New King James Version (NKJV)

Job: There Is No Mediator

1 Then Job answered and said:

2 “Truly I knowitisso,

# But how can aman berighteous before God?

3 If one wished to contend with Him,

He could not answer Him one time out of a thousand.

4 Godiswise in heart and mighty in strength.

Who has hardenedhimselfagainst Him and prospered?

5 He removes the mountains, and they do not know

When He overturns them in His anger;

6 Heshakes the earth out of its place,

# And itspillars tremble;

7 He commands the sun, and it does not rise;

He seals off the stars;

8 He alone spreads out the heavens,

And treads on the waves of the sea;

9 He made the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades,

And the chambers of the south;

10 He does great things past finding out,

Yes, wonders without number.

11 If He goes by me, I do not seeHim;

If He moves past, I do not perceive Him;

12 If He takes away, who can hinder Him?

Who can say to Him, ‘What are You doing?’

13 God will not withdraw His anger,

# The allies of the proud lie prostrate beneath Him.

14 “How then can I answer Him,

Andchoose my wordstoreasonwith Him?

15 For though I were righteous, I could not answer Him;

I would beg mercy of my Judge.

16 If I called and He answered me,

I would not believe that He was listening to my voice.

17 For He crushes me with a tempest,

# And multiplies my woundswithout cause.

18 He will not allow me to catch my breath,

But fills me with bitterness.

19 Ifitisamatterof strength, indeedHeisstrong;

And if of justice, who will appoint my dayincourt?

20 Though I were righteous, my own mouth would condemn me;

Though Iwereblameless, it would prove me perverse.

21 “I am blameless, yet I do not know myself;

I despise my life.

22 Itisall onething;

# Therefore I say,‘He destroys the blameless and the wicked.’

23 If the scourge slays suddenly,

He laughs at the plight of the innocent.

24 The earth is given into the hand of the wicked.

He covers the faces of its judges.

If it is notHe,who else could it be?

25 “Nowmy days are swifter than a runner;

They flee away, they see no good.

26 They pass by like swift ships,

# Like an eagle swooping on its prey.

27 If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint,

I will put off my sad face and wear a smile,’

28 I am afraid of all my sufferings;

# I know that Youwill not hold me innocent.

29 IfI am condemned,

Why then do I labor in vain?

30 If I wash myself with snow water,

And cleanse my hands with soap,

31 Yet You will plunge me into the pit,

And my own clothes will abhor me.

32 “ForHeisnot a man, as Iam,

ThatI may answer Him,

Andthatwe should go to court together.

33 Nor is there any mediator between us,

Whomay lay his hand on us both.

34 Let Him take His rod away from me,

And do not let dread of Him terrify me.

35 ThenI would speak and not fear Him,

But it is not so with me.

Job: I Would Plead with God

1 “Mysoul loathes my life;

I will give free course to my complaint,

# I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.

2 I will say to God, ‘Do not condemn me;

Show me why You contend with me.

3 Doesitseem good to You that You should oppress,

That You should despise the work of Your hands,

And smile on the counsel of the wicked?

4 Do You have eyes of flesh?

# Ordo You see as man sees?

5 AreYour days like the days of a mortal man?

AreYour years like the days of a mighty man,

6 That You should seek for my iniquity

And search out my sin,

7 Although You know that I am not wicked,

Andthereisno one who can deliver from Your hand?

8 ‘Yourhands have made me and fashioned me,

An intricate unity;

# Yet You woulddestroy me.

9 Remember, I pray,that You have made me like clay.

And will You turn me into dust again?

10 Did You not pour me out like milk,

And curdle me like cheese,

11 Clothe me with skin and flesh,

And knit me together with bones and sinews?

12 You have granted me life and favor,

And Your care has preserved my spirit.

13 ‘And thesethingsYou have hidden in Your heart;

I know that thiswaswith You:

14 If I sin, thenYou mark me,

And will not acquit me of my iniquity.

15 If I am wicked,woe to me;

# EvenifI am righteous, I cannot lift up my head.

Iamfull of disgrace;

# See my misery!

16 Ifmyheadis exalted,

# You hunt me like a fierce lion,

And again You show Yourself awesome against me.

