the prince? And where is the tent wherein the wicked dwelt?' 29Have ye not asked them that go by the way; And will ye misdeem their tokens, 30That the evil man is reserved to the day of calamity, That they are led forth to the day of wrath? 31But who shall declare his way to his face? And who shall repay him what he hath done? 32For he is borne to the grave, And watch is kept over his tomb. ^The clods of the valley are sweet unto him, And all men draw after him, As there were innumerable before him.
34How then comfort ye me in vain? And as for your answers, there re- tnaineth only faithlessness.
"OO Then answered Eliphaz the ^^ Temanite, and said: 2Can a man be profitable unto God? Or can he that is wise be profitable unto Him? 3Is it any advantage to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? Or is it gain to Him, that thou makest thy ways blameless? 4Is it for thy fear of Him that He reproveth thee, That He entereth with thee into judgment?
5Is not thy wickedness great? ^ And are not thine iniquities without end? 6For thou hast taken pledges of thy brother for nought, And stripped the naked of their clothing. 7Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink, And thou hast withholden bread from the hungry. 8And as a mighty man, who hath the earth, And as a man of rank, who dwelleth in it, 9Thou hast sent widows away empty, And the arms of the fatherless have been broken. "Therefore snares are round about thee, And sudden dread affrighteth thee, "Or darkness, that thou canst not see, And abundance of waters cover thee.
12Is not God in the height of heaven?
And behold the topmost of the stars, how high they are! 13And thou sayest: 'Whatttoth God know? Can He judge through the dark cloud? 14Thick clouds are a covering to Him, that He seeth not; And He walketh in the circuit of heaven.' 15Wilt thou keep the old way Which wicked men have trodden? 16Who were snatched away before their time, Whose foundation was poured out as a stream; 17Who said unto God 'Depart from us'; And what could the Almighty do unto them? 18Yet He filled their houses with good things — But the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
19The righteous saw it, and were glad, And the innocent laughed them to scorn: 20' Surely their substance is cut off, And their abundance the fire hath consumed.'
21Acquaint now thyself with Him, and be at peace; Thereby shall thine increase be good. ^Receive, I pray thee, instruction from His mouth, And lay up His words in thy heart ^If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up — -If thou put away unrighteousness far from thy tents, MAnd lay thy treasure in the dust, And the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks; ^And the Almighty be thy treasure, And precious silver unto thee; ^Then surely shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, And shalt lift up thy face unto God; 27Thou shalt make thy prayer unto Him, and He will hear thee, And thou shalt pay thy vows; *8Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee, And light shall shine upon thy ways.
29When they cast thee down, thou shalt say: "There is lifting up'; For the humble person He saveth.
30He delivereth him that is innocent, Yea, thou shalt be delivered through the cleanness of thy hands.
OQ Then Job answered and said: 2Even to-day is my complaint bitter; My hand is become heavy because of my groaning. 30h that I knew where I might find Him, That I might come even to His seat!
4I would order my cause before Him, And fill my mouth with arguments. 6I would know the words which He would answer me, And understand what He would say unto me. 6Would He contend with me in His great power? Nay; but He would give heed unto me. 7There the upright might reason with Him; So should I be delivered for ever from my Judge.
8Behold, I go forward, but He is not there, And backward, but I cannot per- ceive Him; 90n the left hand, when He doth work, but I cannot behold Him, He turneth Himself to the right hand, but I cannot see Him.
10For He knoweth the way that I take; When He hath tried me, I shall come forth as £old.
31 JOB uMy foot hath held fast to His steps, His way have I kept, and turned not aside.
12I have not gone back from the com- mandment of His lips; I have treasured up the words of His mouth more than my neces- sary food.
13But He is at one with Himself, and who can turn Him? And what His soul desireth, even that He doeth. 14For He will perform that which is appointed for me; And many such things are with Him 18Therefore am I affrighted at His presence; When I consider, I am afraid of Him.
16Yea, God hath made my heart faint, And the Almighty hath affrighted me; 1TBecause I was not eut off before the darkness, Neither did He cover the thick darkness from my face.
04. Why are times not laid up by ^^ the Almighty?
And why do not they that know Him see His days?
2There are that remove the land- marks; They violently take away flocks, and feed them.
3They drive away the ass of the fatherless, They take the widow's ox for a pledge.
^hey turn the needy out of the way; The poor of the earth hide them- selves together.
