Job

Job’s Septuagint text: Our version of Job will read quite differently to other Bibles as we use the older 4th century CE Greek Septuagint. However, the Septuagint version of Job was ‘corrected’ by Origen to agree more with the Hebrew manuscripts (which we believe were deliberately censored and corrupted). The plan is to eventually ~~cross-out~~ these additions and changes, to show an older, more authentic Greek text. Our translation is created by volunteers, and we are always correcting and refining the text. Learn what [brackets] and other insertions mean.

About this book Job is an epic poem.It’s about what happened to the man Job (whose name rhymes with ‘lobe’). Job was a rich cattle farmer who worshipped Jehovah. He probably lived somewhere to the east of the Jordan River. While the poem was put into writing by Moses, it’s clearly much older than him. Job probably lived sometime between 2140 BCE and 1980 BCE.For more information on Job’s identity, please see this commentary on Job.Was this a true story and was there really a faithful man named Job? Well, in Ezekiel, God mentioned him by name as being one of the three most faithful men in Ezekiel 14:14, 20. He was also mentioned by James, one of Jesus’ 12 disciples in James 5:11 as an example of endurance.Ancient poetryJob is one of the oldest Bible accounts. In the Hebrew sources, it’s recorded in an ancient form of Hebrew that dates to before the Egyptian bondage, known as Ugaritic. It was originally a song or a poem, although the Greek translation entirely strips out all attempt at poetry.In our translation, in accordance with our project charter, we’ve tried to restore a poetic cadence into the text, but without sacrificing accuracy.The original Greek version of Job is lostWe do not have the earlier Greek text of Job used by the Early Christians, and there is uncertainty over the Hebrew version.You see, in the 3rd century CE, Origen tried to ‘correct’ the Septuagint text of Job and Jeremiah by incorporating differences from newer Greek translations made by the Jewish scholars Theodotion, Aquila, and Symmachus. He assumed that the Greek Septuagint text was in error and acted as editor. When he created his great Hexapla, he noted where he made these changes. Yes, some words, phrases, and verses in our version of Job and Jeremiah were not found in the earlier Greek Septuagint version which was used by many First Century Christians. Instead, we now have a version containing edits made by Origen around the year 240 CE.Can we restore the original Greek Septuagint version that Jesus’ apostles may have used?No.While Origen did, at least, mark his text to show where he was making changes, most of Origen’s work is lost. It only survives in fragments and in quotes made by others. We cannot restore the original Greek version of Job until new manuscripts are discovered. For now, it is impossible.At least one change is quite serious. Christians regard Job 19:23–29 to be a Messianic prophecy. From the Hebrew source, it reads like this:‘For I know that my Redeemer lives, and that at the last he will stand upon the earth; and after my skin has been thus destroyed, then in my flesh I shall see God.’ –NRSVHowever, these verses read quite differently in the Greek Septuagint:‘For I know that the One who made me this weak Has walked ‘round the earth throughout the ages; And it’s due to Him, that my skin has grown tired… I’m worn out because of Lord [euphemism for YHWH].’Yes, words that could easily be read as a Messianic prophecy do not appear in the Greek Septuagint version that has come down to us today. This is odd, since 5th Century scholar Jerome quoted these words (and others did too). So Christians knew these words – in their own languages!So yes, it seems that competing Greek versions of Job co-existed. The version created by 3rd Century Origen is the only Greek version we have today, and these specific words are very different.Remember, Origen’s ‘corrections’ came from Jewish scholars like Theodotian who retranslated the Hebrew text into Greek. In these translations, many Messianic prophecies either change or disappear. The evidence indicates that in the 1st Century, Hebrew Bible texts were deliberately altered to rewrite or remove Messianic prophecies quoted by Christians. We can confirm this by looking at the Dead Sea Scrolls, which predate these changes.So while we normally trust the Greek Septuagint over the Hebrew text, in the case of the books of Job and Jeremiah, we can’t, because Origen decided to ‘correct’ them.Therefore, the original Greek version of Job is currently lost. So should we just switch to the Hebrew version? It’s not that simple, because we have no idea if the early Rabbis made changes to that too (and we know they did to other books). The Dead Sea Scrolls confirm that changes took place to many books to remove Messianic prophecies, but those scrolls can’t help us to restore Job, because they only contain fragments of that book.We are all waiting for a new manuscript discovery.Having said all this, any changes that we don’t know about are likely to be a very small percentage of the total. We have no reason to think that they change the overall message of Job.We will soon update our translation of Job to mark the parts unique to the Greek Septuagint with this marking: ^[LXX].

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¹There was a certain man named Job who lived in the land of the AuSitidi.He was true, blameless, righteous, God fearing, and he distanced himself from all that was wicked. ²He had seven sons, three daughters, and he also had:• 7,000 sheep, • 3,000 camels, • 500 teams of oxen, and • 500 grazing female burros.In addition, he had a huge work force to serve him, and many more to care for his land... ³For the man had been born into a prosperous family from the sunrise in the east.⁴[Job’s] sons prepared banquets for each other each day, and their three sisters were always invited to eat and drink with them. ⁵Then, after all the banqueting was done, Job would get up early each morning to purify them. He offered sacrifices on their behalf, which included a calf as a sin offering for their lives.As Job said:‘[I’m doing this] just in case my children even think something bad about God.’And that’s how Job always did things.⁶Then one day, {Look!} the [angelic] messengers of God went to stand before Jehovah, and the Opposer came along with them.⁷So, Jehovah asked the Opposer:‘Where have you come from?’And the Opposer replied to Jehovah:‘I’ve been on the earth, walking around everywhere under the sky.’⁸Then Jehovah asked him:‘Have you noticed and thought about My child Job? There’s no one else like him on the earth, because he’s blameless, true, God fearing, and he distances himself from anything that’s bad.’⁹So the Opposer stood up before Jehovah and said:‘Is Job really free to bow before You, Jehovah?¹⁰‘Haven’t You protected him and all in his household from anything that might be harmful to him? You’ve blest everything he does, and You’ve provided huge herds of cattle for him that cover the entire land!¹¹‘However, if You were to just reach out Your hand and touch all the things that he has, then he’d surely rave against You to Your face!’¹²Then Jehovah said to the Opposer:‘{Look!} I’m putting everything he has into your hands… Just don’t touch him personally.’And at that, the Opposer left the presence of Jehovah.¹³Well, on that day, all of Job’s sons and daughters had all been enjoying wine in the house of their older brother. ¹⁴But then, {Look!} a messenger came to Job and told him:‘We were plowing with the teams of oxen, and the female burros were grazing nearby, ¹⁵when slavers came and took them all and killed all your servants with swords!‘I’m the only one who escaped, so I could bring this message to you!’¹⁶Then while he was still speaking, another messenger arrived and said to Job:‘Lightning came out of the sky and burned up all the sheep! And the shepherds were destroyed the same way!‘I’m the only one who escaped, so I came to report it to you!’¹⁷And while he was still speaking, another messenger arrived and said to Job:‘Three companies of mounted troops attacked us, then they rounded up the camels and took them, and they killed all your servants with swords!‘I was the only one who escaped, so I’ve come to report this to you!’¹⁸Well, while that one was still speaking, another messenger arrived and told Job:‘Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking with their older brother, ¹⁹when a tornado came towards them from out of the desert and touched down on the four corners of his house and destroyed it, killing all your children!‘I’m the only one who escaped, and I came to report it to you!’²⁰And with that, Job got up and started ripping his clothes, then he cut all the hair off his head, and he bowed all the way to the ground and said:²¹‘I came from my mother’s belly naked and I’ll return there naked… Jehovah gave it, and Jehovah took it away.‘So, what seems good to Jehovah has come to pass.‘May the Name of the Lord be praised!’²²Well, despite all of these terrible things that happened to him, Job didn’t sin against Jehovah a single time, nor did he accuse God of foolishness.

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¹Then on another day, when God’s [angelic] messengers came to stand before Jehovah, the Opposer once more came among them to stand before the Lord. ²And Jehovah asked the Opposer:‘So, where have you come from?’And the Opposer again replied:‘I’ve been on the earth, walking around everywhere under the sky.’³So Jehovah asked him:‘Have you been paying attention to my child Job? For there are no others like him on the earth. He’s not a wicked man… He’s true, blameless, God fearing, and he avoids anything that’s evil, so he’s still innocent.‘However, you told me [that he wouldn’t remain faithful] if everything he had was destroyed without a reason.’⁴Then the Opposer said to Jehovah:‘Skin for skin… A man will give everything he has for his life! ⁵For a fact, if You send Your hand to touch his flesh and bones, he’ll surely rave against You to Your face!’⁶And Jehovah replied to the Opposer:‘{Look!} I’m giving him to you… Just don’t take his life!’⁷So the Opposer left Jehovah and struck Job with terrible sores from his head to his feet. ⁸And as a result, [Job] had to carry a broken piece of pottery to scrape the pus as he sat in a pile of ashes.⁹Then his wife asked him:‘How much longer are you going to endure this?‘Just speak a word to God and end it!’¹⁰But he looked at her and said:‘Why are you acting like such a foolish woman? If we’ve looked for good things from the hand of Jehovah, shouldn’t we also endure the bad?’¹¹Then, when three of his friends heard of all the bad things that had happened to him, they each came from their lands to see him. There was:• EliPhaz the Temanite (a king), • Baldad the Shuhite (a sovereign ruler), • and Zophar the Minaean (a king).They had all come to visit him for the purpose of comforting him.¹²However, as they approached, they didn’t even recognize him! So they each started shouting, crying, ripping their clothes, and throwing dust in the air.¹³Then they all sat down beside him for seven days and seven nights without speaking a word... For they recognized that this was a terrible calamity, which was much worse than anything they’d anticipated.

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¹Well, after this, Job opened his mouth and cursed his day, ²saying:³‘May the day I was born be destroyed, Along with the night when they said, It’s a boy! ⁴‘May that night become very dark... May the Lord up above never seek it, And may it not see the coming of dawn.⁵May it be taken by darkness And by the shadow of death. ‘May that day forever be dimmed… May that day forever be cursed, ⁶And its night carried into the darkness.‘No more, may it be a day of the year, Nor may it be counted in one of the months. ⁷May that night become one of grieving, Not one who’s happy and joyful.⁸‘May the One who brought a curse to that day Also heap curses upon it. May it be [swallowed by] beasts of the sea ⁹And may darkness cover the stars of that night, So they’ll no longer be seen… And may they not shine ever after.‘May the morning star not arise, ¹⁰For it failed to close the womb of my mother, So my eyes wouldn’t see all of this misery.¹¹‘Why didn’t I die in her belly Instead of having to ever be born? Why wasn’t I killed there and then? ¹²Why did her knees come to meet me, And why did her breasts come to nurse me?¹³‘May I go to my bed and lie still… ¹⁴May I sleep and find rest among kings… The councilors of the lands where they once pranced with swords… ¹⁵With the rulers that once had so much gold And that once filled their houses with silver.¹⁶‘O if I’d just been miscarried Within the womb of my mother, Like babies that don’t see light of day, ¹⁷And go where the anger and rage of the Godless Has all been burned up in fire.‘It’s that place where the tired find rest for their bones, ¹⁸And where none that have lived throughout the ages Hear tax collector’s voices again. ¹⁹It’s where the small and the great must all go… The servants [along with] their masters.²⁰‘Why must those who are bitter see light, And why is life given to those who are grieved, ²¹Then long for death that won’t come… Those rooting for death as though it were treasure, ²²And who’d be overjoyed to attain it?²³‘For to such a man, death becomes rest, When there’s nowhere else he can go… Yes, when [our] God has opposed him.²⁴‘My grain has now become groaning, And I’m crying and shaking in fear; ²⁵For the things I once feared in my dreams have come true, And what I held in awe has now met me. ²⁶I’m not at peace, or still, or at rest, For [His] rage has now come upon me.’

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¹Then EliPhaz the Temanite decided to speak. He said:²‘Do you often complain of your problems? Who can stand such strong talk?³‘To many people, you’ve given advice, And to the hands of the weak, you’ve brought comfort; ⁴You’ve lifted the timid with words, And encouraged the ones who had feeble knees. ⁵But now that this misery has arrived to touch you, You tend to be in a hurry!⁶‘Aren’t you rather in fear of your own foolish ways… Your own wrong hopes and bad paths? ⁷Can you think of any who are truly pure That [God has] ever destroyed, Or any of the true who’ve been wiped away?⁸‘I’ve seen people who plow in strange places, And those who plant there, reap grief for themselves. ⁹Then, by [God’s] order, they perish… With the spirit of His wrath, they’re then wiped away.¹⁰‘So the strength of the lion and the lioness’ roar, And the prancing of beasts is no more. ¹¹Like the lion’s cubs that die without prey, The young won’t come to each other’s aid.¹²‘So, if the things that you said are all true, And if they’ve all really happened; Then, none of these things would’ve happened to you.‘Should my ears now start to believe That He’s done something so strange?¹³‘An echo in the night brings fear to all men… ¹⁴It stuns them, makes them tremble, and rattles their bones. ¹⁵But a spirit once came and looked in my face, Which made my flesh shudder and my hair stand erect. ¹⁶I jumped, for I didn’t understand what I saw; But, there it was in front of my eyes.‘Then I felt a breeze and I heard a voice say:¹⁷Why should a man be pure before God? For He doesn’t even trust His own servants, And He thinks of His angels as crooked.¹⁹‘Those who live in houses of clay Are made from its very same mortar; So, both are destroyed in the very same way. ²⁰[They come] in the morning, then by evening, are gone… And they die, if they can’t help themselves.‘He just breathes upon them and they wither… They perish in their own foolish ways.’