17 You renew Your witnesses against me,

And increase Your indignation toward me;

Changes and war areeverwith me.

18 ‘Whythen have You brought me out of the womb?

Oh, that I had perished and no eye had seen me!

19 I would have been as though I had not been.

I would have been carried from the womb to the grave.

20 Are not my days few?

# Cease!Leave me alone, that I may take a little comfort,

21 Before I gototheplacefromwhichI shall not return,

# To the land of darknessand the shadow of death,

22 A land as dark as darknessitself,

As the shadow of death, without any order,

Whereeven the lightislike darkness.’ ”

Zophar Urges Job to Repent

1 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said:

2 “Should not the multitude of words be answered?

And should a man full of talk be vindicated?

3 Should your empty talk make men hold their peace?

And when you mock, should no one rebuke you?

4 For you have said,

# ‘My doctrineispure,

And I am clean in your eyes.’

5 But oh, that God would speak,

And open His lips against you,

6 That He would show you the secrets of wisdom!

Fortheywoulddoubleyourprudence.

# Know therefore thatGod exacts from you

Lessthan your iniquitydeserves.

7 “Canyou search out the deep things of God?

Can you find out the limits of the Almighty?

8 Theyarehigher than heaven— what can you do?

Deeper than Sheol— what can you know?

9 Their measureislonger than the earth

And broader than the sea.

10 “IfHe passes by, imprisons, and gatherstojudgment,

Then who can hinder Him?

11 ForHe knows deceitful men;

He sees wickedness also.

Will He not then considerit?

12 For anempty-headed man will be wise,

When a wild donkey’s colt is born a man.

13 “If you wouldprepare your heart,

# Andstretch out your hands toward Him;

14 If iniquitywerein your hand,andyouput it far away,

# Andwould not let wickedness dwell in your tents;

15 Then surely you could lift up your face without spot;

Yes, you could be steadfast, and not fear;

16 Because you wouldforgetyourmisery,

And rememberitas watersthathavepassed away,

17 Andyourlifewould be brighter than noonday.

Thoughyou were dark, you would be like the morning.

18 And you would be secure, because there is hope;

# Yes, you would digaroundyou, andtake your rest in safety.

19 You would also lie down, and no one would makeyouafraid;

Yes,many would court your favor.

20 Butthe eyes of the wicked will fail,

And they shall not escape,

# Andtheir hope—loss of life!”

Job Answers His Critics

1 Then Job answered and said:

2 “No doubt youarethe people,

And wisdom will die with you!

3 But I have understanding as well as you;

# Iamnotinferior to you.

Indeed, who does notknowsuch things as these?

4 “Iam one mocked by his friends,

# Whocalled on God, and He answered him,

The just and blamelesswhoisridiculed.

5 A lamp is despised in the thought of one who is at ease;

# Itismade ready forthose whose feet slip.

6 The tents of robbers prosper,

And those who provoke God are secure—

In what God provides by His hand.

7 “But now ask the beasts, and they will teach you;

And the birds of the air, and they will tell you;

8 Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you;

And the fish of the sea will explain to you.

9 Who among all these does not know

That the hand of theLordhas done this,

10 In whose handisthe life of every living thing,

# And thebreath of all mankind?

11 Does not the ear test words

And the mouth taste its food?

12 Wisdomiswith aged men,

And with length of days, understanding.

13 “With Himarewisdom and strength,

He has counsel and understanding.

14 IfHe breaksathingdown, it cannot be rebuilt;

IfHe imprisons a man, there can be no release.

15 If Hewithholds the waters, they dry up;

# IfHesends them out, they overwhelm the earth.

16 With Himarestrength and prudence.

The deceived and the deceiverareHis.

17 He leads counselors away plundered,

And makes fools of the judges.

18 He loosens the bonds of kings,

And binds their waist with a belt.

19 He leads princes away plundered,

And overthrows the mighty.

20 He deprives the trusted ones of speech,

And takes away the discernment of the elders.