5Behold, as wild asses in the wilder- ness They gp^ forth to their work, seek- ing diligently for food; The desert yieldeth them bread for their children. 6They cut his provender in the field; And they despoil the vineyard of the wicked. 7They he all night naked without clothing, And have no covering in the cold 8They are wet with the showers of the mountains, And embrace the rock for want of a shelter. 9There are that pluck the fatherless from the breast, . And take a pledge of the poor; l6So that they go about naked with- out clothing, And being hungry they carry the nThey make oil within the rows of these men; They tread their winepresses, and suffer thirst. 12From out of the populous city men groan, And the soul of the wounded crieth out; Yet God imputeth it not for un- 13These are of them that rebel against the light; They know not the ways thereof, Nor abide in the paths thereof. 14The murderer nseth with the light, to kill the poor and needy; And in the night he is as a thief, 15The eye also of the adulterer waiteth for the twilight, Saying: 'No eye shall see me*; Ajid he putteth a covering on hip face.
16In the dark they dig through houses; They shut themselves up in the day-time; They know not the light.
17For the shadow of death is to all of them as the morning; For they know the terrors of the shadow of death.
18He is swift upon the face of the waters; Their portion is cursed in the earth; He turneth not by the way of the vineyards. "Drought and heat consume the snow waters; So doth the nether-world those that have sinned. 20The womb forgetteth him, the worm feedeth sweetly on him; He shall be no more remembered; And unrighteousness is broken as a tree. 21He devoureth the barren that beareth not; And doeth not good to the widow. ^He draweth away the mighty also by his power; He riseth up, and he trusteth not , his own life. ^Though it be given him to be in safety, whereon he resteth, Yet His eyes are upon their ways ^*They are exalted for a little while, and they are gone; Yea, they are brought low, they are gathered in as all others, And wither as the tops of the ears of corn. MAnd if it be not so now, who will prove me a liar, And make my speech nothing worth?
Then answered Bildad the Shu- hite, and said.
2Dominion and fear are with Him; He maketh peace in His high places. *Is there any number of His armies? And upon whom doth not His light arise?
4How then can man be just with God? Or how can he be clean that is born of a woman? 5Behold, even the moon hath no brightness, And the stars are not pure in His sight; 6How much less man, that is a worm' And the son of man, that is a maggot!
Then Job answered and said- 2How hast thou helped him that is without power! How hast thou saved the arm that hath no strength' 3How hast thou counselled him that hath no wisdom, And plentifully declared sound knowledge! 4With whose help hast thou uttered words? And whose spirit came forth from thee?
5The shades tremble Beneath the waters and the in- habitants thereof.
6The nether-world is naked before Him, And Destruction hath no covering.
7He stretche^h out the north over empty, space, And hangeth the earth over noth- ing.
8He bindeth up the waters in His thick clouds; And the cloud is not rent under them.
9He closeth in the face of His throne, And spreadeth His cloud upon it.
10He hath described a boundary upon the face of the waters, Unto the confines of light arid darkness.
JOB uThe pillars of heaven tremble And are astonished at His rebuke^ MHe stirreth up the sea with His power, And by His understanding He smitelh through Rahab. 13By His breath the heavens are serene; His hand hath pierced the slant serpent. 14Lo, these are but the outskirts of His ways; And how sma.ll a whisper is heard of Him!
But the thunder of His mighty deeds who can understand?
O'T And Job again took up his parable, and said: 2As God hveth, who hath taken away my right; And the Almighty, who hath dealt bitterly with me; 8Afl the while my breath is in me, And the spirit of God is in my nostrils, Purely my lips shall not speak un- righteousness, Nekher shall my tongue utter de- ceit; 5Far be it from me that I should justify you; Till I die I will not put away mine integrity from ine.
6My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go; My heart shall not reproach me so long as I live.
7Let mine enemy be as the wicked, And let him that riseth up against me be as the unrighteous. 8For what is the hope of the godless, though he get him gain, When God taketh away his soul? *Will God hear his cry, When trouble cometh upon him?
10Will he have his delight in the Al- mighty, And call upon God at all times? UI will teach you concerning the hand of God; That which is with the Almighty will I not conceal. ^Behold, all ye yourselves have seen it; Why then are ye become altogether vain? 13This is the portion of a wicked max* with God, And the heritage of oppressors, which they receive from the Al- mighty. 14If his children be multiplied, it is for the sword; And his offspring shall not have bread enough. 15Those that remain of him shall be buried by pestilence, And his widows shall make no lamen- tation. 16Though he heap up silver as the dust, And prepare raiment as the clay; 17He may prepare it, but the just shall put it on, And the innocent shall divide the silver.
