Job 31
31"I made a covenant with my eyes not to look with lust at a young woman.H3772H1285H5869H995H13302For what has God above chosen for us? What is our inheritance from the Almighty on high?H2506H433H4605H5159H7706H47913Isn't it calamity for the wicked and misfortune for those who do evil?H343H5767H5235H6466H2054Doesn't he see everything I do and every step I take?H7200H1870H5608H68065"Have I lied to anyone or deceived anyone?H1980H7723H7272H2363H48206Let God weigh me on the scales of justice, for he knows my integrity.H8254H6664H3976H433H3045H85387If I have strayed from his pathway, or if my heart has lusted for what my eyes have seen, or if I am guilty of any other sin,H838H5186H1870H3820H1980H310H5869H3971H1692H37098then let someone else eat the crops I have planted. Let all that I have planted be uprooted.H2232H312H398H6631H83279"If my heart has been seduced by a woman, or if I have lusted for my neighbor's wife,H3820H6601H802H693H7453H660710then let my wife belong to another man; let other men sleep with her.H802H2912H312H312H376611For lust is a shameful sin, a crime that should be punished.H2154H5771H641412It is a fire that burns all the way to hell. It would wipe out everything I own.H784H398H11H8327H839313"If I have been unfair to my male or female servants when they brought their complaints to me,H3988H4941H5650H519H737914how could I face God? What could I say when he questioned me?H6213H410H6965H6485H772515For God created both me and my servants. He created us both in the womb.H6213H990H6213H259H3559H735816"Have I refused to help the poor, or crushed the hopes of widows?H4513H1800H2656H5869H490H361517Have I been stingy with my food and refused to share it with orphans?H398H6595H3490H39818No, from childhood I have cared for orphans like a father, and all my life I have cared for widows.H5271H1431H1H5148H517H99019Whenever I saw the homeless without clothes and the needy with nothing to wear,H7200H6H3830H34H368220did they not praise me for providing wool clothing to keep them warm?H2504H1288H2552H1488H353221"If I raised my hand against an orphan, knowing the judges would take my side,H5130H3027H3490H7200H5833H817922then let my shoulder be wrenched out of place! Let my arm be torn from its socket!H3802H5307H7929H248H7665H707023That would be better than facing God's judgment. For if the majesty of God opposes me, what hope is there?H343H410H6343H7613H320124"Have I put my trust in money or felt secure because of my gold?H7760H2091H3689H559H3800H400925Have I gloated about my wealth and all that I own?H8055H2428H7227H3027H4672H352426"Have I looked at the sun shining in the skies, or the moon walking down its silver pathway,H7200H216H1984H3394H1980H336827and been secretly enticed in my heart to throw kisses at them in worship?H3820H5643H6601H6310H5401H302728If so, I should be punished by the judges, for it would mean I had denied the God of heaven.H5771H6416H3584H410H460529"Have I ever rejoiced when disaster struck my enemies, or become excited when harm came their way?H8055H6365H8130H5782H7451H467230No, I have never sinned by cursing anyone or by asking for revenge.H5414H2441H2398H7592H423H531531"My servants have never said, 'He let others go hungry.'H4962H168H559H5414H1320H764632I have never turned away a stranger but have opened my doors to everyone.H1616H3885H2351H6605H1817H73433"Have I tried to hide my sins like other people do, concealing my guilt in my heart?H3680H6588H121H2934H5771H224334Have I feared the crowd or the contempt of the masses, so that I kept quiet and stayed indoors?H6206H7227H1995H937H4940H2865H1826H3318H660735"If only someone would listen to me! Look, I will sign my name to my defense. Let the Almighty answer me. Let my accuser write out the charges against me.H5414H8085H8420H7706H6030H376H7379H3789H561236I would face the accusation proudly. I would wear it like a crown.H5375H7926H6029H585037For I would tell him exactly what I have done. I would come before him like a prince.H5046H4557H6806H5057H712638"If my land accuses me and all its furrows cry out together,H127H2199H8525H3162H105839or if I have stolen its crops or murdered its owners,H398H3581H3701H1167H5301H531540then let thistles grow on that land instead of wheat, and weeds instead of barley." Job's words are ended.H2336H3318H2406H890H8184H1697H347H8552
Job 32