21 He pours contempt on princes,

And disarms the mighty.

22 Heuncovers deep things out of darkness,

And brings the shadow of death to light.

23 He makes nations great, and destroys them;

He enlarges nations, and guides them.

24 He takes away the understanding of the chiefs of the people of the earth,

# Andmakes them wander in a pathless wilderness.

25 They grope in the dark without light,

# And He makes themstagger like a drunkenman.

1 “Behold, my eye has seen allthis,

My ear has heard and understood it.

2 What you know, I also know;

Iamnot inferior to you.

3 But I would speak to the Almighty,

And I desire to reason with God.

4 But you forgers of lies,

# Youareall worthless physicians.

5 Oh, that you would be silent,

# Andit would be your wisdom!

6 Now hear my reasoning,

And heed the pleadings of my lips.

7 Will you speak wickedly for God,

And talk deceitfully for Him?

8 Will you show partiality for Him?

Will you contend for God?

9 Will it be well when He searches you out?

Or can you mock Him as one mocks a man?

10 He will surely rebuke you

If you secretly show partiality.

11 Will not His excellence make you afraid,

And the dread of Him fall upon you?

12 Your platitudesareproverbs of ashes,

Your defenses are defenses of clay.

13 “Hold your peace with me, and let me speak,

Then let come on me whatmay!

14 Whydo I take my flesh in my teeth,

And put my life in my hands?

15 Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.

# Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him.

16 He alsoshallbe my salvation,

# For ahypocrite could not come before Him.

17 Listen carefully to my speech,

And to my declaration with your ears.

18 See now, I have preparedmycase,

# I know that I shall bevindicated.

19 Whoishewhowill contend with me?

If now I hold my tongue, I perish.

Job’s Despondent Prayer

20 “Onlytwothingsdo not do to me,

Then I will not hide myself from You:

21 Withdraw Your hand far from me,

And let not the dread of You make me afraid.

22 Then call, and I willanswer;

Or let me speak, then You respond to me.

23 How manyaremy iniquities and sins?

Make me know my transgression and my sin.

24 Why do You hide Your face,

# Andregard me as Your enemy?

25 Will You frighten a leaf driven to and fro?

And will You pursue dry stubble?

26 For You write bitter things against me,

# Andmake me inherit the iniquities of my youth.

27 You put my feet in the stocks,

And watch closely all my paths.

You set a limit for the soles of my feet.

28 “Mandecays like a rotten thing,

Like a garment that is moth-eaten.

1 “Manwhoisborn of woman

# Is of few days andfull of trouble.

2 He comes forth like a flower and fades away;

He flees like a shadow and does not continue.

3 Anddo You open Your eyes on such a one,

# Andbring me to judgment with Yourself?

4 Whocan bring a cleanthingout of an unclean?

No one!

5 Since his daysaredetermined,

The number of his monthsiswith You;

You have appointed his limits, so that he cannot pass.

6 Look away from him that he may rest,

# Tilllike a hired man he finishes his day.

7 “For there is hope for a tree,

If it is cut down, that it will sprout again,

And that its tender shoots will not cease.

8 Though its root may grow old in the earth,

And its stump may die in the ground,

9 Yetat the scent of water it will bud

And bring forth branches like a plant.

10 But man dies and is laid away;

Indeed he breathes his last

# And whereishe?

11 Aswater disappears from the sea,

And a river becomes parched and dries up,

12 So man lies down and does not rise.

# Till the heavensareno more,

They will not awake

Nor be roused from their sleep.

13 “Oh, that You would hide me in the grave,

That You would conceal me until Your wrath is past,

That You would appoint me a set time, and remember me!

14 If a man dies, shall he liveagain?

# All the days of my hard serviceI will wait,

Till my change comes.

15 You shall call, and I will answer You;

You shall desire the work of Your hands.

16 For nowYou number my steps,

But do not watch over my sin.

17 My transgressionissealed up in a bag,

And You cover my iniquity.

18 “Butasa mountain fallsandcrumbles away,

Andasa rock is moved from its place;

19 Aswater wears away stones,

Andastorrents wash away the soil of the earth;

So You destroy the hope of man.

