Job 25-30 - Prayer Tents

Job 25

Bildad’s Third Response to Job

25Then Bildad the Shuhite replied.H6030H1085H7747H559 2"God is powerful and dreadful. He enforces peace in the heavens.H4910H6343H6213H7965H4791 3Who is able to count his heavenly army? Doesn't his light shine on all the earth?H3426H4557H1416H216H6965 4How can a mortal be innocent before God? Can anyone born of a woman be pure?H582H6663H410H2135H3205H802 5God is more glorious than the moon; he shines brighter than the stars.H3394H166H3556H2141H5869 6In comparison, people are maggots; we mortals are mere worms."H582H7415H1121H120H8438

Job 26

Job’s Ninth Speech: A Response to Bildad

26Then Job spoke again.H347H6030H5592"How you have helped the powerless! How you have saved the weak!H5826H3581H3467H2220H3808H57973How you have enlightened my stupidity! What wise advice you have offered!H3289H3808H2451H7230H3045H84544Where have you gotten all these wise sayings? Whose spirit speaks through you?H5046H4405H5397H33185"The dead tremble—those who live beneath the waters.H7496H2342H4325H79316The underworld is naked in God's presence. The place of destruction is uncovered.H7585H6174H11H36827God stretches the northern sky over empty space and hangs the earth on nothing.H5186H6828H8414H8518H776H10998He wraps the rain in his thick clouds, and the clouds don't burst with the weight.H6887H4325H5645H6051H12349He covers the face of the moon, shrouding it with his clouds.H270H6440H3678H6576H605110He created the horizon when he separated the waters; he set the boundary between day and night.H2328H6440H4325H2706H216H2822H850311The foundations of heaven tremble; they shudder at his rebuke.H5982H8064H7322H8539H160612By his power the sea grew calm. By his skill he crushed the great sea monster.H7280H3220H3581H8394H8394H4272H729313His Spirit made the heavens beautiful, and his power pierced the gliding serpent.H7307H8235H8064H3027H2342H1281H517514These are just the beginning of all that he does, merely a whisper of his power. Who, then, can comprehend the thunder of his power?"H7098H1870H8102H1697H8085H7482H1369H995

Job 27

Job’s Final Speech

27Job continued speaking.H347H3254H5375H4912H5592I vow by the living God, who has taken away my rights, by the Almighty who has embittered my soul—H410H2416H5493H4941H7706H4843H53153As long as I live, while I have breath from God,H5750H5397H7307H433H6394my lips will speak no evil, and my tongue will speak no lies.H8193H1696H5766H3956H1897H74235I will never concede that you are right; I will defend my integrity until I die.H2486H6663H1478H5493H85386I will maintain my innocence without wavering. My conscience is clear for as long as I live.H6666H2388H7503H3824H2778H31177"May my enemy be punished like the wicked, my adversary like those who do evil.H341H7563H6965H57678For what hope do the godless have when God cuts them off and takes away their life?H8615H2611H1214H433H7953H53159Will God listen to their cry when trouble comes upon them?H410H8085H6818H6869H93510Can they take delight in the Almighty? Can they call to God at any time?H6026H7706H6256H7121H43311I will teach you about God's power. I will not conceal anything concerning the Almighty.H3384H3027H410H7706H358212But you have seen all this, yet you say all these useless things to me.H2372H1892H189113"This is what the wicked will receive from God; this is their inheritance from the Almighty.H2506H7563H120H410H5159H6184H3947H770614They may have many children, but the children will die in war or starve to death.H1121H7235H3926H2719H6631H7646H389915Those who survive will die of a plague, and not even their widows will mourn them.H8300H6912H4194H490H105816"Evil people may have piles of money and may store away mounds of clothing.H6651H3701H6083H3559H4403H256317But the righteous will wear that clothing, and the innocent will divide that money.H3559H6662H3847H5355H2505H370118The wicked build houses as fragile as a spider's web, as flimsy as a shelter made of branches.H1129H1004H6211H5521H5341H621319The wicked go to bed rich but wake to find that all their wealth is gone.H6223H7901H622H6491H586920Terror overwhelms them like a flood, and they are blown away in the storms of the night.H1091H5381H4325H5492H1589H391521The east wind carries them away, and they are gone. It sweeps them away.H6921H5375H3212H8175H472522It whirls down on them without mercy. They struggle to flee from its power.H7993H2550H1272H1272H302723But everyone jeers at them and mocks them.H5606H3709H8319H4725

