Study Desk

And Esther the queen, the daughter of Abihail, and Mardochai the Jew, wrote also a second epistle, that with all diligence this day should be established a festival for the time to come.

And how Mardochai of the race of the Jews, was next after king Assuerus: and great among the Jews, and acceptable to the people of his brethren, seeking the good of his people, and speaking those things which were for the welfare of his seed.

And when the days of their feasting were gone about, Job sent to them, and sanctified them: and rising up early, offered holocausts for every one of them. For he said: Lest perhaps my sons have sinned, and have blessed God in their hearts. So did Job all days.

Hast thou not made a fence for him, and his house, and all his substance round about, blessed the works of his hands, and his possession hath increased on the earth?

And Satan answered, and said: Skin for skin; and all that a man hath, he will give for his life:

Now when Job’s three friends heard all the evil that had befallen him, they came every one from his own place, Eliphaz, the Themanite, and Baldad, the Suhite, and Sophar, the Naamathite. For they had made an appointment to come together and visit him, and comfort him.

And they sat with him on the ground seven day and seven nights and no man spoke to him a word: for they saw that his grief was very great.

For now I should have been asleep and still, and should have rest in my sleep:

That look for death, and it cometh not, as they that dig for a treasure:

For the fear which I feared, hath come upon me: and that which I was afraid of, hath befallen me.

The tiger hath perished for want of prey, and the young lions are scattered abroad.

From morning till evening they shall be cut down: and because no one understandeth, they shall perish for ever.

For he woundeth, and cureth: he striketh, and his hands shall heal.

For the arrows of the Lord are in me, the rage whereof drinketh up my spirit, and the terrors of the Lord war against me.

Who will grant that my request may come: and that God may give me what I look for?

For what is my strength, that I can hold out? or what is my end, that I should keep patience?

Behold there is no help for me in myself, and my familiar friends also are departed from me.

As a servant longeth for the shade, as the hireling looketh for the end of his work;

If I lie down to sleep, I shall say: When shall I rise? and again, I shall look for the evening, and shall be filled with sorrows even till darkness.

I have done with hope, I shall now live no longer: spare me, for my days are nothing.