[12] Though evil be sweet in his mouth, though he will hide it under his tongue; [13] though he will not spare it, and will not leave it, but will keep it in the midst of his throat: [14] yet he shall not at all be able to help himself; the gall of an asp is in his belly.
[15] His wealth unjustly collected shall be vomited up; a messenger of wrath shall drag him out of his house. [16] And let him suck the poison of serpents, and let the serpent’s tongue slay him. [17] Let him not see the milk of the pastures, nor the supplies of honey and butter. [18] He has laboured unprofitably and in vain, for wealth of which he shall not taste: it is as a lean thing, unfit for food, which he cannot swallow. [19] For he has broken down the houses of many mighty men: and he has plundered an habitation, though he built it not. [20] There is no security to his possessions; he shall not be saved by his desire. [21] There is nothing remaining of his provisions; therefore his goods shall not flourish. [22] But when he shall seem to be just satisfied, he shall be straitened; and all distress shall come upon him.
[23] If by any means he would fill his belly, let God send upon him the fury of wrath; let him bring a torrent of pains upon him. [24] And he shall by no means escape from the power of the sword; let the brazen bow wound him. [25] And let the arrow pierce through his body; and let the stars be against his dwelling-place: let terrors come upon him. [26] And let all darkness wait for him: a fire that burns not out shall consume him; and let a stranger plague his house. [27] And let the heaven reveal his iniquities, and the earth rise up against him. [28] Let destruction bring his house to an end; let a day of wrath come upon him. [29] This is the portion of an ungodly man from the Lord, and the possession of his goods appointed him by the all-seeing God.
Chapter 21
[1] But Job answered and said,
[2] Hear ye, hear ye my words, that I may not have this consolation from you. [3] Raise me, and I will speak; then ye shall not laugh me to scorn. [4] What! is my reproof of man? and why should I not be angry? [5] Look upon me, and wonder, laying your hand upon your cheek.
[6] For even when I remember, I am alarmed, and pains seize my flesh. [7] Wherefore do the ungodly live, and grow old even in wealth? [8] Their seed is according to their desire, and their children are in their sight. [9] Their houses are prosperous, neither have they any where cause for fear, neither is there a scourge from the Lord upon them. [10] Their cow does not cast her calf, and their beast with young is safe, and does not miscarry. [11] And they remain as an unfailing flock, and their children play before them, taking up the psaltery and harp; [12] and they rejoice at the voice of a song. [13] And they spend their days in wealth, and fall asleep in the rest of the grave. [14] Yet such a man says to the Lord, Depart from me; I desire not to know thy ways. [15] What is the Mighty One, that we should serve him? and what profit is there that we should approach him?
[16] For their good things were in their hands, but he regards not the works of the ungodly. [17] Nevertheless, the lamp of the ungodly also shall be put out, and destruction shall come upon them, and pangs of vengeance shall seize them. [18] And they shall be as chaff before the wind, or as dust which the storm has taken up. [19] Let his substance fail to supply his children: God shall recompense him, and he shall know it. [20] Let his eyes see his own destruction, and let him not be saved by the Lord. [21] For his desire is in his house with him, and the number of his months has been suddenly cut off.
[22] Is it not the Lord who teaches understanding and knowledge? and does not he judge murders? [23] One shall die in his perfect strength, and wholly at ease and prosperous; [24] and his inwards are full of fat, and his marrow is diffused throughout him. [25] And another dies in bitterness of soul, not eating any good thing. [26] But they lie down in the earth together, and corruption covers them.
[27] So I know you, that ye presumptuously attack me: [28] so that ye will say, Where is the house of the prince? and where is the covering of the tabernacles of the ungodly? [29] Ask those that go by the way, and do not disown their tokens. [30] For the wicked hastens to the day of destruction: they shall be led away for the day of his vengeance. [31] Who will tell him his way to his face, whereas he has done it? who shall recompense him? [32] And he has been led away to the tombs, and he has watched over the heaps. [33] The stones of the valley have been sweet to him, and every man shall depart after him, and there are innumerable ones before him. [34] How then do ye comfort me in vain? whereas I have no rest from your molestation.
