New King James Version (NKJV)

Job’s Summary Defense

1 Job further continued his discourse, and said:

2 “Oh, that I were asinmonthspast,

# Asinthe dayswhenGodwatched over me;

3 When His lamp shone upon my head,

Andwhenby His light I walkedthroughdarkness;

4 Just as I was in the days of my prime,

# Whenthe friendly counsel of Godwasover my tent;

5 When the Almightywasyet with me,

Whenmy childrenwerearound me;

6 Whenmy steps were bathed with cream,

# Andthe rock poured out rivers of oil for me!

7 “When I went out to the gate by the city,

WhenI took my seat in the open square,

8 The young men saw me and hid,

And the aged aroseandstood;

9 The princes refrained from talking,

# Andputtheirhand on their mouth;

10 The voice of nobles was hushed,

# And theirtongue stuck to the roof of their mouth.

11 When the ear heard, then it blessed me,

And when the eye saw, then it approved me;

12 BecauseI delivered the poor who cried out,

The fatherless andtheonewhohad no helper.

13 The blessing of a perishingmancame upon me,

And I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.

14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me;

My justicewaslike a robe and a turban.

15 Iwaseyes to the blind,

And Iwasfeet to the lame.

16 Iwasa father to the poor,

# AndI searched out the casethatI did not know.

17 I brokethe fangs of the wicked,

And plucked the victim from his teeth.

18 “Then I said,‘I shall die in my nest,

And multiplymydays as the sand.

19 My rootisspread outto the waters,

And the dew lies all night on my branch.

20 My gloryisfresh within me,

# And mybow is renewed in my hand.’

21 “Menlistened to me and waited,

And kept silence for my counsel.

22 After my words they did not speak again,

And my speech settled on themasdew.

23 They waited for measfor the rain,

# And they opened their mouth wideasforthe spring rain.

24 IfI mocked at them, they did not believeit,

And the light of my countenance they did not cast down.

25 I chose the way for them, and sat as chief;

So I dwelt as a king in the army,

As onewhocomforts mourners.

1 “But now they mock at me,menyounger than I,

Whose fathers I disdained to put with the dogs of my flock.

2 Indeed, whatprofitis the strength of their hands to me?

Their vigor has perished.

3 Theyaregaunt from want and famine,

Fleeing late to the wilderness, desolate and waste,

4 Who pluck mallow by the bushes,

And broom tree rootsfortheir food.

5 They were driven out from amongmen,

They shouted at them asata thief.

6 Theyhadto live in the clefts of the valleys,

Incaves of the earth and the rocks.

7 Among the bushes they brayed,

Under the nettles they nestled.

8 Theyweresons of fools,

Yes, sons of vile men;

They were scourged from the land.

9 “Andnow I am their taunting song;

Yes, I am their byword.

10 They abhor me, they keep far from me;

# They do not hesitateto spit in my face.

11 BecauseHe has loosed my bowstring and afflicted me,

They have cast off restraint before me.

12 Atmyrighthandthe rabble arises;

They push away my feet,

# Andthey raise against me their ways of destruction.

13 They break up my path,

They promote my calamity;

They have no helper.

14 They come as broad breakers;

Under the ruinous storm they roll along.

15 Terrors are turned upon me;

They pursue my honor as the wind,

And my prosperity has passed like a cloud.

16 “Andnow my soul ispoured out because of myplight;

The days of affliction take hold of me.

17 My bones are pierced in me at night,

And my gnawing pains take no rest.

18 By great force my garment is disfigured;

It binds me about as the collar of my coat.

19 He has cast me into the mire,

And I have become like dust and ashes.

20 “Icry out to You, but You do not answer me;

I stand up, and You regard me.

21 ButYou have become cruel to me;

# With the strength of Your hand Youoppose me.

22 You lift me up to the wind and cause me to rideonit;

You spoil my success.

23 For I knowthatYou will bring metodeath,

# Andtothe houseappointed for all living.

24 “Surely He would not stretch outHishand against a heap of ruins,

If they cry out when He destroysit.

25 Have I not wept for him who was in trouble?

Hasnotmy soul grieved for the poor?

26 But when I looked for good, evil cametome;

And when I waited for light, then came darkness.

