Even if it's true that I've erred, my error only affects me.

He blocked my path, so I cannot pass; and he turned out the lights on my pathways.

He is breaking me down on every side, and now it's too late for me; he has uprooted my hopes like a tree.

My wife says my breath stinks; even my children say I smell bad!

"Be gracious to me, be gracious to me, my friends, because God's hand has struck me.

Even after my skin has been destroyed, clothed in my flesh I will see God,

whom I will see for myself. My own eyes will look at him there won't be anyone else for me! He is the culmination of my innermost desire."

Make sure that you remain wary of God's sword, for God's wrath brings with it the sword of punishment, by which you'll know there's a judgment."

he'll perish forever, like his own excrement; those who saw him will ask, "Where is he?'

"An eye that gazes at him won't do so again; and his place won't even recognize him.

though he savors it and delays swallowing it so he can taste it again and again in his mouth,

his food will turn rancid in his stomach it will become a cobra's poison inside him.

After all, isn't my complaint against a human being? If so, why shouldn't I be impatient?

Their children grow up while they're alive, and they live to see their grandchildren.

Their houses are safe from fear, and God's chastisement never visits them.

"They say to God, "Turn away from us! We have no desire to know your ways.

Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? Where's the profit in talking to him?'

May they become like a straw, blown away before the wind; like a chaff that's swept off by a storm.

God stores up their iniquity to repay their children; making them repay so that they may be aware.

Their own eyes will see their destruction; and they'll drink the wrath of the Almighty.

You ask, "Where is the noble person's house?' and "Where are the tents where the wicked live?'

How then, can you console me so worthlessly? What is left of your answers is treachery."

Your wickedness is great, isn't it? There's no limit to your iniquity, is there?

That's why disaster surrounds you, terror suddenly overwhelms you,

you see nothing but darkness, and a flood of troubles drowns you."

Thick clouds cover him so he can't see as he walks back and forth at heaven's horizon.

The righteous will see this and rejoice; the innocent will insult him, saying,

"Our enemies are sure to be destroyed, and fire will burn up what's left of their riches."

"For when they're humbled, you may respond; "It's their pride!' but he delivers the humble.

Job's response was to say:

If he's working in the north, I can't observe him; If he turns south, I can't see him.

That's why I'm terrified at his presence! When I think about it, I'm afraid of him.

They drive away the orphan's donkey; they take the ox of the widow as security for a loan;

"They remain only a short time on the water's surface; their inheritance will be cursed in the land; no one will work in their vineyards.

As drought and heat evaporate melting snow, that's what Sheol does with sinners.

If this weren't so, who can prove that I'm a liar by showing that there's nothing to what I'm saying?"

How much less is man, who is only a maggot, or a man's children, who are only worms!"

What counsel you provide to the fool! What insight you provide so abundantly!

Who helped you say all of this? Who inspired you?"

By his power he disturbs the sea; and with his skill he shatters the sea monster.

As long as I can breathe; as long as God's breath is in my nostrils,

Look! All of you have been watching, so why have you become so completely worthless?

"He has built his house like a moth's cocoon, like a temporary sunshade that a watchman makes.

"Where can wisdom be found? Where is understanding's home?

The deepest ocean says, "It's not within me.' and the sea says, "You'll never find it with me.'

when his lamp used to shine over my head, so I could walk through the dark,

The young men would see me and withdraw, and the aged would rise and stand.

"When people heard me speak, they blessed me; when people saw me, they approved me,

"I used to say: "I will die in my home. I'm going to live as many days as there are grains of sand on the shore.

After I spoke, they had nothing to say, when what I said hit them.

"Now, I've become the object of their mocking melodies; I'm nothing but a fool's proverb to them!

But God has loosened his cord and afflicted me; so they've cast off all restraints in my presence.

I know that you're about to kill me, so I'm about to go to the house that's appointed for all the living."

If I have stepped away from the way, or if my heart covets whatever my eyes see, or if some other blemish clings to my hands,

"If my heart has been seduced by a woman and I've laid in wait at my friend's door,

so that in the depths of my deceived heart I worshipped them with my mouth and hands,

Have I feared large crowds? Has my family's contempt ever terrified me so that I remained silent and wouldn't go outside?"

"Who will grant me a hearing? Here's my signature let the Almighty answer! Since my adversary indicted me,

may thorns spring up instead of wheat, and obnoxious weeds instead of barley." With this, Job's discourse with his friends is completed.

But then Barachel's son Elihu from Buz, one of Ram's descendants, got really angry. He was furious with Job because he had been declaring himself righteous instead of vindicating God.

but when he saw that there had been no response from those three, he got even more angry.

Barachel's son Elihu from Buz responded and said: "I'm younger than you are. Because you're older, I was terrified to tell you what I know.

However, a spirit exists in mankind, and the Almighty's breath gives him insight."

"Look! I have waited to hear your speech, so I listened to your insights while you searched for the right words to say.

"So that you cannot claim, "We have found wisdom!' let God do the rebuking, not man;

"Job's friends won't reason with him anymore; discouraged, words escape them.

because I'm filled with things to say, and my spirit within me compels me to speak.

My insides feel like unvented wine, like it's about to burst like a new wineskin.

"Now please listen to what I have to say, Job. Listen to every word!

"You spoke clearly so I could hear; I've heard what you've said:

That's when he opens the ear of mankind, authenticating his messages to them,

"If there's a messenger appointed to mediate for Job one out of a thousand to represent the man's integrity on his behalf,

He has redeemed my soul from going down to the Pit; my life will see the light.'

If you have anything to say, answer me; speak up, because I'd be happy to vindicate you.

But if you have nothing to say, then at least listen to me! Be quiet and learn some wisdom from me."

"Listen to what I have to say, you wise men! Pay attention to me, you educated people!

let's choose what's right for us. Let's consider among ourselves what is good."

Now this is Job's claim: "Even though I'm innocent, God has stopped treating me righteously.

Because he says, "There's no profit for a man to find joy with God.'"

because he repays a person for his behavior; and according to a person's conduct, he lets it happen to him.

If he were to decide to do so, that is, to take back to himself his spirit and breath of life,

If you have understanding, listen to this! Pay attention to what I have to say:

Can one say to a king, "You're vile!' or to nobles, "You're wicked!'?

There's no such thing as darkness to him not even deep darkness that can conceal those who practice evil.

"If he remains silent, who will condemn him? If he conceals his face, who can see him? He watches over both nation and individual alike,

What I don't see, instruct me! If I've done anything evil, I won't repeat it!'

Job has been speaking from his own ignorance, and what he has to say lacks insight!

"Are you saying that it's just for you to claim, "I'm more righteous than God?'

who teaches us more than the earth's wild animals, and makes us wiser than the birds of the sky?'

Even though you complain that you can't perceive him, your case is already pending for judgment in his presence so keep on placing your hope in him.

"So now, if he doesn't inflict punishment in his anger, then he doesn't keep track of your many transgressions.

"Be patient with me a moment longer, and I'll show you that there's more to say on God's behalf.

because what I have to say isn't deceptive, and the one who has perfect knowledge is with you."

So that no one entices you with riches, don't let a large ransom turn you astray.

He scatters his lightning above it, and covers the bottom of the sea.

"Now I'll conclude with this: my heart is trembling violently; it feels like it's about to leap from my body!

Tell us! What are we to say to him? Can we prepare our case to face him when our faces are in darkness?

"So then, the sun is too bright to gaze at, is it not? The sky is swept clean by the wind that blows, is it not?

"Who is this who keeps darkening my counsel without knowing what he's talking about?

"Where were you when I laid the foundation of my earth? Tell me, since you're so informed!