Chapter 22
[1] Then Eliphaz the Thaemanite answered and said,
[2] Is it not the Lord that teaches understanding and knowledge? [3] For what matters it to the Lord, if thou wert blameless in thy works? or is it profitable that thou shouldest perfect thy way? [4] Wilt thou maintain and plead thine own cause? and will he enter into judgment with thee?
[5] Is not thy wickedness abundant, and thy sins innumerable? [6] And thou hast taken security of thy brethren for nothing, and hast taken away the clothing of the naked. [7] Neither hast thou given water to the thirsty to drink, but hast taken away the morsel of the hungry. [8] And thou hast accepted the persons of some; and thou hast established those that were already settled on the earth. [9] But thou hast sent widows away empty, and has afflicted orphans. [10] Therefore snares have compassed thee, and disastrous war has troubled thee. [11] The light has proved darkness to thee, and water has covered thee on thy lying down.
[12] Does not he that dwells in the high places observe? and has he not brought down the proud? [13] And thou has said, What does the Mighty One know? does he judge in the dark? [14] A cloud is his hiding-place, and he shall not be seen; and he passes through the circle of heaven. [15] Wilt thou not mark the old way, which righteous men have trodden? [16] who were seized before their time: their foundations are as an overflowing stream. [17] Who say, What will the Lord do to us? or what will the Almighty bring upon us? [18] Yet he filled their houses with good things: but the counsel for the wicked is far from him. [19] The righteous have seen it, and laughed, and the blameless one has derided them. [20] Verily their substance has been utterly destroyed, and the fire shall devour what is left of their property.
[21] Be firm, I pray thee, if thou canst endure; then thy fruit shall prosper. [22] And receive a declaration from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart. [23] And if thou shalt turn and humble thyself before the Lord, thou hast thus removed unrighteousness far from thy habitation. [24] Thou shalt lay up for thyself treasure in a heap on the rock; and Sophir shall be as the rock of the torrent. [25] So the Almighty shall be thy helper from enemies, and he shall bring thee forth pure as silver that has been tried by fire. [26] Then shalt thou have boldness before the Lord, looking up cheerfully to heaven. [27] And he shall hear thee when thou prayest to him, and he shall grant thee power to pay thy vows. [28] And he shall establish to thee again a habitation of righteousness and there shall be light upon thy paths. [29] Because thou hast humbled thyself; and thou shalt say, Man has behaved proudly, but he shall save him that is of lowly eyes. [30] He shall deliver the innocent, and do thou save thyself by thy pure hands.
Chapter 23
[1] Then Job answered and said,
[2] Yea, I know that pleading is out of my reach; and his hand has been made heavy upon my groaning. [3] Who would then know that I might find him, and come to an end of the matter? [4] And I would plead my own cause, and he would fill my mouth with arguments. [5] And I would know the remedies which he would speak to me, and I would perceive what he would tell me. [6] Though he should come on me in his great strength, then he would not threaten me; [7] for truth and reproof are from him; and he would bring forth my judgment to an end. [8] For if I shall go first, and exist no longer, still what do I know concerning the latter end?
[9] When he wrought on the left hand, then I observed it not: his right hand shall encompass me but I shall not see it. [10] For he knows already my way; and he has tried me as gold. [11] And I will go forth according to his commandments, for I have kep
t his ways; and I shall not turn aside from his commandments, [12] neither shall I transgress; but I have hid his words in my bosom.
[13] And if too he has thus judged, who is he that has contradicted, for he has both willed a thing and done it. [14] 15 Therefore am I troubled at him; and when I was reproved, I thought of him. Therefore let me take good heed before him: I will consider, and be afraid of him.
[16] But the Lord has softened my heart, and the Almighty has troubled me. [17] For I knew not that darkness would come upon me, and thick darkness has covered me before my face.
