Chapter 1
1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and
that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and
eschewed evil.
2 And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters.
3 His substance also was 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 men of the east.
4 And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his
day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to
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 cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.
6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present
themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.
7 And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan
answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth,
and from walking up and down in it.
8 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant
Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an
upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?
9 Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for
nought?
10 Hast not thou made an 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 substance is increased in the land.
11 But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and
he will curse thee to thy face.
12 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in
thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan
went forth from the presence of the LORD.
13 And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were
eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:
14 And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were
plowing, and the asses feeding beside them:
15 And the Sabeans fell upon them, 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,
The 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.
17 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said,
The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels,
and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the
edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
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:
19 And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and
smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young
men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell
thee.
20 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and
fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,
21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked
shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken
away; blessed be the name of the LORD.
22 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.
Chapter 2
1 Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present
themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to
present himself before the LORD.
2 And the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And
Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the
earth, and from walking up and down in it.
3 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant
Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an
upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still
he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against
him, to destroy him without cause.
4 And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all
that a man hath will he give for his life.
5 But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his
flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.
6 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but
save his life.
7 So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote
Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.
8 And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he
sat down among the ashes.
9 Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine
integrity? curse God, and die.
10 But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish
women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God,
and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with
his lips.
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:
for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with
him and to comfort him.
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 sprinkled dust upon their heads toward
heaven.
13 So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and
seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that
his grief was very great.
Chapter 3
1 After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day.
2 And Job spake, and said,
3 Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which
it was said, There is a man child conceived.
4 Let that day be darkness; let not God regard it from above,
neither let the light shine upon it.
5 Let darkness and the shadow of death stain it; let a cloud
dwell upon it; let the blackness of the day terrify it.
6 As for that night, let darkness seize upon it; let it not be
joined unto the days of the year, let it not come into the
number of the months.
7 Lo, let that night be solitary, let no joyful voice come
therein.
8 Let them curse it that curse the day, who are ready to raise
up their mourning.
9 Let the stars of the twilight thereof be dark; let it look for
light, but have none; neither let it see the dawning of the day:
10 Because it shut not up the doors of my mother's womb, nor hid
sorrow from mine eyes.
11 Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost
when I came out of the belly?
12 Why did the knees prevent me? or why the breasts that I
should suck?
13 For now should I have lain still and been quiet, I should
have slept: then had I been at rest,
14 With kings and counsellors of the earth, which build desolate
places for themselves;
15 Or with princes that had gold, who filled their houses with
silver:
16 Or as an hidden untimely birth I had not been; as infants
which never saw light.
17 There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary be
at rest.
18 There the prisoners rest together; they hear not the voice of
the oppressor.
19 The small and great are there; and the servant is free from
his master.
20 Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life
unto the bitter in soul;
21 Which long for death, but it cometh not; and dig for it more
than for hid treasures;
22 Which rejoice exceedingly, and are glad, when they can find
the grave?
23 Why is light given to a man whose way is hid, and whom God
hath hedged in?
24 For my sighing cometh before I eat, and my roarings are
poured out like the waters.
25 For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and
that which I was afraid of is come unto me.
26 I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet;
yet trouble came.
Chapter 4
1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
2 If we assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? but
who can withhold himself from speaking?
3 Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened
the weak hands.
4 Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast
strengthened the feeble knees.
5 But now it is come upon thee, and thou faintest; it toucheth
thee, and thou art troubled.
6 Is not this thy fear, thy confidence, thy hope, and the
uprightness of thy ways?
7 Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? or
where were the righteous cut off?
8 Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow
wickedness, reap the same.
9 By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his
nostrils are they consumed.
10 The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion,
and the teeth of the young lions, are broken.
11 The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, and the stout lion's
whelps are scattered abroad.
12 Now a thing was secretly brought to me, and mine ear received
a little thereof.
13 In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep
falleth on men,
14 Fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to
shake.
15 Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh
stood up:
16 It stood still, but I could not discern the form thereof: an
image was before mine eyes, there was silence, and I heard a
voice, saying,
17 Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more
pure than his maker?
18 Behold, he put no trust in his servants; and his angels he
charged with folly:
19 How much less in them that dwell in houses of clay, whose
foundation is in the dust, which are crushed before the moth?
20 They are destroyed from morning to evening: they perish for
ever without any regarding it.
21 Doth not their excellency which is in them go away? they die,
even without wisdom.
Chapter 5
1 Call now, if there be any that will answer thee; and to which
of the saints wilt thou turn?
2 For wrath killeth the foolish man, and envy slayeth the silly
one.
3 I have seen the foolish taking root: but suddenly I cursed his
habitation.
4 His children are far from safety, and they are crushed in the
gate, neither is there any to deliver them.
5 Whose harvest the hungry eateth up, and taketh it even out of
the thorns, and the robber swalloweth up their substance.
6 Although affliction cometh not forth of the dust, neither doth
trouble spring out of the ground;
7 Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward.
8 I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause:
9 Which doeth great things and unsearchable; marvellous things
without number:
10 Who giveth rain upon the earth, and sendeth waters upon the
fields:
11 To set up on high those that be low; that those which mourn
may be exalted to safety.
12 He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their
hands cannot perform their enterprise.
13 He taketh the wise in their own craftiness: and the counsel
of the froward is carried headlong.
14 They meet with darkness in the day time, and grope in the
noonday as in the night.
15 But he saveth the poor from the sword, from their mouth, and
from the hand of the mighty.
16 So the poor hath hope, and iniquity stoppeth her mouth.
17 Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore
despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:
18 For he maketh sore, and bindeth up: he woundeth, and his
hands make whole.
19 He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there
shall no evil touch thee.
20 In famine he shall redeem thee from death: and in war from
the power of the sword.
21 Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue: neither
shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh.
22 At destruction and famine thou shalt laugh: neither shalt
thou be afraid of the beasts of the earth.
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.
24 And thou shalt know that thy tabernacle shall be in peace;
and thou shalt visit thy habitation, and shalt not sin.
25 Thou shalt know also that thy seed shall be great, and thine
offspring as the grass of the earth.
26 Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, like as a shock
of corn cometh in in his season.
27 Lo this, we have searched it, so it is; hear it, and know
thou it for thy good.
Chapter 6
1 But Job answered and said,
2 Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid
in the balances together!
3 For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea:
therefore my words are swallowed up.
4 For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison
whereof drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of God do set
themselves in array against me.
5 Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox
over his fodder?
6 Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? or is there
any taste in the white of an egg?
7 The things that my soul refused to touch are as my sorrowful
meat.
8 Oh that I might have my request; and that God would grant me
the thing that I long for!
9 Even that it would please God to destroy me; that he would let
loose his hand, and cut me off!
10 Then should I yet have comfort; yea, I would harden myself in
sorrow: let him not spare; for I have not concealed the words of
the Holy One.
11 What is my strength, that I should hope? and what is mine
end, that I should prolong my life?
12 Is my strength the strength of stones? or is my flesh of
brass?
13 Is not my help in me? and is wisdom driven quite from me?
14 To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his
friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.
15 My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, and as the
stream of brooks they pass away;
16 Which are blackish by reason of the ice, and wherein the snow
is hid:
17 What time they wax warm, they vanish: when it is hot, they
are consumed out of their place.
18 The paths of their way are turned aside; they go to nothing,
and perish.
19 The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for
them.
20 They were confounded because they had hoped; they came
thither, and were ashamed.
21 For now ye are nothing; ye see my casting down, and are
afraid.
22 Did I say, Bring unto me? or, Give a reward for me of your
substance?
23 Or, Deliver me from the enemy's hand? or, Redeem me from the
hand of the mighty?
24 Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to
understand wherein I have erred.
25 How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing
reprove?
26 Do ye imagine to reprove words, and the speeches of one that
is desperate, which are as wind?
27 Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and ye dig a pit for your
friend.
28 Now therefore be content, look upon me; for it is evident
unto you if I lie.
29 Return, I pray you, let it not be iniquity; yea, return
again, my righteousness is in it.
