Job 5-6

“Call now; is there anyone who will answer you?
    To which of the holy ones will you turn?
² Surely vexation kills the fool,
    and jealousy slays the simple.
³ I have seen the fool taking root,
    but suddenly I cursed his dwelling.
⁴ His children are far from safety;
    they are crushed in the gate,
    and there is no one to deliver them.
⁵ The hungry eat his harvest,
    and he takes it even out of thorns,^[a]
    and the thirsty pant^[b] after his^[c] wealth.
⁶ For affliction does not come from the dust,
    nor does trouble sprout from the ground,
⁷ but man is born to trouble
    as the sparks fly upward.

⁸ “As for me, I would seek God,
    and to God would I commit my cause,
⁹ who does great things and unsearchable,
    marvelous things without number:
¹⁰ he gives rain on the earth
    and sends waters on the fields;
¹¹ he sets on high those who are lowly,
    and those who mourn are lifted to safety.
¹² He frustrates the devices of the crafty,
    so that their hands achieve no success.
¹³ He catches the wise in their own craftiness,
    and the schemes of the wily are brought to a quick end.
¹⁴ They meet with darkness in the daytime
    and grope at noonday as in the night.
¹⁵ But he saves the needy from the sword of their mouth
    and from the hand of the mighty.
¹⁶ So the poor have hope,
    and injustice shuts her mouth.

¹⁷ “Behold, blessed is the one whom God reproves;
    therefore despise not the discipline of the Almighty.
¹⁸ For he wounds, but he binds up;
    he shatters, but his hands heal.
¹⁹ He will deliver you from six troubles;
    in seven no evil^[d] shall touch you.
²⁰ In famine he will redeem you from death,
    and in war from the power of the sword.
²¹ You shall be hidden from the lash of the tongue,
    and shall not fear destruction when it comes.
²² At destruction and famine you shall laugh,
    and shall not fear the beasts of the earth.
²³ For you shall be in league with the stones of the field,
    and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with you.
²⁴ You shall know that your tent is at peace,
    and you shall inspect your fold and miss nothing.
²⁵ You shall know also that your offspring shall be many,
    and your descendants as the grass of the earth.
²⁶ You shall come to your grave in ripe old age,
    like a sheaf gathered up in its season.
²⁷ Behold, this we have searched out; it is true.
    Hear, and know it for your good.”^[e]

Job Replies: My Complaint Is Just

6 Then Job answered and said:

² “Oh that my vexation were weighed,
    and all my calamity laid in the balances!
³ For then it would be heavier than the sand of the sea;
    therefore my words have been rash.
⁴ For the arrows of the Almighty are in me;
    my spirit drinks their poison;
    the terrors of God are arrayed against me.
⁵ Does the wild donkey bray when he has grass,
    or the ox low over his fodder?
⁶ Can that which is tasteless be eaten without salt,
    or is there any taste in the juice of the mallow?^[f]
7 My appetite refuses to touch them;
    they are as food that is loathsome to me.^[g]

⁸ “Oh that I might have my request,
    and that God would fulfill my hope,
⁹ that it would please God to crush me,
    that he would let loose his hand and cut me off!
¹⁰ This would be my comfort;
    I would even exult^[h] in pain unsparing,
    for I have not denied the words of the Holy One.
¹¹ What is my strength, that I should wait?
    And what is my end, that I should be patient?
¹² Is my strength the strength of stones, or is my flesh bronze?
¹³ Have I any help in me,
    when resource is driven from me?

¹⁴ “He who withholds^[i] kindness from a friend
    forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
¹⁵ My brothers are treacherous as a torrent-bed,
    as torrential streams that pass away,
¹⁶ which are dark with ice,
    and where the snow hides itself.
¹⁷ When they melt, they disappear;
    when it is hot, they vanish from their place.
¹⁸ The caravans turn aside from their course;
    they go up into the waste and perish.
¹⁹ The caravans of Tema look,
    the travelers of Sheba hope.
²⁰ They are ashamed because they were confident;
    they come there and are disappointed.
²¹ For you have now become nothing;
    you see my calamity and are afraid.
²² Have I said, ‘Make me a gift’?
    Or, ‘From your wealth offer a bribe for me’?
²³ Or, ‘Deliver me from the adversary’s hand’?
    Or, ‘Redeem me from the hand of the ruthless’?

²⁴ “Teach me, and I will be silent;
    make me understand how I have gone astray.
²⁵ How forceful are upright words!
    But what does reproof from you reprove?
²⁶ Do you think that you can reprove words,
    when the speech of a despairing man is wind?
²⁷ You would even cast lots over the fatherless,
    and bargain over your friend.

²⁸ “But now, be pleased to look at me,
    for I will not lie to your face.
²⁹ Please turn; let no injustice be done.
    Turn now; my vindication is at stake.
³⁰ Is there any injustice on my tongue?
    Cannot my palate discern the cause of calamity?

