Me

…when the Almighty was still with me and my children were around me,

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

…the young men saw me and withdrew, and the old men rose to their feet.

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

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

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

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.

I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; justice was my robe and my turban.

My glory is ever new within me, and my bow is renewed in my hand.’

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.

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

What use to me was the strength of their hands, since their vigor had left them?

And now they mock me in song; I have become a byword among them.

They abhor me and keep far from me; they do not hesitate to spit in my face.

They abhor me and keep far from me; they do not hesitate to spit in my face.

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

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

Terrors are turned loose against me; they drive away my dignity as by the wind, and my prosperity has passed like a cloud.

And now my soul is poured out within me; days of affliction grip me.

And now my soul is poured out within me; days of affliction grip me.

With great force He grasps my garment; He seizes me by the collar of my tunic.

He throws me into the mud, and I have become like dust and ashes.

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

You have ruthlessly turned on me; You oppose me with Your strong hand.

You have ruthlessly turned on me; You oppose me with Your strong hand.

You snatch me up into the wind and drive me before it; You toss me about in the storm.

You snatch me up into the wind and drive me before it; You toss me about in the storm.

You snatch me up into the wind and drive me before it; You toss me about in the storm.

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

I am churning within and cannot rest; days of affliction confront me.

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

If I have rejected the cause of my manservant or maidservant when they made a complaint against me,

Did not He who made me in the womb also make them? Did not the same One form us in the womb?

…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.

…because I greatly feared the crowds and the contempt of the clans terrified me, so that I kept silent and would not go outside—

(Oh, that I had one to hear me! Here is my signature. Let the Almighty answer me; let my accuser compose an indictment.

(Oh, that I had one to hear me! Here is my signature. Let the Almighty answer me; let my accuser compose an indictment.

…if my land cries out against me and its furrows weep together,

Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me; I too will declare what I know.’

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

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

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.

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

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

Refute me if you can; prepare your case and confront me.

Refute me if you can; prepare your case and confront me.

Surely no fear of me should terrify you; nor will my hand be heavy upon you.

‘I am pure, without transgression; I am clean, with no iniquity in me.

Yet God finds occasions against me; He counts me as His enemy.

Yet God finds occasions against me; He counts me as His enemy.

Pay attention, Job, and listen to me; be silent, and I will speak.

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.”

“Hear my words, O wise men; give ear to me, O men of learning.

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

Therefore listen to me, O men of understanding. Far be it from God to do wrong, and from the Almighty to act unjustly.

Teach me what I cannot see; if I have done wrong, I will not do it again.’

Should God repay you on your own terms when you have disavowed Him? You must choose, not I; so tell me what you know.

Men of understanding will declare to me, and the wise men who hear me will say:

Men of understanding will declare to me, and the wise men who hear me will say:

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

“Bear with me a little longer, and I will show you that there is more to be said on God’s behalf.

Now brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall inform Me.

Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding.

Have you surveyed the extent of the earth? Tell Me, if you know all this.

“Now brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall inform Me.

Would you really annul My justice? Would you condemn Me to justify yourself?

No one is so fierce as to rouse Leviathan. Then who is able to stand against Me?

Who has given to Me that I should repay him? Everything under heaven is Mine.

You asked, ‘Who is this who conceals My counsel without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.

You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak. I will question you, and you shall inform Me.’

After the LORD had spoken these words to Job, He said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My wrath is kindled against you and your two friends. For you have not spoken about Me accurately, as My servant Job has.

So now, take seven bulls and seven rams, go to My servant Job, and sacrifice a burnt offering for yourselves. Then My servant Job will pray for you, for I will accept his prayer and not deal with you according to your folly. For you have not spoken accurately about Me, as My servant Job has.”

I will proclaim the decree spoken to Me by the LORD: “You are My Son; today I have become Your Father.

Ask Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance, the ends of the earth Your possession.

A Psalm of David, when he fled from his son Absalom. O LORD, how my foes have increased! How many rise up against me!

Many say of me, “God will not deliver him.” Selah

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

To the LORD I cry aloud, and He answers me from His holy mountain. Selah

I lie down and sleep; I wake again, for the LORD sustains me.

I will not fear the myriads set against me on every side.

Arise, O LORD! Save me, O my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked.

For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments. A Psalm of David. Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved my distress; show me grace and hear my prayer.

For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments. A Psalm of David. Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved my distress; show me grace and hear my prayer.

I will lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.

Lead me, O LORD, in Your righteousness because of my enemies; make straight Your way before me.

Lead me, O LORD, in Your righteousness because of my enemies; make straight Your way before me.

For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments, according to Sheminith. A Psalm of David. O LORD, do not rebuke me in Your anger or discipline me in Your wrath.

For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments, according to Sheminith. A Psalm of David. O LORD, do not rebuke me in Your anger or discipline me in Your wrath.

Be merciful to me, O LORD, for I am frail; heal me, O LORD, for my bones are in agony.

Be merciful to me, O LORD, for I am frail; heal me, O LORD, for my bones are in agony.

Turn, O LORD, and deliver my soul; save me because of Your loving devotion.

Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity, for the LORD has heard my weeping.

A Shiggaion of David, which he sang to the LORD concerning the words of Cush, a Benjamite. O LORD my God, I take refuge in You; save me and deliver me from all my pursuers,

A Shiggaion of David, which he sang to the LORD concerning the words of Cush, a Benjamite. O LORD my God, I take refuge in You; save me and deliver me from all my pursuers,

…or they will shred my soul like a lion and tear me to pieces with no one to rescue me.