30 Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern
perverse things?
Chapter 7
1 Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his
days also like the days of an hireling?
2 As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow, and as an hireling
looketh for the reward of his work:
3 So am I made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights
are appointed to me.
4 When I lie down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be
gone? and I am full of tossings to and fro unto the dawning of
the day.
5 My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is
broken, and become loathsome.
6 My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent
without hope.
7 O remember that my life is wind: mine eye shall no more see
good.
8 The eye of him that hath seen me shall see me no more: thine
eyes are upon me, and I am not.
9 As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so he that goeth
down to the grave shall come up no more.
10 He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place
know him any more.
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.
12 Am I a sea, or a whale, that thou settest a watch over me?
13 When I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my
complaints;
14 Then thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through
visions:
15 So that my soul chooseth strangling, and death rather than my
life.
16 I loathe it; I would not live alway: let me alone; for my
days are vanity.
17 What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou
shouldest set thine heart upon him?
18 And that thou shouldest visit him every morning, and try him
every moment?
19 How long wilt thou not depart from me, nor let me alone till
I swallow down my spittle?
20 I have sinned; what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of
men? why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, so that I am a
burden to myself?
21 And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away
my iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust; and thou shalt
seek me in the morning, but I shall not be.
Chapter 8
1 Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,
2 How long wilt thou speak these things? and how long shall the
words of thy mouth be like a strong wind?
3 Doth God pervert judgment? or doth the Almighty pervert
justice?
4 If thy children have sinned against him, and he have cast them
away for their transgression;
5 If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, and make thy
supplication to the Almighty;
6 If thou wert pure and upright; surely now he would awake for
thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous.
7 Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should
greatly increase.
8 For enquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare
thyself to the search of their fathers:
9 (For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our
days upon earth are a shadow:)
10 Shall not they teach thee, and tell thee, and utter words out
of their heart?
11 Can the rush grow up without mire? can the flag grow without
water?
12 Whilst it is yet in his greenness, and not cut down, it
withereth before any other herb.
13 So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite's
hope shall perish:
14 Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be a
spider's web.
15 He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand: he
shall hold it fast, but it shall not endure.
16 He is green before the sun, and his branch shooteth forth in
his garden.
17 His roots are wrapped about the heap, and seeth the place of
stones.
18 If he destroy him from his place, then it shall deny him,
saying, I have not seen thee.
19 Behold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the earth
shall others grow.
20 Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he
help the evil doers:
21 Till he fill thy mouth with laughing, and thy lips with
rejoicing.
22 They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame; and the
dwelling place of the wicked shall come to nought.
Chapter 9
1 Then Job answered and said,
2 I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with
God?
3 If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a
thousand.
4 He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened
himself against him, and hath prospered?
5 Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: which
overturneth them in his anger.
6 Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars
thereof tremble.
7 Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up
the stars.
8 Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the
waves of the sea.
9 Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers
of the south.
10 Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders
without number.
11 Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also,
but I perceive him not.
12 Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto
him, What doest thou?
13 If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do
stoop under him.
14 How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to
reason with him?
15 Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I
would make supplication to my judge.
16 If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not
believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.
17 For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds
without cause.
18 He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with
bitterness.
19 If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment,
who shall set me a time to plead?
20 If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I
say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.
21 Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would
despise my life.
22 This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the
perfect and the wicked.
23 If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of
the innocent.
24 The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereth
the faces of the judges thereof; if not, where, and who is he?
25 Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see
no good.
26 They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that
hasteth to the prey.
27 If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my
heaviness, and comfort myself:
28 I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold
me innocent.
29 If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?
30 If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so
clean;
31 Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes
shall abhor me.
32 For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and
we should come together in judgment.
33 Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his
hand upon us both.
34 Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear
terrify me:
35 Then would I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with
me.
Chapter 10
1 My soul is weary of my life; I will leave my complaint upon
myself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.
2 I will say unto God, Do not condemn me; shew me wherefore thou
contendest with me.
3 Is it good unto thee that thou shouldest oppress, that thou
shouldest despise the work of thine hands, and shine upon the
counsel of the wicked?
4 Hast thou eyes of flesh? or seest thou as man seeth?
5 Are thy days as the days of man? are thy years as man's days,
6 That thou enquirest after mine iniquity, and searchest after
my sin?
7 Thou knowest that I am not wicked; and there is none that can
deliver out of thine hand.
8 Thine hands have made me and fashioned me together round
about; yet thou dost destroy me.
9 Remember, I beseech thee, that thou hast made me as the clay;
and wilt thou bring me into dust again?
10 Hast thou not poured me out as milk, and curdled me like
cheese?
11 Thou hast clothed me with skin and flesh, and hast fenced me
with bones and sinews.
12 Thou hast granted me life and favour, and thy visitation hath
preserved my spirit.
13 And these things hast thou hid in thine heart: I know that
this is with thee.
14 If I sin, then thou markest me, and thou wilt not acquit me
from mine iniquity.
15 If I be wicked, woe unto me; and if I be righteous, yet will
I not lift up my head. I am full of confusion; therefore see
thou mine affliction;
16 For it increaseth. Thou huntest me as a fierce lion: and
again thou shewest thyself marvellous upon me.
17 Thou renewest thy witnesses against me, and increasest thine
indignation upon me; changes and war are against me.
18 Wherefore then hast thou brought me forth out of the womb? Oh
that I had given up the ghost, and no eye had seen me!
19 I should have been as though I had not been; I should have
been carried from the womb to the grave.
20 Are not my days few? cease then, and let me alone, that I may
take comfort a little,
21 Before I go whence I shall not return, even to the land of
darkness and the shadow of death;
22 A land of darkness, as darkness itself; and of the shadow of
death, without any order, and where the light is as darkness.
Chapter 11
1 Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,
2 Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a
man full of talk be justified?
3 Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thou
mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?
4 For thou hast said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in
thine eyes.
5 But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against thee;
6 And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, that they
are double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacteth of
thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.
7 Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the
Almighty unto perfection?
8 It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell;
what canst thou know?
9 The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than
the sea.
10 If he cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then who can
hinder him?
11 For he knoweth vain men: he seeth wickedness also; will he
not then consider it?
12 For vain men would be wise, though man be born like a wild
ass's colt.
13 If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands
toward him;
14 If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not
wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles.
15 For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou
shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear:
16 Because thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as
waters that pass away:
17 And thine age shall be clearer than the noonday: thou shalt
shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning.
18 And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou
shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.
19 Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid;
yea, many shall make suit unto thee.
20 But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall not
escape, and their hope shall be as the giving up of the ghost.
Chapter 12
1 And Job answered and said,
2 No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.
3 But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to
you: yea, who knoweth not such things as these?
4 I am as one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon God, and
he answereth him: the just upright man is laughed to scorn.
5 He that is ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despised
in the thought of him that is at ease.
6 The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God
are secure; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly.
7 But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the
fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:
8 Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes
of the sea shall declare unto thee.
9 Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath
wrought this?
10 In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the
breath of all mankind.
11 Doth not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat?
12 With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days
understanding.
13 With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and
understanding.
14 Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built again: he
shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening.
15 Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up: also he
sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.
16 With him is strength and wisdom: the deceived and the
deceiver are his.
17 He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, and maketh the judges
fools.
18 He looseth the bond of kings, and girdeth their loins with a
girdle.
19 He leadeth princes away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty.
20 He removeth away the speech of the trusty, and taketh away
the understanding of the aged.
21 He poureth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the strength
of the mighty.
22 He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out
to light the shadow of death.
23 He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth
the nations, and straiteneth them again.
24 He taketh away the heart of the chief of the people of the
earth, and causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there is
no way.
25 They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to
stagger like a drunken man.
Chapter 13
1 Lo, mine eye hath seen all this, mine ear hath heard and
understood it.
2 What ye know, the same do I know also: I am not inferior unto
you.
3 Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason
with God.
4 But ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value.
5 O that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it should be
your wisdom.
6 Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my
lips.
