Add parallel Print Page Options

10 My soul hath been weary of my life, I leave off my talking to myself, I speak in the bitterness of my soul.

I say unto God, `Do not condemn me, Let me know why Thou dost strive [with] me.

Is it good for Thee that Thou dost oppress? That Thou despisest the labour of Thy hands, And on the counsel of the wicked hast shone?

Eyes of flesh hast Thou? As man seeth -- seest Thou?

As the days of man [are] Thy days? Thy years as the days of a man?

That Thou inquirest for mine iniquity, And for my sin seekest?

For Thou knowest that I am not wicked, And there is no deliverer from Thy hand.

Thy hands have taken pains about me, And they make me together round about, And Thou swallowest me up!

Remember, I pray Thee, That as clay Thou hast made me, And unto dust Thou dost bring me back.

10 Dost Thou not as milk pour me out? And as cheese curdle me?

11 Skin and flesh Thou dost put on me, And with bones and sinews dost fence me.

12 Life and kindness Thou hast done with me. And Thy inspection hath preserved my spirit.

13 And these Thou hast laid up in Thy heart, I have known that this [is] with Thee.

14 If I sinned, then Thou hast observed me, And from mine iniquity dost not acquit me,

15 If I have done wickedly -- wo to me, And righteously -- I lift not up my head, Full of shame -- then see my affliction,

16 And it riseth -- as a lion Thou huntest me. And Thou turnest back -- Thou shewest Thyself wonderful in me.

17 Thou renewest Thy witnesses against me, And dost multiply Thine anger with me, Changes and warfare [are] with me.

18 And why from the womb Hast Thou brought me forth? I expire, and the eye doth not see me.

19 As I had not been, I am, From the belly to the grave I am brought,

20 Are not my days few? Cease then, and put from me, And I brighten up a little,

21 Before I go, and return not, Unto a land of darkness and death-shade,

22 A land of obscurity as thick darkness, Death-shade -- and no order, And the shining [is] as thick darkness.'

11 And Zophar the Naamathite answereth and saith: --

Is a multitude of words not answered? And is a man of lips justified?

Thy devices make men keep silent, Thou scornest, and none is causing blushing!

And thou sayest, `Pure [is] my discourse, And clean I have been in Thine eyes.'

And yet, O that God had spoken! And doth open His lips with thee.

And declare to thee secrets of wisdom, For counsel hath foldings. And know thou that God forgetteth for thee, [Some] of thine iniquity.

By searching dost thou find out God? Unto perfection find out the Mighty One?

Heights of the heavens! -- what dost thou? Deeper than Sheol! -- what knowest thou?

Longer than earth [is] its measure, And broader than the sea.

10 If He pass on, and shut up, and assemble, Who then dost reverse it?

11 For he hath known men of vanity, And He seeth iniquity, And one doth not consider [it]!

12 And empty man is bold, And the colt of a wild ass man is born.

13 If thou -- thou hast prepared thy heart, And hast spread out unto Him thy hands,

14 If iniquity [is] in thy hand, put it far off, And let not perverseness dwell in thy tents.

15 For then thou liftest up thy face from blemish, And thou hast been firm, and fearest not.

16 For thou dost forget misery, As waters passed away thou rememberest.

17 And above the noon doth age rise, Thou fliest -- as the morning thou art.

18 And thou hast trusted because their is hope, And searched -- in confidence thou liest down,

19 And thou hast rested, And none is causing trembling, And many have entreated thy face;

20 And the eyes of the wicked are consumed, And refuge hath perished from them, And their hope [is] a breathing out of soul!

12 And Job answereth and saith: --

Truly -- ye [are] the people, And with you doth wisdom die.

I also have a heart like you, I am not fallen more than you, And with whom is there not like these?

A laughter to his friend I am: `He calleth to God, and He answereth him,' A laughter [is] the perfect righteous one.

A torch -- despised in the thoughts of the secure Is prepared for those sliding with the feet.

At peace are the tents of spoilers, And those provoking God have confidence, He into whose hand God hath brought.

And yet, ask, I pray thee, [One of] the beasts, and it doth shew thee, And a fowl of the heavens, And it doth declare to thee.

Or talk to the earth, and it sheweth thee, And fishes of the sea recount to thee:

`Who hath not known in all these, That the hand of Jehovah hath done this?