18He buildeth his house as the moth, And as a booth which the keeper maketh. "He lieth down rich, but there shall be nought to gather; He openeth his eyes, and his wealth is not.
20Terrors overtake him like waters: A tempest stealeth him away in the night. 21The east wind carrieth him away, and he departeth; And it sweepeth him out of his place. ^Yea, it hurleth at him, and spareth not; He would fain flee from its power.
JOB shall clap their hands at him, And shall hiss him out of his place.
OQ For there is a mine for silver, ^ And a place for gold which they refine.
2Iron is taken out of the dust, And brass is molten out of the stone. 3Man setteth an end to darkness, And searcheth out to the furthest bound The stones of thick darkness and of the shadow of death. 4He breaketh open a shaft away from where men sojourn; They are forgotten of the foot that passeth by; They hang afar from men, they swing to and fro. 5As for the earth, out of it cometh bread, And underneath it is turned up as it were by fire, ^he stones thereof are the place of sapphires, And it hath dust of gold. 'That path no bird of prey knoweth, Neither hath the falcon's eye seen it; 8The proud beasts have not trod- den it, Nor hath the lion passed thereby* *He putteth forth his hand upon the flinty rock; He overturneth the mountains by the roots. 10He cutteth out channels among the rocks; And his eye seeth every precious thing. uHe bindeth the streams that they trickle not; And the thing that is hid bringeth he forth to light.
12But wisdom, where shall it be found? And where is the place of under- standing?
13Man knoweth not the price thereof; Neither is it found in the land of the living.
14The deep saith: 'It is not in me'; And the sea saith: 'It is not with me.'
15It cannot be gotten for gold, Neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof. 16It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, With the precious onyx, or the sap- phire.
17Gold and glass cannot equal it; Neither shall the exchange thereof be vessels of fine gold. 18No mention shall be made of coral or of crystal; Yea, the price of wisdom is above rubies. "The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, Neither shall it be valued with pure gold.
20Whence then cometh wisdom? And where is the place of under- standing? ^Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, And kept close from the fowls of the air.
^Destruction and Death say: 'We have heard a rumour thereof with our ears.'
23God understandeth the way there- of, And He knoweth the place thereof. wFor He looketh to the ends of the earth, And seeth under the whole heaven; *6When He maketh a weight for the wind, And meteth out the waters by measure.
26When Ho made a decree for the, rain, JOB And a way for the storm of thunders 27Then did He see it, and declare it He established it, yea, and searchec it out.
28And unto man He said 'Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; And to depart from evil is under- standing.'
OQ And Job again took up his parable, and said: 20h that I were as m the months oJ old, As in the days when God watchec over me; 3When His lamp shined above my head, And by His light I walked through darkness; 4As I was in the days of my youth, When the converse of God was upon my tent; 5When the Almighty was yet with me, And my children were about me; 6When my steps were washed with butter, And the rock poured me out rivers of ail! 7When I went forth to the gate unto the city, When I prepared my seat in the broad place, 8The young men saw me and hid themselves, And the aged rose up and stood; ^The princes refrained talking, And laid their hand on their mouth; 10The voice of the nobles was hushed, And their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth. "For when the ear heard me, then it blessed me, And when the eye saw me, it gave witness unto me; ^Because I delivered the poor that cried, The fatherless also, that had none to help him. 13The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me; And I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy. 14I put on righteousness, and it clothed itself with me; My justice was as a robe and a diadem. 15I was eyes to the blind, And feet was I to the lame. 16I was a father to the needy; And the cause of him that I knew not I searched out. nAnd I broke the jaws of the un- righteous, And plucked the prey out of his teeth. 18Then I said: 'I shall die with my nest, And I shall multiply my days as the phoenix; 19My root shall be spread out to the waters, And the dew shall lie all night upon my branch; 20My glory shall be fresh in me, And my bow shall be renewed in my hand.7 21Unto me men gave ear, and waited, And kept silence for my counsel. ^After my words they spoke not again; And my speech dropped upon them. 23 And they waited for me as for the rain; And they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain. 24If I laughed on them, they believed it not; And the light of my countenance they cast not down. 2ftl chose out their way, and eat as chief, JOB And dwelt as a king in the army, As one that comf orteth the mourn- ers.