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¹‘So, shout and see who’ll listen; Will holy angels appear? ²Even a fool will end all his madness, And a man who wanders will soon end his search.³‘I’ve seen fools making plans… And then, their homes were destroyed. ⁴And although their sons were in a safe place, At the doors of lesser men, they were crushed; For, no one would come to their aid.⁵‘Even though the hungry can eat what they harvest; Those who bear arms can siphon their strength. ⁶So the ground will only bring work, As misery sprouts in the hills.⁷‘Even though a man is just born to do work, And young vultures are made to fly in the skies; ⁸I’ll still beg to Jehovah… Yes, I’ll still call to the Almighty God ⁹Who does great things that can’t be explained… Things of honor, unnumbered, and odd.¹⁰‘He’s the One who sends water down to the ground And rain to all places under the skies. ¹¹He’s the One who raises the humble And returns life to those who are dying.¹²‘He alters the plans of the clever, So that they’re unable to do what’s true. ¹³He conquers the wisdom of the wise, And surprises the plans of the crafty.¹⁴‘For, in daylight, darkness can still come to meet them, And at noon, they may grope as though it were night. ¹⁵They may also be killed in a war, While the weak may escape from the mighty.¹⁶‘So, there’s still hope for those without strength, And unrighteous mouths may also be closed.¹⁷‘Blest is the man who’s whipped by the Lord, And those who don’t ignore the Almighty! ¹⁸For, although He brings pain, He also restores… He strikes, and then He heals with His hands.¹⁹‘Six times, He will save you from problems, But in the seventh, He will give you what’s bad. ²⁰In times of famine, He will save you from death; And in war, He will free you from shackles of iron. ²¹From the whip of the tongue, He will hide you, And you won’t have to fear the evils that come.²²‘Then you’ll laugh at the unrighteous and lawless, And not have fear of any wild beasts. ²³For with you, the wild will be peaceful, ²⁴And you’ll know there’s peace in your house When you tent in your home without sin.²⁵‘You’ll know that your offspring will be many, And your children will sprout like weeds in the fields. ²⁶Then you’ll go to your grave like grain in the harvest… Like heaps on the floor at the time it’s reaped.²⁷‘{Look!} These are the things that we’ve concluded, And these are the things that we’ve heard. But, within yourself, only you know Whether you’ve done something evil.’

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¹Then Job spoke. He said:²‘If you’d use a balancing scale To measure my anger against all my grief, You’d find that they both balance out… ³But they’re still as heavy as the sands of the seas.‘For it seems as though you’ve not heard what I’ve said… ⁴That my body has been pierced by God’s arrows… That His rage has been drinking my blood, And this stings me whenever I’m starting to speak.⁵‘Why do wild burros cry out When they aren’t looking for grain? And why do cattle bawl from their stables When there’s plenty of grain?⁶‘As bread should be eaten with salt; What taste can be found in your empty words? ⁷Yet, I still can’t drive them out of my life.‘Now I groan when I see my cereal grains; For [to me], they have the odor of lions.⁸‘If He would just give me the things that I ask… If the Lord would just give me the things that I’ve hoped… ⁹But, Jehovah has started to pierce me, And it’s not been withdrawn or come to its end!¹⁰‘So if the place of the dead could now be my city, Upon its walls I’d jump… Yes, I’d gladly accept it.¹¹‘Since I haven’t lied about God’s holy words, Why have I still got the strength to remain… Why do I have the strength to live on? ¹²Am I as mighty as the rocks… Are my body parts made of bronze?¹³‘In Him, have I not put my trust? Yet His help has been taken away! ¹⁴Has His mercy to me been forbidden, And have the visits of the Lord overlooked me?¹⁵‘Those closest to me, now see me no more, For I’m like a stream that’s gone dry, Or a wave that’s already passed by; For now, everyone just walks past me.¹⁶‘Those who once showed deep respect Now view me like banks of ice or of snow ¹⁷That has melted away in the heat [of the day], And no longer is seen as what it once was. ¹⁸That’s how I’ve been abandoned by all… I’m destroyed and I’ve become homeless.¹⁹‘Behold the Temanite trails And all the passes of the Sabaeans, O you, who now think that you’re seeing things clearly. ²⁰They [exist because of] those living in towns, And they’re the things that they rely upon there.²¹‘Now, with no mercy, you all stand [away], As if you’re afraid of my sores. ²²Yet, what have I asked you to give me? And how much of your strength have I asked for? ²³Just save me from my enemy’s hands, And snatch me away from the mighty!²⁴‘Teach me, and I’ll then remain silent… If I’ve strayed, then prove it! ²⁵For, you view the words of someone who’s true As though they’ve become very foul.‘I haven’t asked for your strength, ²⁶And your scolding won’t stop me from speaking. I won’t put up with the things that you say; ²⁷For you’re coming down on an orphan, And you’re attacking a friend!²⁸‘Now, as I gaze at your faces, I’ll tell you no lies. ²⁹So, just sit here and don’t be unrighteous… Just sit here together with one who’s just; ³⁰For, nothing wrong has come from my tongue, And from my throat will come things to consider.’

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¹‘The purpose of man on the earth Is surely not just to be tried. For he lives his life as a hired day worker, ²And as a servant in awe of his master… One who stands in the shade of his shadow As he’s awaiting his wages.³‘Thus, for months, I’ve waited in vain, To only receive nights of grief. ⁴For, when I go to bed, I now say: How long will it be ‘til day comes again? And thereafter, I must ask when I rise, How soon will it become night?‘I’m filled with grief from morning ‘til night; ⁵For my body is rotting and covered with worms. Like clods of dirt, I’m melting away, As I’m scraping away all the pus. ⁶My life now weighs less than my words … It has perished in hopes unattained.⁷‘My soul has become like a breeze, And my eyes no longer see good. ⁸The eyes of those searching, don’t see me… Even though their eyes are upon me, I’m gone ⁹Like a cloud that drifts away in the sky.¹⁰‘When a man goes down to his grave, He doesn’t come back again. There’s no way he will return to his house… For, even his home doesn’t know him.¹¹But, I’ll not close my mouth… Yes, I’ll still speak of my plight. I’ll bear open my soul To show you the bitterness it holds… ¹²I won’t be like the sea’s dragons.¹³‘I once said that my bed brings me comfort. But now, all I have to offer myself Are my own words, as I lie on my cot, ¹⁴Where I’m frightened by dreams And by visions that strike me with terror.¹⁵‘[Please] let my breath leave my soul, And may my bones be handed to death! ¹⁶May I no longer live in [this] age… For, why must I just keep on waiting, When all in my life is so empty?¹⁷‘O what’s a man that You’d make him so great, Or notice the things that he thinks? ¹⁸Why visit him until morning arrives And judge him as he lies there asleep?¹⁹‘How long will [You] keep me alive And refuse to provide my release, As I swallow my spit in my grief?²⁰‘If I’ve sinned, then what can I do, O You who knows the minds of all men? Why have You made me [a person] who blames You, And why have You made me Your burden?²¹‘Why not rather forget the laws that I broke, And then cleanse me from all of my sins? Please let me go into the ground, And no longer rise early again.’

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¹Then Baldad the Shuhite spoke. He said:²‘How long will you use the breath from your mouth To speak in such a talkative way?³‘Does Jehovah sin when He judges, And does the Maker of all harm the righteous? ⁴Surely your sons had sinned before Him… Because they were lawless, He took them away!⁵‘To seek Jehovah, you always rose early, And before the Almighty, you’ve begged. ⁶But, if you were truly pure, He’d have listened to all your requests And restored your position in justice. ⁷Then, if at first, your men had been few; In the end, they’d be beyond number.⁸‘Ask the first generations, And trace the race of the fathers! ⁹For, while they were here, they were not aware That shadows would cover their lives in the ground. ¹⁰Doesn’t this tell you and doesn’t this teach? Don’t such sayings arise from your heart?¹¹‘Can papyrus live without water? Can bulrushes live without drinking? ¹²As long as the plant has its roots, And before it has been cut down; If it can’t drink from the garden, Doesn’t it wither and dry?¹³‘As it is with those forgetting Jehovah; Since there’s no hope for the Godless, ¹⁴His home won’t be lived in again, And spiders will spread out their tents there.¹⁵‘If no one comes to care for his house, It won’t be able to stand… It won’t remain unless it’s claimed!¹⁶‘Whenever it’s wet under the sun, From things that are rotten, a branch starts to sprout. ¹⁷So, on a pile of stones, a man goes to bed, And he lives there amidst all the gravel; ¹⁸His place then swallows him down, And thereafter, it covers him over. Haven’t you witnessed such things?¹⁹‘Yes, that’s how the godless all come to their end… And then, from the ground, sprouts another.²⁰‘No way will the Lord harm the good, And He accepts no gifts from the godless. ²¹With laughter, He fills the mouths of the true And those who use their lips in His praise. ²²To their enemies, He will always bring shame, And the homes of the Godless, He soon wipes away.’

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¹Then Job spoke. He said:²‘I know for a fact, what you’re saying is true; For, how can a man say he’s righteous to God? ³So, if he wishes to argue this point, He won’t prove God wrong with thousands of words. ⁴For, all of God’s thoughts are wise, strong, and great.‘Thus, who can approach Him in anger And still have some hope of survival? ⁵Do the mountains know who destroys them in rage?⁶‘All that’s under the sky, He can shake to its core… And then He can shake all its columns. ⁷He can speak to the sun and it won’t rise, And He can also close up the stars.⁸‘By Himself, He can stretch out the sky, And walk on the sea like a floor. ⁹He’s the One who made the PleiAdes, As well as Hesperus and ArcTurus… He’s the One who arranged the skies in the south.¹⁰‘He does things that are great and unfathomed… Honorable things beyond number and odd. If He passed over me, I’d not see it… If He passed me by, I’d not be aware.¹²‘When He sends someone away, Who can thereafter return him, And who can ask why He did it?¹³‘For, God doesn’t turn back His rage… To Him, even the whales bow under the skies!¹⁴‘So, why should He ever obey me, Or why should He judge all my problems? ¹⁵And if could I prove myself righteous, He’d [have no reason to] hear men… Although I’d still ask Him for His decisions.¹⁶‘Thus, should I call, He may not give an ear, Nor should I trust that He’s heard my voice.¹⁷‘But He shouldn’t destroy me in darkness, Nor bruise me without any reason. ¹⁸For, although He’s allowed me to breathe, I’m now filled with what’s bitter.¹⁹‘Because He’s so mighty and strong, Who can stand and oppose Him? ²⁰So, even if I’ve been righteous, My mouth would still say wicked things. And although I might [truly] be blameless, I’d still produce what’s wrong.²¹‘But, if I’m really ungodly, In my soul, I remain unaware… Even though my life has been taken away.²²‘I’ve said:‘The mighty kill in their rage; ²³And for the vile, death isn’t uncommon.‘They’re the ones who laugh at the righteous ²⁴When they’re handed to those who are Godless.‘For He covers the eyes of the judges… And if He doesn’t do it, who does?’²⁵‘O that my soul was as light as a sprinter… Yet, my days have passed by without notice. ²⁶Can my ship still be seen on the horizon By eagles in search of their prey?²⁷‘So to you here before me, I’ll say: If I’d just forget about speaking, Then bow my head and just groan; ²⁸And if I’d just let my limbs shiver, Wouldn’t you still find me guilty?²⁹‘But, if I’m someone who’s godless; Why haven’t I already died? ³⁰If I’d wash myself in the snow, And if I scrubbed all the dirt from my hands, ³¹You’d still dip me in filth, And even my clothes would detest me.³²‘Yet, you are men just like me By whom I’m judged and compared. Before His Judgment Seat, we all stand together… ³³Before the lawyers and accusers, And in front of the One [who] listens to both.³⁴‘So, may He set me free from the [whip], And may I not be twisted in fear. ³⁵Then, I’ll speak and I won’t be afraid, For I’m still unaware of my crimes.’