20 You prevail forever against him, and he passes on;

You change his countenance and send him away.

21 His sons come to honor, andhe does not knowit;

They are brought low, and he does not perceiveit.

22 But his flesh will be in pain over it,

And his soul will mourn over it.”

Eliphaz Accuses Job of Folly

1 ThenEliphaz the Temanite answered and said:

2 “Should a wise man answer with empty knowledge,

And fill himself with the east wind?

3 Should he reason with unprofitable talk,

Or by speeches with which he can do no good?

4 Yes, you cast off fear,

And restrain prayer before God.

5 For your iniquity teaches your mouth,

And you choose the tongue of the crafty.

6 Your own mouth condemns you, and not I;

Yes, your own lips testify against you.

7 “Areyou the first manwhowas born?

# Or were you made before the hills?

8 Have you heard the counsel of God?

Do you limit wisdom to yourself?

9 What do you know that we do not know?

Whatdo you understand thatisnot in us?

10 Both the gray-haired and the agedareamong us,

Much older than your father.

11 Arethe consolations of God too small for you,

And the wordspokengently with you?

12 Why does your heart carry you away,

And what do your eyes wink at,

13 That you turn your spirit against God,

And letsuchwords go out of your mouth?

14 “Whatisman, that he could be pure?

Andhewhoisborn of a woman, that he could be righteous?

15 IfGodputs no trust in His saints,

And the heavens are not pure in His sight,

16 How much less man,whoisabominable and filthy,

# Who drinks iniquity like water!

17 “I will tell you, hear me;

What I have seen I will declare,

18 What wise men have told,

# Not hidinganythingreceivedfrom their fathers,

19 To whom alone the land was given,

# Andno alien passed among them:

20 The wicked man writhes with pain allhisdays,

# And the number of years is hidden from the oppressor.

21 Dreadful soundsarein his ears;

# In prosperity the destroyer comes upon him.

22 He does not believe that he willreturn from darkness,

For a sword is waiting for him.

23 Hewanders about for bread,saying,‘Whereisit?’

# He knowsthat a day of darkness is ready at his hand.

24 Trouble and anguish make him afraid;

They overpower him, like a king ready for battle.

25 For he stretches out his hand against God,

And acts defiantly against the Almighty,

26 Running stubbornly against Him

With his strong, embossed shield.

27 “Thoughhe has covered his face with his fatness,

And madehiswaist heavy with fat,

28 He dwells in desolate cities,

In houses which no one inhabits,

Which are destined to become ruins.

29 He will not be rich,

# Nor will his wealthcontinue,

Nor will his possessions overspread the earth.

30 He will not depart from darkness;

The flame will dry out his branches,

# Andby the breath of His mouth he will go away.

31 Let him nottrust in futilethings,deceiving himself,

For futility will be his reward.

32 It will be accomplishedbefore his time,

And his branch will not be green.

33 He will shake off his unripe grape like a vine,

And cast off his blossom like an olive tree.

34 For the company of hypocriteswillbebarren,

And fire will consume the tents of bribery.

35 They conceive trouble and bring forth futility;

Their womb prepares deceit.”

Job Reproaches His Pitiless Friends

1 Then Job answered and said:

2 “I have heard many such things;

# Miserable comfortersareyou all!

3 Shall words of wind have an end?

Or what provokes you that you answer?

4 I also could speak as youdo,

If your soul were in my soul’s place.

I could heap up words against you,

# Andshake my head at you;

5 ButI would strengthen you with my mouth,

And the comfort of my lips would relieveyourgrief.

6 “Though I speak, my grief is not relieved;

AndifI remain silent, how am I eased?

7 But now He hasworn me out;

# Youhave made desolate all my company.

8 You have shriveled me up,

# And it is awitnessagainstme;

My leanness rises up against me

Andbears witness to my face.

9 He tearsmein His wrath, and hates me;

He gnashes at me with His teeth;

# My adversary sharpens His gaze on me.

10 Theygape at me with their mouth,

# Theystrike me reproachfully on the cheek,

They gather together against me.