32Job's three friends refused to reply further to him because he kept insisting on his innocence.H7969H582H7673H6030H347H6662H58692Then Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite, of the clan of Ram, became angry. He was angry because Job refused to admit that he had sinned and that God was right in punishing him.H2734H639H453H1121H1292H940H4940H7410H347H639H2734H6663H5315H4303He was also angry with Job's three friends, for they made God appear to be wrong by their inability to answer Job's arguments.H7969H7453H639H2734H4672H4617H7561H3474Elihu had waited for the others to speak to Job because they were older than he.H453H2442H347H1697H2205H31175But when he saw that they had no further reply, he spoke out angrily.H453H7200H4617H6310H7969H582H639H27346Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite said, "I am young and you are old, so I held back from telling you what I think.H453H1121H1292H940H6030H559H6810H3117H3453H2119H3372H2331H18437I thought, 'Those who are older should speak, for wisdom comes with age.'H559H3117H1696H7230H8141H3045H24518But there is a spirit within people, the breath of the Almighty within them, that makes them intelligent.H403H7307H582H5397H7706H9959Sometimes the elders are not wise. Sometimes the aged do not understand justice.H7227H2449H2205H995H494110So listen to me, and let me tell you what I think.H559H8085H2331H184311"I have waited all this time, listening very carefully to your arguments, listening to you grope for words.H3176H1697H238H8394H2713H440512I have listened, but not one of you has refuted Job or answered his arguments.H995H3198H347H6030H56113And don't tell me, 'He is too wise for us. Only God can convince him.'H559H4672H2451H410H5086H37614If Job had been arguing with me, I would not answer with your kind of logic!H6186H4405H7725H56115You sit there baffled, with nothing more to say.H2865H6030H6275H440516Should I continue to wait, now that you are silent? Must I also remain silent?H3176H1696H5975H603017No, I will say my piece. I will speak my mind.H6030H2506H2331H184318For I am full of pent-up words, and the spirit within me urges me on.H4390H4405H7307H990H669319I am like a cask of wine without a vent, like a new wineskin ready to burst!H990H3196H6605H1234H2319H17820I must speak to find relief, so let me give my answers.H1696H7304H6605H8193H603021I won't play favorites or try to flatter anyone.H5375H376H6440H3655H12022For if I tried flattery, my Creator would soon destroy me.H3045H3655H6213H4592H5375
Job 33
33"Listen to my words, Job; pay attention to what I have to say.H199H347H8085H4405H238H16972Now that I have begun to speak, let me continue.H6605H6310H3956H1696H24413I speak with all sincerity; I speak the truth.H561H3476H3820H8193H4448H1847H13054For the Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.H7307H410H6213H5397H7706H24215Answer me, if you can; make your case and take your stand.H3201H7725H6186H6440H33206Look, you and I both belong to God. I, too, was formed from clay.H6310H410H7169H25637So you don't need to be afraid of me. I won't come down hard on you.H367H1204H405H35138"You have spoken in my hearing, and I have heard your very words.H559H241H8085H6963H44059You said, 'I am pure; I am without sin; I am innocent; I have no guilt.H2134H6588H2643H577110God is picking a quarrel with me, and he considers me his enemy.H4672H8569H2803H34111He puts my feet in the stocks and watches my every move.'H7760H7272H5465H8104H73412"But you are wrong, and I will show you why. For God is greater than any human being.H6663H6030H433H7235H58213So why are you bringing a charge against him? Why say he does not respond to people's complaints?H7378H6030H169714For God speaks again and again, though people do not recognize it.H410H1696H259H8147H778915He speaks in dreams, in visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on people as they lie in their beds.H2472H2384H3915H8639H5307H582H8572H490416He whispers in their ears and terrifies them with warnings.H1540H241H582H2856H456117He makes them turn from doing wrong; he keeps them from pride.H5493H120H4639H3680H1466H139718He protects them from the grave, from crossing over the river of death.H2820H5315H7845H2416H5674H797319"Or God disciplines people with pain on their sickbeds, with ceaseless aching in their bones.H3198H4341H4904H7230H7379H6106H38620They lose their appetite for even the most delicious food.H2416H2092H3899H5315H8378H397821Their flesh wastes away, and their bones stick out.H1320H3615H7210H6106H7200H8192H820522They are at death's door; the angels of death wait for them.H5315H7126H7845H2416H419123But if an angel from heaven appears—a special messenger to intercede for a person and declare that he is upright—H3426H4397H3887H259H505H5046H120H347624he will be gracious and say,'Rescue him from the grave, for I have found a ransom for his life.'H2603H559H6308H3381H7845H4672H372425Then his body will become as healthy as a child's, firm and youthful again.H1320H7375H5290H7725H3117H593426When he prays to God, he will be accepted. And God will receive him with joy and restore him to good standing.H6279H433H7521H7200H6440H8643H7725H582H666627He will declare to his friends,'I sinned and twisted the truth, but it was not worth it.H7789H582H559H2398H5753H3477H773728God rescued me from the grave, and now my life is filled with light.'H6299H5315H5674H7845H2416H7200H21629"Yes, God does these things again and again for people.H6466H410H6471H7969H139730He rescues them from the grave so they may enjoy the light of life.H7725H5315H7845H215H216H241631Mark this well, Job. Listen to me, for I have more to say.H7181H347H8085H2790H169632But if you have anything to say, go ahead. Speak, for I am anxious to see you justified.H3426H4405H7725H1696H2654H666333But if not, then listen to me. Keep silent and I will teach you wisdom!"H8085H2790H502H2451
