"As for me, I know that my Vindicator is alive; And he, the Last One, will take his stand on the soil.

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."

"When you're thinking about asking yourselves, "How will we pursue him, since the root of the problem is with him?'

Whenever I hear an insulting rebuke, I respond from my spirit because I understand."

"Haven't you known this from ancient times, since mankind was placed on the earth?

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

He'll vanish like a dream, and no one will find him; he will be chased away like a night vision."

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

Though his bones were full of youthful vigor; yet they will lie down with him in the dust.

Though evil tastes sweet in his mouth, though he conceals it under his tongue,

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.

He won't look at the rivers the torrents of honey and curd.

"He will restore what he has attained from his work and won't consume it; he won't enjoy the profits from his business transactions,

"Since his appetite won't quit; he won't let anything escape his lust.

Because nothing was left for him to devour, therefore his prosperity won't last.

Even though he is satiated and self-sufficient, he suffers everyone in any sort of trouble will attack him.

"It will come about that, when he has filled himself to the full, God will vent his burning anger on him; he will pour it out on him and on his body.

Though he dodges an iron weapon, a bronze arrow will pierce him.

"Total darkness has been reserved for his treasures; a fire that has no need to be kindled will devour him and consume whatever remains in his possession.

A flood will wash away his house; dragging it away when God becomes angry.

In response, Job said:

When I think about this, I'm petrified with terror and my body shudders uncontrollably."

"Why do the wicked live to reach old age and increase in power and wealth, too?

They grow old in prosperity, as they descend peacefully into the afterlife.

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

Behold! Their prosperity isn't in their control! The counsel of the wicked will remain far from me."

"How often do the wicked have their lights put out? Does calamity ever fall on them? Will God in his anger ever apportion their destruction?

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

What will they care for their household after them, when the number of his months comes to an end?"

Such persons will die in their full vigor, completely prosperous and secure.

They both lie down in the dust; and worms cover them."

Haven't you asked travelers on the highway? Don't you accept their word

that the wicked person is spared from times of calamity, that he is rescued on the day of wrath?

when he is carried away to the cemetery and guardians are placed to watch his tomb?

Then in response, Eliphaz from Teman said:

Will he acquit you just because you fear him, and render a verdict on your behalf?

The land belongs to the powerful, and the privileged thrive in it.

"Isn't God in heaven above? Consider how far away the stars are, and how lofty they are!

"Will you keep walking on the traditional path that sinners have tread,

who were snatched away before their time; when their foundation was swept away by a river?

Accept what he has to teach you, and treasure his words in your heart.

Bury your gold nuggets in the dust, and your source of gold among the stones in a streambed,

"Then you'll take delight in the Almighty; and will turn your face toward God.

When you make a decision on something, it will be established for you, and light will brighten your way.

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

In that place, the upright can reason with him; and I'll be acquitted once and for all by my judge."

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

Because he knows the road on which I travel, when he had tested me, I'll come out like gold.

My feet stay where his footsteps lead; I kept on his pathway and haven't turned aside.

I haven't wandered away from the commands that he has spoken; I've treasured what he has said more than my own meals."

"But he is One who can change him? He does whatever he wants to do.

He'll complete what he has planned for me; he has many things in mind for me!

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

Nevertheless, I haven't been silenced because of the darkness, even when thick darkness obscures my vision."

"Look! Like wild donkeys in the wilderness, they work diligently as they seek wild game in the desert, food for them and their young ones.

They reap fodder in the field and glean in the vineyard of the wicked.

From the city, dying men groan aloud, and the wounded cries out for help, but God charges no one with wrong.

"Then there are those who rebel against the light; they are not acquainted with its ways; and they don't stay on its course.

They break into houses in the dark; during the day they remained sealed in. They don't know daylight.

As a group, deep darkness is their morning time; fear that lives in darkness is their friend."

"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.

The womb will forget them. Maggots will find them to be a delicacy! They won't be remembered anymore, their iniquity will be cut to pieces like firewood.

"They prey on the barren woman, and do no favors for widows.

God prolongs the life of the strong by his power, but they get up in the morning without purpose in life.

"Dominion and fear belong to God; who fashions peace in his high heaven.

Is there any limit to his armies? On whom does his light not shine?

Behold, even the moon isn't bright, and the stars aren't pure in his eyes.

In reply, Job responded:

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

I won't speak lies nor will I utter deceit.

I'll retain my righteousness and not compromise it; my conscience won't rebuke me at any time.

For where is the hope of the godless when he is eliminated; when God takes away his life?

Will God hear his cry when distress overtakes him?

Will he take delight in the Almighty? Will he call on God at all times?"

"I'll teach you about the power of God, that which is with the Almighty I won't conceal.

If he has many children, their destiny is to die by the sword, and his descendants won't have enough food.

Those who do survive him disease will bury, and his widow won't even weep.

He will go to bed wealthy, but won't be doing that anymore! When he opens his eyes, it will be gone!

Mankind limits the darkness as they search the deepest depths for ore in unfathomable darkness.

He sinks his shaft far from human habitations, in a place forgotten by explorers; they hang on harnesses as they swing back and forth.

Mankind doesn't appreciate their value; and you won't find it anywhere on earth.

You can't buy it with gold, and its value cannot be calculated in silver.

It can neither be compared with the topaz of Ethiopia nor valued in comparison to pure gold."

It has been concealed from the sight of every living creature and hidden even from the birds in the skies.

He set in place ordinances for the rain; and determined the pathway for thunder that accompanies lightning.

Then he looked at wisdom, and fixed it in place; he established it, and also examined it.

"I wish I could go back to how things were a few months ago; when God used to watch over me,

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

like when I was in my prime and God trusted me with his secrets!

"Whenever I went out to the city gate, a seat had been reserved for me in the plaza.

The voices of the commanders-in-chief were hushed, and their tongues would cling to the roofs of their mouths."

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

because I delivered the poor who were crying for help, along with orphans who had no one to help them.

I put on righteousness like clothing; my just decisions were like a robe and a turban.

"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.

My roots have spread out and have found water, and dew settles at night on my branches.

My glory renews for me and my bow is as good as new in my hand.'

"They listened and waited for me, as they remained in silence for my counsel.