Chapter 24
[1] But why have the seasons been hidden from the Lord, [2] while the ungodly have passed over the bound, carrying off the flock with the shepherd? [3] They have led away, the ass of the fatherless, and taken the widow’s ox for a pledge.
[4] They have turned aside the weak from the right way: and the meek of the earth have hidden themselves together. [5] And they have departed like asses in the field, having gone forth on my account according to their own order: his bread is sweet to his little ones.
[6] They have reaped a field that was not their own before the time: the poor have laboured in the vineyards of the ungodly without pay and without food. [7] They have caused many naked to sleep without clothes, and they have taken away the covering of their body. [8] They are wet with the drops of the mountains: they have embraced the rock, because they had no shelter.
[9] They have snatched the fatherless from the breast, and have afflicted the outcast. [10] And they have wrongfully caused others to sleep without clothing, and taken away the morsel of the hungry.
[11] They have unrighteously laid wait in narrow places, and have not known the righteous way. [12] Who have cast forth the poor from the city and their own houses, and the soul of the children has groaned aloud.
[13] Why then has he not visited these? forasmuch as they were upon the earth, and took no notice, and they knew not the way of righteousness, neither have they walked in their appointed paths? [14] But having known their works, he delivered them into darkness: and in the night one will be as a thief: [15] and the eye of the adulterer has watched for the darkness, saying, Eye shall not perceive me, and he puts a covering on his face. [16] In darkness he digs through houses: by day they conceal themselves securely: they know not the light. [17] For the morning is to them all as the shadow of death, for each will be conscious of the terror of the shadow of death. [18] He is swift on the face of the water: let his portion be cursed on the earth; and let their plants be laid bare. [19] Let them be withered upon the earth; for they have plundered the sheaves of the fatherless.
[20] Then is his sin brought to remembrance, and he vanishes like a vapour of dew: but let what he has done be recompensed to him, and let every unrighteous one be crushed like rotten wood.
[21] For he has not treated the barren woman well, and has had no pity on a feeble woman. [22] And in wrath he has overthrown the helpless: therefore when he has arisen, a man will not feel secure of his own life. [23] When he has fallen sick, let him not hope to recover: but let him perish by disease. [24] For his exaltation has hurt many; but he has withered as mallows in the heat, or as an ear of corn falling off of itself from the stalk. [25] But if not, who is he that says I speak falsely, and will make my words of no account?
Chapter 25
[1] Then Baldad the Sauchite answered and said,
[2] What beginning or fear is his — even he that makes all things in the highest? [3] For let none think that there is a respite for robbers: and upon whom will there not come a snare from him? [4] For how shall a mortal be just before the Lord? or who that is born of a woman shall purify himself? [5] If he gives an order to the moon, then it shines not; and the stars are not pure before him. [6] But alas! man is corruption, and the son of man a worm.
Chapter 26
[1] But Job answered and said,
[2] To whom dost thou attach thyself, or whom art thou going to assist? is it not he that has much strength, and he who has a strong arm? [3] To whom hast thou given counsel? is it not to him who has all wisdom? whom wilt thou follow? is it not one who has the greatest power? [4] To whom hast thou uttered words? and whose breath is it that has come forth from thee?
[5] Shall giants be born from under the water and the inhabitants thereof? [6] Hell is naked before him, and destruction has no covering. [7] He stretches out the north wind upon nothing, and he upon nothing hangs the earth; [8] binding water in his clouds, and the cloud is not rent under it. [9] He keeps back the face of his throne, stretching out his cloud upon it. [10] He has encompassed the face of the water by an appointed ordinance, until the end of light and darkness. [11] The pillars of heaven are prostrate and astonished at his rebuke. [12] He has calmed the sea with his might, and by his wisdom the whale has been overthrown. [13] And the barriers of heaven fear him, and by a command he has slain the apostate dragon. [14] Behold, these are parts of his way; and we will hearken to him at the least intimation of his word: but the strength of his thunder who knows, when he shall employ it?