11 Godhas delivered me to the ungodly,

And turned me over to the hands of the wicked.

12 I was at ease, but He hasshattered me;

He also has takenmeby my neck, and shaken me to pieces;

# He hasset me up for His target,

13 His archers surround me.

He pierces my heart and does not pity;

He pours out my gall on the ground.

14 He breaks me with wound upon wound;

He runs at me like a warrior.

15 “I have sewn sackcloth over my skin,

# Andlaid my head in the dust.

16 My face is flushed from weeping,

And on my eyelidsisthe shadow of death;

17 Although no violenceisin my hands,

And my prayerispure.

18 “O earth, do not cover my blood,

# Andlet my cry have norestingplace!

19 Surely even nowmy witnessisin heaven,

And my evidenceison high.

20 My friends scorn me;

My eyes pour outtearsto God.

21 Oh, that one might plead for a man with God,

As a manpleadsfor his neighbor!

22 For when a few years are finished,

# I shallgo the way of no return.

Job Prays for Relief

1 “My spirit is broken,

My days are extinguished,

# The graveisreadyfor me.

2 Arenot mockers with me?

# And does not my eye dwell on theirprovocation?

3 “Now put down a pledge for me with Yourself.

# Whoishewhowill shake hands with me?

4 For You have hidden their heart fromunderstanding;

Therefore You will not exaltthem.

5 He who speaks flattery tohisfriends,

# Even the eyes of his children willfail.

6 “But He has made mea byword of the people,

And I have become one in whose face men spit.

7 My eye has also grown dim because of sorrow,

And all my membersarelike shadows.

8 Uprightmenare astonished at this,

And the innocent stirs himself up against the hypocrite.

9 Yet the righteous will hold to hisway,

# And he who hasclean hands will be stronger and stronger.

10 “But please,come back again, all of you,

For I shall not findonewisemanamong you.

11 My days are past,

My purposes are broken off,

Eventhe thoughts of my heart.

12 They change the night into day;

‘The lightisnear,’theysay,in the face of darkness.

13 If I waitforthe graveasmy house,

If I make my bed in the darkness,

14 If I say to corruption, ‘Youaremy father,’

And to the worm, ‘Youaremy mother and my sister,’

15 Where thenismyhope?

As for my hope, who can see it?

16 Willthey go downto the gates of Sheol?

# Shallwehaverest together in the dust?”

Bildad: The Wicked Are Punished

1 ThenBildad the Shuhite answered and said:

2 “How longtillyou put an end to words?

Gain understanding, and afterward we will speak.

3 Why are we countedas beasts,

Andregarded as stupid in your sight?

4 You who tear yourself in anger,

Shall the earth be forsaken for you?

Or shall the rock be removed from its place?

5 “Thelight of the wicked indeed goes out,

And the flame of his fire does not shine.

6 The light is dark in his tent,

# And his lamp beside him is put out.

7 The steps of his strength are shortened,

# Andhis own counsel casts him down.

8 Forhe is cast into a net by his own feet,

And he walks into a snare.

9 The net takeshimby the heel,

# Anda snare lays hold of him.

10 A nooseishidden for him on the ground,

And a trap for him in the road.

11 Terrors frighten him on every side,

And drive him to his feet.

12 His strength is starved,

# Anddestructionisready at his side.

13 It devours patches of his skin;

The firstborn of death devours his limbs.

14 He is uprooted fromthe shelter of his tent,

And they parade him before the king of terrors.

15 They dwell in his tentwhoarenone of his;

Brimstone is scattered on his dwelling.

16 His roots are dried out below,

And his branch withers above.

17 The memory of him perishes from the earth,

And he has no name among the renowned.

18 He is driven from light into darkness,

And chased out of the world.

19 He has neither son nor posterity among his people,

Nor any remaining in his dwellings.

20 Those in the west are astonishedat his day,

As those in the east are frightened.

21 Surely sucharethe dwellings of the wicked,

# And thisisthe placeofhimwhodoes not know God.”