10 In whose hand [is] the breath of every living thing, And the spirit of all flesh of man.'

11 Doth not the ear try words? And the palate taste food for itself?

12 With the very aged [is] wisdom, And [with] length of days understanding.

13 With Him [are] wisdom and might, To him [are] counsel and understanding.

14 Lo, He breaketh down, and it is not built up, He shutteth against a man, And it is not opened.

15 Lo, He keepeth in the waters, and they are dried up, And he sendeth them forth, And they overturn the land.

16 With Him [are] strength and wisdom, His the deceived and deceiver.

17 Causing counsellors to go away a spoil, And judges He maketh foolish.

18 The bands of kings He hath opened, And He bindeth a girdle on their loins.

19 Causing ministers to go away a spoil And strong ones He overthroweth.

20 Turning aside the lip of the stedfast, And the reason of the aged He taketh away.

21 Pouring contempt upon princes, And the girdle of the mighty He made feeble.

22 Removing deep things out of darkness, And He bringeth out to light death-shade.

23 Magnifying the nations, and He destroyeth them, Spreading out the nations, and He quieteth them.

24 Turning aside the heart Of the heads of the people of the land, And he causeth them to wander In vacancy -- no way!

25 They feel darkness, and not light, He causeth them to wander as a drunkard.

13 Lo, all -- hath mine eye seen, Heard hath mine ear, and it attendeth to it.

According to your knowledge I have known -- also I. I am not fallen more than you.

Yet I for the Mighty One do speak, And to argue for God I delight.

And yet, ye [are] forgers of falsehood, Physicians of nought -- all of you,

O that ye would keep perfectly silent, And it would be to you for wisdom.

Hear, I pray you, my argument, And to the pleadings of my lips attend,

For God do ye speak perverseness? And for Him do ye speak deceit?

His face do ye accept, if for God ye strive?

Is [it] good that He doth search you, If, as one mocketh at a man, ye mock at Him?

10 He doth surely reprove you, if in secret ye accept faces.

11 Doth not His excellency terrify you? And His dread fall upon you?

12 Your remembrances [are] similes of ashes, For high places of clay your heights.

13 Keep silent from me, and I speak, And pass over me doth what?

14 Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth? And my soul put in my hand?

15 Lo, He doth slay me -- I wait not! Only, my ways unto His face I argue.

16 Also -- He [is] to me for salvation, For the profane cometh not before Him.

17 Hear ye diligently my word, And my declaration with your ears.

18 Lo, I pray you, I have set in order the cause, I have known that I am righteous.

19 Who [is] he that doth strive with me? For now I keep silent and gasp.

20 Only two things, O God, do with me: Then from Thy face I am not hidden.

21 Thy hand put far off from me, And Thy terror let not terrify me.

22 And call Thou, and I -- I answer, Or -- I speak, and answer Thou me.

23 How many iniquities and sins have I? My transgression and my sin let me know.

24 Why dost Thou hide Thy face? And reckonest me for an enemy to Thee?

25 A leaf driven away dost Thou terrify? And the dry stubble dost Thou pursue?

26 For Thou writest against me bitter things, And causest me to possess iniquities of my youth:

27 And puttest in the stocks my feet, And observest all my paths, On the roots of my feet Thou settest a print,

28 And he, as a rotten thing, weareth away, As a garment hath a moth consumed him.

10 “I loathe my very life;(A)
    therefore I will give free rein to my complaint
    and speak out in the bitterness of my soul.(B)
I say to God:(C) Do not declare me guilty,
    but tell me what charges(D) you have against me.(E)
Does it please you to oppress me,(F)
    to spurn the work of your hands,(G)
    while you smile on the plans of the wicked?(H)
Do you have eyes of flesh?
    Do you see as a mortal sees?(I)
Are your days like those of a mortal
    or your years like those of a strong man,(J)
that you must search out my faults
    and probe after my sin(K)
though you know that I am not guilty(L)
    and that no one can rescue me from your hand?(M)

“Your hands shaped(N) me and made me.
    Will you now turn and destroy me?(O)
Remember that you molded me like clay.(P)
    Will you now turn me to dust again?(Q)
10 Did you not pour me out like milk
    and curdle me like cheese,
11 clothe me with skin and flesh
    and knit me together(R) with bones and sinews?
12 You gave me life(S) and showed me kindness,(T)
    and in your providence(U) watched over(V) my spirit.