Job 34
34Then Elihu said.H453H6030H5592"Listen to me, you wise men. Pay attention, you who have knowledge.H8085H4405H2450H238H30453Job said, 'The ear tests the words it hears just as the mouth distinguishes between foods.'H241H974H4405H2441H2938H3984So let us discern for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good.H977H4941H3045H28965For Job also said, 'I am innocent, but God has taken away my rights.H347H559H6663H410H5493H49416I am innocent, but they call me a liar. My suffering is incurable, though I have not sinned.'H3576H4941H2671H605H65887"Tell me, has there ever been a man like Job, with his thirst for irreverent talk?H1397H347H8354H3933H43258He chooses evil people as companions. He spends his time with wicked men.H732H2274H6466H205H3212H7562H5829He has even said, 'Why waste time trying to please God?'H559H5532H1397H7521H43010"Listen to me, you who have understanding. Everyone knows that God doesn't sin! The Almighty can do no wrong.H8085H582H3824H2486H410H7562H7706H576611He repays people according to their deeds. He treats people as they deserve.H6467H120H7999H376H4672H73412Truly, God will not do wrong. The Almighty will not twist justice.H551H410H7561H7706H5791H494113Did someone else put the world in his care? Who set the whole world in place?H6485H776H7760H839814If God were to take back his spirit and withdraw his breath,H7760H3820H622H7307H539715all life would cease, and humanity would turn again to dust.H1320H1478H3162H120H7725H608316"Now listen to me if you are wise. Pay attention to what I say.H998H8085H238H6963H440517Could God govern if he hated justice? Are you going to condemn the almighty judge?H8130H4941H2280H7561H3524H666218For he says to kings, 'You are wicked,' and to nobles, 'You are unjust.'H559H4428H1100H5081H756319He doesn't care how great a person may be, and he pays no more attention to the rich than to the poor. He made them all.H5375H6440H8269H5234H7771H6440H1800H4639H302720In a moment they die. In the middle of the night they pass away; the mighty are removed without human hand.H7281H4191H5971H1607H2676H3915H5674H47H5493H302721"For God watches how people live; he sees everything they do.H5869H1870H376H7200H680622No darkness is thick enough to hide the wicked from his eyes.H2822H6757H6466H205H564123We don't set the time when we will come before God in judgment.H7760H376H1980H4941H41024He brings the mighty to ruin without asking anyone, and he sets up others in their place.H7489H3524H2714H5975H31225He knows what they do, and in the night he overturns and destroys them.H5234H4566H2015H3915H179226He strikes them down because they are wicked, doing it openly for all to see.H5606H8478H7563H4725H720027For they turned away from following him. They have no respect for any of his ways.H5493H310H7919H187028They cause the poor to cry out, catching God's attention. He hears the cries of the needy.H6818H1800H935H8085H6818H604129But if he chooses to remain quiet, who can criticize him? When he hides his face, no one can find him, whether an individual or a nation.H8252H7561H5641H6440H7789H1471H120H316230He prevents the godless from ruling so they cannot be a snare to the people.H120H2611H4427H5971H417031"Why don't people say to God, 'I have sinned, but I will sin no more'?H559H410H5375H225432Or 'I don't know what evil I have done—tell me. If I have done wrong, I will stop at once'?H2372H1107H3384H6466H5766H325433"Must God tailor his justice to your demands? But you have rejected him! The choice is yours, not mine. Go ahead, share your wisdom with us.H7999H3588H3988H977H1696H304534After all, bright people will tell me, and wise people will hear me say,H582H3824H559H2450H1397H808535'Job speaks out of ignorance; his words lack insight.'H347H1696H1847H1697H791936Job, you deserve the maximum penalty for the wicked way you have talked.H15H1H347H974H5331H8666H205H58237For you have added rebellion to your sin; you show no respect, and you speak many angry words against God."H3254H6588H2403H5606H7235H561H410
Dublin, OH
another man; let other men sleep with her.H802