7 Will ye speak wickedly for God? and talk deceitfully for him?
8 Will ye accept his person? will ye contend for God?
9 Is it good that he should search you out? or as one man
mocketh another, do ye so mock him?
10 He will surely reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons.
11 Shall not his excellency make you afraid? and his dread fall
upon you?
12 Your remembrances are like unto ashes, your bodies to bodies
of clay.
13 Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come
on me what will.
14 Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in
mine hand?
15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will
maintain mine own ways before him.
16 He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not
come before him.
17 Hear diligently my speech, and my declaration with your ears.
18 Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be
justified.
19 Who is he that will plead with me? for now, if I hold my
tongue, I shall give up the ghost.
20 Only do not two things unto me: then will I not hide myself
from thee.
21 Withdraw thine hand far from me: and let not thy dread make
me afraid.
22 Then call thou, and I will answer: or let me speak, and
answer thou me.
23 How many are mine iniquities and sins? make me to know my
transgression and my sin.
24 Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and holdest me for thine
enemy?
25 Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro? and wilt thou
pursue the dry stubble?
26 For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to
possess the iniquities of my youth.
27 Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, and lookest narrowly
unto all my paths; thou settest a print upon the heels of my
feet.
28 And he, as a rotten thing, consumeth, as a garment that is
moth eaten.
Chapter 14
1 Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of
trouble.
2 He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also
as a shadow, and continueth not.
3 And doth thou open thine eyes upon such an one, and bringest
me into judgment with thee?
4 Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.
5 Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are
with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass;
6 Turn from him, that he may rest, till he shall accomplish, as
an hireling, his day.
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.
8 Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock
thereof die in the ground;
9 Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth
boughs like a plant.
10 But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the
ghost, and where is he?
11 As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and
drieth up:
12 So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no
more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.
13 O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest
keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest
appoint me a set time, and remember me!
14 If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my
appointed time will I wait, till my change come.
15 Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a
desire to the work of thine hands.
16 For now thou numberest my steps: dost thou not watch over my
sin?
17 My transgression is sealed up in a bag, and thou sewest up
mine iniquity.
18 And surely the mountains falling cometh to nought, and the
rock is removed out of his place.
19 The waters wear the stones: thou washest away the things
which grow out of the dust of the earth; and thou destroyest the
hope of man.
20 Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth: thou
changest his countenance, and sendest him away.
21 His sons come to honour, and he knoweth it not; and they are
brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them.
22 But his flesh upon him shall have pain, and his soul within
him shall mourn.
Chapter 15
1 Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said,
2 Should a wise man utter vain knowledge, and fill his belly
with the east wind?
3 Should he reason with unprofitable talk? or with speeches
wherewith he can do no good?
4 Yea, thou castest off fear, and restrainest prayer before God.
5 For thy mouth uttereth thine iniquity, and thou choosest the
tongue of the crafty.
6 Thine own mouth condemneth thee, and not I: yea, thine own
lips testify against thee.
7 Art thou the first man that was born? or wast thou made before
the hills?
8 Hast thou heard the secret of God? and dost thou restrain
wisdom to thyself?
9 What knowest thou, that we know not? what understandest thou,
which is not in us?
10 With us are both the grayheaded and very aged men, much elder
than thy father.
11 Are the consolations of God small with thee? is there any
secret thing with thee?
12 Why doth thine heart carry thee away? and what do thy eyes
wink at,
13 That thou turnest thy spirit against God, and lettest such
words go out of thy mouth?
14 What is man, that he should be clean? and he which is born of
a woman, that he should be righteous?
15 Behold, he putteth no trust in his saints; yea, the heavens
are not clean in his sight.
16 How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh
iniquity like water?
17 I will shew thee, hear me; and that which I have seen I will
declare;
18 Which wise men have told from their fathers, and have not hid
it:
19 Unto whom alone the earth was given, and no stranger passed
among them.
20 The wicked man travaileth with pain all his days, and the
number of years is hidden to the oppressor.
21 A dreadful sound is in his ears: in prosperity the destroyer
shall come upon him.
22 He believeth not that he shall return out of darkness, and he
is waited for of the sword.
23 He wandereth abroad for bread, saying, Where is it? he
knoweth that the day of darkness is ready at his hand.
24 Trouble and anguish shall make him afraid; they shall prevail
against him, as a king ready to the battle.
25 For he stretcheth out his hand against God, and strengtheneth
himself against the Almighty.
26 He runneth upon him, even on his neck, upon the thick bosses
of his bucklers:
27 Because he covereth his face with his fatness, and maketh
collops of fat on his flanks.
28 And he dwelleth in desolate cities, and in houses which no
man inhabiteth, which are ready to become heaps.
29 He shall not be rich, neither shall his substance continue,
neither shall he prolong the perfection thereof upon the earth.
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.
31 Let not him that is deceived trust in vanity: for vanity
shall be his recompence.
32 It shall be accomplished before his time, and his branch
shall not be green.
33 He shall shake off his unripe grape as the vine, and shall
cast off his flower as the olive.
34 For the congregation of hypocrites shall be desolate, and
fire shall consume the tabernacles of bribery.
35 They conceive mischief, and bring forth vanity, and their
belly prepareth deceit.
Chapter 16
1 Then Job answered and said,
2 I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye
all.
3 Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that
thou answerest?
4 I also could speak as ye do: if your soul were in my soul's
stead, I could heap up words against you, and shake mine head at
you.
5 But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my
lips should asswage your grief.
6 Though I speak, my grief is not asswaged: and though I
forbear, what am I eased?
7 But now he hath made me weary: thou hast made desolate all my
company.
8 And thou hast filled me with wrinkles, which is a witness
against me: and my leanness rising up in me beareth witness to
my face.
9 He teareth me in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth upon me
with his teeth; mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me.
10 They have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten
me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves
together against me.
11 God hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into
the hands of the wicked.
12 I was at ease, but he hath broken me asunder: he hath also
taken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces, and set me up for
his mark.
13 His archers compass me round about, he cleaveth my reins
asunder, and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the
ground.
14 He breaketh me with breach upon breach, he runneth upon me
like a giant.
15 I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and defiled my horn in
the dust.
16 My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow
of death;
17 Not for any injustice in mine hands: also my prayer is pure.
18 O earth, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry have no
place.
19 Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is
on high.
20 My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God.
21 O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth
for his neighbour!
22 When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I
shall not return.
Chapter 17
1 My breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves are
ready for me.
2 Are there not mockers with me? and doth not mine eye continue
in their provocation?
3 Lay down now, put me in a surety with thee; who is he that
will strike hands with me?
4 For thou hast hid their heart from understanding: therefore
shalt thou not exalt them.
5 He that speaketh flattery to his friends, even the eyes of his
children shall fail.
6 He hath made me also a byword of the people; and aforetime I
was as a tabret.
7 Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, and all my members
are as a shadow.
8 Upright men shall be astonied at this, and the innocent shall
stir up himself against the hypocrite.
9 The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath
clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.
10 But as for you all, do ye return, and come now: for I cannot
find one wise man among you.
11 My days are past, my purposes are broken off, even the
thoughts of my heart.
12 They change the night into day: the light is short because of
darkness.
13 If I wait, the grave is mine house: I have made my bed in the
darkness.
14 I have said to corruption, Thou art my father: to the worm,
Thou art my mother, and my sister.
15 And where is now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it?
16 They shall go down to the bars of the pit, when our rest
together is in the dust.
Chapter 18
1 Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,
2 How long will it be ere ye make an end of words? mark, and
afterwards we will speak.
3 Wherefore are we counted as beasts, and reputed vile in your
sight?
4 He teareth himself in his anger: shall the earth be forsaken
for thee? and shall the rock be removed out of his place?
5 Yea, the light of the wicked shall be put out, and the spark
of his fire shall not shine.
6 The light shall be dark in his tabernacle, and his candle
shall be put out with him.
7 The steps of his strength shall be straitened, and his own
counsel shall cast him down.
8 For he is cast into a net by his own feet, and he walketh upon
a snare.
9 The gin shall take him by the heel, and the robber shall
prevail against him.