Job 28

Job Speaks of Wisdom and Understanding

28"People know where to mine silver and how to refine gold.H3426H4161H3701H4725H2091H22122They know where to dig iron from the earth and how to smelt copper from rock.H1270H3947H6083H5154H6694H683They know how to shine light in the darkness and explore the farthest regions of the earth as they search in the dark for ore.H7760H7093H2822H2713H8503H68H652H67574They sink a mine shaft into the earth far from where anyone lives. They descend on ropes, swinging back and forth.H5158H6555H1481H7911H7272H1809H5128H5825Food is grown on the earth above, but down below, the earth is melted as by fire.H776H3318H3899H2015H7846Here the rocks contain precious lapis lazuli, and the dust contains gold.H68H4725H5601H6083H20917These are treasures no bird of prey can see, no falcon's eye observe.H5410H5861H3045H344H5869H78058No wild animal has walked upon these treasures; no lion has ever set his paw there.H7830H1121H1869H7826H57109People know how to tear apart flinty rocks and overturn the roots of mountains.H7971H3027H2496H2015H2022H832810They cut tunnels in the rocks and uncover precious stones.H1234H2975H6697H5869H7200H336611They dam up the trickling streams and bring to light the hidden treasures.H2280H5104H1065H8587H3318H21612"But do people know where to find wisdom? Where can they find understanding?H370H2451H4672H4725H99813No one knows where to find it, for it is not found among the living.H582H3045H6187H4672H776H241614'It is not here,' says the ocean.'Nor is it here,' says the sea.H8415H559H3220H55915It cannot be bought with gold. It cannot be purchased with silver.H5414H5458H3701H8254H424216It's worth more than all the gold of Ophir, greater than precious onyx or lapis lazuli.H5541H3800H211H3368H7718H560117Wisdom is more valuable than gold and crystal. It cannot be purchased with jewels mounted in fine gold.H2091H2137H6186H8545H3627H633718Coral and jasper are worthless in trying to get it. The price of wisdom is far above rubies.H2142H7215H1378H4901H2451H644319Precious peridot from Ethiopia cannot be exchanged for it. It's worth more than the purest gold.H6357H3568H6186H5541H2889H380020"But do people know where to find wisdom? Where can they find understanding?H370H935H2451H4725H99821It is hidden from the eyes of all humanity. Even the sharp-eyed birds in the sky cannot discover it.H5956H5869H2416H5641H5775H806422Destruction and Death say, 'We've heard only rumors of where wisdom can be found.'H11H4194H559H8085H8088H24123"God alone understands the way to wisdom; he knows where it can be found,H430H995H1870H3045H472524for he looks throughout the whole earth and sees everything under the heavens.H5027H7098H776H7200H806425He decided how hard the winds should blow and how much rain should fall.H6213H4948H7307H8505H4325H406026He made the laws for the rain and laid out a path for the lightning.H6213H2706H4306H1870H2385H696327Then he saw wisdom and evaluated it. He set it in place and examined it thoroughly.H7200H5608H3559H271328And this is what he says to all humanity: 'The fear of the Lord is true wisdom; to forsake evil is real understanding.'"H120H559H3374H136H2451H5493H7451H998

Job 29

Job Speaks of His Former Blessings

29Job continued speaking.H347H3254H5375H4912H5592"I long for the years gone by when God took care of me,H5414H3391H6924H3117H433H81043when he lit up the way before me and I walked safely through the darkness.H5216H1984H7218H216H3212H28224When I was in my prime, God's friendship was felt in my home.H3117H2779H5475H433H1685The Almighty was still with me, and my children were around me.H7706H5288H54396My cows produced milk in abundance, and my groves poured out streams of olive oil.H7364H1978H2529H6697H6694H6388H80817"Those were the days when I went to the city gate and took my place among the honored leaders.H3318H8179H7176H3559H4186H73398The young stepped aside when they saw me, and even the aged rose in respect at my coming.H5288H7200H2244H3453H6965H59759The princes stood in silence and put their hands over their mouths.H8269H6113H4405H7760H3709H631010The highest officials of the city stood quietly, holding their tongues in respect.H5057H2244H6963H3956H1692H244111"All who heard me praised me. All who saw me spoke well of me.H241H8085H833H5869H7200H574912For I assisted the poor in their need and the orphans who required help.H4422H6041H7768H3490H582613I helped those without hope, and they blessed me. And I caused the widows' hearts to sing for joy.H1293H6H935H490H3820H744214Everything I did was honest. Righteousness covered me like a robe, and I wore justice like a turban.H3847H6664H3847H4941H4598H679715I served as eyes for the blind and feet for the lame.H5869H5787H7272H645516I was a father to the poor and assisted strangers who needed help.H1H34H7379H3045H271317I broke the jaws of godless oppressors and plucked their victims from their teeth.H7665H4973H5767H7993H2964H812718"I thought, 'Surely I will die surrounded by my family after a long, good life.H559H1478H7064H7235H3117H234419For I am like a tree whose roots reach the water, whose branches are refreshed with the dew.H8328H6605H4325H2919H3885H710520New honors are constantly bestowed on me, and my strength is continually renewed.'H3519H2319H5978H7198H2498H302721"Everyone listened to my advice. They were silent as they waited for me to speak.H8085H3176H1826H3926H609822And after I spoke, they had nothing to add, for my counsel satisfied them.H310H1697H8138H4405H519723They longed for me to speak as people long for rain. They drank my words like a refreshing spring rain.H3176H4306H6473H6310H445624When they were discouraged, I smiled at them. My look of approval was precious to them.H7832H539H216H6440H530725Like a chief, I told them what to do. I lived like a king among his troops and comforted those who mourned.H977H1870H3427H7218H7931H4428H1416H5162H57