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¹‘Since my soul has become tired of groaning; I’ll now tell Him how bad I now feel. ²Yes, to Jehovah, I’ll say:‘Don’t tell me that I’m ungodly… So, why have You judged me that way?³‘Would You think it good if I’d sinned, Or if I’d disavowed the works of Your hands? Why do You believe what the godless have said ⁴And look at things the way humans do?‘When You look, do You see as men see? ⁵Is Your existence like that of a man? Are Your years as those of just men?⁶‘Since You’ve searched for all my law breaking And You’ve traced out all of my sins, ⁷You must know that I’m not ungodly; But, from Your hands, who can wrest me away?⁸‘It was Your hands that made me and shaped me, Then You turned around and You struck me. ⁹O remember the day that You shaped me, Then, stand me erect on the ground once again!¹⁰‘You extracted me as though milking, And then I was curdled like cheese. ¹¹You put me together with meat, skin, and bones, And then, with nerves, You entwined me. ¹²In mercy, You put life within me, Then You watched over me and guarded my breath.¹³‘You did all these things by Yourself; And it’s a fact that You can do all… There’s nothing that You can’t do. ¹⁴So, if I should sin, please protect me… Declare me free of law breaking.¹⁵‘[Don’t count me] among the ungodly! Yet, even though I’m righteous, I can’t raise my head; For, I’ve become so dishonored.¹⁶‘I’ve been caught like a lion for slaughter… For You’ve turned around to destroy me. ¹⁷You’ve disciplined me once again, And dealt with me in great rage By bringing these trials upon me.¹⁸‘Why did you lead me out of the belly? Why didn’t I die, so my eyes wouldn’t see ¹⁹As one whom had never been born? Why wasn’t I just sent away… Sent to the tomb like how I came from the womb? ²⁰And why have I lived for so many years?‘Now, allow me to rest for a while ²¹And go to the place where I’ll not return… To a land that’s shrouded and dim… ²²A land that’s dark throughout the ages, Where light and life can’t be seen.’

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¹Then Zophar the Minaean spoke, saying:²‘This One who has so much to say Should also listen in turn; Is this one who’s so very well-spoken Proclaiming himself to be just?‘Those born of women who only live short lives ³Are blest, because they have much less to say.⁴‘Now, no one’s comparing himself to you, And don’t try to say that your deeds are all pure… That you’re blameless, as you’re standing before Him.⁵‘O that Jehovah would speak And tell you what He has to say.⁶‘Should He speak to you of His wisdom? His wisdom is so much greater than yours! But if He did, you’d know that what’s happened Has come about because of your sins against God.⁷‘Search for the ways of Jehovah, And you’ll find the Almighty’s prepared for your end.⁸‘Because the heavens are ever so high; What can you do, and what do you know?‘There are things much deeper than the place of the dead… ⁹They’re longer than the span of the land, And wider than the breadth of the seas. ¹⁰And if He’d destroy all those on the earth, Who could question His reason?¹¹‘He knows the deeds of those who break laws, And He doesn’t overlook their wrongdoing… ¹²Yet, men keep swimming in words. For all men who are born of a woman, Are no wiser than the desert’s wild burros.¹³‘But, if you have a truly pure heart, And you can spread your hands out before Him; ¹⁴Should He find that you’ve broken no laws, And you’ve stayed a long way from injustice (That you’ve kept it away from your home); ¹⁵Your face would then have a shine… Pure water would wash off your filth, And you’d have nothing to fear.¹⁶‘You’d forget all your troubles like waves passing by, And you’d have no reason for terror. ¹⁷In the morning, your vows would be like the stars, And at noon, your life would return.¹⁸‘You’d have some hope, if you would comply, And have peace in place of trouble and strife. ¹⁹For you, there would be no more battles, And many would turn and beg for your aid.²⁰‘But for them, will come no salvation, Since their only hope is destruction, And the eyes of the godless will melt.’

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¹Then Job spoke. He said:²‘Have you and the men who are with you Reached the end of your wisdom?³‘I too have a heart that’s like yours. ⁴But it seems that a man who’s righteous and just Has only been born to be taunted!⁵‘There’s a time appointed when each man must fall, And for his house to be pillaged by crooks… But, may the wicked not trust [in their ways]. For the guileless will [be given] support, ⁶While [the bad] will be taught by God’s rage.⁷‘You could ask the four-footed creatures (If they could give you an answer), Or ask the things that fly in the sky (If they could give a report) ⁸To explain all they know of the earth, Or to even describe all the fish in the sea.⁹‘Are there any among them that don’t realize That they were made by God’s hand? ¹⁰For, in His hands are the lives of all things, As well as the breath of every man.¹¹‘Men listen with their ears and examine each word, Then they taste the meanings inside their throats.¹²‘Wisdom is ancient, and knowledge is old, ¹³For from Him comes all wisdom and power… Along with understanding and all good advice.¹⁴‘So, if He chooses to tear something down, Who can thereafter rebuild it? And if He chooses to lock up a man, Who can thereafter release him?¹⁵‘If He should choose to hold back the rain, All the lands would go dry. But, He can also choose to release it, To destroy them and wash them away.¹⁶‘In Him, there’s both might and strength; In Him, there’s knowledge and all comprehension. ¹⁷He strips council away from advisors, And He [can also make fools of] earth’s judges.¹⁸‘He’s the One who sets kings on their thrones And who ties a sash ‘round their waists. ¹⁹But He’s also the One who sends priests off as slaves, And can wipe away all the mighty.²⁰‘The lips of the honest, He understands, And the words of the elders, He knows. ²¹Upon rulers, He can pour out dishonor, While to those who are humble, He heals.²²‘He uncovers the darkness of very deep things, And from the shadow of death, He can lead into light.²³‘He destroys the nations that stray, And He cuts down those who mislead them. ²⁴He knows the hearts of the rulers of lands, And He leads them in ways they don’t know.²⁵‘So, may they corrupt the darkness, not light… May they wander like they’re drunk.

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¹‘{Look!} I’ve seen such things with my eyes, And I’ve heard such things with my ears.²‘I know the same things that all of you know, And I have as much sense as do you. ³Thus, I’ll speak before God, And I’ll scold you, if He will allow it.⁴‘For, you’ve been unrighteous doctors, And as healers, you’ve done a very poor job. ⁵So, it would be a blessing if you’d stay still… Yes, that would be the course that’s wise.⁶‘Now, hear these things that I’ll tell you, And heed the judgments that come from my lips.⁷‘Aren’t you speaking here before God, And before Him, aren’t you being deceitful? ⁸Isn’t it time for you to back off; For, aren’t you just judging yourselves?⁹‘If He should choose to examine your tracks And pay attention to all that you do, ¹⁰Then discipline you for the [bad] things you’ve done… You’d worry that He sees all your secrets.¹¹‘Wouldn’t He spin you in His awesome power… Wouldn’t fear of Him overcome you? ¹²For your prancing would then become ashes, And your bodies would turn back to clay.¹³‘So, stay still as I pour out my rage; ¹⁴For, I’ll grab my flesh with my teeth now, And hold myself with my hands.¹⁵‘But, if the Almighty should grab me, I’d still speak to Him and complain… ¹⁶I’d argue that I should be spared, For He’d not find me guilty of evil.¹⁷‘Listen to me… Hear my words, For I’ll shout them into your ears! ¹⁸Look at me… Yes, gaze upon me! For, as I stand here before you in judgment, I know that you’ll not call me righteous… ¹⁹Yet, the One who’s my judge is impartial.‘Now, I’ll say nothing more, because I’m through, ²⁰And I’ll allow you two things to finish me off… Then I’ll go and hide from your presence. ²¹But, keep your hands at a distance, And give me no reason to fear you.²²‘You can call out to me and I’ll listen; So, speak and I’ll give a reply. ²³Of how many sins am I guilty, And how many laws have I broken? Yes, tell me just what they’ve been!²⁴‘What are you hiding from me, And why do you think I’m lesser than you? ²⁵Will you avoid me like leaves in the wind, Or face me like grass in the air?²⁶‘Against me, you’ve written so many bad things, And accused me of sins that are common to youth… ²⁷You’ve opposed me, although I’m righteous. But by now, you’ve examined all of my deeds, And to the roots of my feet, you’ve reached.²⁸‘Yet, I’ve been aging [so quickly], And I look like a bag made of leather, Or like a robe that’s been eaten by moths!’

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¹‘For men born of women, life is too short, And our lives are filled with rage… ²Then we drop like flowers that have blossomed, And escape like shadows that have passed.³‘But, you’ve required an accounting of me, And although I’ve stood in judgment before You; ⁴Which [of you] can claim that you’re free of all filth? I’m sure there’s not one among you!⁵‘Men live but a day on the earth, And we count off the months of our lives Until we reach the time we’re allowed… [A time that] we can’t go past. ⁶Therefore, leave me alone so that I can be still, And think well of the work that I’ve done.⁷‘For a tree, there’s still hope after it’s cut, Since it may blossom again; For the sprouting of its shoots never fail, ⁸Although its roots may be old in the ground. Yet, even rocks will grow old, And even the stones [eventually] melt away.⁹‘When the trunk of a tree can smell water, It’ll blossom and fruit once again, Like it was something that’s new. ¹⁰But, when a man reaches his end, That won’t be undone… When he falls, he no longer exists.¹¹‘In time, even the seas will be gone, And all the rivers will become barren and dry. ¹²But, when man goes to sleep, he won’t rise again Until [the stars] are all sewn together… From that sleep, we never awaken.¹³‘O that in the grave, You’d hide me and guard me Until all Your anger has passed. Please order a time to be set for me, When You’ll mention my name once again.¹⁴‘Can a man live again after he dies, Once the days of his life have all past? As for me; I’ll wait ‘til I live again, ¹⁵When You’ll call out to me and I’ll hear You… Please don’t undo the work of Your hands!¹⁶‘You’ve counted all the things that I’ve done in my life, And none of my sins have You overlooked. ¹⁷So, take all the laws that I’ve broken, Then seal them up in a bag, And [remove] the ones that I meant not to do.¹⁸‘A mountain will fall into ruin, And a rock wears out where it stands. ¹⁹In water, even stones become smooth, And floods wash away the earth’s cliffs. This is how You’ve destroyed the lengths of men’s lives… ²⁰You stab them through and they die… You just turn Your face and they’re gone.²¹‘We don’t know how many descendants we’ll have, And we’re unaware if they’re few. ²²For, our flesh just knows aches and pains, And in mourning, our lives have been spent.’

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¹Then EliPhaz the Temanite spoke. He said:²‘May I reply to a man who’s so wise, And in a spirit that he understands… Who’s known misery since he came from the womb, ³But, who scolds with words that will never be true, And with things that will never bring profit?⁴‘Have you forgotten your fear As you speak before God? ⁵What’s come from your mouth has proven your guilt; For you’ve failed to examine the words of the great. ⁶So, may your own mouth now correct you (not me); Since against your own lips, you’ve spoken.⁷‘Were you the first man to ever be born Before the hills had been piled? ⁸Did you hear how Jehovah arranged it, And did God then ask your advice… Did He gain all His wisdom from you?⁹‘What do you know that we don’t know, And what do you see that we’ve missed? ¹⁰For, we’re each much older than you, And we’ve lived more days than your father!¹¹‘Because of your sins, you’ve been whipped just a bit, And you’ve blown this all out of proportion! ¹²Dare you see with your eyes or examine with your heart, How this rage has torn you away from the Lord, ¹³By spewing such things from your mouth?¹⁴‘Which man do you know who’s free from all blame Among those whom from women are born? ¹⁵For, [God] trusts not even the holy… Before Him, the heavens aren’t pure! ¹⁶And the filth of man is disgusting… For he sucks unrighteousness down like a drink!¹⁷‘So now, pay attention and I’ll give my report… Yes, I’ll announce what I’ve seen, ¹⁸And mention the things that the wise men have said… Things that from their sons, they’ve not hidden.¹⁹‘This land was once given to our fathers When there were no strangers among them. ²⁰And for the ungodly, there’s just been confusion, While years have been added to the mighty.²¹‘In times of peace, men listen in fear, And this brings about their undoing. ²²So, may they not hope to return from the dark When they’re gripped by hands made of iron.²³‘For, the grain of vultures, they’ve now become, As they await the death of their bodies… The dark day that whisks them away, ²⁴As by distress and disaster, they’re sucked down, And they fall like generals in battle.²⁵‘It’s against Jehovah that they’ve raised their hands, And before the Almighty, they’ve stiffened their necks. ²⁶So, for their insolence, they’re forced to retreat, And behind their shields, hide their thickness, ²⁷Since their faces have been covered with fat, And their thighs have become very flabby.²⁸‘So, in abandoned cities, may they now lodge, And in houses where people no longer live… Where all those who had once been found there Have now been carried away.²⁹‘May they not be rich or keep what they own, Or cast a shadow again on the ground, ³⁰Nor may they flee from the darkness.‘May their buds soon wither away… May their flowers be taken by the wind. ³¹May they not trust that they’ll survive, For soon, they’ll have nothing at all.³²‘Corruption will prune them away, So their branches won’t grow into trees. ³³May they be gathered like unripened grapes, And fall like blossoms that don’t become olives.³⁴‘For the unrighteous, the judgment is death; And for those taking bribes, their homes will be burned. ³⁵This is all that comes from the womb… To all that are born, only comes grief. Emptiness is all that they’ll receive, And in their guts, they must live with their lies.’