27 My heart is in turmoil and cannot rest;

Days of affliction confront me.

28 I go about mourning, but not in the sun;

I stand up in the assemblyandcry out for help.

29 I am a brother of jackals,

And a companion of ostriches.

30 My skin grows black and falls from me;

# My bones burn with fever.

31 My harp isturnedto mourning,

And my flute to the voice of those who weep.

1 “I have made a covenant with my eyes;

# Why then should I look upon ayoung woman?

2 For whatistheallotment of God from above,

And the inheritance of the Almighty from on high?

3 Isit not destruction for the wicked,

And disaster for the workers of iniquity?

4 Does He not see my ways,

And count all my steps?

5 “If I have walked with falsehood,

Or if my foot has hastened to deceit,

6 Let me be weighed on honest scales,

# That God may know myintegrity.

7 If my step has turned from the way,

# Ormy heart walked after my eyes,

Or if any spot adheres to my hands,

8 Thenlet me sow, and another eat;

Yes, let my harvest be rooted out.

9 “If my heart has been enticed by a woman,

OrifI have lurked at my neighbor’s door,

10 Thenlet my wife grind foranother,

And let others bow down over her.

11 For thatwouldbewickedness;

# Yes,itwouldbeiniquitydeservingofjudgment.

12 For thatwouldbea firethatconsumes to destruction,

And would root out all my increase.

13 “If I havedespised the cause of my male or female servant

When they complained against me,

14 What then shall I do whenGod rises up?

When He punishes, how shall I answer Him?

15 Did not He who made me in the womb make them?

Did not the same One fashion us in the womb?

16 “If I have kept the poor fromtheirdesire,

# Or caused the eyes of the widow tofail,

17 Or eaten my morsel by myself,

So that the fatherless could not eat of it

18 (But from my youth I reared him as a father,

And from my mother’s womb I guidedthewidow);

19 If I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing,

Or any poormanwithout covering;

20 If his heart has notblessed me,

Andifhe wasnotwarmed with the fleece of my sheep;

21 If I have raised my handagainst the fatherless,

When I saw I had help in the gate;

22 Thenlet my arm fall from my shoulder,

Let my arm be torn from the socket.

23 FordestructionfromGodisa terror to me,

And because of His magnificence I cannot endure.

24 “IfI have made gold my hope,

Or said to fine gold, ‘Youaremy confidence’;

25 If I have rejoiced because my wealthwasgreat,

And because my hand had gained much;

26 If I have observed the sun when it shines,

Or the moon movinginbrightness,

27 So that my heart has been secretly enticed,

And my mouth has kissed my hand;

28 This alsowouldbean iniquitydeservingofjudgment,

For I would have denied Godwhoisabove.

29 “IfI have rejoiced at the destruction of him who hated me,

Or lifted myself up when evil found him

30 (Indeed I have not allowed my mouth to sin

By asking for a curse on his soul);

31 If the men of my tent have not said,

‘Who is there that has not been satisfied with his meat?’

32 (Butno sojourner had to lodge in the street,

ForI have opened my doors to the traveler);

33 If I have covered my transgressionsas Adam,

By hiding my iniquity in my bosom,

34 Because I feared the greatmultitude,

And dreaded the contempt of families,

So that I kept silence

Anddid not go out of the door—

35 Oh, that I had one to hear me!

Here is my mark.

# Oh,that the Almighty would answer me,

Thatmy Prosecutor had written a book!

36 Surely I would carry it on my shoulder,

Andbind it on melikea crown;

37 I would declare to Him the number of my steps;

Like a prince I would approach Him.

38 “If my land cries out against me,

And its furrows weep together;

39 IfI have eaten its fruit without money,

# Orcaused its owners to lose their lives;

40 Thenletthistles grow instead of wheat,

And weeds instead of barley.”

The words of Job are ended.

Elihu Contradicts Job’s Friends

1 So these three men ceased answering Job, because hewasrighteous in his own eyes.

2 Then the wrath of Elihu, the son of Barachel theBuzite, of the family of Ram, was aroused against Job; his wrath was aroused because hejustified himself rather than God.

