But

“Very well,” said the LORD to Satan. “He is in your hands, but you must spare his life.”

Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights, but no one spoke a word to him because they saw how intense his suffering was.

But now trouble has come upon you, and you are weary. It strikes you, and you are dismayed.

It stood still, but I could not discern its appearance; a form loomed before my eyes, and I heard a whispering voice:

“Call out if you please, but who will answer? To which of the holy ones will you turn?

I have seen a fool taking root, but suddenly his house was cursed.

For He wounds, but He also binds; He strikes, but His hands also heal.

For He wounds, but He also binds; He strikes, but His hands also heal.

But my brothers are as faithless as wadis, as seasonal streams that overflow,

…but ceasing in the dry season and vanishing from their channels in the heat.

How painful are honest words! But what does your argument prove?

But now, please look at me. Would I lie to your face?

When I lie down I think: ‘When will I get up?’ But the night drags on, and I toss and turn until dawn.

Remember that my life is but a breath. My eyes will never again see happiness.

The eye that beholds me will no longer see me. You will look for me, but I will be no more.

I loathe my life! I would not live forever. Leave me alone, for my days are but a breath.

Why do You not pardon my transgression and take away my iniquity? For soon I will lie down in the dust; You will seek me, but I will be no more.”

But if you would earnestly seek God and ask the Almighty for mercy,

For we were born yesterday and know nothing; our days on earth are but a shadow.

He leans on his web, but it gives way; he holds fast, but it does not endure.

He leans on his web, but it gives way; he holds fast, but it does not endure.

“Yes, I know that it is so, but how can a mortal be righteous before God?

He does not let me catch my breath, but overwhelms me with bitterness.

Then I would speak without fear of Him. But as it is, I am on my own.

If only I had never come to be, but had been carried from the womb to the grave.

But if only God would speak and open His lips against you,

But a witless man can no more become wise than the colt of a wild donkey can be born a man!

But the eyes of the wicked will fail, and escape will elude them; they will hope for their last breath.”

But I also have a mind; I am not inferior to you. Who does not know such things as these?

But ask the animals, and they will instruct you; ask the birds of the air, and they will tell you.

But a man dies and is laid low; he breathes his last, and where is he?

For then You would count my steps, but would not keep track of my sin.

But as a mountain erodes and crumbles and a rock is dislodged from its place,

But you even undermine the fear of God and hinder meditation before Him.

But I would encourage you with my mouth, and the consolation of my lips would bring relief.

I was at ease, but He shattered me; He seized me by the neck and crushed me. He has set me up as His target;

My eyes have grown dim with grief, and my whole body is but a shadow.

But come back and try again, all of you. For I will not find a wise man among you.

I call for my servant, but he does not answer, though I implore him with my own mouth.

But I know that my Redeemer lives, and in the end He will stand upon the earth.

He swallows wealth but vomits it out; God will force it from his stomach.

But together they lie down in the dust, and worms cover them both.

But it was He who filled their houses with good things; so I stay far from the counsel of the wicked.

But He is unchangeable, and who can oppose Him? He does what He desires.

Without clothing, they wander about naked. They carry the sheaves, but still go hungry.

They crush olives within their walls; they tread the winepresses, but go thirsty.

They are but foam on the surface of the water; their portion of the land is cursed, so that no one turns toward their vineyards.

He gives them a sense of security, but His eyes are on their ways.

…how much less man, who is but a maggot, and the son of man, who is but a worm!”

…how much less man, who is but a maggot, and the son of man, who is but a worm!”

Indeed, these are but the fringes of His ways; how faint is the whisper we hear of Him! Who then can understand the thunder of His power?”

He lies down wealthy, but will do so no more; when he opens his eyes, all is gone.

Food may come from the earth, but from below it is transformed as by fire.

But where can wisdom be found, and where does understanding dwell?

But God understands its way, and He knows its place.

“But now they mock me, men younger than I am, whose fathers I would have refused to put with my sheep dogs.

I cry out to You for help, but You do not answer; when I stand up, You merely look at me.

But when I hoped for good, evil came; when I looked for light, darkness fell.

I go about blackened, but not by the sun. I stand up in the assembly and cry for help.

…but no stranger had to lodge on the street, for my door has been open to the traveler—

But when he saw that the three men had no further reply, his anger was kindled.

But there is a spirit in a man, the breath of the Almighty, that gives him understanding.

I paid you full attention. But no one proved Job wrong; not one of you rebutted his arguments.

But Job has not directed his words against me, and I will not answer him with your arguments.

“But now, O Job, hear my speech, and listen to all my words.

But if you have something to say, answer me; speak up, for I would like to vindicate you.

But if not, then listen to me; be quiet, and I will teach you wisdom.”

But when He remains silent, who can condemn Him? When He hides His face, who can see Him? Yet He watches over both man and nation,

But no one asks, ‘Where is God my Maker, who gives us songs in the night,

There they cry out, but He does not answer, because of the pride of evil men.

Indeed, God is mighty, but He despises no one; He is mighty in strength of understanding.

He does not keep the wicked alive, but He grants justice to the afflicted.

He does not take His eyes off the righteous, but He enthrones them with kings and exalts them forever.

But if they do not obey, then they perish by the sword and die without knowledge.

But now you are laden with the judgment due the wicked; judgment and justice have seized you.

…and I declared: ‘You may come this far, but no farther; here your proud waves must stop’?

The wings of the ostrich flap joyfully, but cannot match the pinions and feathers of the stork.

I have spoken once, but I have no answer—twice, but I have nothing to add.”

I have spoken once, but I have no answer—twice, but I have nothing to add.”

My ears had heard of You, but now my eyes have seen You.

But his delight is in the Law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night.

For the LORD guards the path of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

But You, O LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, and the One who lifts my head.

But I will enter Your house by the abundance of Your loving devotion; in reverence I will bow down toward Your holy temple.

But let all who take refuge in You rejoice; let them ever shout for joy. May You shelter them, that those who love Your name may rejoice in You.

Put an end to the evil of the wicked, but establish the righteous, O righteous God who searches hearts and minds.

But the LORD abides forever; He has established His throne for judgment.

Lay terror upon them, O LORD; let the nations know they are but men. Selah

But You have regarded trouble and grief; You see to repay it by Your hand. The victim entrusts himself to You; You are the helper of the fatherless.

But I have trusted in Your loving devotion; my heart will rejoice in Your salvation.

…who despises the vile but honors those who fear the LORD, who does not revise a costly oath,

They confronted me in my day of calamity, but the LORD was my support.

…to the pure You show Yourself pure, but to the crooked You show Yourself shrewd.

For You save an afflicted people, but You humble those with haughty eyes.

They cried for help, but there was no one to save them—to the LORD, but He did not answer.

They cried for help, but there was no one to save them—to the LORD, but He did not answer.

Some trust in chariots and others in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.

They collapse and fall, but we rise up and stand firm.

I cry out by day, O my God, but You do not answer, and by night, but I have no rest.

I cry out by day, O my God, but You do not answer, and by night, but I have no rest.