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¹Then Job spoke, saying:²‘Things like this, I’ve heard all before; And as those who should offer comfort, You surely have done a poor job!³‘Where is the order to your windy words, And why do you bother to answer?⁴‘Now, I’ll speak the same as you’ve been doing, As if my life had been traded for yours. Then, with my words, I’ll attack you, And at you, I’ll now shake my head.⁵‘O may my mouth be given the strength… May the movement of my lips serve me well. ⁶For, if I speak, my sores won’t ache; And if I stayed silent, would they hurt me less?⁷‘Now, after He’s worn me out, You’ve latched onto this festering fool. ⁸As I’m sitting here, I’ve proven what I’ve said, And I’ve thrown back your lies in your faces.⁹‘I’ve been debased by the One I must deal with, And against me, He’s grinding His teeth. The arrows of marauders have struck me, ¹⁰And sharp darts from His eyes have been shot in my knees… They’ve all arrived to attack me!¹¹‘He’s handed me over to the unrighteous, And delivered me to the ungodly. ¹²He’s removed my chance to ever make peace, And as an example, He plucked the hair from my head.¹³‘With their lances, they now have me surrounded, And they’ve stabbed them into my kidneys… They’ve done nothing at all that would spare me, And they’ve poured my bile on the ground.¹⁴‘They’ve knocked me down time and again… They’ve attacked me and won! ¹⁵Then, to my skin, they sewed sackcloth, And my strength, they’ve driven into the ground.¹⁶‘My belly now burns from my crying, And my eyelids are darkened with shadows. ¹⁷Yet, I’m guilty of nothing at all, And my hands are clean from the things that I’ve vowed.¹⁸‘O ground, don’t cover the blood of my flesh, And don’t allow room for my cries.¹⁹‘Look; the heavens have served as my witness, And the heights above testify for me. ²⁰May the things that I beg reach up to Jehovah, And may the tears from my eyes drip before Him.²¹‘O that man might plead before God As he would on behalf of a neighbor. ²²Yet, the days of my life have been counted and reached, And from where I’m going, there’s no return.’

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¹‘I’ve been destroyed and I’m borne on the wind… I’ve begged to be buried and had no success. ²So I wearily ask:‘Just what have I done? Have I stolen from strangers? ³For, who has shackled my hands?’⁴‘From these men’s hearts, You’ve hidden all wisdom, And You’ll never exalt them. ⁵You’ll announce their badness to all, And make the eyes of their sons melt away.⁶‘But, among the nations, You’ve made me a joke; And that’s why they’re laughing at me. ⁷Yet, my eyes are now callused to their rage, Since I’ve been attacked by them all. ⁸But the righteous have wondered and asked:‘Then, why can’t the just beat the lawless?’⁹‘O may the faithful maintain their [right] course, And the hands of the clean receive courage. ¹⁰Yes, may it all be established; For among you here, I’ve found little truth.¹¹‘In groaning, my days are now spent, And the hopes of my heart have been ripped away. ¹²Night for me is now day, As the face of darkness draws closer.¹³‘Although I’m still here, the grave is my home, And I’ll make my bed where it’s dim. ¹⁴For now, my father is death, And decay is my mother and sisters.¹⁵‘O what hope do I have, And where will I ever find goodness? ¹⁶Along with me, it has gone to its grave, And we’ll all be buried together.’

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¹Then Baldad the Shuhite spoke, saying:²‘When are you going to end it? Stop for a while and let us speak too! ³Why must we stay silent before you Like beasts that walk on four feet?⁴‘Anger has gotten the better of you… So what, if you have to die? Will all life under heaven then come to an end? Will mountains be wiped from their bases?⁵‘The light of the godless will soon be put out, And his flame will be there no longer. ⁶The light in his home will be darkness, And his lamp will thereafter be gone.⁷‘The least of men search for the things they once owned, And they trip on their own good advice. ⁸So, may his feet fall into a snare, And in a net, may they get entangled.⁹‘Yes, let him fall into a trap, And may the snare hold him tighter. ¹⁰For the trip line is hidden under the ground… Yes, the thing that’ll grab and destroy him Is already there in the road!¹¹‘May grief surround and destroy him, ¹²And may hunger encircle his feet. For him, a downfall has been prepared, ¹³And the soles of his feet will be eaten away.‘May death now consume his beautiful things, ¹⁴And may the place of his healing be taken away… For these things have happened by royal decree ¹⁵That will camp in his tent throughout the night.‘May his beautiful things be covered with sulfur; ¹⁶May his roots dry out underneath him. May what he has reaped fall upon him, ¹⁷And the memory of his face be wiped from the land.¹⁸‘May he be pushed from the light into darkness… ¹⁹May even his family forget his name. May his house remain under the sky; ²⁰But, may it be lived in by others.‘For, even though he once lived in wonder, In the end, he just sits here and moans. ²¹This is the home of someone unrighteous… It’s the place where Jehovah is no longer known.’

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¹Then Job spoke again and said:²‘How long are you going to weary my soul, And demolish me with your words? All you know is the things God has done, ³And speak ill of me with no shame… You just keep on pressing against me.⁴‘It’s a fact that I’ve been misled, And delusions are lodging within me. For I’m speaking words that should never be said… That mislead, and at the wrong time.⁵‘Now you use me to look more important, And you attack me in scorn. ⁶But, know that the Lord is the One who’s disturbed… He’s the One who built this fortress against me. ⁷So look; I now laugh at your scorn!‘Therefore, I’ll stop all this banter; For if I shout, it won’t bring me justice. ⁸I’m stuck in a circle that I can’t get out of, And darkness now covers my face. ⁹He’s taken away all my glory, And removed the garland that I wore on my head.¹⁰‘He’s pulled me apart and scattered [my bones]; I was marked and cut down like a tree. ¹¹In His rage, He’s treated me badly, As though I’d been His opposer. ¹²His marauders have gathered and attacked me, And in an ambush, they have me surrounded.¹³‘Now, all my brothers have left me, Preferring strangers to me; And my friends no longer feel pity, Pretending that they don’t know me!¹⁴‘Those dearest to me have forgotten my name… ¹⁵I’m a foreigner to all of my neighbors And a stranger to the women who’ve served me.¹⁶‘When I call to my servant, he doesn’t obey, Even though, with my mouth, I keep begging. ¹⁷I call out to even my wife, And call sweetly to my concubines’ sons. ¹⁸But they listen not… They just stand there.¹⁹‘Those who once knew me, dislike me, And those I once loved, now oppose me. ²⁰For, my skin and flesh are festered with sores, And my teeth have come loose from my jaws.²¹‘Please show mercy… Show mercy my friends; For the hand of Jehovah has touched me! ²²Why treat me the same as Jehovah has done… Aren’t you filled enough with my flesh?²³‘May my words be written down in a scroll, And be preserved throughout the ages. ²⁴With a pen of iron, inscribe them on lead, And may they be set within stone.²⁵‘For I know that the One who made me this weak Has walked ‘round the earth throughout the ages; ²⁶And it’s due to Him, that my skin has grown tired… I’m worn out because of Jehovah.²⁷‘All I’m aware of and seen with my eyes, Has happened to me, not to others. ²⁸But, what can I ask and what can I say… Is the root of my problem in Him?²⁹‘Please turn around and send me what’s good, Or just cover me over. May Your rage be sent to the lawless instead… May they be the ones who reap this reward.’

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¹Then Zophar the Minaean spoke, saying:²‘So far, I’ve not disagreed With any of the words that you’ve spoken, Since we both view things in much the same way. ³So I’ll heed your instructions that shame me, And note the spirit of your reply.⁴‘But, haven’t you known about all these things… That since man was put on this earth, ⁵The irreverent one’s glee brings his downfall, And the joy of lawbreakers brings their destruction?⁶‘For, even if his gifts should ascend to the heavens, And his offerings should reach to the clouds; ⁷When he thinks that all’s going well, That’s when he’ll meet with his end.‘Then, those who know him will ask where he is. ⁸But like dreams, he’ll no longer be found. ⁹From then on, all eyes will overlook him, And no one will note where he’s been.¹⁰‘Even though his sons once destroyed weaker [peoples], And their hands lit fires that brought others grief… ¹¹Their bones that once held the vigor of youth Will make their beds under the ground.¹²‘For, evil was sweet in their mouths, So they hid it under their tongues. ¹³It wasn’t left or abandoned, But they brought it up from their throats.¹⁴‘So, now they can’t help themselves; For, the poison of asps is inside of their guts. ¹⁵And all the wealth that they’ve unjustly gained Will be collected and vomited out, As angels drag them out of their homes.¹⁶‘May they have to endure the rage of wild beasts… May the tongues of snakes now destroy them. ¹⁷May they never again see cows being milked, Or see pastures of butter and honey.¹⁸‘Then their wealth will seem empty and vain, And for such things, they’ll lose all their taste, Since they’ll become too tough to be chewed, And they’ll find that they can’t take it with them.¹⁹‘And although they once crushed the homes of the mighty, And by force, took their houses; What they have will no longer be theirs… ²⁰For, what they owned, will no longer be safe, And they won’t keep the things that they loved.²¹‘For them, there’ll be no more food, And good things will no longer blossom. ²²Even though they once had [all they desired], Problems arose and then it was cursed.²³‘When they’ve had enough to fill up their bellies, God sends someone else to succeed them. So, may He now send His anger and rage, And upon them, pour out floods of grief.²⁴‘From hands of iron, may they not be saved… May they be shot through by a brass bow. ²⁵May the arrows go clean through their bodies, And may fear then walk through their homes.²⁶‘May they have to wait in the darkness, To be burned by the fire of the ages. May strangers bring what’s bad to their homes; ²⁷May the heavens uncover all their lawless deeds; And may the ground rise up against them.²⁸‘May their homes be destroyed ‘til the end, And may the day of rage come upon them. ²⁹For, this is what the irreverent get… It’s their reward from the One who keeps watch.’

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¹Then Job spoke, saying:²‘Listen to me… Hear my words! I don’t need such comfort from you! ³Now, please help me up, and I’ll speak; For, I won’t accept such abuse!⁴‘Since it’s by men that I’m being accused, Don’t I have a good reason for rage?⁵‘Why are you looking at me in such wonder, As you put your hands under your jaws? ⁶When I try to think of a reason, I tend to be a bit quick to conclude, Because of the grief in my flesh.⁷‘Why do the godless continue to live, And why do they grow rich and old? ⁸For, they plant whatever their souls might desire, And their children are there in front of their eyes.⁹‘Their houses continue to prosper, And they don’t seem to know any fear; For they fail to feel the whip of the Lord.¹⁰‘None of their cattle are stillborn, And their pregnant are also protected; So, none of them stumble or fall.¹¹‘Their sheep remain throughout the ages, And their children are playing before them. ¹²They hold their flutes to their mouths, And enjoy sacred hymns strummed on harps.¹³‘For as long as they live, they have good things… Then they lie down to rest in the grave. ¹⁴They say that God doesn’t see, Since they’ve chosen not to know of His ways.¹⁵‘So, why should we continue to serve Him… For us, what good does it do, ¹⁶Since He doesn’t inspect godless hands; So, they’re always filled with what’s good?¹⁷‘But, their lamps will soon be extinguished… Their reward is to feel the pain of His rage. ¹⁸They’ll be like straw that’s blown in the wind, And as clouds of dust in a storm.¹⁹‘May their possessions and sons all be lost, And may they know that God has repaid them. ²⁰May they see their slaughter with their own eyes, When God won’t be there to save them. ²¹Then, what joy will they have in their homes When they see that their months have been numbered?²²‘Doesn’t Jehovah send wisdom? For who else gives people their insight… Isn’t He the One who makes judges wise?²³‘Yet, this one dies doing just as he wished, Enjoying prosperity and pleasure… ²⁴Full, fat, and filled up with marrow. ²⁵While another ends life with what’s bitter, Having never tasted what’s good. ²⁶Then they both go to sleep in the ground; And with decay, they’re both covered.²⁷‘So, I know what you’ll say as you’re pressuring me:²⁸Where are the houses where princes will live And safe tents where the godless will dwell?²⁹‘Ask those passing by on the roads, and you’ll see That the signs are all very clear; ³⁰For the day of destruction will come When He will enlighten the wicked… And in that day of His rage, they’ll be gone.³¹‘Then, to their faces, He’ll accuse them, And speak of the bad things they’ve done. Yes, He will come to repay them ³²As they lie awake upon heaps of trash, And then, to their tombs, they’ll be led.³³‘In gravel, thereafter, they’ll be covered, As other men come to see them… Yes, they’ll come in great numbers to stand there.³⁴‘So, why waste your time to offer me comfort, Since you’ve done nothing to bring any rest!’

