Day 235 of 730

¹"However, Job, Please hear my speech, and listen to all my words.

²See now, I have opened my mouth. My tongue has spoken in my mouth.

³My words shall utter the uprightness of my heart. That which my lips know they shall speak sincerely.

⁴The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.

⁵If you can, answer me. Set your words in order before me, and stand forth.

⁶Behold, I am toward God even as you are. I am also formed out of the clay.

⁷Behold, my terror shall not make you afraid, neither shall my pressure be heavy on you.

⁸"Surely you have spoken in my hearing, I have heard the voice of your words, saying,

⁹'I am clean, without disobedience. I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me.

¹⁰Behold, he finds occasions against me. He counts me for his enemy.

¹¹He puts my feet in the stocks. He marks all my paths.'

¹²"Behold, I will answer you. In this you are not just, for God is greater than man.

¹³Why do you strive against him, because he doesn't give account of any of his matters?

¹⁴For God speaks once, yes twice, though man pays no attention.

¹⁵In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, in slumbering on the bed;

¹⁶Then he opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction,

¹⁷That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.

¹⁸He keeps back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.

¹⁹He is chastened also with pain on his bed, with continual strife in his bones;

²⁰So that his life abhors bread, and his soul dainty food.

²¹His flesh is so consumed away, that it can't be seen. His bones that were not seen stick out.

²²Yes, his soul draws near to the pit, and his life to the destroyers.

²³"If there is beside him an angel, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show to man what is right for him;

²⁴then God is gracious to him, and says, 'Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom.'

²⁵His flesh shall be fresher than a child's. He returns to the days of his youth.

²⁶He prays to God, and he is favorable to him, so that he sees his face with joy. He restores to man his righteousness.

²⁷He sings before men, and says, 'I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it did not profit me.

²⁸He has redeemed my soul from going into the pit. My life shall see the light.'

²⁹"Behold, God works all these things, twice, yes three times, with a man,

³⁰to bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of the living.

³¹Mark well, Job, and listen to me. Hold your peace, and I will speak.

³²If you have anything to say, answer me. Speak, for I desire to justify you.

³³If not, listen to me. Hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom."

¹Moreover Elihu answered,

²"Hear my words, you wise men. Give ear to me, you who have knowledge.

³For the ear tries words, as the palate tastes food.

⁴Let us choose for us that which is right. Let us know among ourselves what is good.

⁵For Job has said, 'I am righteous, God has taken away my right:

⁶Notwithstanding my right I am considered a liar. My wound is incurable, though I am without disobedience.'

⁷What man is like Job, who drinks scorn like water,

⁸Who goes in company with the workers of iniquity, and walks with wicked men?

⁹For he has said, 'It profits a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.'

¹⁰"Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness, from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.

¹¹For the work of a man he will render to him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.

¹²Yes surely, God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert justice.

¹³Who put him in charge of the earth? or who has appointed him over the whole world?

¹⁴If he set his heart on himself, If he gathered to himself his spirit and his breath,

¹⁵all flesh would perish together, and man would turn again to dust.

¹⁶"If now you have understanding, hear this. Listen to the voice of my words.

¹⁷Shall even one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty?-

¹⁸Who says to a king, 'Vile!' or to nobles, 'Wicked!'?

¹⁹Who doesn't respect the persons of princes, nor regards the rich more than the poor; for they all are the work of his hands.

²⁰In a moment they die, even at midnight. The people are shaken and pass away. The mighty are taken away without a hand.

²¹"For his eyes are on the ways of a man. He sees all his goings.

²²There is no darkness, nor thick gloom, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.

²³For he doesn't need to consider a man further, that he should go before God in judgment.

²⁴He breaks in pieces mighty men in ways past finding out, and sets others in their place.

²⁵Therefore he takes knowledge of their works. He overturns them in the night, so that they are destroyed.

²⁶He strikes them as wicked men in the open sight of others;

²⁷because they turned aside from following him, and wouldn't pay attention to any of his ways,

²⁸so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him. He heard the cry of the afflicted.

²⁹When he gives quietness, who then can condemn? When he hides his face, who then can see him? Alike whether to a nation, or to a man,

³⁰that the godless man may not reign, that there be no one to ensnare the people.

³¹"For has any said to God, 'I am guilty, but I will not offend any more.

³²Teach me that which I do not see. If I have done iniquity, I will do it no more'?

³³Shall his recompense be as you desire, that you refuse it? For you must choose, and not I. Therefore speak what you know.

³⁴Men of understanding will tell me, yes, every wise man who hears me:

³⁵'Job speaks without knowledge. His words are without wisdom.'

³⁶I wish that Job were tried to the end, because of his answering like wicked men.

³⁷For he adds rebellion to his sin. He claps his hands among us, and multiplies his words against God."

¹Lord, you have been favorable to your land. You have restored the fortunes of Jacob.

²You have forgiven the iniquity of your people. You have covered all their sin. Selah.

³You have taken away all your wrath. You have turned from the fierceness of your anger.

⁴Turn us, God of our salvation, and cause your indignation toward us to cease.

⁵Will you be angry with us forever? Will you draw out your anger to all generations?

⁶Won't you revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?

⁷Show us your loving kindness, Lord. Grant us your salvation.

⁸I will hear what God, the Lord, will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, his holy ones; but let them not turn again to folly.

⁹Surely his salvation is near those who fear him, that glory may dwell in our land.

¹⁰Mercy and truth meet together. Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

¹¹Truth springs out of the earth. Righteousness has looked down from heaven.

¹²Yes, the Lord will give that which is good. Our land will yield its increase.

¹³Righteousness goes before him, And prepares the way for his steps.

¹An unfriendly man pursues selfishness, and defies all sound judgment.

²A fool has no delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own opinion.

³When wickedness comes, contempt also comes, and with shame comes disgrace.

⁴The words of a man's mouth are like deep waters. The fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook.

⁵To be partial to the faces of the wicked is not good, nor to deprive the innocent of justice.

⁶A fool's lips come into strife, and his mouth invites beatings.

⁷A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are a snare to his soul.

⁸The words of a gossip are like dainty morsels: they go down into a person's innermost parts.

⁹One who is slack in his work is brother to him who is a master of destruction.

¹⁰The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous run to him, and are safe.

¹¹The rich man's wealth is his strong city, like an unscalable wall in his own imagination.

¹²Before destruction the heart of man is proud, but before honor is humility.

¹³He who gives answer before he hears, that is folly and shame to him.

¹⁴A man's spirit will sustain him in sickness, but a crushed spirit, who can bear?

¹⁵The heart of the discerning gets knowledge. The ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

¹⁶A man's gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.

¹⁷He who pleads his cause first seems right; until another comes and questions him.

¹⁸The lot settles disputes, and keeps strong ones apart.

¹⁹A brother offended is more difficult than a fortified city; and disputes are like the bars of a castle.

²⁰A man's stomach is filled with the fruit of his mouth. With the harvest of his lips he is satisfied.

²¹Death and life are in the power of the tongue; those who love it will eat its fruit.

²²Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor of the Lord.

²³The poor plead for mercy, but the rich answer harshly.

²⁴A man of many companions may be ruined, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.