Job 30

Job Speaks of His Anguish

30"But now I am mocked by people younger than I, by young men whose fathers are not worthy to run with my sheepdogs.H6810H3117H7832H1H3988H7896H3611H66292A lot of good they are to me—those worn-out wretches!H4100H3581H3027H3624H63They are gaunt with hunger and flee to the deserts, to desolate and gloomy wastelands.H2639H3720H1565H6207H6723H570H7722H48754They pluck wild greens from among the bushes and eat from the roots of broom trees.H6998H4408H7880H7574H8328H38995They are driven from human society, and people shout at them as if they were thieves.H1644H1460H7321H15906So now they live in frightening ravines, in caves and among the rocks.H7931H6178H5158H2356H6083H37107They sound like animals howling among the bushes, huddled together beneath the nettles.H7880H5101H2738H55968They are nameless fools, outcasts from society.H1121H5036H1121H8034H5217H7769"And now they mock me with vulgar songs! They taunt me!H5058H440510They despise me and won't come near me, except to spit in my face.H8581H7368H2820H7536H644011For God has cut my bowstring. He has humbled me, so they have thrown off all restraint.H6605H3499H6031H7971H7448H644012These outcasts oppose me to my face. They send me sprawling and lay traps in my path.H3225H6965H6526H7971H7272H5549H734H34313They block my road and do everything they can to destroy me. They know I have no one to help me.H5420H5410H3276H1942H1962H582614They come at me from all directions. They jump on me when I am down.H857H7342H6556H8478H7722H155615I live in terror now. My honor has blown away in the wind, and my prosperity has vanished like a cloud.H1091H2015H7291H5082H7307H3444H5674H564516"And now my life seeps away. Depression haunts my days.H5315H8210H3117H6040H27017At night my bones are filled with pain, which gnaws at me relentlessly.H6106H5365H3915H6207H790118With a strong hand, God grabs my shirt. He grips me by the collar of my coat.H7230H3581H3830H2664H247H6310H380119He has thrown me into the mud. I'm nothing more than dust and ashes.H3384H2563H4911H6083H66520"I cry to you, O God, but you don't answer. I stand before you, but you don't even look.H7768H6030H5975H99521You have become cruel toward me. You use your power to persecute me.H2015H393H6108H3027H785222You throw me into the whirlwind and destroy me in the storm.H5375H7307H7392H4127H8454H773823And I know you are sending me to my death—the destination of all who live.H3045H7725H4194H1004H4150H241624"Surely no one would turn against the needy when they cry for help in their trouble.H7971H3027H1164H7769H636525Did I not weep for those in trouble? Was I not deeply grieved for the needy?H1058H7186H3117H5315H5701H3426So I looked for good, but evil came instead. I waited for the light, but darkness fell.H6960H2896H7451H935H3176H216H935H65227My heart is troubled and restless. Days of suffering torment me.H4578H7570H1826H3117H6040H692328I walk in gloom, without sunlight. I stand in the public square and cry for help.H1980H6937H2535H6965H7768H695129Instead, I am considered a brother to jackals and a companion to owls.H251H8577H7453H1323H328430My skin has turned dark, and my bones burn with fever.H5785H7835H6106H2787H272131My harp plays sad music, and my flute accompanies those who weep.H3658H60H5748H6963H1058