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¹Then EliPhaz the Temanite spoke, saying:²‘Doesn’t wisdom and understanding come from the Lord? ³So, why should He be concerned If what you’ve been doing is pure?‘What good [do you think] it would do Him If all of your ways had been clean? ⁴Will He discipline you for the things that you say, Or join with you in your judgments?⁵‘Haven’t you done many bad things… Could anyone count all your sins? ⁶Haven’t you taken what your brothers need Without any justification? Haven’t you claimed the clothes of the naked… ⁷Refused to give water to the thirsty… And taken scraps of food from the famished?⁸‘You’ve shown favor to the faces of some, While you removed the poor from their land. ⁹You’ve sent away widows with nothing at all, And orphans, you’ve treated badly. ¹⁰So, the snares that you’ve set have now captured you, And this is why such a war has arrived.¹¹‘So, light for you is now darkness, And when you sleep, you’re covered in dew. ¹²For the Living One is paying attention, And He humbles those who think themselves high.¹³‘You’ve asked, What does the Almighty know? And, Can He judge what happens in darkness? ¹⁴He’s concealed by the clouds, so He can’t be seen As He travels across the arc of the sky!¹⁵‘You can’t guard the roads of the ages, Which have been walked by the righteous ¹⁶Who were taken away in untimely [deaths], Like rivers overflowing their banks! ¹⁷Yet, even they had once asked:‘What will God do to us… Yes, what will the Almighty bring?’¹⁸‘He’s the One who filled their homes with good things, While the council of the the Godless, He’s pushed away. ¹⁹The righteous all laugh when they see this, And the blameless sneer at such ones. ²⁰For, their supports will soon vanish, And their clothes will be burned up in fire.²¹‘So you must be strong if you want to survive, And then you’ll receive your reward For all the good things that you’ve done. ²²Remove all the [bad] from your mouth, And keep His words in your heart!²³‘Turn back and be humbled by God, And stay away from wrongdoing! ²⁴Then you’ll lay away gold as though it were dust From the rivers of Ophir… ²⁵The Almighty will then watch over you, And you’ll have plenty of silver.²⁶‘So, confess [your sins] to Jehovah, And look to the heavens in joy. ²⁷Make vows to Him and He’ll listen to you, Then He’ll give you the strength to do as you’ve vowed ²⁸And restore you to a righteous condition, So your ways can be bright once again.²⁹‘For, those who humble themselves Will admit that they’ve been too proud; And [God] will save those who are humble. ³⁰Yes, He’ll rescue those free from guilt… But first, you must keep your hands clean!’

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¹Then Job spoke, saying:²‘I know for a fact that my change of state Is something that’s out of my hands. For, it’s His hand that’s been heavy on me, And He’s the source of my groaning. ³So who knows if I’ll ever find Him again, And bring these things to a conclusion.⁴‘Now, on myself, I’ll pass judgment, And with scolding words, I’ll fill my mouth. ⁵Then I’ll learn the cure, for He’ll show it to me… I’ll understand, because He’ll explain it!⁶‘He’ll come to me with great strength, And I know He won’t do so unsurely. ⁷He’ll send me truth and correction, And bring an end to my case.⁸‘But, if I should be the first one to go, And if I should no longer be; How could I know how it ends?⁹‘With His left hand, He acts… I can’t stop Him; And what He covers with His right, I can’t see. ¹⁰He already knows all my ways; For He’s searched me through as if I were gold.¹¹‘My feet have walked in His footsteps… I’ve kept His ways and not swerved. ¹²I’ve never rejected commands from His lips, And I’ve held in esteem the words from His mouth. ¹³But, if He’s judged me as guilty, Who can say that He’s wrong?¹⁴‘So I’ve always turned towards Him quickly, And when I’m corrected, I keep Him in mind. ¹⁵For, grave are the things that come from His face… They’re things that leave me in terror.¹⁶‘Yet, Jehovah has softened my heart… The Almighty has moved me to action. ¹⁷For, I never suspected that darkness would come And that before my face, all would go dim.

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¹‘Why hasn’t Jehovah noticed this time ²When the godless are overrunning our borders… Those who seize both the shepherds and sheep?³‘From the orphans, they’ve taken their burros, And the cows upon which the widows relied. ⁴They keep the disabled from walking upright, So the gentle of the land must run off and hide.⁵‘They act like burros that stray into fields And find the bread of infants delicious. ⁶They harvest in fields not their own, And reap it before it’s ripe.‘The godless hire the disabled And put them to work in their vineyards… But then, they don’t pay them or feed them! ⁷They leave them naked, without any clothes, And they take all they need to survive. ⁸So, in mountain mists, such poor ones must bathe, And hide in the rocks for protection.⁹‘They then snatch away babies… They take them away from the breasts In payment for debts that are owed. ¹⁰They mistreat and rest of the naked, And take scraps of food from the famished.¹¹‘In alleys, they lie in wait to do harm, And righteous ways, they don’t know. ¹²They throw people from their homes in the cities, And bring groaning to the lives of their children.¹³‘So, why does the One who’s watching Fail to act on this earth, While people like this just ignore Him, Disregarding all that’s just And taking the easiest way?¹⁴‘In the cover of darkness, they murder, And during the night, they break in and steal.¹⁵‘The adulterer waits for darkness and says:‘They won’t know that my eyes will be watching!’And as he keeps his face hidden, He carves peepholes in homes in the night.¹⁶‘Then, during the day, he locks himself in, So he never comes to know light. ¹⁷For at dawn, he would see the shadow of death, And observe the bad things that it brings… ¹⁸But when he looks in the [reflection of] water, he still sees a good face.‘May his portion on the earth be forever cursed, And may all that he plants wither and dry… ¹⁹For he even grabs the arms of orphans!²⁰‘So, [please] remember his sins! Like fog, may he soon pass away, And may he vanish like dew.‘Please repay him for all that he’s done… Like rotting wood, may he just waste away. ²¹For, those with no sons, he’s mistreated, And he shows no mercy to those who need aid.²²‘The disabled, he’s knocked to the ground in his rage; So, no man’s life can ever feel secure. ²³Thus, may he get sick and never be healed… And may his illness then lead to his death!²⁴‘Since many are harmed by his arrogant ways, Like mallows, may he wither in heat… Like an ear of grain that just falls on its own.²⁵‘If such things aren’t so, then say that I’ve lied, And disregard everything I’ve said!’

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¹Then Baldad the Shuhite spoke and said:²‘What kind of insight and fear does he have… This one who makes it sound so important?³‘Let’s not think that [God] will save us from robbers Or that we’ll never be ambushed. ⁴For, which man can say that he’s righteous to God… Can men born of women make themselves pure?⁵‘[God] can order the moon not to shine, And before Him, the stars are impure. ⁶[So to Him], all mankind is rotten, And the sons of men are like worms.’

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¹Then Job spoke, saying:²‘Who are those closest to you… Those you’d turn to for aid? Aren’t they the ones who are mighty… Those with great muscled arms?³‘To whom do you turn when you need advice… Isn’t it to those who are known to be wise? And whom do you chose to follow… Isn’t it those who have power?⁴So, to whom are you speaking these words, And whose breath is now coming from you? ⁵Will giants start acting like midwives And go under the water for neighbors?⁶‘For, the grave lies naked before Him, And He’s wrapped in a robe of destruction. ⁷He stretches the north wind on nothing, And on nothing, He’s hung the earth.⁸‘He takes water and binds it in clouds; Yet, the bottoms of the clouds never rip. ⁹And He hides the face of [the moon] By spreading the clouds as its cover.¹⁰‘By His order, the sea’s face is round, From where the light reaches to darkness. ¹¹The columns of the skies, He’s spread all around, And they shake when they hear of His rage.¹²‘By His might, He settled the seas in their beds, And in wisdom, He spread it for whales. ¹³Of Him, the bolts in the skies stand in awe, And by His order, the dragon defector is killed.¹⁴‘{Look!} These are just a small part of His ways; For when He breathes a word, we’ll listen! So, who knows when He will bring change… When He’ll bring the strength of His thunder?’

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¹Then Job continued in his own defense:²‘As God lives, He’s the One who has judged me… It’s the Almighty who’s made my life bitter. ³But, as long as my spirit is in me, And the Divine One’s Breath remains in my nose... ⁴My lips won’t speak lawless things, And my inner person won’t contemplate wrong; ⁵For, such things bring the sentence of death!‘I’m not saying that I’m free from blame… ⁶But, I’ll cling to what’s right and never let go, For, I know when I’m doing what’s wrong.⁷‘May my enemies disappear with the godless, And my opposers be destroyed with lawbreakers.⁸‘What kind of hope have the godless? Do they think they’ll be saved by Jehovah? ⁹That God will hear what they pray, Or He’ll come when they’re in need? ¹⁰Can they stand before Him as securely As those who can call and be heard?¹¹‘I’ll tell you about the things [God] holds in His hands… I won’t lie about the Almighty. ¹²{Look!} For He piles what’s foolish upon the foolish… ¹³This is what the impious will get from the Lord, And it’s what their most mighty receive.¹⁴‘Should the Almighty One come to their aid, And should the sons [of the wicked] grow many? No! Their purpose is just to be slaughtered, And they’ll beg to be allowed to grow into men. ¹⁵But those who remain will die of the plague, And on their widows, none will show mercy.¹⁶‘If they gather silver like it was dirt, And set aside gold as if it was mortar; ¹⁷The righteous will [soon] own these things, And those who are true will control it.¹⁸‘Then his house will belong to the moths, And to the cobwebs of spiders. ¹⁹The rich man will sleep and not rise again… He’ll be dead – even though his eyes are wide open.²⁰‘Grief will pour on him like water, And darkness will overtake him during the night. ²¹A burning wind will snatch him away, And like chaff, he’ll be blown from his place.²²‘He’ll be sent where nobody can save him… By [God’s] hands, he’ll be taken to exile. ²³Then, all men will be clapping their hands, And they’ll whistle at him from wherever they are.’

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¹‘There’s a place where silver is mined, And a place where gold is refined. ²Men take iron out of the ground, And copper is quarried like stones. ³This is how He’s established an order for darkness, And precisely set all its limits.‘Like the darkness [that’s inside a mine]… So is the shadow of death... ⁴And as they [pan for gold] in fast-running streams, The ways of the just are discovered… By mortal men, they’re sifted. ⁵Even our bread comes out of the ground As if roasted in fires down below.⁶‘There are places where sapphires are found, And places where gold may be mined. ⁷There are also roads that birds don’t know… By the eyes of eagles, they’re overlooked. ⁸They haven’t been walked by sons of the rich, Nor have lions ever been there.⁹‘For He sticks out His hand and chisels a place, And the roots of mountains, He overturns. ¹⁰The banks of rivers, He’s destroyed… And my eyes have beheld such great things.¹¹‘The depths of rivers, He’s laid bare, And in the [day]light, He’s shown all their might. ¹²But where can wisdom be found? And what’s the source of great knowledge?¹³‘For no man really knows of its ways, Since such ways can’t be found among men. ¹⁴Says the abyss, ‘It’s not found in me,’ And says the sea, ‘Nor in me!’ ¹⁵So, nobody can invest in it, And with silver, it can’t be bought.¹⁶‘It can’t be compared to all Ophir’s gold, Nor to precious onyx or sapphires. ¹⁷With [diamonds] and gold, it can’t be compared, And it can’t be bought with gold coins.¹⁸‘I won’t compare it to crystals or coral, For wisdom is higher than everything we could want. ¹⁹To topaz from Etheopia, it can’t be compared, Nor can it be equaled by the finest gold.²⁰‘So, where can wisdom be found? And where does great understanding come from? ²¹It escapes the notice of every man, And it’s hidden from the birds in the skies.²²‘Thus says the days of destruction and death:‘We’ve heard of its fame, ²³For, God well speaks its ways, And He alone knows where it’s found.’²⁴‘He looks down from the heavens above, And from there, He passes inspection… For He sees all that happens throughout the earth.²⁵‘He also weighs the things that He makes… He’s measured the wind and the water… ²⁶When He made them, He saw them and counted it all, Then He made a way for the thunder.²⁷‘He saw [what He made] and described it… The One who prepared it has tracked all its ways, ²⁸And this is what He’s concluded:‘{Look!} [Having] wisdom is being like God, And [having] higher knowledge is staying away from what’s bad.’