3 Also against his three friends his wrath was aroused, because they had found no answer, andyethad condemned Job.

4 Now because theywereyears older than he, Elihu had waited to speak to Job.

5 When Elihu saw thattherewasno answer in the mouth of these three men, his wrath was aroused.

6 So Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, answered and said:

# “Iamyoung in years, and youarevery old;

Therefore I was afraid,

And dared not declare my opinion to you.

7 I said, ‘Age should speak,

And multitude of years should teach wisdom.’

8 Butthereisa spirit in man,

# Andthe breath of the Almighty gives him understanding.

9 Great men are notalwayswise,

Nor do the agedalwaysunderstand justice.

10 “Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me,

I also will declare my opinion.’

11 Indeed I waited for your words,

I listened to your reasonings, while you searched out what to say.

12 I paid close attention to you;

And surely not one of you convinced Job,

Oranswered his words—

13 Lest you say,

‘We have found wisdom’;

God will vanquish him, not man.

14 Now he has not directedhiswords against me;

So I will not answer him with your words.

15 “They are dismayed and answer no more;

Words escape them.

16 And I have waited, because they did not speak,

Because they stood stillandanswered no more.

17 I also will answer my part,

I too will declare my opinion.

18 For I am full of words;

The spirit within me compels me.

19 Indeed my bellyislike winethathas no vent;

It is ready to burst like new wineskins.

20 I will speak, that I may find relief;

I must open my lips and answer.

21 Let me not, I pray, show partiality to anyone;

Nor let me flatter any man.

22 For I do not know how to flatter,

# Elsemy Maker would soon take meaway.

Elihu Contradicts Job

1 “But please, Job, hear my speech,

And listen to all my words.

2 Now, I open my mouth;

My tongue speaks in my mouth.

3 My wordscomefrom my upright heart;

My lips utter pure knowledge.

4 The Spirit of God has made me,

And the breath of the Almighty gives me life.

5 If you can answer me,

Setyourwordsin order before me;

Take your stand.

6 Truly Iamas your spokesman before God;

I also have been formed out of clay.

7 Surely no fear of me will terrify you,

Nor will my hand be heavy on you.

8 “Surely you have spoken in my hearing,

And I have heard the sound ofyourwords,saying,

9 ‘Iampure, without transgression;

Iaminnocent, andthereisno iniquity in me.

10 Yet He finds occasions against me,

# He counts me as His enemy;

11 He puts my feet in the stocks,

He watches all my paths.’

12 “Look,inthis you are not righteous.

I will answer you,

For God is greater than man.

13 Why do youcontend with Him?

For He does not give an accounting of any of His words.

14 For God may speak in one way, or in another,

Yetmandoes not perceive it.

15 In a dream, in a vision of the night,

When deep sleep falls upon men,

While slumbering on their beds,

16 Then He opens the ears of men,

And seals their instruction.

17 In order to turn manfromhisdeed,

And conceal pride from man,

18 He keeps back his soul from the Pit,

And his life from perishing by the sword.

19 “Manis also chastened with pain on hisbed,

And with strongpainin many of his bones,

20 So that his life abhorsbread,

And his soul succulent food.

21 His flesh wastes away from sight,

And his bones stick outwhichoncewere not seen.

22 Yes, his soul draws near the Pit,

And his life to the executioners.

23 “If there is a messenger for him,

A mediator, one among a thousand,

To show man His uprightness,

24 Then He is gracious to him, and says,

‘Deliver him from going down to the Pit;

I have found a ransom’;

25 His flesh shall be young like a child’s,

He shall return to the days of his youth.

26 He shall pray to God, and He will delight in him,

He shall see His face with joy,

For He restores to man His righteousness.

27 Then he looks at men andsays,

‘I have sinned, and pervertedwhatwasright,

# And itdid not profit me.’

28 He willredeem his soul from going down to the Pit,

And his life shall see the light.

29 “Behold, God works all thesethings,

Twice,infact,threetimeswith a man,

30 To bring back his soul from the Pit,

That he may be enlightened with the light of life.

31 “Give ear, Job, listen to me;

Hold your peace, and I will speak.

32 If you have anything to say, answer me;

Speak, for I desire to justify you.

33 If not,listen to me;

Hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom.”