10 The snare is laid for him in the ground, and a trap for him
in the way.
11 Terrors shall make him afraid on every side, and shall drive
him to his feet.
12 His strength shall be hungerbitten, and destruction shall be
ready at his side.
13 It shall devour the strength of his skin: even the firstborn
of death shall devour his strength.
14 His confidence shall be rooted out of his tabernacle, and it
shall bring him to the king of terrors.
15 It shall dwell in his tabernacle, because it is none of his:
brimstone shall be scattered upon his habitation.
16 His roots shall be dried up beneath, and above shall his
branch be cut off.
17 His remembrance shall perish from the earth, and he shall
have no name in the street.
18 He shall be driven from light into darkness, and chased out
of the world.
19 He shall neither have son nor nephew among his people, nor
any remaining in his dwellings.
20 They that come after him shall be astonied at his day, as
they that went before were affrighted.
21 Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked, and this is the
place of him that knoweth not God.
Chapter 19
1 Then Job answered and said,
2 How long will ye vex my soul, and break me in pieces with
words?
3 These ten times have ye reproached me: ye are not ashamed that
ye make yourselves strange to me.
4 And be it indeed that I have erred, mine error remaineth with
myself.
5 If indeed ye will magnify yourselves against me, and plead
against me my reproach:
6 Know now that God hath overthrown me, and hath compassed me
with his net.
7 Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard: I cry aloud,
but there is no judgment.
8 He hath fenced up my way that I cannot pass, and he hath set
darkness in my paths.
9 He hath stripped me of my glory, and taken the crown from my
head.
10 He hath destroyed me on every side, and I am gone: and mine
hope hath he removed like a tree.
11 He hath also kindled his wrath against me, and he counteth me
unto him as one of his enemies.
12 His troops come together, and raise up their way against me,
and encamp round about my tabernacle.
13 He hath put my brethren far from me, and mine acquaintance
are verily estranged from me.
14 My kinsfolk have failed, and my familiar friends have
forgotten me.
15 They that dwell in mine house, and my maids, count me for a
stranger: I am an alien in their sight.
16 I called my servant, and he gave me no answer; I intreated
him with my mouth.
17 My breath is strange to my wife, though I intreated for the
children's sake of mine own body.
18 Yea, young children despised me; I arose, and they spake
against me.
19 All my inward friends abhorred me: and they whom I loved are
turned against me.
20 My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, and I am escaped
with the skin of my teeth.
21 Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O ye my friends; for
the hand of God hath touched me.
22 Why do ye persecute me as God, and are not satisfied with my
flesh?
23 Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed
in a book!
24 That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock
for ever!
25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand
at the latter day upon the earth:
26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my
flesh shall I see God:
27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and
not another; though my reins be consumed within me.
28 But ye should say, Why persecute we him, seeing the root of
the matter is found in me?
29 Be ye afraid of the sword: for wrath bringeth the punishments
of the sword, that ye may know there is a judgment.
Chapter 20
1 Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,
2 Therefore do my thoughts cause me to answer, and for this I
make haste.
3 I have heard the check of my reproach, and the spirit of my
understanding causeth me to answer.
4 Knowest thou not this of old, since man was placed upon earth,
5 That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the
hypocrite but for a moment?
6 Though his excellency mount up to the heavens, and his head
reach unto the clouds;
7 Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung: they which
have seen him shall say, Where is he?
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.
9 The eye also which saw him shall see him no more; neither
shall his place any more behold him.
10 His children shall seek to please the poor, and his hands
shall restore their goods.
11 His bones are full of the sin of his youth, which shall lie
down with him in the dust.
12 Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, though he hide it
under his tongue;
13 Though he spare it, and forsake it not; but keep it still
within his mouth:
14 Yet his meat in his bowels is turned, it is the gall of asps
within him.
15 He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up
again: God shall cast them out of his belly.
16 He shall suck the poison of asps: the viper's tongue shall
slay him.
17 He shall not see the rivers, the floods, the brooks of honey
and butter.
18 That which he laboured for shall he restore, and shall not
swallow it down: according to his substance shall the
restitution be, and he shall not rejoice therein.
19 Because he hath oppressed and hath forsaken the poor; because
he hath violently taken away an house which he builded not;
20 Surely he shall not feel quietness in his belly, he shall not
save of that which he desired.
21 There shall none of his meat be left; therefore shall no man
look for his goods.
22 In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits:
every hand of the wicked shall come upon him.
23 When he is about to fill his belly, God shall cast the fury
of his wrath upon him, and shall rain it upon him while he is
eating.
24 He shall flee from the iron weapon, and the bow of steel
shall strike him through.
25 It is drawn, and cometh out of the body; yea, the glittering
sword cometh out of his gall: terrors are upon him.
26 All darkness shall be hid in his secret places: a fire not
blown shall consume him; it shall go ill with him that is left
in his tabernacle.
27 The heaven shall reveal his iniquity; and the earth shall
rise up against him.
28 The increase of his house shall depart, and his goods shall
flow away in the day of his wrath.
29 This is the portion of a wicked man from God, and the
heritage appointed unto him by God.
Chapter 21
1 But Job answered and said,
2 Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations.
3 Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock
on.
4 As for me, is my complaint to man? and if it were so, why
should not my spirit be troubled?
5 Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
6 Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on
my flesh.
7 Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in
power?
8 Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their
offspring before their eyes.
9 Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God
upon them.
10 Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and
casteth not her calf.
11 They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their
children dance.
12 They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of
the organ.
13 They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to
the grave.
14 Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire
not the knowledge of thy ways.
15 What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what
profit should we have, if we pray unto him?
16 Lo, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the
wicked is far from me.
17 How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft
cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in
his anger.
18 They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the
storm carrieth away.
19 God layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth
him, and he shall know it.
20 His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the
wrath of the Almighty.
21 For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, when the
number of his months is cut off in the midst?
22 Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that
are high.
23 One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and
quiet.
24 His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened
with marrow.
25 And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never
eateth with pleasure.
26 They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall
cover them.
27 Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye
wrongfully imagine against me.
28 For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are
the dwelling places of the wicked?
29 Have ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know
their tokens,
30 That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they
shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.
31 Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay
him what he hath done?
32 Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the
tomb.
33 The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, and every
man shall draw after him, as there are innumerable before him.
34 How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there
remaineth falsehood?
Chapter 22
1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
2 Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be
profitable unto himself?
3 Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous?
or is it gain to him, that thou makest thy ways perfect?
4 Will he reprove thee for fear of thee? will he enter with thee
into judgment?
5 Is not thy wickedness great? and thine iniquities infinite?
6 For thou hast taken a pledge from thy brother for nought, and
stripped the naked of their clothing.
7 Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink, and thou hast
withholden bread from the hungry.
8 But as for the mighty man, he had the earth; and the
honourable man dwelt in it.
9 Thou hast sent widows away empty, and the arms of the
fatherless have been broken.
10 Therefore snares are round about thee, and sudden fear
troubleth thee;
11 Or darkness, that thou canst not see; and abundance of waters
cover thee.
12 Is not God in the height of heaven? and behold the height of
the stars, how high they are!
13 And thou sayest, How doth God know? can he judge through the
dark cloud?
14 Thick clouds are a covering to him, that he seeth not; and he
walketh in the circuit of heaven.
15 Hast thou marked the old way which wicked men have trodden?
16 Which were cut down out of time, whose foundation was
overflown with a flood:
17 Which said unto God, Depart from us: and what can the
Almighty do for them?
18 Yet he filled their houses with good things: but the counsel
of the wicked is far from me.
19 The righteous see it, and are glad: and the innocent laugh
them to scorn.
20 Whereas our substance is not cut down, but the remnant of
them the fire consumeth.
21 Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good
shall come unto thee.
22 Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his
words in thine heart.
23 If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, thou
shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles.
24 Then shalt thou lay up gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir as
the stones of the brooks.
25 Yea, the Almighty shall be thy defence, and thou shalt have
plenty of silver.
26 For then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and
shalt lift up thy face unto God.