Chapter 27
[1] And Job further continued and said in his parable,
[2] As God lives, who has thus judge me; and the Almighty, who has embittered my soul; [3] verily, while my breath is yet in me, and the breath of God which remains to me is in my nostrils, [4] my lips shall not speak evil words, neither shall my soul meditate unrighteous thoughts. [5] Far be it from me that I should justify you till I die; for I will not let go my innocence, [6] but keeping fast to my righteousness I will by no means let it go: for I am not conscious to myself of having done any thing amiss. [7] Nay rather, but let mine enemies be as the overthrow of the ungodly, and they that rise up against me, as the destruction of transgressors.
[8] For what is the hope of the ungodly, that he holds to it? will he indeed trust in the Lord and be saved? [9] Will God hear his prayer? or, when distress has come upon him, [10] has he any confidence before him? or will God hear him as he calls upon him?
[11] Yet now I will tell you what is in the hand of the Lord: I will not lie concerning the things which are with the Almighty. [12] Behold, ye all know that ye are adding vanity to vanity. [13] This is the portion of an ungodly man from the Lord, and the possession of oppressors shall come upon them from the Almighty. [14] And if their children be many, they shall be for slaughter: and if they grow up, they shall beg. [15] And they that survive of him shall utterly perish, and no one shall pity their widows. [16] Even if he should gather silver as earth, and prepare gold as clay; [17] All these things shall the righteous gain, and the truehearted shall possess his wealth. [18] And his house is gone like moths, and like a spider’s web. [19] The rich man shall lie down, and shall not continue: he has opened his eyes, and he is not. [20] Pains have come upon him as water, and darkness has carried him away by night. [21] And a burning wind shall catch him, and he shall depart, and it shall utterly drive him out of his place. [22] And God shall cast trouble upon him, and not spare: he would fain flee out of his hand. [23] He shall cause men to clap their hands against them, and shall hiss him out of his place.
Chapter 28
[1] For there is a place for the silver, whence it comes, and a place for the gold, whence it is refined. [2] For iron comes out of the earth, and brass is hewn out like stone.
[3] He has set a bound to darkness, and he searches out every limit: a stone is darkness, and the shadow of death. [4] There is a cutting off the torrent by reason of dust: so they that forget the right way are weakened; they are removed from among men. [5] As for the earth, out of it shall come bread: under it has been turned up as it were fire. [6] Her stones are the place of the sapphire: and her dust supplies man with gold. [7] There is a path, the fowl has not known it, neither has the eye of the vulture seen it: [8] neither have the sons of the proud trodden it, a lion has not passed upon it. [9] He has stretched forth his hand on the sharp rock, and turned up mountains by the roots: [10] and he has interrupted the whirlpools of rivers, and mine e
ye has seen every precious thing. [11] And he has laid bare the depths of rivers, and has brought his power to light.
[12] But whence has wisdom been discovered? and what is the place of knowledge? [13] A mortal has not known its way, neither indeed has it been discovered among men. [14] The depth said, It is not in me: and the sea said, It is not with me. [15] One shall not give fine gold instead of it, neither shall silver be weighed in exchange for it. [16] Neither shall it be compared with gold of Sophir, with the precious onyx and sapphire. [17] Gold and crystal shall not be equalled to it, neither shall vessels of gold be its exchange. [18] Coral and fine pearl shall not be mentioned: but do thou esteem wisdom above the most precious things. [19] The topaz of Ethiopia shall not be equalled to it; it shall not be compared with pure gold.
[20] Whence then is wisdom found? and of what kind is the place of understanding? [21] It has escaped the notice of every man, and has been hidden from the birds of the sky. [22] Destruction and Death said, We have heard the report of it.
[23] God has well ordered the way of it, and he knows the place of it. [24] For he surveys the whole earth under heaven, knowing the things in the earth: [25] all that he has made; the weight of the winds, the measures of the water. [26] When he made them, thus he saw and numbered them, and made a way for the pealing of the thunder. [27] Then he saw it, and declared it: he prepared it and traced it out. [28] And he said to man, Behold, godliness is wisdom: and to abstain from evil is understanding.
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