13 “But this is what you concealed in your heart,
    and I know that this was in your mind:(W)
14 If I sinned, you would be watching me(X)
    and would not let my offense go unpunished.(Y)
15 If I am guilty(Z)—woe to me!(AA)
    Even if I am innocent, I cannot lift my head,(AB)
for I am full of shame
    and drowned in[a] my affliction.(AC)
16 If I hold my head high, you stalk me like a lion(AD)
    and again display your awesome power against me.(AE)
17 You bring new witnesses against me(AF)
    and increase your anger toward me;(AG)
    your forces come against me wave upon wave.(AH)

18 “Why then did you bring me out of the womb?(AI)
    I wish I had died before any eye saw me.(AJ)
19 If only I had never come into being,
    or had been carried straight from the womb to the grave!(AK)
20 Are not my few days(AL) almost over?(AM)
    Turn away from me(AN) so I can have a moment’s joy(AO)
21 before I go to the place of no return,(AP)
    to the land of gloom and utter darkness,(AQ)
22 to the land of deepest night,
    of utter darkness(AR) and disorder,
    where even the light is like darkness.”(AS)

Zophar

11 Then Zophar the Naamathite(AT) replied:

“Are all these words to go unanswered?(AU)
    Is this talker to be vindicated?(AV)
Will your idle talk(AW) reduce others to silence?
    Will no one rebuke you when you mock?(AX)
You say to God, ‘My beliefs are flawless(AY)
    and I am pure(AZ) in your sight.’
Oh, how I wish that God would speak,(BA)
    that he would open his lips against you
and disclose to you the secrets of wisdom,(BB)
    for true wisdom has two sides.
    Know this: God has even forgotten some of your sin.(BC)

“Can you fathom(BD) the mysteries of God?
    Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?
They are higher(BE) than the heavens(BF) above—what can you do?
    They are deeper than the depths below(BG)—what can you know?(BH)
Their measure(BI) is longer than the earth
    and wider than the sea.(BJ)

10 “If he comes along and confines you in prison
    and convenes a court, who can oppose him?(BK)
11 Surely he recognizes deceivers;
    and when he sees evil, does he not take note?(BL)
12 But the witless can no more become wise
    than a wild donkey’s colt(BM) can be born human.[b](BN)

13 “Yet if you devote your heart(BO) to him
    and stretch out your hands(BP) to him,(BQ)
14 if you put away(BR) the sin that is in your hand
    and allow no evil(BS) to dwell in your tent,(BT)
15 then, free of fault, you will lift up your face;(BU)
    you will stand firm(BV) and without fear.(BW)
16 You will surely forget your trouble,(BX)
    recalling it only as waters gone by.(BY)
17 Life will be brighter than noonday,(BZ)
    and darkness will become like morning.(CA)
18 You will be secure, because there is hope;
    you will look about you and take your rest(CB) in safety.(CC)
19 You will lie down, with no one to make you afraid,(CD)
    and many will court your favor.(CE)
20 But the eyes of the wicked will fail,(CF)
    and escape will elude them;(CG)
    their hope will become a dying gasp.”(CH)

Job

12 Then Job replied:

“Doubtless you are the only people who matter,
    and wisdom will die with you!(CI)
But I have a mind as well as you;
    I am not inferior to you.
    Who does not know all these things?(CJ)

“I have become a laughingstock(CK) to my friends,(CL)
    though I called on God and he answered(CM)
    a mere laughingstock, though righteous and blameless!(CN)
Those who are at ease have contempt(CO) for misfortune
    as the fate of those whose feet are slipping.(CP)
The tents of marauders are undisturbed,(CQ)
    and those who provoke God are secure(CR)
    those God has in his hand.[c]

“But ask the animals, and they will teach you,(CS)
    or the birds in the sky,(CT) and they will tell you;(CU)
or speak to the earth, and it will teach you,
    or let the fish in the sea inform you.
Which of all these does not know(CV)
    that the hand of the Lord has done this?(CW)
10 In his hand is the life(CX) of every creature
    and the breath of all mankind.(CY)
11 Does not the ear test words
    as the tongue tastes food?(CZ)
12 Is not wisdom found among the aged?(DA)
    Does not long life bring understanding?(DB)