27 Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee,
and thou shalt pay thy vows.
28 Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established
unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways.
29 When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, There is lifting
up; and he shall save the humble person.
30 He shall deliver the island of the innocent: and it is
delivered by the pureness of thine hands.
Chapter 23
1 Then Job answered and said,
2 Even to day is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than
my groaning.
3 Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even
to his seat!
4 I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with
arguments.
5 I would know the words which he would answer me, and
understand what he would say unto me.
6 Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he
would put strength in me.
7 There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be
delivered for ever from my judge.
8 Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I
cannot perceive him:
9 On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him:
he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him:
10 But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I
shall come forth as gold.
11 My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not
declined.
12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I
have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary
food.
13 But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his
soul desireth, even that he doeth.
14 For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and
many such things are with him.
15 Therefore am I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I
am afraid of him.
16 For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me:
17 Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither hath
he covered the darkness from my face.
Chapter 24
1 Why, seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty, do they
that know him not see his days?
2 Some remove the landmarks; they violently take away flocks,
and feed thereof.
3 They drive away the ass of the fatherless, they take the
widow's ox for a pledge.
4 They turn the needy out of the way: the poor of the earth hide
themselves together.
5 Behold, as wild asses in the desert, go they forth to their
work; rising betimes for a prey: the wilderness yieldeth food
for them and for their children.
6 They reap every one his corn in the field: and they gather the
vintage of the wicked.
7 They cause the naked to lodge without clothing, that they have
no covering in the cold.
8 They are wet with the showers of the mountains, and embrace
the rock for want of a shelter.
9 They pluck the fatherless from the breast, and take a pledge
of the poor.
10 They cause him to go naked without clothing, and they take
away the sheaf from the hungry;
11 Which make oil within their walls, and tread their
winepresses, and suffer thirst.
12 Men groan from out of the city, and the soul of the wounded
crieth out: yet God layeth not folly to them.
13 They are of those that rebel against the light; they know not
the ways thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof.
14 The murderer rising with the light killeth the poor and
needy, and in the night is as a thief.
15 The eye also of the adulterer waiteth for the twilight,
saying, No eye shall see me: and disguiseth his face.
16 In the dark they dig through houses, which they had marked
for themselves in the daytime: they know not the light.
17 For the morning is to them even as the shadow of death: if
one know them, they are in the terrors of the shadow of death.
18 He is swift as the waters; their portion is cursed in the
earth: he beholdeth not the way of the vineyards.
19 Drought and heat consume the snow waters: so doth the grave
those which have sinned.
20 The womb shall forget him; the worm shall feed sweetly on
him; he shall be no more remembered; and wickedness shall be
broken as a tree.
21 He evil entreateth the barren that beareth not: and doeth not
good to the widow.
22 He draweth also the mighty with his power: he riseth up, and
no man is sure of life.
23 Though it be given him to be in safety, whereon he resteth;
yet his eyes are upon their ways.
24 They are exalted for a little while, but are gone and brought
low; they are taken out of the way as all other, and cut off as
the tops of the ears of corn.
25 And if it be not so now, who will make me a liar, and make my
speech nothing worth?
Chapter 25
1 Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,
2 Dominion and fear are with him, he maketh peace in his high
places.
3 Is there any number of his armies? and upon whom doth not his
light arise?
4 How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean
that is born of a woman?
5 Behold even to the moon, and it shineth not; yea, the stars
are not pure in his sight.
6 How much less man, that is a worm? and the son of man, which
is a worm?
Chapter 26
1 But Job answered and said,
2 How hast thou helped him that is without power? how savest
thou the arm that hath no strength?
3 How hast thou counselled him that hath no wisdom? and how hast
thou plentifully declared the thing as it is?
4 To whom hast thou uttered words? and whose spirit came from
thee?
5 Dead things are formed from under the waters, and the
inhabitants thereof.
6 Hell is naked before him, and destruction hath no covering.
7 He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth
the earth upon nothing.
8 He bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds; and the cloud is
not rent under them.
9 He holdeth back the face of his throne, and spreadeth his
cloud upon it.
10 He hath compassed the waters with bounds, until the day and
night come to an end.
11 The pillars of heaven tremble and are astonished at his
reproof.
12 He divideth the sea with his power, and by his understanding
he smiteth through the proud.
13 By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath
formed the crooked serpent.
14 Lo, these are parts of his ways: but how little a portion is
heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand?
Chapter 27
1 Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,
2 As God liveth, who hath taken away my judgment; and the
Almighty, who hath vexed my soul;
3 All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in
my nostrils;
4 My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter
deceit.
5 God forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will not
remove mine integrity from me.
6 My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart
shall not reproach me so long as I live.
7 Let mine enemy be as the wicked, and he that riseth up against
me as the unrighteous.
8 For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained,
when God taketh away his soul?
9 Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him?
10 Will he delight himself in the Almighty? will he always call
upon God?
11 I will teach you by the hand of God: that which is with the
Almighty will I not conceal.
12 Behold, all ye yourselves have seen it; why then are ye thus
altogether vain?
13 This is the portion of a wicked man with God, and the
heritage of oppressors, which they shall receive of the
Almighty.
14 If his children be multiplied, it is for the sword: and his
offspring shall not be satisfied with bread.
15 Those that remain of him shall be buried in death: and his
widows shall not weep.
16 Though he heap up silver as the dust, and prepare raiment as
the clay;
17 He may prepare it, but the just shall put it on, and the
innocent shall divide the silver.
18 He buildeth his house as a moth, and as a booth that the
keeper maketh.
19 The rich man shall lie down, but he shall not be gathered: he
openeth his eyes, and he is not.
20 Terrors take hold on him as waters, a tempest stealeth him
away in the night.
21 The east wind carrieth him away, and he departeth: and as a
storm hurleth him out of his place.
22 For God shall cast upon him, and not spare: he would fain
flee out of his hand.
23 Men shall clap their hands at him, and shall hiss him out of
his place.
Chapter 28
1 Surely there is a vein for the silver, and a place for gold
where they fine it.
2 Iron is taken out of the earth, and brass is molten out of the
stone.
3 He setteth an end to darkness, and searcheth out all
perfection: the stones of darkness, and the shadow of death.
4 The flood breaketh out from the inhabitant; even the waters
forgotten of the foot: they are dried up, they are gone away
from men.
5 As for the earth, out of it cometh bread: and under it is
turned up as it were fire.
6 The stones of it are the place of sapphires: and it hath dust
of gold.
7 There is a path which no fowl knoweth, and which the vulture's
eye hath not seen:
8 The lion's whelps have not trodden it, nor the fierce lion
passed by it.
9 He putteth forth his hand upon the rock; he overturneth the
mountains by the roots.
10 He cutteth out rivers among the rocks; and his eye seeth
every precious thing.
11 He bindeth the floods from overflowing; and the thing that is
hid bringeth he forth to light.
12 But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of
understanding?
13 Man knoweth not the price thereof; neither is it found in the
land of the living.
14 The depth saith, It is not in me: and the sea saith, It is
not with me.
15 It cannot be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighed
for the price thereof.
16 It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious
onyx, or the sapphire.
17 The gold and the crystal cannot equal it: and the exchange of
it shall not be for jewels of fine gold.
18 No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls: for the
price of wisdom is above rubies.
19 The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, neither shall it be
valued with pure gold.
20 Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of
understanding?
21 Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept close
from the fowls of the air.
22 Destruction and death say, We have heard the fame thereof
with our ears.
23 God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place
thereof.
24 For he looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the
whole heaven;
25 To make the weight for the winds; and he weigheth the waters
by measure.
26 When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the
lightning of the thunder:
27 Then did he see it, and declare it; he prepared it, yea, and
searched it out.
28 And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the LORD, that is
wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.
Chapter 29
1 Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,
2 Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God
preserved me;
3 When his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I
walked through darkness;
4 As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was
upon my tabernacle;
5 When the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about
me;
6 When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out
rivers of oil;
7 When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared
my seat in the street!
8 The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose,
and stood up.
