For

Total darkness is reserved for his treasures. A fire unfanned will consume him and devour what is left in his tent.

Yet they say to God: ‘Leave us alone! For we have no desire to know Your ways.

It is said that God lays up one’s punishment for his children. Let God repay the man himself, so he will know it.

Let his eyes see his own destruction; let him drink for himself the wrath of the Almighty.

For what does he care about his household after him, when the number of his months has run out?

For you say, ‘Where now is the nobleman’s house, and where are the tents in which the wicked dwell?’

Who denounces his behavior to his face? Who repays him for what he has done?

So how can you comfort me with empty words? For your answers remain full of falsehood.”

Is it for your reverence that He rebukes you and enters into judgment against you?

For you needlessly demanded security from your brothers and deprived the naked of their clothing.

…then the Almighty will be your gold and the finest silver for you.

For He carries out His decree against me, and He has many such plans.

“Why does the Almighty not reserve times for judgment? Why may those who know Him never see His days?

Indeed, like wild donkeys in the desert, the poor go to work foraging for food; the wasteland is food for their children.

Indeed, like wild donkeys in the desert, the poor go to work foraging for food; the wasteland is food for their children.

Drenched by mountain rains, they huddle against the rocks for want of shelter.

The fatherless infant is snatched from the breast; the nursing child of the poor is seized for a debt.

The eye of the adulterer watches for twilight. Thinking, ‘No eye will see me,’ he covers his face.

For to them, deep darkness is their morning; surely they are friends with the terrors of darkness!

They are exalted for a moment, then they are gone; they are brought low and gathered up like all others; they are cut off like heads of grain.

For what is the hope of the godless when he is cut off, when God takes away his life?

Surely all of you have seen it for yourselves. Why then do you keep up this empty talk?

Though his sons are many, they are destined for the sword; and his offspring will never have enough food.

His survivors will be buried by the plague, and their widows will not weep for them.

“Surely there is a mine for silver and a place where gold is refined.

Man puts an end to the darkness; he probes the farthest recesses for ore in deepest darkness.

Neither gold nor crystal can compare to it, nor jewels of fine gold be exchanged for it.

For He looks to the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens.

…when He set a limit for the rain and a path for the thunderbolt,

…when He set a limit for the rain and a path for the thunderbolt,

“How I long for the months gone by, for the days when God watched over me,

“How I long for the months gone by, for the days when God watched over me,

…when my steps were bathed in cream and the rock poured out for me streams of oil!

For those who heard me called me blessed, and those who saw me commended me,

The dying man blessed me, and I made the widow’s heart sing for joy.

Men listened to me with expectation, waiting silently for my counsel.

They waited for me as for rain and drank in my words like spring showers.

They waited for me as for rain and drank in my words like spring showers.

The rabble arises at my right; they lay snares for my feet and build siege ramps against me.

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

Yes, I know that You will bring me down to death, to the place appointed for all the living.

Yet no one stretches out his hand against a ruined man when he cries for help in his distress.

Have I not wept for those in trouble? Has my soul not grieved for the needy?

Have I not wept for those in trouble? Has my soul not grieved for the needy?

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

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.

For what is the allotment of God from above, or the heritage from the Almighty on high?

…then may my own wife grind grain for another, and may other men sleep with her.

For that would be a heinous crime, an iniquity to be judged.

For it is a fire that burns down to Abaddon; it would root out my entire harvest.

…if I have seen one perish for lack of clothing, or a needy man without a cloak,

…if his heart has not blessed me for warming him with the fleece of my sheep,

For calamity from God terrifies me, and His splendor I cannot overpower.

…this would also be an iniquity to be judged, for I would have denied God on high.

I have not allowed my mouth to sin by asking for his life with a curse—

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

This kindled the anger of Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram. He burned with anger against Job for justifying himself rather than God,

Indeed, I waited while you spoke; I listened to your reasoning; as you searched for words,

For I am full of words, and my spirit within me compels me.

For I do not know how to flatter, or my Maker would remove me in an instant.

Behold, you are not right in this matter. I will answer you, for God is greater than man.

For God speaks in one way and in another, yet no one notices.

Yet if there is a messenger on his side, one mediator in a thousand, to tell a man what is right for him,

He prays to God and finds favor; he sees God’s face and shouts for joy, and God restores His righteousness to that man.

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

For the ear tests words as the mouth tastes food.

Let us choose for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good.

For Job has declared, ‘I am righteous, yet God has deprived me of justice.

For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing that he should delight in God.’

For according to a man’s deeds He repays him; according to a man’s ways He brings consequences.

…who is not partial to princes and does not favor rich over poor? For they are all the work of His hands.

For His eyes are on the ways of a man, and He sees his every step.

For God need not examine a man further or have him approach for judgment.

For God need not examine a man further or have him approach for judgment.

He strikes them for their wickedness in full view,

…because they turned aside from Him and had no regard for any of His ways.

…that godless men should not rule or lay snares for the people.

If only Job were tried to the utmost for answering like a wicked man.

For he adds rebellion to his sin; he claps his hands among us and multiplies his words against God.”

For you ask, ‘What does it profit me, and what benefit do I gain apart from sin?’

Men cry out under great oppression; they plead for relief from the arm of the mighty.

How much less, then, when you say that you do not see Him, that your case is before Him and you must wait for Him,

For truly my words are free of falsehood; one perfect in knowledge is with you.

The godless in heart harbor resentment; even when He binds them, they do not cry for help.

Do not long for the night, when people vanish from their homes.

Be careful not to turn to iniquity, for this you have preferred to affliction.

Who has appointed His way for Him, or told Him, ‘You have done wrong’?

For He draws up drops of water which distill the rain from the mist,

For by these He judges the nations and provides food in abundance.

For He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the gentle rain, ‘Pour out a mighty downpour.’

Whether for punishment or for His land, He accomplishes this in His loving devotion.

Whether for punishment or for His land, He accomplishes this in His loving devotion.

Therefore, men fear Him, for He is not partial to the wise in heart.”

…while the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

Surely you know, for you were already born! And the number of your days is great!

…which I hold in reserve for times of trouble, for the day of war and battle?

…which I hold in reserve for times of trouble, for the day of war and battle?

Who cuts a channel for the flood or clears a path for the thunderbolt,

Who cuts a channel for the flood or clears a path for the thunderbolt,