“Behold now, I have prepared my case;
I know that I will be vindicated.

While I am decaying like a rotten thing,
Like a garment that is moth-eaten.

“Since his days are determined,
The number of his months is with You;
And his limits You have set so that he cannot pass.

“Turn Your gaze from him that he may rest,
Until he fulfills his day like a hired man.

“For there is hope for a tree,
When it is cut down, that it will sprout again,
And its shoots will not fail.

“Oh that You would hide me in Sheol,
That You would conceal me until Your wrath returns to You,
That You would set a limit for me and remember me!

“What do you know that we do not know?
What do you understand that we do not?

That you should turn your spirit against God
And allow such words to go out of your mouth?

“What is man, that he should be pure,
Or he who is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?

“He does not believe that he will return from darkness,
And he is destined for the sword.

“He wanders about for food, saying, ‘Where is it?’
He knows that a day of darkness is at hand.

“Is there no limit to windy words?
Or what plagues you that you answer?

“O that a man might plead with God
As a man with his neighbor!

“Lay down, now, a pledge for me with Yourself;
Who is there that will be my guarantor?

Know then that God has wronged me
And has closed His net around me.

“He has walled up my way so that I cannot pass,
And He has put darkness on my paths.

“Oh that my words were written!
Oh that they were inscribed in a book!

“That with an iron stylus and lead
They were engraved in the rock forever!

“As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives,
And at the last He will take His stand on the earth.

“Then be afraid of the sword for yourselves,
For wrath brings the punishment of the sword,
So that you may know there is judgment.”

That the triumphing of the wicked is short,
And the joy of the godless momentary?

“Bear with me that I may speak;
Then after I have spoken, you may mock.

‘Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him,
And what would we gain if we entreat Him?’

“You say, ‘God stores away a man’s iniquity for his sons.’
Let God repay him so that he may know it.

“Can anyone teach God knowledge,
In that He judges those on high?

“Is it because of your reverence that He reproves you,
That He enters into judgment against you?

Or darkness, so that you cannot see,
And an abundance of water covers you.

‘Clouds are a hiding place for Him, so that He cannot see;
And He walks on the vault of heaven.’

“Oh that I knew where I might find Him,
That I might come to His seat!

“But He is unique and who can turn Him?
And what His soul desires, that He does.

How much less man, that maggot,
And the son of man, that worm!”

“Far be it from me that I should declare you right;
Till I die I will not put away my integrity from me.

“Coral and crystal are not to be mentioned;
And the acquisition of wisdom is above that of pearls.

“And to man He said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom;
And to depart from evil is understanding.’”

“Oh that I were as in months gone by,
As in the days when God watched over me;

So that they dwell in dreadful valleys,
In holes of the earth and of the rocks.

“For I know that You will bring me to death
And to the house of meeting for all living.

“For that would be a lustful crime;
Moreover, it would be an iniquity punishable by judges.

“For it would be fire that consumes to Abaddon,
And would uproot all my increase.

If I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing,
Or that the needy had no covering,

That too would have been an iniquity calling for judgment,
For I would have denied God above.

“Oh that I had one to hear me!
Behold, here is my signature;
Let the Almighty answer me!
And the indictment which my adversary has written,

And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of the three men his anger burned.

“Let me speak that I may get relief;
Let me open my lips and answer.

“Why do you complain against Him
That He does not give an account of all His doings?

That He may turn man aside from his conduct,
And keep man from pride;

So that his life loathes bread,
And his soul favorite food.

Then he will pray to God, and He will accept him,
That he may see His face with joy,
And He may restore His righteousness to man.

To bring back his soul from the pit,
That he may be enlightened with the light of life.

“For He does not need to consider a man further,
That he should go before God in judgment.

So that they caused the cry of the poor to come to Him,
And that He might hear the cry of the afflicted—

When He keeps quiet, who then can condemn?
And when He hides His face, who then can behold Him,
That is, in regard to both nation and man?—

So that godless men would not rule
Nor be snares of the people.