Elihu Proclaims God’s Justice

1 Elihu further answered and said:

2 “Hear my words, you wisemen;

Give ear to me, you who have knowledge.

3 For the ear tests words

As the palate tastes food.

4 Let us choose justice for ourselves;

Let us know among ourselves whatisgood.

5 “For Job has said,‘I am righteous,

# ButGod has taken away my justice;

6 Should I lie concerning my right?

My woundisincurable,thoughIamwithout transgression.’

7 What manislike Job,

# Whodrinks scorn like water,

8 Who goes in company with the workers of iniquity,

And walks with wicked men?

9 Forhe has said, ‘It profits a man nothing

That he should delight in God.’

10 “Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding:

# Far be it from Godtodowickedness,

Andfromthe Almighty tocommitiniquity.

11 For He repays manaccordingtohis work,

And makes man to find a reward according tohisway.

12 Surely God will never do wickedly,

# Nor will the Almightypervert justice.

13 Who gave Him charge over the earth?

Or who appointedHimoverthe whole world?

14 If He should set His heart on it,

# IfHe shouldgather to Himself His Spirit and His breath,

15 All flesh would perish together,

And man would return to dust.

16 “Ifyouhaveunderstanding, hear this;

Listen to the sound of my words:

17 Should one who hates justice govern?

# Will youcondemnHimwhoismost just?

18 Isitfittingto say to a king, ‘Youareworthless,’

Andto nobles, ‘Youarewicked’?

19 Yet Heis not partial to princes,

Nor does He regard the rich more than the poor;

# Fortheyareall the work of His hands.

20 In a moment they die,in the middle of the night;

The people are shaken and pass away;

The mighty are taken away without a hand.

21 “ForHis eyesareon the ways of man,

And He sees all his steps.

22 There is no darkness nor shadow of death

Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.

23 For He need not further consider a man,

That he should go before God in judgment.

24 He breaks in pieces mighty men without inquiry,

And sets others in their place.

25 Therefore He knows their works;

He overthrowsthemin the night,

And they are crushed.

26 He strikes them as wickedmen

In the open sight of others,

27 Because theyturned back from Him,

# Andwould not consider any of His ways,

28 So that theycaused the cry of the poor to come to Him;

# For Hehears the cry of the afflicted.

29 When He gives quietness, who then can make trouble?

And when He hidesHisface, who then can see Him,

Whetheritisagainst a nation or a man alone?—

30 That the hypocrite should not reign,

Lest the people be ensnared.

31 “For hasanyonesaid to God,

‘I have bornechastening;

I will offend no more;

32 Teach mewhatI do not see;

If I have done iniquity, I will do no more’?

33 Should He repayitaccording to yourterms,

Justbecause you disavow it?

You must choose, and not I;

Therefore speak what you know.

34 “Men of understanding say to me,

Wise men who listen to me:

35 ‘Jobspeaks without knowledge,

His wordsarewithout wisdom.’

36 Oh, that Job were tried to the utmost,

Becausehisanswersarelikethose of wicked men!

37 For he addsrebellion to his sin;

He clapshishandsamong us,

And multiplies his words against God.”

Elihu Condemns Self-Righteousness

1 Moreover Elihu answered and said:

2 “Do you think this is right?

Do you say,

‘My righteousness is more than God’s’?

3 Foryou say,

‘What advantage will it be to You?

What profit shall I have, more thanifI had sinned?’

4 “I will answer you,

# Andyour companions with you.

5 Look to the heavens and see;

And behold the clouds—

They are higher than you.

6 If you sin, what do you accomplishagainst Him?

Or,ifyour transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to Him?

7 If you are righteous, what do you give Him?

Or what does He receive from your hand?

8 Your wickedness affects a man such as you,

And your righteousness a son of man.

9 “Becauseof the multitude of oppressions they cry out;

They cry out for help because of the arm of the mighty.

10 But no one says,‘WhereisGod my Maker,

# Who gives songs in the night,

11 Whoteaches us more than the beasts of the earth,

And makes us wiser than the birds of heaven?’

12 There they cry out, but He does not answer,

Because of the pride of evil men.

13 Surely God will not listen to emptytalk,

Nor will the Almighty regard it.