O A But now they that are younger *^ than I have me in derision, Whose fathers I disdained to set with the dogs of my flock.
2Yea, the strength of their hands, whereto should it profit me?
Men in whom ripe age is perished.
3They are gaunt with want and famine; They gnaw the dry ground, in the gloom of wasteness and desola- tion.
^hey pluck salt-wort with worm- wood; And the roots of the broom are their food. ^ sThey are driven forth from the midst of men; They cry after them as after a thief.
6In the clefts of the valleys must they dwell, In holes of the earth and of the rocks.
'Among the bushes they bray; Under the nettles they are gathered together.
8They are children of churls, yea, children of ignoble men; They were scourged out of the land.
9And now I am become their song, Yea, I am a byword unto them. 10They abhor me, they flee far from And spare not to spit in my face. "For He hath loosed my cord, and afflicted me, And they have cast off the bridle before me.
12Upon my right hand rise the brood They entangle my feet, And they cast up against me their ways of destruction v 13They break up my path, They further my calamity, Even men that have no helper. 14As through a wide breach they come; In the midst of the ruin they roll themselves upon me. 15Terrors are turned upon me, They chase mine honour as the wind, And my welfare is passed away as a cloud 16And now my soul is poured out within me; Days of affliction have taken hold upon me. 17In the night my bones are pierced, and fall from me, And my sinews take no rest. 18By the groat force [of my disease] is my garment disfigured; It bindcth me about as the collar of my coat.
19He hath cast me into the mire, And I am become like dust^ and ashes. 20I cry unto Thee, and Thou dost not answer me; I stand up, and Thou lookest at me. 2lThou art turned to be cruel to mo With the might of Thy hand Thou hatcst me.
^Thou liftest me up to the wind, Thou oausest me to ride upon it; And Thou dissolvest my substance. 38For 1 know that Thou wilt bring mo to (loath, And to the house appointed for all living ^Surely none Hhall put forth his hand to a ruinous heap, Neither because of thowo things shall help come in one's calamity, 26If I have not wept for him that was in trouble, JOB And if my soul grieved not for the needy. 2(5Yet, when I looked for good, there came evil; And when I waited for light, there came darkness.
27Mine inwards boil, and rest not; Days of affliction are come upon me.
28I go mourning without the sun; I stand up in the assembly, and cry for help. 29I am become a brother to jackals, And a companion to ostriches. 30My skin is black, and falleth from me, And my bones are burned with heat. 31Therefore is my harp turned to mourning, And my pipe into the voice of them that weep.
Q1 I made a covenant with mine dl eyes; How then should I look upon a maid?
2For what would be the portion of God from above, And the heritage of the Almighty from on high?
3Is it not calamity to the unright- eous, And disaster to the workers of iniquity?
4Doth not He see my ways, And count all my steps?
5If I have walked with vanity, And my foot hath hasted to deceit— 6Let me be weighed in a just balance, That God may know mine integ- rity— 7If my step hath turned out of the way, And my heart walked after mine eyes, And if any spot hath cleaved to my hands; 8Then let me sow, and let another eat; Yea, let the produce of my field be rooted out.
9If my heart have been enticed unto a woman, And I have lain in wait at my neigh- bour's door; 10Then let my wife grind unto an- other, And let others bow down upon her. "For that were a heinous crime; Yea, it were an iniquity to be punished by the judges; 12For it is a fire that consumeth unto destruction, And would root out all mine in- crease.
13If I did despise the cause of my man-servant, Or of my maid-servant, when they contended with me — "What then shall I do when God riseth up? And when He remembereth, what shall I answer Him? 15Did not He that made me in the womb make him?
And did not One fashion us in the womb?
16If I have withheld aught that the poor desired, Or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail; 170r have eaten my morsel myself alone, And the fatherless hath not eaten thereof — 16Nay, from my youth he grew up with me as with a father, And I have been her guide from my mother's womb.