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¹Then Job continued, saying this: ²‘O that He’d let me return, Back to that month once again… To those days when He watched over me, And His lamp was lit over my head.³‘By His light, I traveled through darkness, ⁴As I walked down the streets in importance, And when God watched over my house… ⁵When I was exceedingly plump, And I had all my children around me.⁶‘When all that I did poured like butter that’s warm, And mountainous things poured like milk… ⁷When, in the morning, I entered the city, And they’d set a chair for me in the square.⁸‘Before me, the young ran and hid, And the elders arose in respect. ⁹Stout men would all stop their speaking, And place their fingers over their mouths.¹⁰‘Then, all who listened said I was blest, And their tongues would stick in their throats. ¹¹With their ears, they listened and praised me, And when they saw me, they all stepped aside. ¹²For I rescued the poor from the hands of the mighty, And to helpless orphans, I supplied aid.¹³‘So, you who are dying; please praise me again… May the mouths of the widows praise me once more! ¹⁴For, I once dressed up to give justice In a robe doubled over; ¹⁵Then I served as eyes for the blind, As well as feet for the lame… ¹⁶And to the disabled, I became like a father.‘When I didn’t know the right thing to do, It worked out well anyhow. ¹⁷I broke the molars of the unrighteous, And I snatched their prey from their teeth.¹⁸‘I said:‘I’ll grow old and round like the trunk of a palm, And I’ll live for many more years; ¹⁹For my roots have reached deep to the water, And on my harvest, the dew always settles.’²⁰‘Back then, my glory meant little to me; For, I had entrusted my bow to His hands. ²¹Then, men would pay close attention to me, And stay silent as I offered council.²²‘When I was speaking, they never spoke; And they were joyful whenever I talked… ²³As the ground enjoys rain when it’s thirsty, That’s how they thought of my words.²⁴‘For at them, I never laughed… Which is why they trusted my council. For the light of my face was before them, ²⁵And I showed them the right ways to go.‘So I was always their prince... And even though I camped like a king ‘midst his army, I remembered to comfort the mourning.’

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¹‘Now, even their least are laughing at me; And those whose fathers I’ve viewed with contempt Now dare to give me correction… Those whom I once thought unworthy To serve as dogs to watch over my flocks.²‘So, what value is the strength of their hands before me, Since their vigor has already perished? ³They’re in need and hungry, with nothing… They’re miserable, like those who flee from a war To hide in a place with no water!⁴‘They stand on the shore and pick seaweed; For, plants from the sea are their grain. They have no honor, and nothing to give; They’re looked on as worthless and lacking all good.‘In hunger, they’ve gnawed upon tree roots… ⁵These who’ve risen against me like thieves… ⁶Those who once burrowed in rocks.⁷‘But now, they look for places to yell (Such ones with homes made of sticks). ⁸They’re the sons of dishonored fools, Whose fame will be wiped from the land.⁹‘Yet now, they’re strumming their harps about me… I’m the topic of all their discussions. ¹⁰They dislike me and stay far away, And into my face, they now spit.¹¹‘For [God’s] opened His quiver and shot me, Then He led me away from His presence.¹²‘So, the hands of their sons have risen against me… They stick out their legs and kick me! ¹³They’ve wiped my ways from their wicked paths, And they’ve taken the clothes that I wore.‘For, He’s run me through with His spear, ¹⁴And He’s judged me the way that He wished. Thus, with anguish, I’m now befouled, ¹⁵And all my grief has returned. My hope has passed by like the wind, And my salvation has faded like clouds.¹⁶‘So, may my life soon be poured out, Since I’ve had enough days of this grief. ¹⁷All night long, my bones are burning within me, And my nerves are broken and shattered. ¹⁸With great power, my robe has been wrinkled… And within its folds, I’ve been wrapped.¹⁹‘So, now you treat me like dirt, And think that ashes are all I deserve. ²⁰Even though I’ve cried out to you, you don’t listen… You just stand and think of my plight.²¹‘Together, you’ve joined to attack me, And with mighty hands, you’ve whipped me. ²²You’ve handed me over to grief And removed any hope of salvation.²³‘I know that death will soon wipe me away, For the ground is the home of all mortals. ²⁴So, should I consider killing myself? Or ask someone else to do it?²⁵‘Even though I cried over all the disabled, And moaned when I saw people in need, ²⁶I’m still waiting for good things to come [to me], And I hope for good days, not bad.²⁷‘My belly is noisy and rumbles, As more days of suffering confront me. ²⁸I’m groaning because of discomfort, And among the gathering, I weep.²⁹‘To trapped demons, I’m now a brother, And to the ostrich, I’m a companion. ³⁰My skin has become very dark, As my bones continue to swelter in heat.³¹‘So in mourning, I now strum my harp, And my hymns are all about weeping for me.

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¹‘I’ve made a vow that my eyes Won’t pay [inappropriate] attention to virgins. ²For, what I have, came from God up above… It’s the inheritance of what the Almighty saw fit.³‘To the godless comes woe and destruction, And those who break laws are alone. ⁴So, why won’t He look at my ways And count all the footsteps I’ve taken? ⁵For, I haven’t traveled with those who play jokes, And my feet haven’t rushed to do evil. ⁶So, I can now step on a scale And prove myself just in the balance.‘For, Jehovah knows that I haven’t done wrong ⁷And my feet haven’t turned from His way (although my eyes often follow my heart), And my hands have never touched bribes. ⁸Yet, what I’ve planted, others now eat… I no longer have roots in the ground.⁹‘If my heart had followed another man’s wife, And if I had stood in wait at her door; ¹⁰May my wife then please other men, And my babies be humbled thereafter.¹¹‘For, the One who dirties another man’s wife Should receive [God’s] unrestrained anger. ¹²May a fire burn in all of his parts, And may he be destroyed to his roots.¹³‘If I’ve disregarded what I owe my servants, And if my maids ever had to beg before me; ¹⁴What could I say to my God When I’m beaten by Him… When He visits, how could I reply? ¹⁵For, weren’t they also born from a womb… Didn’t they come from the belly?¹⁶‘But the disabled and needy never missed out, And the eyes of the widows weren’t wasted. ¹⁷For, when I ate my food all alone, I always set some aside for the orphans. ¹⁸Like a father, I fed them the food from my mouth, And I led them as though from my own mother’s womb.¹⁹‘If I hadn’t provided for those without clothes, ²⁰Or to the disabled, failed to give aid, Unless they gave me a blessing; Or if I’d refused to take my lamb’s wool And used it to warm up their shoulders; ²¹If I failed to lift a hand to aid orphans, Or helped those who trusted in me to give aid; ²²May my shoulders be pulled from my collars And my arms be broken at the elbows.²³‘It was the fear of Jehovah that caused me to act; For, without His care, I couldn’t endure. ²⁴If I’d trusted in gold for my strength, Or in gems, had put all my trust; ²⁵If I [did these things] to make myself rich, Or to get my hands on great treasure; ²⁶May my eyes see the sun growing dim, And the moon, as it’s starting to darken.²⁷‘So, if my heart has deceived me, And if I’ve secretly [kissed] my own hand; ²⁸May this be considered the worst of my crimes, For I’ve lied to the Most High, Jehovah.²⁹‘If I rejoiced at my enemy’s fall, And if I’d said in my heart, ‘Well done’; ³⁰Then, let my ears hear the curses I’m due, And may everyone speak of my badness.³¹‘I’ve never said to my female attendants, ‘Please give me some of your flesh!’ ³²Nor have I forgotten the need to be kind, And to lodge strangers, my door was kept open.³³‘Unintentional sins, I’ve not hidden, And I’ve never been swayed by the masses. ³⁴The disabled, I’ve never turned from my door, Or with empty stomachs, sent them away.³⁵‘So, please may I find a person to listen… Someone in awe of the hand of the Lord! For I’ve never sent anyone bills, ³⁶Nor read what they owed me while wearing a crown. ³⁷I just tore up [the debts] and returned them, Without getting whatever they owed.³⁸‘Have I given the ground a reason to groan… Have I given her furrows reasons to weep? ³⁹If I’ve taken some of her strength, ⁴⁰And ate it alone without paying; Or, if I’ve made the land’s owner angry, And he’s been bothered by this; ⁴¹May my wheat just become stinging nettles, And may my barley be turned into weeds.’Well, with that, Job stopped speaking.

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¹Then, for a while, all got quiet... And Job’s three friends stopped contradicting him, for they started thinking that he was truly a righteous man.²That’s when EliHu (son of BarachiEl the Buzite, a descendant of Ram from Ausis) became very angry with Job for declaring himself righteous before God. ³He was also indignant with Job’s three friends, because they couldn’t give Job a reply and they found him to be a righteous man.⁴EliHu had patiently waited to give Job an answer, because the others were much older than him. ⁵But when he saw that no more replies were coming being said by these men, he became angry and went into a rage!⁶So, EliHu (son of BarachiEl the Buzite) then said:‘Because I’m younger in years, And you’re much older than me; I’ve chosen not to speak – until now, For I was scared to say what I’ve got to say.⁷I said:‘This isn’t the time to speak out; For, with their years, they’ve gained much more wisdom.’⁸Yet, even though there’s breath in humans, The Almighty’s Breath does the teaching. ⁹And since the wise don’t live long enough, The old don’t always know what’s right.¹⁰‘Now, I beg you all to listen to me, And I’ll tell you the things that I know. ¹¹Give an ear to what I’ll say, And I’ll speak to you free of charge.¹²‘Examine my words and you’ll see That you’ve not given Job the correction. ¹³Don’t say that you’ve found wisdom from God, ¹⁴For you got your commission from men!’¹⁵Well at that, they were all afraid and they refused to say anything more, because the words they were hearing sounded mature. ¹⁶Also, he’d [politely] waited and refused to speak until they stood there with no [further] reply.¹⁷So EliHu [continued and] said:‘Now, I’m ready to speak, And I’ve got many things that I wish to say.¹⁸‘I can’t hold back the wind in my chest, ¹⁹For within me, it bubbles like very young wine… It’s been tied up in me like a bellows, And awaiting the time to break out! ²⁰So now, I’ll speak and give myself rest, For the time has arrived to open my lips.²¹‘I’m not embarrassed to speak before men, Nor will I feel shame before humans. ²²For, if I should show special favor to men, By moths, may I then be devoured!

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¹‘Listen, O Job, to my words… Give ear to what I’m saying! ²For, {Look!} I’ll now open my mouth And use my tongue to instruct. ³These words are pure and come from my heart, And what comes from my lips is all clean.⁴‘By the Breath of [God], I was made; And by the Almighty’s Spirit, I’ve been taught. ⁵So, if you’re able to answer, Then, reply to me about these things! Yes, wait… Just stand here [and face] me, And I’ll now stand up to you!⁶‘Both you and I were made from the clay… From the same dirt, we were formed; ⁷So don’t twist against me in fear.⁸‘Now, the things I heard you say, And the claims I heard you make, are:⁹‘I’m pure and I haven’t sinned… I’m blameless and I’ve broken no laws.¹⁰‘Yet, even though He doesn’t have a complaint, God thinks me to be His opponent.¹¹‘For He’s put my feet into stocks made of wood, Even though He’s watched all the [good] things I’ve done.’‘But, how can you claim to be righteous And say that He’s paid no attention to you? ¹²For, He’s lived throughout the ages, And He’s far above all us mortals. ¹³Yet, you ask:‘Why hasn’t He seen my just ways… Why hasn’t He heard what I’ve said?’¹⁴‘Jehovah may only speak once, Or He may reply even twice. ¹⁵He may send a dream or a vision at night, Bringing us fear as we lie in our beds.¹⁶‘He uncovers the things that men think, And He sees the things that we fear… Then He uses such things just to scare us… ¹⁷To turn us away from our sins And to rescue our bodies from downfall. ¹⁸From death, He’s saving our lives, And protecting us from many battles.¹⁹‘When we’re sick in our beds, And when our bones can’t move; This discipline is coming from Him! ²⁰So, when we’re offered grain, we won’t take it, Despite food being what we really need.²¹‘Our flesh will just lie there and fester Until our bones can be seen ²²And death has finally approached… Then it sends our lives down to the grave.²³‘But, even though thousands of [angelic] messengers may come to bring death, No way will one pierce you through, If in your heart, you’d just make a change, And turn to Jehovah again.‘So, it’s about ourselves that we should complain… We should speak of the laws that we’ve broken; ²⁴For then, our God would support us… Not allow us to fall into death.‘Then like someone who plasters a wall, He’d make our bodies new once again, Refilling our bones with their marrow, ²⁵And renewing our flesh like a child, To restore us to what we’d once been.²⁶‘If you make a vow to Jehovah, And your vow is thereafter accepted, You’ll walk away with a face that’s clean And a mouth that’s speaking His praises… For, He always deals justly with men.²⁷‘So, we each should blame ourselves and then say:‘What are the things that I’ve done? What have I done to be disciplined, And what are the sins I’ve committed? ²⁸O save my soul from corruption, So I can see light once again!’²⁹‘{Look!} This is how the Almighty deals with each one, And there are three things that He does. ³⁰For, from death, He’s rescued my soul, So my life can go on to praise Him in light.³¹‘O Job,‘Lend me an ear and hear what I say… Be quiet, for I’m now speaking! ³²But, if there are words you can use to reply, Then speak! For you should be given your due! ³³Yet, if you don’t, then just hear me out… Be quiet, and I’ll tell you what’s wise!’