13 “To God belong wisdom(DC) and power;(DD)
    counsel and understanding are his.(DE)
14 What he tears down(DF) cannot be rebuilt;(DG)
    those he imprisons cannot be released.(DH)
15 If he holds back the waters,(DI) there is drought;(DJ)
    if he lets them loose, they devastate the land.(DK)
16 To him belong strength and insight;(DL)
    both deceived and deceiver are his.(DM)
17 He leads rulers away stripped(DN)
    and makes fools of judges.(DO)
18 He takes off the shackles(DP) put on by kings
    and ties a loincloth[d] around their waist.(DQ)
19 He leads priests away stripped(DR)
    and overthrows officials long established.(DS)
20 He silences the lips of trusted advisers
    and takes away the discernment of elders.(DT)
21 He pours contempt on nobles(DU)
    and disarms the mighty.(DV)
22 He reveals the deep things of darkness(DW)
    and brings utter darkness(DX) into the light.(DY)
23 He makes nations great, and destroys them;(DZ)
    he enlarges nations,(EA) and disperses them.(EB)
24 He deprives the leaders of the earth of their reason;(EC)
    he makes them wander in a trackless waste.(ED)
25 They grope in darkness with no light;(EE)
    he makes them stagger like drunkards.(EF)

13 “My eyes have seen all this,(EG)
    my ears have heard and understood it.
What you know, I also know;
    I am not inferior to you.(EH)
But I desire to speak to the Almighty(EI)
    and to argue my case with God.(EJ)
You, however, smear me with lies;(EK)
    you are worthless physicians,(EL) all of you!(EM)
If only you would be altogether silent!(EN)
    For you, that would be wisdom.(EO)
Hear now my argument;
    listen to the pleas of my lips.(EP)
Will you speak wickedly on God’s behalf?
    Will you speak deceitfully for him?(EQ)
Will you show him partiality?(ER)
    Will you argue the case for God?
Would it turn out well if he examined you?(ES)
    Could you deceive him as you might deceive a mortal?(ET)
10 He would surely call you to account
    if you secretly showed partiality.(EU)
11 Would not his splendor(EV) terrify you?
    Would not the dread of him fall on you?(EW)
12 Your maxims are proverbs of ashes;
    your defenses are defenses of clay.(EX)

13 “Keep silent(EY) and let me speak;(EZ)
    then let come to me what may.(FA)
14 Why do I put myself in jeopardy
    and take my life in my hands?(FB)
15 Though he slay me, yet will I hope(FC) in him;(FD)
    I will surely[e] defend my ways to his face.(FE)
16 Indeed, this will turn out for my deliverance,(FF)
    for no godless(FG) person would dare come before him!(FH)
17 Listen carefully to what I say;(FI)
    let my words ring in your ears.
18 Now that I have prepared my case,(FJ)
    I know I will be vindicated.(FK)
19 Can anyone bring charges against me?(FL)
    If so, I will be silent(FM) and die.(FN)

20 “Only grant me these two things, God,
    and then I will not hide from you:
21 Withdraw your hand(FO) far from me,
    and stop frightening me with your terrors.(FP)
22 Then summon me and I will answer,(FQ)
    or let me speak, and you reply to me.(FR)
23 How many wrongs and sins have I committed?(FS)
    Show me my offense and my sin.(FT)
24 Why do you hide your face(FU)
    and consider me your enemy?(FV)
25 Will you torment(FW) a windblown leaf?(FX)
    Will you chase(FY) after dry chaff?(FZ)
26 For you write down bitter things against me
    and make me reap the sins of my youth.(GA)
27 You fasten my feet in shackles;(GB)
    you keep close watch on all my paths(GC)
    by putting marks on the soles of my feet.

28 “So man wastes away like something rotten,
    like a garment(GD) eaten by moths.(GE)

Footnotes

  1. Job 10:15 Or and aware of
  2. Job 11:12 Or wild donkey can be born tame
  3. Job 12:6 Or those whose god is in their own hand
  4. Job 12:18 Or shackles of kings / and ties a belt
  5. Job 13:15 Or He will surely slay me; I have no hope — / yet I will