14 Although you say you do not see Him,

# Yetjusticeisbefore Him, andyou must wait for Him.

15 And now, because He has notpunished in His anger,

Nor taken much notice of folly,

16 Therefore Job opens his mouth in vain;

He multiplies words without knowledge.”

Elihu Proclaims God’s Goodness

1 Elihu also proceeded and said:

2 “Bear with me a little, and I will show you

Thatthereareyet words to speak on God’s behalf.

3 I will fetch my knowledge from afar;

I will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.

4 For truly my wordsarenot false;

One who is perfect in knowledgeiswith you.

5 “Behold, Godismighty, but despisesnoone;

# Heismighty in strength of understanding.

6 He does not preserve the life of the wicked,

# But gives justice to theoppressed.

7 He does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous;

# Buttheyareon the throne with kings,

For He has seated them forever,

And they are exalted.

8 Andiftheyarebound in fetters,

Held in the cords of affliction,

9 Then He tells them their work and their transgressions—

That they have acted defiantly.

10 He also opens their ear to instruction,

And commands that they turn from iniquity.

11 If they obey and serveHim,

# They shallspend their days in prosperity,

And their years in pleasures.

12 But if they do not obey,

They shall perish by the sword,

# And they shall die withoutknowledge.

13 “But the hypocrites in heartstore up wrath;

They do not cry for help when He binds them.

14 They die in youth,

And their lifeendsamong the perverted persons.

15 He delivers the poor in their affliction,

And opens their ears in oppression.

16 “Indeed He would have brought you out of dire distress,

# Intoa broad place wherethereisno restraint;

# Andwhat is set on your tablewouldbefull ofrichness.

17 But you are filled with the judgment due thewicked;

Judgment and justice take holdofyou.

18 Becausethereiswrath,bewarelest He take you away withoneblow;

# Fora large ransom would not help you avoidit.

19 Will your riches,

Or all the mighty forces,

Keep you from distress?

20 Do not desire the night,

When people are cut off in their place.

21 Take heed,do not turn to iniquity,

# Foryou have chosen this rather than affliction.

22 “Behold, God is exalted by His power;

Who teaches like Him?

23 Who has assigned Him His way,

# Or who has said, ‘You have donewrong’?

Elihu Proclaims God’s Majesty

24 “Remember tomagnify His work,

Of which men have sung.

25 Everyone has seen it;

Man looks onitfrom afar.

26 “Behold, Godisgreat, and wedo not knowHim;

# Nor can the number of His yearsbediscovered.

27 For Hedraws up drops of water,

Which distill as rain from the mist,

28 Which the clouds drop down

Andpour abundantly on man.

29 Indeed, cananyoneunderstand the spreading of clouds,

The thunder from His canopy?

30 Look, Hescatters His light upon it,

And covers the depths of the sea.

31 Forby these He judges the peoples;

# Hegives food in abundance.

32 He coversHishands with lightning,

And commands it to strike.

33 His thunder declares it,

The cattle also, concerning the risingstorm.

1 “At this also my heart trembles,

And leaps from its place.

2 Hear attentively the thunder of His voice,

And the rumblingthatcomes from His mouth.

3 He sends it forth under the whole heaven,

His lightning to the ends of the earth.

4 After ita voice roars;

He thunders with His majestic voice,

And He does not restrain them when His voice is heard.

5 God thunders marvelously with His voice;

# He does great things which we cannot comprehend.

6 ForHe says to the snow, ‘Fallonthe earth’;

Likewise to the gentle rain and the heavy rain of His strength.

7 He seals the hand of every man,

# Thatall men may know His work.

8 The beastsgo into dens,

And remain in their lairs.

9 From the chamberofthesouthcomes the whirlwind,

And cold from the scattering windsofthenorth.

10 By the breath of God ice is given,

And the broad waters are frozen.

11 Also with moisture He saturates the thick clouds;

He scatters His bright clouds.

12 And they swirl about, being turned by His guidance,

# That they maydo whatever He commands them

On the face of the whole earth.

13 He causes it to come,

Whether for correction,

# Orfor His land,

# Orfor mercy.

14 “Listen to this, O Job;

# Stand still andconsider the wondrous works of God.

15 Do you know when God dispatches them,

And causes the light of His cloud to shine?