JOB 19If I have seen any wanderer in want of clothing, Or that the needy had no covering; 20If his loins have not blessed me, And if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep; 21If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, Because I saw my help in the gate; ^Then let my shoulder fall from the shoulder-blade, And mine arm be broken from the bone. MFor calamity from God was a terror tome, And by reason of His majesty I could do nothing. ^If I have made gold my hope, And have said to the fine gold 'Thou art my confidence'; I rejoiced because my wealth And because my hand had gotten much; 26If I beheld the sun when it shined, Or the moon walking in brightness; 27And my heart hath been secretly enticed, And my mouth hath kissed my hand; 28This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judges; For I should have lied to God that is above.
i9If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, Or exulted when evil found him — 30Yea, I suffered not my mouth to sm By asking his life with a curse. 31If the men of my tent said not: 'Who can find one that hath not been satisfied with his meat?' ^The stranger did not lodge in the street; My doors I opened to the roadside.
38If after the manner of men I covered my transgressions, By hiding mine iniquity in my bosom — ^Because I feared the great multi- tude, And the most contemptible among families terrified me, So that I kept silence, and went not out of the door.
35Oh that I had one to hear me' — Lo, here is my signature, let the Almighty answer me — And that I had the indictment which mine adversary hath writ- ten! 36Surely I would carry it upon my shoulder; I would bind it unto me as a crown. 37I would declare unto him the num- ber of my steps; As a prince would I go near unto him.
38If my land cry out against me, And the furrows thereof weep to- gether; 39If 1 have eaten the fruits thereof without money, Or have caused the tillers thereof to be disappointed — 40Let thistles grow instead of wheat, And noisome weeds instead of bar- ley.
The words of Job are ended.
^rce men ceased to an- swer Job, because he was right- eous in his own eyes. 2Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Rom; against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God. 3Also against his three JOB JOB friends was his wrath kindled, be- cause they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job. 4Now Elihu had waited to speak unto Job, be- cause they were older than he. 5And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, his wrath was kindled.
6And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said' I am young, and ye are very old, Wherefore I held back, and durst not declare you mine opinion.
7I said. 'Days should speak, And multitude of years should teach wisdom/ 8But it is a spirit in man, And the breath of the Almighty, that giveth them understanding.
9It is not the great that are wise, Nor the aged that discern judgment. 1 Therefore I say: 'Hearken to me; I also will declare mine opinion.7 "Behold, I waited for your words, I listened for your reasons, Whilst ye searched out what to say. 12Yea, I attended unto you, And, behold, there was none that convinced Job, Or that answered his words, among you. 13Beware lest ye say: ' We have found wisdom; God may vanquish him, not man!' 14For he hath not directed his words against me; Neither will I answer him with your speeches.
16They are amazed, they answer no more; Words are departed from them 16And shall I wait, because they speak not, Because they stand still, and answer no more?
17I also will answer- my part, I also will declare mine opinion. 18For I am full of words; The spirit within me.constraineth me. 19Behold, mine inwards are as wine which hath no vent; Like new wine-skins which are ready to burst. 20I will speak, that I may find relief; I will open my lips and answer. 21Let me not, I pray you, respect any man's person; Neither will I give flattering titles unto any man. ^For I know not to give flattering titles;, Else would my Maker soon take me away.
O Q Howbeit, Job, I pray thee, hear my speech, And hearken to all my words. * 2Behold now, I have opened my mouth, My tongue hath spoken in my mouth.
3My words shall utter the upright- ness of my heart; And that which my lips know they shall speak sincerely. 4The spirit of God hath made me, And the breath of the Almighty giveth me life.
6If thou canst, answer thou me, Set thy words in order before me, stand forth 6Behold, I am toward God even as thou art; I also am formed out of the clay. 7Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, Neither shall my pressure be heavy upon thee.
8Surely thou hast spoken in my hear- ing, JOB And I have heard the voice of thy words: gt I am clean, without transgression, I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me; 10Behold, He findeth occasions against me, He counteth me for His enemy; nHe putteth my feet in the stocks, He marketh all my paths.'
12Behold, I answer thee: In this thou art not right, That God is too great for man; 13Why hast thou striven against Hun? Seeing that He will not answer any of his words.
14For God speaketh in one way, Yea in two, though man perceiveth it not.