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¹Then EliHu continued:²‘And hear me now, O you wise men… Give ear, O you who have knowledge! ³For the ear judges words in the way the mouth tastes it’s food… ⁴And that’s how we should be judging ourselves, Since we already know if we’ve been good!⁵‘Now, Job has said:‘Although I’m righteous, Jehovah has ended my case, ⁶And when He judged me, He lied. So, at His injustice, I now shake my spear!’⁷‘Although Job is a man who drinks [wine], And sneers as if it was water, ⁸He says he’s not sinful or godless, And had nothing to do with the lawless, Or gone along with those who show no respect.⁹‘Now, perhaps you think it’s wrong For someone to watch over men. ¹⁰Yet, we’re all watched by Jehovah, And He searches through all our hearts!‘Listen, yes – hear me, my God; For, in no way do I wish to show disrespect… May the Almighty not think me unjust!¹¹‘He pays men back for all they deserve, And in his own paths, each man finds Him.¹²‘Can you imagine Jehovah being guilty of wrong? Or the Almighty One of being unjust? Isn’t the earth His creation? ¹³Didn’t He make everything under the skies?¹⁴‘So, if He’d hold back His power, Or if He’d remove all His Breath; ¹⁵Life on earth would come to an end, And mortals would return to where they were formed.¹⁶‘But, what if He didn’t correct us? Shouldn’t we hear the sounds of His words? ¹⁷{Look!} He’s the One who hates all lawbreaking, And throughout the ages, He’s proven to be righteous; So, He will destroy all the wicked!¹⁸‘It’s impertinent to say to a king:‘You’ve broken the law!’Or to say to a prince:‘You’ve acted ungodly!’¹⁹‘So, who may show disrespect To such a person of honor? For, He’s never appointed the mighty Because He thought well of their faces.²⁰‘Nothing good can come when we cry out to men; For they’re all unrighteous and they won’t help the poor. ²¹But, He observes all the things that they do, And their deeds don’t escape His attention.²²‘There’s no place where the lawless can hide; ²³For, He tolerates men no more than He must. ²⁴So all men are inspected by God, And He notices all the wrong that they do.‘He observes the things that are hidden, As well as things to be honored… Extraordinary things unnumbered. ²⁵He knows all the [bad] things we do, And He humbles us during the night.²⁶‘He wipes away the ungodly Because He can see the things that they’ve done… ²⁷When they’ve turned from God’s Laws, And given no thought to His rules.²⁸‘The cries of the needy reach up to Him, And He hears the calls of the poor. ²⁹So, since He’s the One who’s bringing them rest, Who would dare to condemn Him?‘If He hides His face, who’ll see Him, Whether a nation or just a man? ³⁰But, He can appoint a hypocrite king If He finds the people unruly.³¹‘Has anyone heard a mighty one say:‘I’m so blest, so I really don’t need Him?’³²Or:‘Unless He can prove that He knows of my sins, There’s nothing that He can require?’³³‘Will He pay for the things that you’ve thrown away? Give me an answer… Yes, tell me!³⁴‘Understanding hearts will reply to such things, And a wise man will hear what I’ve said. ³⁵But, Job hasn’t thought about this, Since his words don’t reflect higher knowledge.³⁶‘So learn, O Job… Don’t be a fool… ³⁷Don’t add any more to your sins! For we’re all considered law breakers When we stand and speak [before God].’

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¹Then EliHu continued:²‘Why does justice matter to you… Who are you to call yourself righteous, And say you deserve no vengeance from God?³‘You’ve asked what sins you’ve committed. And about this, I’ll give you an answer, Then I’ll tell it to these, your three friends.⁴‘Look up to the sky and see How high the clouds are above you! ⁵So, if you’ve sinned, what will you do? ⁶Yes, what can you do if you’ve broken [God’s] laws?⁷‘And if you’re truly so righteous, What things can you offer to Him? And what will He take from your hands? ⁸Will He accept irreverence from men, Or unrighteousness from all their children?⁹‘Many call out when they’ve been robbed… But they yell at the strong one who robbed them! ¹⁰They don’t ask:‘Where is [God] who made me… The One who’s in charge of night watches, ¹¹And made me different from the beasts of the earth, As well as from the birds in the sky?’¹²‘Oh, they can cry out, but no one will listen; For, there’s insolence in those who are wicked. ¹³Yet, there’s nothing that goes unnoticed by God, Because He’s the Almighty.¹⁴‘He observes all those who break laws, And you can ask Him to save you… That is, if you’re praising Him now!¹⁵‘He assigns no numbers to His rage, And He sets no limits on sins. ¹⁶Yet, Job has foolishly opened his mouth, And in ignorance, he’s weighed out his words.’

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¹EliHu continued, saying:²‘Be patient for a while and I’ll teach you... Because, I still have [much] more to say.³‘I was taught in a faraway land, And I’ve learned to do as I say. ⁴So, I’ll speak of what’s true and righteous, And you’ll find that I’m not telling lies.⁵‘I know that Jehovah won’t harm a good man… One who’s mighty and has strength of heart. ⁶But, to the irreverent, He won’t return life.‘He will give justice to those who are poor, ⁷And He doesn’t turn His eyes away from the righteous. For, they’ll sit as kings upon thrones… They’ll be raised and treated like winners!⁸‘The crook that’s led off in shackles, In poverty’s cords, will be wrapped. ⁹Then, He’ll speak of all the bad things he’s done, And of his many transgressions.¹⁰‘But, [God] listens to what the righteous ones say, And He warns them to turn away from all badness. ¹¹So, if they should listen and serve [Him], They’ll live a very long time And spend many years having good things. Then, when they come to the end of their days, Many beautiful things, they’ll own.¹²‘But the godless won’t be preserved; For, they fail to look to Jehovah. And even though they’ve been warned time and again, They keep on refusing to listen.¹³‘Although the hypocrite’s heart will know rage, He won’t call out, for [God] has him bound. ¹⁴So his life will end while he’s still young, Since angels will come here to pierce him… ¹⁵If he’s mistreated the weak and disabled. Yet, they’ll be fair to the humble.¹⁶‘When an enemy uses his mouth to deceive, [God] opens a pit underneath him, Where his table of good things is thrown.¹⁷‘To the righteous, He’ll always bring justice, ¹⁸While on the impious, He sends His rage. For if, in godless ways, they’ve taken bribes; In justice, they’ll receive what they deserve.¹⁹‘So don’t be blind to the cries of the disabled, Or send away those who seek aid in the night. ²⁰Rather, you should go out and help them, So that others can see your example. ²¹Be careful to never mistreat them, Or take advantage of their lowly condition.²²‘{Look!} Although the strong use their strength to overpower… Who are these who are feeling so mighty? ²³Who examines the things that they do, And tells them when they’ve done wrong?²⁴‘Remember that it’s the great things we do That give us control over men. ²⁵And each man knows deep within his own heart How many mortals he’s stabbed through.²⁶‘{Look!} The Almighty is great… Yet, we don’t really know Him; For, there’s no end to His years. ²⁷He can count the number of rain drops Before they’re even formed in the clouds. ²⁸Then they fall and flow past the things that grow old… Past the shadows of the uncounted dead.‘He’s established a time for the animal’s lives, And this order of things, they comprehend. Yet, you haven’t bothered to think about this, And your heart doesn’t know your own body. ²⁹But remember, as you watch the clouds passing by… This will also happen to the tent that is you.³⁰‘{Look!} He’s stretched the light out above us, And the roots of the seas, He’s covered. ³¹Then, between them, He judges the people, And He nourishes those who’ve shown strength.³²‘He can cover the light with His hands, And tell the clouds what to do. ³³Yet, we can trust that He’ll speak to His friends, And provide them a place of refuge from evil.

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¹‘So, this is what’s bothered my heart… They’re the things that make my heart drop. ²Pay attention to my report on God’s rage; For, what I’ve said has come from His mouth!³‘He’s the sovereign of all under the heavens, And His light shines to the wings of the earth.⁴‘Although voices may yell out against Him; He thunders at the sound of their insults. For, He must bargain with no one… With none of those who may hear His voice.⁵‘When the Almighty speaks, it’s like thunder, Which tells of the great things He’s done. ⁶He orders the snow in the winter, And instructs it to cover the ground… And the rain also follows His orders⁷‘He’s the One who shackles men’s hands, To make them aware of their weakness.⁸‘Wild beasts live within His protection; So, in their lairs, they’re tranquil, ⁹While in your bedrooms comes grief, And from far away, comes a chill.¹⁰‘From the Almighty’s Breath comes the ice, And water is steered where He chooses. ¹¹If He covers a cloud, it passes away, Followed by light in its order.¹²‘Cyclones are turned aside by His rules (The ways by which they must work), ¹³Sparing the land on which He shows mercy… He’s the One who orders such things for the land.¹⁴‘So, pay attention, O Job! You should stand in awe of God’s power! ¹⁵For we know that it all comes from God, Who created light from the darkness.¹⁶‘He knows the difference between every cloud, As well as the ways that the wicked will fall.¹⁷‘So, even though your clothes are all hot and sticky; From the south, blows peace for this land.¹⁸‘Can you join Him as He spreads out the skies, And turns them into bronze mirrors?¹⁹‘So now, teach me what I should tell Him, And let’s bring an end to this banter! ²⁰Is there a scribe with a scroll next to me, To whom must I now be pleasing?²¹‘For the light is now shining so brightly, To illuminate everything that’s old. It’s as if He’s parted the clouds, ²²And made them glow like gold in the north! So, their honor and glory reflect the Almighty; ²³For, in no one else may such strength be found.‘Since He’s the One who brings honest judgments, Don’t you think that He’s listened to you? ²⁴So, we’ve all got good reasons to fear Him… Even those who think that their hearts are wise!

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¹Then, after EliHu finished his speech... Jehovah spoke to Job from the clouds during a storm![He said:]²‘Who is it that’s hiding counsel from Me, And thinks he can cover the things in his heart? ³Now, wrap up your loins and act like a man, For I’ll ask the questions and you – answer Me!⁴‘Where were you when I laid the foundations of earth? Tell me, if you know, and if you understand! ⁵Who planned and laid out its measures… Do you know? And who laid the string down upon it? ⁶Upon what have its hooks been supported, And who set the slabs for its foundation?⁷‘When I did this, all the stars praised Me, And My angels shouted a cheer. ⁸Then I locked the seas in their gates, When they first burst from the womb.⁹‘I established the clouds as clothes [for the seas], And I wrapped it in fog, like a child. ¹⁰Thereafter, I established its limits And I bolted its gates into place. ¹¹I said:‘This is as far as you go… You can’t go any farther, So your waves must now break within you.’¹²‘Did I use you to bring about morning light? Or to set the morning star in its place? ¹³[Can you] grab the wings of the earth, And shake off all the ungodly?¹⁴‘Have you picked up a piece of clay from the ground, And used it to make something living? And who brought the powers of speech to the earth?¹⁵‘Have you removed the light from the godless, Or broken the arms of the proud? ¹⁶Have you found the springs of the seas, And walked in the tracks of the deep?¹⁷‘Do the gates of death open before you, And do the keepers of the place of the dead Get alarmed whenever they see you?¹⁸‘If you’ve been told about everything under heaven, Then, tell Me how great it all is! ¹⁹Where’s the land that the light comes from? And from what kind of place does the darkness come from?²⁰‘If you could lead Me up to their limits (That is, even if you even knew of their paths), ²¹You’d already know all these things. And if you were born on that day, Your years by now, would be many.²²‘Have you found the treasuries of the snow? Have you seen where the hail is all stored? ²³For you, has the time of enemies been reserved, Or the days for battle and war?²⁴‘When the frost leaves, where does it go? And where under the skies goes the south wind? ²⁵Who prepares the storms when they blow? ²⁶And who holds back rain from the ground?²⁷‘Who made the deserts where no men can live, But then fills unwalked, uninhabited lands With sprouts and new shoots of green?²⁸‘Who is the father of rain, And who gives birth to the dewdrops? ²⁹In whose womb does the ice start to form, And who gives birth to frost from the skies, ³⁰And then turns it into drops to make streams?‘Who is it that changes the face of the godless, And who creates their alarm?³¹‘Have you seen what bonds the PleiAdes? Have you opened the barriers of Orion? ³²Have you opened MazurOth when it can be seen? Or have you led Venus by its tail?³³‘Do you know how the orbits of the heavens all work, Or how things under the sky work together? ³⁴Can you call to a cloud and cause it to shake, Then obey you and pour out a storm?³⁵‘Are you able to send for the lightning? Will it ask, ‘What is it?’ and obey you?³⁶‘Who gave women the wisdom to weave, And who gave them the skill to embroider?³⁷‘Who in his wisdom can count all the clouds? Who can lean on the sky and the ground?³⁸‘Who poured out the powder that created the earth, And stuck it together as a stone block?³⁹‘Will you hunt for lions as prey, And be filled with the souls of wild beasts? ⁴⁰Yet, they must be feared when they’re in their lairs, Or when they’re lying in wait in the woods.⁴¹‘Who gives carrion to the crows for their young, As they call to Jehovah while searching for grain?’

