guiltless.

28  I have dreaded all my works, knowing that you did not spare the offender.

28  Though I am at rest, I am afraid of every torment, because I know that thou wilt not declare me innocent.

9:29  I shall be condemned; why then do I labour in vain?

29  Yet, if I am also just as impious, why have I labored in vain?

9:30  If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;

30  For if I should wash myself with snow, and purge myself with pure hands,

30  If I had been washed with snow-like waters, and my hands were shining like the cleanest thing,

9:31  Yet wilt Thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me.

31  thou hadst thoroughly plunged me in filth, and my garment had abhorred me.

31  yet you would plunge me in filth, and my own garments would abhor me.

9:32  For He is not a man, as I am, that I should answer Him, that we should come together in judgment.

32  For thou art not man like me, with whom I could contend, that we might come together to judgement.

32  For even I would not answer a man who were like myself, nor one who could be heard with me equally in judgment.

9:33  There is no arbiter betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.

33  Would that he our mediator were present, and a reprover, and one who should hear the cause between both.

33  O that there were a judge between us, that he might silence us both!

9:34  Let Him take His rod away from me, and let not His terror make me afraid;

9:35  Then would I speak, and not fear Him; for I am not so with myself.

35  so shall I not be afraid, but I will speak: for I am not thus conscious of guilt.

35  I will speak and I will not fear him, for in fearfulness I am not able to respond.

10:1  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.

10:2  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.

10:3  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?

10:4  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?

10:5  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,

10:6  That Thou inquirest after mine iniquity, and searchest after my sin,

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

10:7  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.

10:8  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.

10:9  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.

10:10  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.

10:11  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.

10:12  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.

10:13  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.

10:14  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?

10:15  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.

10:16  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.

10:17  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.

10:18  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!

10:19  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?

10:20  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

10:21  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,

10:22  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.

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?