15In a dream, in a vision of the night, When deep sleep falleth upon men, In slumbermgs upon the bed; 16Then He openeth the ears of men, And by their chastisement seaieth the decree, l7That men may put away their purpose, And that He may hide pride from man; 18That He may keep back his soul from the pit, And his life from perishing by the sword. 19He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, And all his bones grow stiff; 20So that his life maketh him to abhor bread, And his soul dainty food. 2lHis flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; And his bones corrode to unsightliness. MYea, his soul drawcth near unto the And his life to the destroyers.
ttlf there be for him an angel, An intercessor, one among a thou- sand, To vouch for man's uprightness; ^hen He is gracious unto him, and saith: ' Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom/ 25His flesh is tenderer than a child's; He returneth to the days of his youth; 26He prayeth unto God, and He is favourable unto him; So that he see.th His face with joy; And He restoreth unto man his righteousness.
27He cometh before men, and saith 'I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, And it profited me not.' 28So He redeemeth his soul from going; into the pit, And his life beholdeth the light, 29Lo, all these things doth God work, Twice, yea thrice, with a man, 30To bring back his soul from the pitt That he may be enlightened with the light of the living.
3lMark well, 0 Job, hearken unto me; Hold thy peace, and I will speak. 32If thou hast any thing to say, an- swer me; Speak, for I desire to justify thee. 33If not, hearken thou unto me; Hold thy peace, and L will teach thee wisdom.
Moreover Elihu answered and said: 2Hear my words, ye wise men; And give ear unto mo, ye that have knowledge.
3For the car trioth words, As the palate ta«tcth food.
JOB 4Let us choose for us that which is right; Let us know among ourselves wha' is good.
8For Job hath said ' I am righteous And God hath taken away m; right; Notwithstanding my right I am accounted a liar; My wound is incurable, though '.
am without transgression.' HVhat man is like Job, Who drinketh up scorning like water? 8Who goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, And walketh with wicked men. 9For he hath said. 'It profiteth a man nothing That he should be in accord with God/ "Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: Far be it from God, that He should do wickedness; And from the Almighty, that He should commit iniquity. uFor the work of a man will He requite unto him, And cause every man to find ac- cording to his wa; 12Yea, of a surety, God will not do wickedly, - Neither will the Almighty pervert justice. 13Who gave Him a charge over the earth? Or who hath disposed the whole world?
14If He set His heart upon man, If He gather unto Himself his spirit and his breath; 15A11 flesh shall perish together, And man shall return unto dust.
16If now thou hast understanding, hear this; Hearken to the voice of my words. 17Shall even one that hateth right govern? And wilt thou condemn Him that is just and mighty — 18Is it fit to say to a king 'Thou art base'?
Or to nobles: 'Ye are wicked'? — 19That respecteth not the persons of princes, Nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? For they all are the work of His hands.
20In a moment they die, even at mid- night; The people* are shaken and pass away,, And the mighty are taken away without hand.
21For His eyes are upon the ways of a man, And He seeth all his goings. ^There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves. 23For He doth not appoint a time unto any man, When he should go before God in judgment. MHe breaketh in pieces mighty men without inquisition, And setteth others in their stead. "Therefore He taketh knowledge of their works; And He overturneth them in the night, so that they are crushed. 26He striketh them as wicked men In the open sight of others; "Because they turned aside from following Him, And would not have regard to any of His ways; "So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto Him, JOB ao.16 And He heareth the cry of the afflicted. *9When He giveth quietness, who then can condemn? And when He hideth His face, who then can behold Him? Whether it be done unto a nation, or unto a man, alike; 30That the godless man reign not, That there be none to > ensnare the people.
31For hath any said unto God: 'I have borne chastisement, though I offend not; ^That which I see not teach Thou me; If I have done iniquity, I will do it no more'? ^Shall His recompense be as thou wilt? For thou loathest it, So that thou must choose, and not I; Therefore speak what thou knowest. ^Men of understanding will say unto me, Yea, every wise man that heareth me: 35f Job speaketh without knowledge, And his words are without dis- cernment.' 36Would that Job were tried unto the end, Because of his answering like wicked men. 87For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, He clappeth his hands among us, And multiplieth his words against God.
3£ Moreover Elihu answered and 50 said: ^Thinkest thou this to be thy right, Or sayest thou: 'I am righteous before God', ^ 3That thou inquirest: 'What advan- tage will it be unto Thee?'
And: 'What profit shall I have, more than if I had sinned?'
4I will give thee answer, And thy companions with thee.
6Look unto the heavens, and see; And' behold the skies, which are higher than thou.
6If thou hast sinned, what doest thou against Him?
And if thy transgressions be multi- plied, what doest thou unto Him?