9 The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their
mouth.
10 The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the
roof of their mouth.
11 When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye
saw me, it gave witness to me:
12 Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless,
and him that had none to help him.
13 The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me:
and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.
14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as
a robe and a diadem.
15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.
16 I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I
searched out.
17 And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out
of his teeth.
18 Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my
days as the sand.
19 My root was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all
night upon my branch.
20 My glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand.
21 Unto me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my
counsel.
22 After my words they spake not again; and my speech dropped
upon them.
23 And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their
mouth wide as for the latter rain.
24 If I laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light of
my countenance they cast not down.
25 I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in
the army, as one that comforteth the mourners.
Chapter 30
1 But now they that are younger than I have me in derision,
whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs
of my flock.
2 Yea, whereto might the strength of their hands profit me, in
whom old age was perished?
3 For want and famine they were solitary; fleeing into the
wilderness in former time desolate and waste.
4 Who cut up mallows by the bushes, and juniper roots for their
meat.
5 They were driven forth from among men, (they cried after them
as after a thief;)
6 To dwell in the cliffs of the valleys, in caves of the earth,
and in the rocks.
7 Among the bushes they brayed; under the nettles they were
gathered together.
8 They were children of fools, yea, children of base men: they
were viler than the earth.
9 And now am I their song, yea, I am their byword.
10 They abhor me, they flee far from me, and spare not to spit
in my face.
11 Because he hath loosed my cord, and afflicted me, they have
also let loose the bridle before me.
12 Upon my right hand rise the youth; they push away my feet,
and they raise up against me the ways of their destruction.
13 They mar my path, they set forward my calamity, they have no
helper.
14 They came upon me as a wide breaking in of waters: in the
desolation they rolled themselves upon me.
15 Terrors are turned upon me: they pursue my soul as the wind:
and my welfare passeth away as a cloud.
16 And now my soul is poured out upon me; the days of affliction
have taken hold upon me.
17 My bones are pierced in me in the night season: and my sinews
take no rest.
18 By the great force of my disease is my garment changed: it
bindeth me about as the collar of my coat.
19 He hath cast me into the mire, and I am become like dust and
ashes.
20 I cry unto thee, and thou dost not hear me: I stand up, and
thou regardest me not.
21 Thou art become cruel to me: with thy strong hand thou
opposest thyself against me.
22 Thou liftest me up to the wind; thou causest me to ride upon
it, and dissolvest my substance.
23 For I know that thou wilt bring me to death, and to the house
appointed for all living.
24 Howbeit he will not stretch out his hand to the grave, though
they cry in his destruction.
25 Did not I weep for him that was in trouble? was not my soul
grieved for the poor?
26 When I looked for good, then evil came unto me: and when I
waited for light, there came darkness.
27 My bowels boiled, and rested not: the days of affliction
prevented me.
28 I went mourning without the sun: I stood up, and I cried in
the congregation.
29 I am a brother to dragons, and a companion to owls.
30 My skin is black upon me, and my bones are burned with heat.
31 My harp also is turned to mourning, and my organ into the
voice of them that weep.
Chapter 31
1 I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon
a maid?
2 For what portion of God is there from above? and what
inheritance of the Almighty from on high?
3 Is not destruction to the wicked? and a strange punishment to
the workers of iniquity?
4 Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps?
5 If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to
deceit;
6 Let me be weighed in an even balance that God may know mine
integrity.
7 If my step hath turned out of the way, and mine heart walked
after mine eyes, and if any blot hath cleaved to mine hands;
8 Then let me sow, and let another eat; yea, let my offspring be
rooted out.
9 If mine heart have been deceived by a woman, or if I have laid
wait at my neighbour's door;
10 Then let my wife grind unto another, and let others bow down
upon her.
11 For this is an heinous crime; yea, it is an iniquity to be
punished by the judges.
12 For it is a fire that consumeth to destruction, and would
root out all mine increase.
13 If I did despise the cause of my manservant or of my
maidservant, when they contended with me;
14 What then shall I do when God riseth up? and when he
visiteth, what shall I answer him?
15 Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not one
fashion us in the womb?
16 If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused
the eyes of the widow to fail;
17 Or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless hath
not eaten thereof;
18 (For from my youth he was brought up with me, as with a
father, and I have guided her from my mother's womb;)
19 If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or any poor
without covering;
20 If his loins have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed
with the fleece of my sheep;
21 If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, when I
saw my help in the gate:
22 Then let mine arm fall from my shoulder blade, and mine arm
be broken from the bone.
23 For destruction from God was a terror to me, and by reason of
his highness I could not endure.
24 If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold,
Thou art my confidence;
25 If I rejoice because my wealth was great, and because mine
hand had gotten much;
26 If I beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking in
brightness;
27 And my heart hath been secretly enticed, or my mouth hath
kissed my hand:
28 This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I
should have denied the God that is above.
29 If I rejoice at the destruction of him that hated me, or
lifted up myself when evil found him:
30 Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by wishing a curse to
his soul.
31 If the men of my tabernacle said not, Oh that we had of his
flesh! we cannot be satisfied.
32 The stranger did not lodge in the street: but I opened my
doors to the traveller.
33 If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding mine
iniquity in my bosom:
34 Did I fear a great multitude, or did the contempt of families
terrify me, that I kept silence, and went not out of the door?
35 Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire is, that the
Almighty would answer me, and that mine adversary had written a
book.
36 Surely I would take it upon my shoulder, and bind it as a
crown to me.
37 I would declare unto him the number of my steps; as a prince
would I go near unto him.
38 If my land cry against me, or that the furrows likewise
thereof complain;
39 If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, or have
caused the owners thereof to lose their life:
40 Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and cockle instead of
barley. The words of Job are ended.
Chapter 32
1 So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was
righteous in his own eyes.
2 Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the
Buzite, of the kindred of Ram: against Job was his wrath
kindled, because he justified himself rather than God.
3 Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because
they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.
4 Now Elihu had waited till Job had spoken, because they were
elder than he.
5 When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these
three men, then his wrath was kindled.
6 And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said, I
am young, and ye are very old; wherefore I was afraid, and durst
not shew you mine opinion.
7 I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach
wisdom.
8 But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the
Almighty giveth them understanding.
9 Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand
judgment.
10 Therefore I said, Hearken to me; I also will shew mine
opinion.
11 Behold, I waited for your words; I gave ear to your reasons,
whilst ye searched out what to say.
12 Yea, I attended unto you, and, behold, there was none of you
that convinced Job, or that answered his words:
13 Lest ye should say, We have found out wisdom: God thrusteth
him down, not man.
14 Now he hath not directed his words against me: neither will I
answer him with your speeches.
15 They were amazed, they answered no more: they left off
speaking.
16 When I had waited, (for they spake not, but stood still, and
answered no more;)
17 I said, I will answer also my part, I also will shew mine
opinion.
18 For I am full of matter, the spirit within me constraineth
me.
19 Behold, my belly is as wine which hath no vent; it is ready
to burst like new bottles.
20 I will speak, that I may be refreshed: I will open my lips
and answer.
21 Let me not, I pray you, accept any man's person, neither let
me give flattering titles unto man.
22 For I know not to give flattering titles; in so doing my
maker would soon take me away.
Chapter 33
1 Wherefore, Job, I pray thee, hear my speeches, and hearken to
all my words.
2 Behold, now I have opened my mouth, my tongue hath spoken in
my mouth.
3 My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart: and my lips
shall utter knowledge clearly.
4 The spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty
hath given me life.
5 If thou canst answer me, set thy words in order before me,
stand up.
6 Behold, I am according to thy wish in God's stead: I also am
formed out of the clay.
7 Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, neither shall my
hand be heavy upon thee.
8 Surely thou hast spoken in mine hearing, and I have heard the
voice of thy words, saying,
9 I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is
there iniquity in me.
10 Behold, he findeth occasions against me, he counteth me for
his enemy,
11 He putteth my feet in the stocks, he marketh all my paths.
12 Behold, in this thou art not just: I will answer thee, that
God is greater than man.