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¹‘Tell Me this, if you know: When do rock antelopes give birth? And have you seen the birthing of hinds? ²Have you counted the months for them to give birth? And do you know how long they have birth pangs?³‘Do you know how their offspring are fed, And can you bring an end to their labor? ⁴For their young rip out and many are born… Then they just walk away.⁵‘Who is it that set zebras free… Who untied them from bondage? ⁶I’m the One who [gave him] his home There, in the deserts, and in the salt flats… I’m the One who gave him his dwelling.⁷‘He laughs at the complaints of those living in towns, And tax collectors, he can ignore. ⁸He views the mountains as his pastures, As he searches for green things to eat.⁹‘Can you make the rhinoceros do what you say? Can you force him to sleep in your barn? ¹⁰Can you tie him with straps and put on a yoke, Then use him to plow up your fields?¹¹‘Can you trust him to do this because of his strength, And will he lighten the work that you do? ¹²Can you trust him to carry your grain, And haul it to threshing-floors for you?¹³‘Consider the wings of the ostrich… Whose feathers the storks use for their nests. ¹⁴They lay their eggs on the ground, Then incubate them in the dust.¹⁵‘If she forgets them, they then might be lost, Or crushed by wild beasts in the fields. ¹⁶So, she’s hardened herself against her own young, And she isn’t sad when her work is in vain.¹⁷‘It was God who removed all her wisdom, And gave her such scant understanding. ¹⁸But, when she spreads her feathers to run, She laughs at the horse and its rider.¹⁹‘Was it you who gave the horse all its strength, Or that caused his neck [to tremble] in fear? ²⁰Are you the one who gave him full armor, And put the glory of daring in his breast?²¹‘In the fields, he grazes and prances, And with strength, he runs in the plains. ²²He laughs when he meets up with spears, And from weapons of iron, he never retreats.²³‘When he’s struck by arrows and swords, ²⁴He just gets angry and tears up the ground. He doesn’t quit ‘til the trumpet is blown, ²⁵And then he just says, Well done!‘He can even smell war from a distance, Then he stands on his [back] legs and whinnies.²⁶‘Was it you who gave hawks their look of defiance As they set their wings to fly towards the south? ²⁷Was it by your order that eagles fly high, Or vultures to lodge in nests ²⁸among rocks?²⁹‘From such places, [these birds] search for food, For their eyes can see from a distance. ³⁰Then their young become covered in blood, Because they can find whatever has died.’³¹Then Jehovah God said this to Job:³²‘Have you chosen to correct this One who’s so mighty… And can one who teaches God give an answer?’³³Then Job replied to Jehovah:³⁴‘So, why must I still go on begging? And for what am I being corrected? Why are my prayers just being ignored?‘Since I can’t reply [to Your questions], I’ll just cover my mouth with my hands… ³⁵I’ve spoken and I’ll say no more.’

40

¹Then Jehovah God replied to Job, asking:²‘Are you judging the One who’s so mighty… And when someone scolds God, must He reply?’³So Job thought about this and then he asked the Lord:⁴‘But, why must I stand here and beg… Being scolded and disciplined by God?‘No, I’m nothing at all, And yes, I’ve heard all that You said; So what answer can I give in reply?‘Now... I’ll cover my mouth with my hands, ⁵For I’ve spoken and I’ll say no more.’⁶Then the Lord once again spoke to Job from out of the clouds, saying:⁷‘Now, wrap up your waist and act like a man; Then, I’ll ask you, and you must reply!⁸‘Should you undo My decisions? And do you think it was Me who sent these [bad] things? Or that you’d have to prove yourself righteous to Me?⁹‘Is your arm like the arm of Jehovah? Is your voice like His… Can it thunder? ¹⁰If so, lift yourself in stature and might, And clothe yourself with glory and honor; ¹¹Then, send out [His] [angelic] messengers in rage To humble those who are proud, ¹²And to bring an end to the haughty… Right now, cause the godless to rot! ¹³Hide them together inside of the ground, And with dishonor, then cover their faces! ¹⁴For, surely you know that your right hand can save![Editor note: It’s our opinion that many of the following verses have been somewhat corrupted (in both the Hebrew and Greek texts), making much of what follows is disjointed and unclear.We feel that part of the reason for this is that those who sang, copied, and translated this song, simply didn’t understand its cryptic message… That the ‘beast’ or ‘dragon’ in Job is a fictional animal representing the evil spirit who was bringing these woes upon Job.Such fictional, composite animals were common in the ancient world – the most famous one being the Sphinx in Egypt. Composite animals took features from different mammals, birds, and reptiles to create a super-animal, with each feature representing a different ability or trait. They were most commonly used to represent gods and spirits, such as the Egyptian gods.This cultural practice was very familiar to ancient people, but was entirely forgotten in later periods, leading people to misinterpret the ‘dragon’ as just another description of some unidentified animal, or even an extinct creature, like a dinosaur. However, what’s described fits the common ancient practice of creating a composite, mythological creature, to represent a powerful spirit.If true, this would explain why, later at Job 41:9, God remarks that Job can’t see the ‘dragon’ – because it wasn’t really an animal at all, but the spirit creature introduced in Job chapter 1.We’re not dogmatic about this point, we may be wrong. However, it’s important to tell you this, since it’s influenced how we’ve translated the remaining chapters.]¹⁵‘Now, notice the ‘dragon’ who’s standing beside you; He eats the same grass as the ox. ¹⁶Yes, behold the strength in his loins, And the power in the navel of his belly.¹⁷‘He makes his tail tall like a cypress, And his nerves are all closely entwined. ¹⁸His sides are like something that’s made out of brass, And his spine is much like cast iron.¹⁹‘He’s the beginning of the things [that I] shaped, And he was made to be mocked by My [angelic] messengers.²⁰‘When he climbs upon chiseled mountains, He brings joy to those four-footed beasts That within Tarsos dwell.²¹‘He sleeps under all kinds of trees… By the papyrus, reeds, and bulrushes. ²²In his shadow, [rest] birds in the trees, Who unknowingly sway in [his branches].²³‘When storms come, he pays no attention; For, he trusts that it runs to the JorDan, And from there, it flows into his mouth.²⁴‘When he’s on watch, who can take him? But if, in a snare, you could catch him, Would you drill [a hole] through his nose?

41

¹‘Can you lead this ‘dragon’ around with a hook; Can you put a halter ‘round his nose? ²Will you put a hook through his nose as a clasp, And bore a hole in his lip?³‘Will he speak and beg you in an earnest, soft way… ⁴Will he make an agreement with you… Will you keep him as your servant throughout the age?⁵‘Will you play with him like a bird… Would you cage him like a sparrow for a child? ⁶Wouldn’t you rather feed him to the different races… To Phoenicians, carve him as [steaks]?⁷‘If all that floats were assembled, There’s no way they could carry his hide or his tail, Nor could fishermen’s boats bear his head.⁸‘Could you lay your hands down upon him, Then, consider the war in his flesh, And make it no longer take place?⁹‘[While it’s true] that you can’t see him. Haven’t those who’ve spoken ever wondered… ¹⁰Aren’t they in awe of this thing I’ve prepared?‘But, who can really stand and oppose Me… ¹¹Yes, who can resist Me and win, Since all under heaven is Mine?¹²‘So, I won’t remain silent for his sake; For, the word of My power to show mercy Is greater than all that he has to say.¹³‘Who’ll uncover the front of his clothes And enter the fold of his chest plate? ¹⁴Yes, who’ll open the gates of his face, And see that in his teeth, there really is fear?¹⁵‘His insides are like shields of brass, And his sinews are like emery stone. ¹⁶They each cleave tightly together, And no wind [can blow] through them… ¹⁷They’re as close as a man and his brother, And they can’t be driven apart.¹⁸‘His sneezing brings about brightness, And his eyes are like morning stars. ¹⁹From his mouth come lamps that are burning Like the scattered coals of a fire.²⁰‘From his nostrils come the smoke of a furnace, Burning with the fire of live coals. ²¹For his soul is much like live coals, And flames shoot out of his mouth.²²‘Within his neck, there’s power, And before him, there’s much destruction. ²³The flesh of his body cleaves tightly, So, he’s never bothered by rain.²⁴‘His heart is fixed like a stone… He stands as an anvil that can’t be bent. ²⁵When he turns, he frightens the four-footed beasts, As well as those [flying over] the ground.²⁶‘With lances, he can’t be harmed, Nor does he fear armor or spears. ²⁷He views iron weapons as straw, And brass ones, just like rotting wood.²⁸‘By bows of brass, he can’t be pierced, And he views [stone] slingers as grass. ²⁹He thinks of hammers as stubble, And he laughs at the quaking of those who bear fire.³⁰‘His bed is strewn with sharp needles; And all the gold in the seas, Under him, are as coals on the grates or as mud.³¹‘From the abyss, he breaks, as though a brass pot; He thinks of the seas as his own ointment jar, ³²And the depths of Tartarus as his captive. For to him, the abyss is just a promenade.³³‘Nothing else on the earth is quite like him… He was made to be mocked by My [angelic] messengers.³⁴‘He can see all things that are lofty, And he’s the ruler over everything in the waters.’

42

¹Then Job spoke to the Lord saying:²‘I know that You can do all, And there’s no end to Your power. ³So, who can hide their thoughts before You, And who can hold back their words, Thinking that You can’t [hear them]?‘You’ve just told me some things that I never knew… Great and wonderful things, Of which I had no understanding.⁴‘So, listen to me, O my Lord, For, there are things that I’d like to say… I’ll ask You, and You can teach me!⁵‘In the past, I’ve heard men talk about You, But now that I’ve seen You with my own eyes, ⁶I think of myself as having no value. For before You, I’ve melted away, And I think of myself as ashes and dirt.’⁷Well, after the Lord had spoken about all these things to Job, Jehovah then said this to EliPhaz the Temanite:‘You and your two friends have sinned; For, you haven’t spoken the truth, As did My faithful friend Job.⁸‘So, take seven calves and seven rams, And carry them to My faithful friend Job, So that he can offer them on your behalf… For, no way do I hold him in blame.‘If it wasn’t for him, I would have destroyed you, Because of what you’ve said to My faithful friend.’⁹So, EliPhaz the Temanite, Baldad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Minaean went and did as Jehovah had told them. Then He forgave the sins that they’d committed against Job.¹⁰Thereafter, Jehovah blest Job. And because they were his friends, he vowed to forgive those men for all their sins.Then Jehovah [blest Job] with double, giving him twice as much as he had before!¹¹And when his brothers and sisters heard of the good things that had happened to him, they all went to see him, and he ended up with twice as many friends as he had at first. Everyone ate and drank with him, and they offered him much consolation. Yet, they each wondered about all the things that had happened, and about all the things that Jehovah had done. Then each one gave him a lamb and an unmarked 4-drachma coin.¹²So, Jehovah blest the ending for Job, and he gained much more than he had before. For He came to have:• 10,000 cows, • 4,000 sheep, • 6,000 camels, • 1,000 oxen teams, and • 1,000 grazing mares.¹³Seven more sons were also born to him, and he had three more daughters. ¹⁴He named the first daughter Day, he named the second one Cinnamon, and he named the third one Horn of Plenty. ¹⁵And among all the women under the sky, nobody was prettier than Job’s daughters. He also gave them an inheritance among their brothers.¹⁶Well, after his calamity had passed, Job lived on for 170 more years, reaching the age of 240. Job lived to see his sons, and the sons of his sons, through to the fourth generation.¹⁷Thereafter, Job finally came to his end, an old man who had lived a full life.

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