16 Do you know how the clouds are balanced,

# Those wondrous works ofHim who is perfect in knowledge?

17 Whyareyour garments hot,

When He quiets the earth by the southwind?

18 With Him, have youspread out theskies,

Strong as a cast metal mirror?

19 “Teach us what we should say to Him,

Forwe can prepare nothing because of the darkness.

20 Should He be told that Iwishtospeak?

If a man were to speak, surely he would be swallowed up.

21 Even nowmencannot look at the lightwhenitisbright in the skies,

When the wind has passed and cleared them.

22 He comes from the northasgoldensplendor;

With Godisawesome majesty.

23 Asforthe Almighty,we cannot find Him;

# Heisexcellent in power,

Injudgment and abundant justice;

He does not oppress.

24 Therefore menfear Him;

# He shows no partiality to anywhoarewise of heart.”

The Lord Reveals His Omnipotence to Job

1 Then theLordanswered Jobout of the whirlwind, and said:

2 “Whoisthis who darkens counsel

# Bywords without knowledge?

3 Now prepare yourself like a man;

I will question you, and you shall answer Me.

4 “Wherewere you when I laid the foundations of the earth?

TellMe,if you have understanding.

5 Who determined its measurements?

Surely you know!

Or who stretched the line upon it?

6 To what were its foundations fastened?

Or who laid its cornerstone,

7 When the morning stars sang together,

# And allthe sons of God shouted for joy?

8 “Orwhoshut in the sea with doors,

When it burst forthandissued from the womb;

9 When I made the clouds its garment,

And thick darkness its swaddling band;

10 WhenI fixed My limit for it,

And set bars and doors;

11 When I said,

‘This far you may come, but no farther,

# And here your proud wavesmust stop!’

12 “Have youcommanded the morning since your daysbegan,

Andcaused the dawn to know its place,

13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth,

# Andthe wicked be shaken out of it?

14 It takes on form like clayundera seal,

And stands out like a garment.

15 From the wicked theirlight is withheld,

# Andthe upraised arm is broken.

16 “Have youentered the springs of the sea?

Or have you walked in search of the depths?

17 Havethe gates of death been revealed to you?

Or have you seen the doors of the shadow of death?

18 Have you comprehended the breadth of the earth?

TellMe,if you know all this.

19 “Whereisthe waytothe dwelling of light?

And darkness, whereisits place,

20 That you may take it to its territory,

That you may know the pathstoits home?

21 Do you knowit,because you were born then,

Orbecausethe number of your daysisgreat?

22 “Have you enteredthe treasury of snow,

Or have you seen the treasury of hail,

23 Which I have reserved for the time of trouble,

For the day of battle and war?

24 By what way is light diffused,

Orthe east wind scattered over the earth?

25 “Whohas divided a channel for the overflowingwater,

Or a path for the thunderbolt,

26 To cause it to rain on a landwherethereisno one,

A wilderness in whichthereisno man;

27 To satisfy the desolate waste,

And cause to spring forth the growth of tender grass?

28 Has the rain a father?

Or who has begotten the drops of dew?

29 From whose womb comes the ice?

# And thefrost of heaven, who gives it birth?

30 The waters harden like stone,

# And the surface of the deep isfrozen.

31 “Can you bind the cluster of thePleiades,

Or loose the belt of Orion?

32 Can you bring out Mazzaroth in its season?

Or can you guide the Great Bear with its cubs?

33 Do you knowthe ordinances of the heavens?

Can you set their dominion over the earth?

34 “Can you lift up your voice to the clouds,

That an abundance of water may cover you?

35 Can you send out lightnings, that they may go,

And say to you, ‘Here weare!’?

36 Who has put wisdom in the mind?

Or who has given understanding to the heart?

37 Who can number the clouds by wisdom?

Or who can pour out the bottles of heaven,

38 When the dust hardens in clumps,

And the clods cling together?

39 “Canyou hunt the prey for the lion,

Or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,

40 When they crouch intheirdens,

Orlurk in their lairs to lie in wait?

41 Who provides food for the raven,

When its young ones cry to God,

And wander about for lack of food?