The Book of Job explores profound themes of suffering, faith, and divine justice. It tells the story of Job, a righteous man who faces immense suffering when he loses his wealth, health, and family. Despite his friends' insistence that his misfortune is due to sin, Job maintains his innocence. Through dialogues and divine discourse, the book wrestles with the nature of human suffering and the sovereignty of God. Ultimately, Job's story highlights the complexity of faith and the mystery of God's ways.
1. There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.2. And there were born to him seven sons and three daughters.3. His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.
1. Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD.2. And the LORD said to Satan, From where come you? And Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.3. And the LORD said to Satan, Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that fears God, and eschews evil? and still he holds fast his integrity, although you moved me against him, to destroy him without cause.
1. After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day.2. And Job spoke, and said,3. Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said, There is a man child conceived.
1. Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,2. If we assay to commune with you, will you be grieved? but who can withhold himself from speaking?3. Behold, you have instructed many, and you have strengthened the weak hands.
1. Call now, if there be any that will answer you; and to which of the saints will you turn?2. For wrath kills the foolish man, and envy slays the silly one.3. I have seen the foolish taking root: but suddenly I cursed his habitation.
1. But Job answered and said,2. Oh that my grief were thoroughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together!3. For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my words are swallowed up.
1. Is there not an appointed time to man on earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling?2. As a servant earnestly desires the shadow, and as an hireling looks for the reward of his work:3. So am I made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me.
1. Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,2. How long will you speak these things? and how long shall the words of your mouth be like a strong wind?3. Does God pervert judgment? or does the Almighty pervert justice?
1. Then Job answered and said,2. I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?3. If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.
1. My soul is weary of my life; I will leave my complaint on myself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.2. I will say to God, Do not condemn me; show me why you contend with me.3. Is it good to you that you should oppress, that you should despise the work of your hands, and shine on the counsel of the wicked?
1. Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,2. Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified?3. Should your lies make men hold their peace? and when you mock, shall no man make you ashamed?
1. And Job answered and said,2. No doubt but you are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.3. But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yes, who knows not such things as these?
1. See, my eye has seen all this, my ear has heard and understood it.2. What you know, the same do I know also: I am not inferior to you.3. Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.
1. Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble.2. He comes forth like a flower, and is cut down: he flees also as a shadow, and continues not.3. And does you open your eyes on such an one, and bring me into judgment with you?
1. Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said,2. Should a wise man utter vain knowledge, and fill his belly with the east wind?3. Should he reason with unprofitable talk? or with speeches with which he can do no good?
1. Then Job answered and said,2. I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are you all.3. Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldens you that you answer?
1. My breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves are ready for me.2. Are there not mockers with me? and does not my eye continue in their provocation?3. Lay down now, put me in a surety with you; who is he that will strike hands with me?
1. Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,2. How long will it be before you make an end of words? mark, and afterwards we will speak.3. Why are we counted as beasts, and reputed vile in your sight?
1. Then Job answered and said,2. How long will you vex my soul, and break me in pieces with words?3. These ten times have you reproached me: you are not ashamed that you make yourselves strange to me.
1. Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,2. Therefore do my thoughts cause me to answer, and for this I make haste.3. I have heard the check of my reproach, and the spirit of my understanding causes me to answer.
1. But Job answered and said,2. Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations.3. Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.
1. Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,2. Can a man be profitable to God, as he that is wise may be profitable to himself?3. Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that you are righteous? or is it gain to him, that you make your ways perfect?
1. Then Job answered and said,2. Even to day is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning.3. Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat!
1. Why, seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty, do they that know him not see his days?2. Some remove the landmarks; they violently take away flocks, and feed thereof.3. They drive away the ass of the fatherless, they take the widow’s ox for a pledge.
1. Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,2. Dominion and fear are with him, he makes peace in his high places.3. Is there any number of his armies? and on whom does not his light arise?
1. But Job answered and said,2. How have you helped him that is without power? how save you the arm that has no strength?3. How have you counceled him that has no wisdom? and how have you plentifully declared the thing as it is?
1. Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,2. As God lives, who has taken away my judgment; and the Almighty, who has vexed my soul;3. All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils;
1. Surely there is a vein for the silver, and a place for gold where they fine it.2. Iron is taken out of the earth, and brass is molten out of the stone.3. He sets an end to darkness, and searches out all perfection: the stones of darkness, and the shadow of death.
1. Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,2. Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me;3. When his candle shined on my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness;
1. But now they that are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my flock.2. Yes, whereto might the strength of their hands profit me, in whom old age was perished?3. For want and famine they were solitary; fleeing into the wilderness in former time desolate and waste.
1. I made a covenant with my eyes; why then should I think on a maid?2. For what portion of God is there from above? and what inheritance of the Almighty from on high?3. Is not destruction to the wicked? and a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity?
1. So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.2. Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram: against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God.3. Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.
1. Why, Job, I pray you, hear my speeches, and listen to all my words.2. Behold, now I have opened my mouth, my tongue has spoken in my mouth.3. My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart: and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly.
1. Furthermore Elihu answered and said,2. Hear my words, O you wise men; and give ear to me, you that have knowledge.3. For the ear tries words, as the mouth tastes meat.
1. Elihu spoke moreover, and said,2. Think you this to be right, that you said, My righteousness is more than God’s?3. For you said, What advantage will it be to you? and, What profit shall I have, if I be cleansed from my sin?
1. Elihu also proceeded, and said,2. Suffer me a little, and I will show you that I have yet to speak on God’s behalf.3. I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
1. At this also my heart trembles, and is moved out of his place.2. Hear attentively the noise of his voice, and the sound that goes out of his mouth.3. He directs it under the whole heaven, and his lightning to the ends of the earth.
1. Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,2. Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?3. Gird up now your loins like a man; for I will demand of you, and answer you me.
1. Know you the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? or can you mark when the hinds do calve?2. Can you number the months that they fulfill? or know you the time when they bring forth?3. They bow themselves, they bring forth their young ones, they cast out their sorrows.
1. Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said,2. Shall he that contends with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproves God, let him answer it. ¶3. Then Job answered the LORD, and said,
1. Can you draw out leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord which you let down?2. Can you put an hook into his nose? or bore his jaw through with a thorn?3. Will he make many supplications to you? will he speak soft words to you?
1. Then Job answered the LORD, and said,2. I know that you can do every thing, and that no thought can be withheld from you.3. Who is he that hides counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.