Footnotes

1. Job 5:5 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain
2. Job 5:5 Aquila, Symmachus, Syriac, Vulgate; Hebrew could be read as and the snare pants
3. Job 5:5 Hebrew their
4. Job 5:19 Or disaster
5. Job 5:27 Hebrew for yourself
6. Job 6:6 The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain
7. Job 6:7 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain
8. Job 6:10 The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain
9. Job 6:14 Syriac, Vulgate (compare Targum); the meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain

Eliphaz: Job Is Chastened by God

5 “Call out now;
Is there anyone who will answer you?
And to which of the holy ones will you turn?
² For wrath kills a foolish man,
And envy slays a simple one.
³ I have seen the foolish taking root,
But suddenly I cursed his dwelling place.
⁴ His sons are far from safety,
They are crushed in the gate,
And there is no deliverer.
⁵ Because the hungry eat up his harvest,
^[a]Taking it even from the thorns,
^[b]And a snare snatches their ^[c]substance.
⁶ For affliction does not come from the dust,
Nor does trouble spring from the ground;
⁷ Yet man is born to ^[d]trouble,
As the sparks fly upward.

⁸ “But as for me, I would seek God,
And to God I would commit my cause—
⁹ Who does great things, and unsearchable,
Marvelous things without number.
¹⁰ He gives rain on the earth,
And sends waters on the fields.
¹¹ He sets on high those who are lowly,
And those who mourn are lifted to safety.
¹² He frustrates the devices of the crafty,
So that their hands cannot carry out their plans.
¹³ He catches the wise in their own craftiness,
And the counsel of the cunning comes quickly upon them.
¹⁴ They meet with darkness in the daytime,
And grope at noontime as in the night.
¹⁵ But He saves the needy from the sword,
From the mouth of the mighty,
And from their hand.
¹⁶ So the poor have hope,
And injustice shuts her mouth.

¹⁷ “Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects;
Therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty.
¹⁸ For He bruises, but He binds up;
He wounds, but His hands make whole.
¹⁹ He shall deliver you in six troubles,
Yes, in seven no evil shall touch you.
²⁰ In famine He shall redeem you from death,
And in war from the ^[e]power of the sword.
²¹ You shall be hidden from the scourge of the tongue,
And you shall not be afraid of destruction when it comes.
²² You shall laugh at destruction and famine,
And you shall not be afraid of the beasts of the earth.
²³ For you shall have a covenant with the stones of the field,
And the beasts of the field shall be at peace with you.
²⁴ You shall know that your tent is in peace;
You shall visit your dwelling and find nothing amiss.
²⁵ You shall also know that your descendants shall be many,
And your offspring like the grass of the earth.
²⁶ You shall come to the grave at a full age,
As a sheaf of grain ripens in its season.
²⁷ Behold, this we have searched out;
It is true.
Hear it, and know for yourself.”

Job: My Complaint Is Just

6 Then Job answered and said:

² “Oh, that my grief were fully weighed,
And my calamity laid with it on the scales!
³ For then it would be heavier than the sand of the sea—
Therefore my words have been rash.
⁴ For the arrows of the Almighty are within me;
My spirit drinks in their poison;
The terrors of God are arrayed against me.
⁵ Does the wild donkey bray when it has grass,
Or does the ox low over its fodder?
⁶ Can flavorless food be eaten without salt?
Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?
⁷ My soul refuses to touch them;
They are as loathsome food to me.

⁸ “Oh, that I might have my request,
That God would grant me the thing that I long for!
⁹ That it would please God to crush me,
That He would loose His hand and cut me off!
¹⁰ Then I would still have comfort;
Though in anguish I would exult,
He will not spare;
For I have not concealed the words of the Holy One.

¹¹ “What strength do I have, that I should hope?
And what is my end, that I should prolong my life?
¹² Is my strength the strength of stones?
Or is my flesh bronze?
¹³ Is my help not within me?
And is success driven from me?

¹⁴ “To him who is ^[f]afflicted, kindness should be shown by his friend,
Even though he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
¹⁵ My brothers have dealt deceitfully like a brook,
Like the streams of the brooks that pass away,
¹⁶ Which are dark because of the ice,
And into which the snow vanishes.
¹⁷ When it is warm, they cease to flow;
When it is hot, they vanish from their place.
¹⁸ The paths of their way turn aside,
They go nowhere and perish.
¹⁹ The caravans of Tema look,
The travelers of Sheba hope for them.
²⁰ They are disappointed^[g] because they were confident;
They come there and are confused.
²¹ For now you are nothing,
You see terror and are afraid.
²² Did I ever say, ‘Bring something to me’?
Or, ‘Offer a bribe for me from your wealth’?
²³ Or, ‘Deliver me from the enemy’s hand’?
Or, ‘Redeem me from the hand of oppressors’?

²⁴ “Teach me, and I will hold my tongue;
Cause me to understand wherein I have erred.
²⁵ How forceful are right words!
But what does your arguing prove?
²⁶ Do you intend to rebuke my words,
And the speeches of a desperate one, which are as wind?
²⁷ Yes, you overwhelm the fatherless,
And you undermine your friend.
²⁸ Now therefore, be pleased to look at me;
For I would never lie to your face.
²⁹ Yield now, let there be no injustice!
Yes, concede, my righteousness ^[h]still stands!
³⁰ Is there injustice on my tongue?
Cannot my ^[i]taste discern the unsavory?

Footnotes

1. Job 5:5 LXX They shall not be taken from evil men; Vg. And the armed man shall take him by violence
2. Job 5:5 LXX The might shall draw them off; Vg. And the thirsty shall drink up their riches
3. Job 5:5 wealth
4. Job 5:7 labor
5. Job 5:20 Lit. hand
6. Job 6:14 Or despairing
7. Job 6:20 Lit. ashamed
8. Job 6:29 Lit. is in it
9. Job 6:30 palate