God

Did not your forefathers do the same things, so that our God brought all this disaster on us and on this city? And now you are rekindling His wrath against Israel by profaning the Sabbath!”

Then I instructed the Levites to purify themselves and guard the gates in order to keep the Sabbath day holy. Remember me for this as well, O my God, and show me mercy according to Your abundant loving devotion.

I rebuked them and called down curses on them. I beat some of these men and pulled out their hair. Then I made them take an oath before God and said, “You must not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or take their daughters as wives for your sons or for yourselves!

Did not King Solomon of Israel sin in matters like this? There was not a king like him among many nations, and he was loved by his God, who made him king over all Israel—yet foreign women drew him into sin.

Must we now hear that you too are doing all this terrible evil and acting unfaithfully against our God by marrying foreign women?”

Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and of the Levites.

I also arranged for contributions of wood at the appointed times, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, with favor.

There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job. And this man was blameless and upright, fearing God and shunning evil.

And when the days of feasting were over, Job would send for his children to purify them, rising early in the morning to offer burnt offerings for all of them. For Job thought, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular practice.

One day the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them.

Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one on earth like him, a man who is blameless and upright, who fears God and shuns evil.”

Satan answered the LORD, “Does Job fear God for nothing?

While he was still speaking, another messenger came and reported: “The fire of God fell from heaven. It burned and consumed the sheep and the servants, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

In all this, Job did not sin or charge God with wrongdoing.

On another day the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them to present himself before Him.

Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one on earth like him, a man who is blameless and upright, who fears God and shuns evil. He still retains his integrity, even though you incited Me against him to ruin him without cause.”

Then Job’s wife said to him, “Do you still retain your integrity? Curse God and die!”

“You speak as a foolish woman speaks,” he told her. “Should we accept from God only good and not adversity?” In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.

If only that day had turned to darkness! May God above disregard it; may no light shine upon it.

Why is life given to a man whose way is hidden, whom God has hedged in?

By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast of His anger they are consumed.

‘Can a mortal be more righteous than God, or a man more pure than his Maker?

If God puts no trust in His servants, and He charges His angels with error,

However, if I were you, I would appeal to God and lay my cause before Him—

Blessed indeed is the man whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.

For the arrows of the Almighty have pierced me; my spirit drinks in their poison; the terrors of God are arrayed against me.

If only my request were granted and God would fulfill my hope:

…that God would be willing to crush me, to unleash His hand and cut me off!

Does God pervert justice? Does the Almighty pervert what is right?

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

Such is the destiny of all who forget God; so the hope of the godless will perish.

Behold, God does not reject the blameless, nor will He strengthen the hand of evildoers.

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

If one wished to contend with God, he could not answer Him one time out of a thousand.

God is wise in heart and mighty in strength. Who has resisted Him and prospered?

God does not restrain His anger; the helpers of Rahab cower beneath Him.

I will say to God: Do not condemn me! Let me know why You prosecute me.

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

…and disclose to you the secrets of wisdom, for true wisdom has two sides. Know then that God exacts from you less than your iniquity deserves.

Can you fathom the deep things of God or discover the limits of the Almighty?

I am a laughingstock to my friends, though I called on God, and He answered. The righteous and upright man is a laughingstock.

The tents of robbers are safe, and those who provoke God are secure—those who carry their god in their hands.

The tents of robbers are safe, and those who provoke God are secure—those who carry their god in their hands.

Wisdom and strength belong to God; counsel and understanding are His.

Yet I desire to speak to the Almighty and argue my case before God.

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

Do you listen in on the council of God or limit wisdom to yourself?

Are the consolations of God not enough for you, even words spoken gently to you?

…so that you turn your spirit against God and pour such words from your mouth?

If God puts no trust in His holy ones, if even the heavens are not pure in His eyes,

For he has stretched out his hand against God and has vaunted himself against the Almighty,

God has delivered me to unjust men; He has thrown me to the clutches of the wicked.

My friends are my scoffers as my eyes pour out tears to God.

Oh, that a man might plead with God as he pleads with his neighbor!

Surely such is the dwelling of the wicked and the place of one who does not know God.”

…then understand that it is God who has wronged me and drawn His net around me.

Have pity on me, my friends, have pity, for the hand of God has struck me.

Why do you persecute me as God does? Will you never get enough of my flesh?

Even after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God.

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

When he has filled his stomach, God will vent His fury upon him, raining it down on him as he eats.

This is the wicked man’s portion from God, the inheritance God has appointed him.”

This is the wicked man’s portion from God, the inheritance God has appointed him.”

Their homes are safe from fear; no rod of punishment from God is upon them.

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

How often is the lamp of the wicked put out? Does disaster come upon them? Does God, in His anger, apportion destruction?

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

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

Can anyone teach knowledge to God, since He judges those on high?

“Can a man be of use to God? Can even a wise man benefit Him?

Is not God as high as the heavens? Look at the highest stars, how lofty they are!

Yet you say: ‘What does God know? Does He judge through thick darkness?

They said to God, ‘Depart from us. What can the Almighty do to us?’

Surely then you will delight in the Almighty and lift up your face to God.

God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me.

From the city, men groan, and the souls of the wounded cry out, yet God charges no one with wrongdoing.

Yet by His power, God drags away the mighty; though rising up, they have no assurance of life.

“Dominion and awe belong to God; He establishes harmony in the heights of heaven.

How then can a man be just before God? How can one born of woman be pure?

Sheol is naked before God, and Abaddon has no covering.

“As surely as God lives, who has deprived me of justice—the Almighty, who has embittered my soul—

…as long as my breath is still within me and the breath of God remains in my nostrils,

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

Will God hear his cry when distress comes upon him?

Will he delight in the Almighty? Will he call upon God at all times?

I will instruct you in the power of God. I will not conceal the ways of the Almighty.

This is the wicked man’s portion from God—the heritage the ruthless receive from the Almighty.

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

When God fixed the weight of the wind and measured out the waters,

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

…when I was in my prime, when the friendship of God rested on my tent,

Because God has unstrung my bow and afflicted me, they have cast off restraint in my presence.

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

…let God weigh me with honest scales, that He may know my integrity.

…what will I do when God rises to judge? How will I answer when called to account?

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.

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,

So do not claim, ‘We have found wisdom; let God, not man, refute him.’

The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.