The ocean depths say, “It’s not in me,”
while the sea declares, “I don’t have it.”

Gold and glass do not compare with it,
and articles of fine gold cannot be exchanged for it.

But God understands the way to wisdom,
and He knows its location.

For He looks to the ends of the earth
and sees everything under the heavens.

He said to mankind,
“The fear of the Lord is this: wisdom.
And to turn from evil is understanding.”

When I went out to the city gate
and took my seat in the town square,

the young men saw me and withdrew,
while older men stood to their feet.

The noblemen’s voices were hushed,
and their tongues stuck to the roof of their mouths.

For I rescued the poor man who cried out for help,
and the fatherless child who had no one to support him.

I was eyes to the blind
and feet to the lame.

I was a father to the needy,
and I examined the case of the stranger.

So I thought: I will die in my own nest
and multiply my days as the sand.

My roots will have access to water,
and the dew will rest on my branches all night.

Men listened to me with expectation,
waiting silently for my advice.

After a word from me they did not speak again;
my speech settled on them like dew.

If I smiled at them, they couldn’t believe it;
they were thrilled at the light of my countenance.

But now they mock me,
men younger than I am,
whose fathers I would have refused to put
with my sheep dogs.

What use to me was the strength of their hands?
Their vigor had left them.

Foolish men, without even a name.
They were forced to leave the land.

Now I am mocked by their songs;
I have become an object of scorn to them.

They despise me and keep their distance from me;
they do not hesitate to spit in my face.

They tear up my path;
they contribute to my destruction,
without anyone to help them.

I cry out to You for help, but You do not answer me;
when I stand up, You merely look at me.

Yes, I know that You will lead me to death—
the place appointed for all who live.

Yet no one would stretch out his hand
against a ruined man
when he cries out to him for help
because of his distress.

I have become a brother to jackals
and a companion of ostriches.

Doesn’t disaster come to the unjust
and misfortune to evildoers?

If I have walked in falsehood
or my foot has rushed to deceit,

For it is a fire that consumes down to Abaddon;
it would destroy my entire harvest.

what could I do when God stands up to judge?
How should I answer Him when He calls me to account?

for from my youth, I raised him as his father,
and since the day I was born I guided the widow—

For disaster from God terrifies me,
and because of His majesty I could not do these things.

I have not allowed my mouth to sin
by asking for his life with a curse.

Haven’t the members of my household said,
“Who is there who has not had enough to eat at Job’s table?”

No stranger had to spend the night on the street,
for I opened my door to the traveler.

Have I covered my transgressions as others do
by hiding my guilt in my heart,

If only I had someone to hear my case!
Here is my signature; let the Almighty answer me.
Let my Opponent compose His indictment.

He was also angry at Job’s three friends because they had failed to refute him and yet had condemned him.

Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were all older than he.

So Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite replied:

I am young in years,
while you are old;
therefore I was timid and afraid
to tell you what I know.

It is not only the old who are wise
or the elderly who understand how to judge.

Therefore I say, “Listen to me.
I too will declare what I know.”

Look, I waited for your conclusions;
I listened to your insights
as you sought for words.

I paid close attention to you.
Yet no one proved Job wrong;
not one of you refuted his arguments.

So do not claim, “We have found wisdom;
let God deal with him, not man.”

But Job has not directed his argument to me,
and I will not respond to him with your arguments.

Should I continue to wait now that they are silent,
now that they stand there and no longer answer?

I too will answer;
yes, I will tell what I know.

For I am full of words,
and my spirit compels me to speak.

My heart is like unvented wine;
it is about to burst like new wineskins.

I will be partial to no one,
and I will not give anyone an undeserved title.

For I do not know how to give such titles;
otherwise, my Maker would remove me in an instant.

But now, Job, pay attention to my speech,
and listen to all my words.

I am going to open my mouth;
my tongue will form words on my palate.

But He finds reasons to oppose me;
He regards me as His enemy.

Why do you take Him to court
for not answering anything a person asks?

in order to turn a person from his actions
and suppress his pride.

His flesh wastes away to nothing,
and his unseen bones stick out.

He draws near to the Pit,
and his life to the executioners.

If there is an angel on his side,
one mediator out of a thousand,
to tell a person what is right for him

and to be gracious to him and say,
“Spare him from going down to the Pit;
I have found a ransom,”

then his flesh will be healthier than in his youth,
and he will return to the days of his youthful vigor.

He will pray to God, and God will delight in him.
That man will see His face with a shout of joy,
and God will restore his righteousness to him.

He redeemed my soul from going down to the Pit,
and I will continue to see the light.”

God certainly does all these things
two or three times to a man

in order to turn him back from the Pit,
so he may shine with the light of life.

Pay attention, Job, and listen to me.
Be quiet, and I will speak.

But if you have something to say, answer me;
speak, for I would like to justify you.

If not, then listen to me;
be quiet, and I will teach you wisdom.

Hear my words, you wise men,
and listen to me, you knowledgeable ones.

Doesn’t the ear test words
as the palate tastes food?

Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding.
It is impossible for God to do wrong,
and for the Almighty to act unjustly.

For He repays a person according to his deeds,
and He brings his ways on him.

If He put His mind to it
and withdrew the spirit and breath He gave,

every living thing would perish together
and mankind would return to the dust.

If you have understanding, hear this;
listen to what I have to say.

who says to a king, “Worthless man!”
and to nobles, “Wicked men!”?

God is not partial to princes
and does not favor the rich over the poor,
for they are all the work of His hands.

They die suddenly in the middle of the night;
people shudder, then pass away.
Even the mighty are removed without effort.

God does not need to examine a person further,
that one should approach Him in court.

but caused the poor to cry out to Him,
and He heard the outcry of the afflicted.

Suppose someone says to God,
“I have endured my punishment;
I will no longer act wickedly.

Teach me what I cannot see;
if I have done wrong, I won’t do it again.”

Reasonable men will say to me,
along with the wise men who hear me,

If only Job were tested to the limit,
because his answers are like those of wicked men.

For he adds rebellion to his sin;
he scornfully claps in our presence,
while multiplying his words against God.

Do you think it is just when you say,
“I am righteous before God”?

For you ask, “What does it profit You,
and what benefit comes to me, if I do not sin?”

If you sin, how does it affect God?
If you multiply your transgressions, what does it do to Him?

If you are righteous, what do you give Him,
or what does He receive from your hand?

Indeed, God does not listen to empty cries,
and the Almighty does not take note of it—

how much less when you complain
that you do not see Him,
that your case is before Him
and you are waiting for Him.

But now, because God’s anger does not punish
and He does not pay attention to transgression,

Be patient with me a little longer, and I will inform you,
for there is still more to be said on God’s behalf.

I will get my knowledge from a distant place
and ascribe justice to my Maker.

He does not keep the wicked alive,
but He gives justice to the afflicted.

He opens their ears to correction
and insists they repent from iniquity.

But if they do not obey,
they will cross the river of death
and die without knowledge.

Those who have a godless heart harbor anger;
even when God binds them, they do not cry for help.

They die in their youth;
their life ends among male cult prostitutes.