“Wait for me a little, and I will show you
That there is yet more to be said in God’s behalf.

Then He declares to them their work
And their transgressions, that they have magnified themselves.

“He opens their ear to instruction,
And commands that they return from evil.

“Then indeed, He enticed you from the mouth of distress,
Instead of it, a broad place with no constraint;
And that which was set on your table was full of fatness.

“Beware that wrath does not entice you to scoffing;
And do not let the greatness of the ransom turn you aside.

“Remember that you should exalt His work,
Of which men have sung.

“Listen closely to the thunder of His voice,
And the rumbling that goes out from His mouth.

“He seals the hand of every man,
That all men may know His work.

“It changes direction, turning around by His guidance,
That it may do whatever He commands it
On the face of the inhabited earth.

“Shall it be told Him that I would speak?
Or should a man say that he would be swallowed up?

“Who is this that darkens counsel
By words without knowledge?

That it might take hold of the ends of the earth,
And the wicked be shaken out of it?

That you may take it to its territory
And that you may discern the paths to its home?

“Where is the way that the light is divided,
Or the east wind scattered on the earth?

“Can you lift up your voice to the clouds,
So that an abundance of water will cover you?

“Can you send forth lightnings that they may go
And say to you, ‘Here we are’?

“Will you have faith in him that he will return your grain
And gather it from your threshing floor?

And she forgets that a foot may crush them,
Or that a wild beast may trample them.

“Is it by your understanding that the hawk soars,
Stretching his wings toward the south?

“Is it at your command that the eagle mounts up
And makes his nest on high?

“Will you really annul My judgment?
Will you condemn Me that you may be justified?

“Then I will also confess to you,
That your own right hand can save you.

“No one is so fierce that he dares to arouse him;
Who then is he that can stand before Me?

“Who has given to Me that I should repay him?
Whatever is under the whole heaven is Mine.

“One is so near to another
That no air can come between them.

“The sword that reaches him cannot avail,
Nor the spear, the dart or the javelin.

“He looks on everything that is high;
He is king over all the sons of pride.”

“I know that You can do all things,
And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.

‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’
Therefore I have declared that which I did not understand,
Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.”

It came about after the Lord had spoken these words to Job, that the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My wrath is kindled against you and against your two friends, because you have not spoken of Me what is right as My servant Job has.

Now therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, and go to My servant Job, and offer up a burnt offering for yourselves, and My servant Job will pray for you. For I will accept him so that I may not do with you according to your folly, because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.”

The Lord restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his friends, and the Lord increased all that Job had twofold.

Then all his brothers and all his sisters and all who had known him before came to him, and they ate bread with him in his house; and they consoled him and comforted him for all the adversities that the Lord had brought on him. And each one gave him one piece of money, and each a ring of gold.

Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way,
For His wrath may soon be kindled.
How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!

But know that the Lord has set apart the godly man for Himself;
The Lord hears when I call to Him.

But let all who take refuge in You be glad,
Let them ever sing for joy;
And may You shelter them,
That those who love Your name may exult in You.

The Lord judges the peoples;
Vindicate me, O Lord, according to my righteousness and my integrity that is in me.

What is man that You take thought of him,
And the son of man that You care for him?

That I may tell of all Your praises,
That in the gates of the daughter of Zion
I may rejoice in Your salvation.

Put them in fear, O Lord;
Let the nations know that they are but men. Selah.

To vindicate the orphan and the oppressed,
So that man who is of the earth will no longer cause terror.

May the Lord cut off all flattering lips,
The tongue that speaks great things;

Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion!
When the Lord restores His captive people,
Jacob will rejoice, Israel will be glad.

You have tried my heart;
You have visited me by night;
You have tested me and You find nothing;
I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress.

He is like a lion that is eager to tear,
And as a young lion lurking in hiding places.

He trains my hands for battle,
So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

I shattered them, so that they were not able to rise;
They fell under my feet.