13 Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account
of any of his matters.
14 For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not.
15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth
upon men, in slumberings upon the bed;
16 Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their
instruction,
17 That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride
from man.
18 He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from
perishing by the sword.
19 He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the
multitude of his bones with strong pain:
20 So that his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty meat.
21 His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his
bones that were not seen stick out.
22 Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his life to
the destroyers.
23 If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a
thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness:
24 Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from
going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.
25 His flesh shall be fresher than a child's: he shall return to
the days of his youth:
26 He shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him:
and he shall see his face with joy: for he will render unto man
his righteousness.
27 He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and
perverted that which was right, and it profited me not;
28 He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his
life shall see the light.
29 Lo, all these things worketh God oftentimes with man,
30 To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with
the light of the living.
31 Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I will
speak.
32 If thou hast anything to say, answer me: speak, for I desire
to justify thee.
33 If not, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I shall teach
thee wisdom.
Chapter 34
1 Furthermore Elihu answered and said,
2 Hear my words, O ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that
have knowledge.
3 For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat.
4 Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what
is good.
5 For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my
judgment.
6 Should I lie against my right? my wound is incurable without
transgression.
7 What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water?
8 Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and
walketh with wicked men.
9 For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should
delight himself with God.
10 Therefore hearken unto me ye men of understanding: far be it
from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty,
that he should commit iniquity.
11 For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause
every man to find according to his ways.
12 Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the
Almighty pervert judgment.
13 Who hath given him a charge over the earth? or who hath
disposed the whole world?
14 If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his
spirit and his breath;
15 All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again
unto dust.
16 If now thou hast understanding, hear this: hearken to the
voice of my words.
17 Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn
him that is most just?
18 Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? and to princes,
Ye are ungodly?
19 How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of
princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all
are the work of his hands.
20 In a moment shall they die, and the people shall be troubled
at midnight, and pass away: and the mighty shall be taken away
without hand.
21 For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his
goings.
22 There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers
of iniquity may hide themselves.
23 For he will not lay upon man more than right; that he should
enter into judgment with God.
24 He shall break in pieces mighty men without number, and set
others in their stead.
25 Therefore he knoweth their works, and he overturneth them in
the night, so that they are destroyed.
26 He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others;
27 Because they turned back from him, and would not consider any
of his ways:
28 So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and
he heareth the cry of the afflicted.
29 When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and when
he hideth his face, who then can behold him? whether it be done
against a nation, or against a man only:
30 That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.
31 Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne
chastisement, I will not offend any more:
32 That which I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity,
I will do no more.
33 Should it be according to thy mind? he will recompense it,
whether thou refuse, or whether thou choose; and not I:
therefore speak what thou knowest.
34 Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken
unto me.
35 Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were without
wisdom.
36 My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end because of
his answers for wicked men.
37 For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands
among us, and multiplieth his words against God.
Chapter 35
1 Elihu spake moreover, and said,
2 Thinkest thou this to be right, that thou saidst, My
righteousness is more than God's?
3 For thou saidst, What advantage will it be unto thee? and,
What profit shall I have, if I be cleansed from my sin?
4 I will answer thee, and thy companions with thee.
5 Look unto the heavens, and see; and behold the clouds which
are higher than thou.
6 If thou sinnest, what doest thou against him? or if thy
transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto him?
7 If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? or what receiveth
he of thine hand?
8 Thy wickedness may hurt a man as thou art; and thy
righteousness may profit the son of man.
9 By reason of the multitude of oppressions they make the
oppressed to cry: they cry out by reason of the arm of the
mighty.
10 But none saith, Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in
the night;
11 Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and maketh
us wiser than the fowls of heaven?
12 There they cry, but none giveth answer, because of the pride
of evil men.
13 Surely God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty
regard it.
14 Although thou sayest thou shalt not see him, yet judgment is
before him; therefore trust thou in him.
15 But now, because it is not so, he hath visited in his anger;
yet he knoweth it not in great extremity:
16 Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vain; he multiplieth
words without knowledge.
Chapter 36
1 Elihu also proceeded, and said,
2 Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee that I have yet to
speak on God's behalf.
3 I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe
righteousness to my Maker.
4 For truly my words shall not be false: he that is perfect in
knowledge is with thee.
5 Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in
strength and wisdom.
6 He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth right to
the poor.
7 He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings
are they on the throne; yea, he doth establish them for ever,
and they are exalted.
8 And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of
affliction;
9 Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions that
they have exceeded.
10 He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that
they return from iniquity.
11 If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in
prosperity, and their years in pleasures.
12 But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and
they shall die without knowledge.
13 But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when
he bindeth them.
14 They die in youth, and their life is among the unclean.
15 He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth their
ears in oppression.
16 Even so would he have removed thee out of the strait into a
broad place, where there is no straitness; and that which should
be set on thy table should be full of fatness.
17 But thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked: judgment
and justice take hold on thee.
18 Because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with
his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee.
19 Will he esteem thy riches? no, not gold, nor all the forces
of strength.
20 Desire not the night, when people are cut off in their place.
21 Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this hast thou chosen
rather than affliction.
22 Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him?
23 Who hath enjoined him his way? or who can say, Thou hast
wrought iniquity?
24 Remember that thou magnify his work, which men behold.
25 Every man may see it; man may behold it afar off.
26 Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the
number of his years be searched out.
27 For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain
according to the vapour thereof:
28 Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly.
29 Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the
noise of his tabernacle?
30 Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it, and covereth the
bottom of the sea.
31 For by them judgeth he the people; he giveth meat in
abundance.
32 With clouds he covereth the light; and commandeth it not to
shine by the cloud that cometh betwixt.
33 The noise thereof sheweth concerning it, the cattle also
concerning the vapour.
Chapter 37
1 At this also my heart trembleth, and is moved out of his
place.
2 Hear attentively the noise of his voice, and the sound that
goeth out of his mouth.
3 He directeth it under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto
the ends of the earth.
4 After it a voice roareth: he thundereth with the voice of his
excellency; and he will not stay them when his voice is heard.
5 God thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things doeth
he, which we cannot comprehend.
6 For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to
the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength.
7 He sealeth up the hand of every man; that all men may know his
work.
8 Then the beasts go into dens, and remain in their places.
9 Out of the south cometh the whirlwind: and cold out of the
north.
10 By the breath of God frost is given: and the breadth of the
waters is straitened.
11 Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud: he scattereth
his bright cloud:
12 And it is turned round about by his counsels: that they may
do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the world in
the earth.
13 He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for his
land, or for mercy.
14 Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the
wondrous works of God.
15 Dost thou know when God disposed them, and caused the light
of his cloud to shine?
16 Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous
works of him which is perfect in knowledge?
17 How thy garments are warm, when he quieteth the earth by the
south wind?
18 Hast thou with him spread out the sky, which is strong, and
as a molten looking glass?
19 Teach us what we shall say unto him; for we cannot order our
speech by reason of darkness.
20 Shall it be told him that I speak? if a man speak, surely he
shall be swallowed up.
21 And now men see not the bright light which is in the clouds:
but the wind passeth, and cleanseth them.
22 Fair weather cometh out of the north: with God is terrible
majesty.
23 Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is
excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice:
he will not afflict.
24 Men do therefore fear him: he respecteth not any that are
wise of heart.
Chapter 38
1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
2 Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
3 Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee,
and answer thou me.
4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth?
declare, if thou hast understanding.
5 Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who
hath stretched the line upon it?
6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid
the corner stone thereof;
7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God
shouted for joy?
8 Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if
it had issued out of the womb?
9 When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness
a swaddlingband for it,
10 And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors,
11 And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here
shall thy proud waves be stayed?
12 Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused
the dayspring to know his place;
13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the
wicked might be shaken out of it?
14 It is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a
garment.
15 And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high
arm shall be broken.
16 Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thou
walked in the search of the depth?
17 Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou
seen the doors of the shadow of death?
18 Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if thou
knowest it all.
19 Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness,
where is the place thereof,
20 That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that
thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof?
21 Knowest thou it, because thou wast then born? or because the
number of thy days is great?
22 Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast
thou seen the treasures of the hail,
23 Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against
the day of battle and war?
24 By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the east
wind upon the earth?
25 Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters,
or a way for the lightning of thunder;
26 To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the
wilderness, wherein there is no man;
27 To satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the
bud of the tender herb to spring forth?
28 Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of
dew?
29 Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of
heaven, who hath gendered it?
30 The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep
is frozen.
31 Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose
the bands of Orion?
32 Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou
guide Arcturus with his sons?
33 Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the
dominion thereof in the earth?
34 Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of
waters may cover thee?
35 Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go and say unto
thee, Here we are?
36 Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given
understanding to the heart?
37 Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the
bottles of heaven,
38 When the dust groweth into hardness, and the clods cleave
fast together?
39 Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of
the young lions,
40 When they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie
in wait?
41 Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry
unto God, they wander for lack of meat.
Chapter 39
1 Knowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring
forth? or canst thou mark when the hinds do calve?
2 Canst thou number the months that they fulfil? or knowest thou
the time when they bring forth?
3 They bow themselves, they bring forth their young ones, they
cast out their sorrows.
4 Their young ones are in good liking, they grow up with corn;
they go forth, and return not unto them.
5 Who hath sent out the wild ass free? or who hath loosed the
bands of the wild ass?
6 Whose house I have made the wilderness, and the barren land
his dwellings.
7 He scorneth the multitude of the city, neither regardeth he
the crying of the driver.
8 The range of the mountains is his pasture, and he searcheth
after every green thing.
9 Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or abide by thy
crib?
10 Canst thou bind the unicorn with his band in the furrow? or
will he harrow the valleys after thee?
11 Wilt thou trust him, because his strength is great? or wilt
thou leave thy labour to him?
12 Wilt thou believe him, that he will bring home thy seed, and
gather it into thy barn?
13 Gavest thou the goodly wings unto the peacocks? or wings and
feathers unto the ostrich?
14 Which leaveth her eggs in the earth, and warmeth them in
dust,
15 And forgetteth that the foot may crush them, or that the wild
beast may break them.
16 She is hardened against her young ones, as though they were
not her's: her labour is in vain without fear;
17 Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he
imparted to her understanding.
18 What time she lifteth up herself on high, she scorneth the
horse and his rider.
19 Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his
neck with thunder?
20 Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper? the glory of his
nostrils is terrible.
21 He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: he
goeth on to meet the armed men.
22 He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted; neither turneth he
back from the sword.
23 The quiver rattleth against him, the glittering spear and the
shield.
24 He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage: neither
believeth he that it is the sound of the trumpet.
25 He saith among the trumpets, Ha, ha; and he smelleth the
battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.
26 Doth the hawk fly by thy wisdom, and stretch her wings toward
the south?
27 Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on
high?
28 She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the
rock, and the strong place.
29 From thence she seeketh the prey, and her eyes behold afar
off.
30 Her young ones also suck up blood: and where the slain are,
there is she.
Chapter 40
1 Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said,
2 Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he
that reproveth God, let him answer it.
3 Then Job answered the LORD, and said,
4 Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine
hand upon my mouth.
5 Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I
will proceed no further.
6 Then answered the LORD unto Job out of the whirlwind, and
said,
7 Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and
declare thou unto me.
8 Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me,
that thou mayest be righteous?
9 Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice
like him?
10 Deck thyself now with majesty and excellency; and array
thyself with glory and beauty.
11 Cast abroad the rage of thy wrath: and behold every one that
is proud, and abase him.
12 Look on every one that is proud, and bring him low; and tread
down the wicked in their place.
13 Hide them in the dust together; and bind their faces in
secret.
14 Then will I also confess unto thee that thine own right hand
can save thee.
15 Behold now behemoth, which I made with thee; he eateth grass
as an ox.
16 Lo now, his strength is in his loins, and his force is in the
navel of his belly.
17 He moveth his tail like a cedar: the sinews of his stones are
wrapped together.
18 His bones are as strong pieces of brass; his bones are like
bars of iron.
19 He is the chief of the ways of God: he that made him can make
his sword to approach unto him.
20 Surely the mountains bring him forth food, where all the
beasts of the field play.
21 He lieth under the shady trees, in the covert of the reed,
and fens.
22 The shady trees cover him with their shadow; the willows of
the brook compass him about.
23 Behold, he drinketh up a river, and hasteth not: he trusteth
that he can draw up Jordan into his mouth.
24 He taketh it with his eyes: his nose pierceth through snares.
Chapter 41
1 Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with
a cord which thou lettest down?
2 Canst thou put an hook into his nose? or bore his jaw through
with a thorn?
3 Will he make many supplications unto thee? will he speak soft
words unto thee?
4 Will he make a covenant with thee? wilt thou take him for a
servant for ever?
5 Wilt thou play with him as with a bird? or wilt thou bind him
for thy maidens?
6 Shall the companions make a banquet of him? shall they part
him among the merchants?
7 Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? or his head with
fish spears?
8 Lay thine hand upon him, remember the battle, do no more.
9 Behold, the hope of him is in vain: shall not one be cast down
even at the sight of him?
10 None is so fierce that dare stir him up: who then is able to
stand before me?
11 Who hath prevented me, that I should repay him? whatsoever is
under the whole heaven is mine.
12 I will not conceal his parts, nor his power, nor his comely
proportion.
13 Who can discover the face of his garment? or who can come to
him with his double bridle?
14 Who can open the doors of his face? his teeth are terrible
round about.
15 His scales are his pride, shut up together as with a close
seal.
16 One is so near to another, that no air can come between them.
17 They are joined one to another, they stick together, that
they cannot be sundered.
18 By his neesings a light doth shine, and his eyes are like the
eyelids of the morning.
19 Out of his mouth go burning lamps, and sparks of fire leap
out.
20 Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a seething pot or
caldron.
21 His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his
mouth.
22 In his neck remaineth strength, and sorrow is turned into joy
before him.
23 The flakes of his flesh are joined together: they are firm in
themselves; they cannot be moved.
24 His heart is as firm as a stone; yea, as hard as a piece of
the nether millstone.
25 When he raiseth up himself, the mighty are afraid: by reason
of breakings they purify themselves.
26 The sword of him that layeth at him cannot hold: the spear,
the dart, nor the habergeon.
27 He esteemeth iron as straw, and brass as rotten wood.
28 The arrow cannot make him flee: slingstones are turned with
him into stubble.
29 Darts are counted as stubble: he laugheth at the shaking of a
spear.
30 Sharp stones are under him: he spreadeth sharp pointed things
upon the mire.
31 He maketh the deep to boil like a pot: he maketh the sea like
a pot of ointment.
32 He maketh a path to shine after him; one would think the deep
to be hoary.
33 Upon earth there is not his like, who is made without fear.
34 He beholdeth all high things: he is a king over all the
children of pride.
Chapter 42
1 Then Job answered the LORD, and said,
2 I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can
be withholden from thee.
3 Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore
have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for
me, which I knew not.
4 Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee,
and declare thou unto me.
5 I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine
eye seeth thee.
6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.
7 And it was so, that after the LORD had spoken these words unto
Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled
against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not
spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath.
8 Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and
go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt
offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I
accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have
not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job.
9 So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the
Naamathite went, and did according as the LORD commanded them:
the LORD also accepted Job.
10 And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for
his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had
before.
11 Then came there unto him all his brethren, and all his
sisters, and all they that had been of his acquaintance before,
and did eat bread with him in his house: and they bemoaned him,
and comforted him over all the evil that the LORD had brought
upon him: every man also gave him a piece of money, and every
one an earring of gold.
12 So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his
beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand
camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses.
13 He had also seven sons and three daughters.
14 And he called the name of the first, Jemima; and the name of
the second, Kezia; and the name of the third, Kerenhappuch.
15 And in all the land were no women found so fair as the
daughters of Job: and their father gave them inheritance among
their brethren.
16 After this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw his
sons, and his sons' sons, even four generations.
17 So Job died, being old and full of days. |