Study Desk

"But I wish to speak to the All-powerful. I want to argue with God.

But you cover things with lies. You are doctors of no worth.

But with water it will grow. Branches will grow from it like a plant.

But man dies and is laid low. Man dies, and where is he?

"But the mountain falls and breaks apart to nothing. The rock moves from its place.

His sons receive honor, but he does not know it. Or they lose honor, but he does not see it.

But now God has taken away my strength. He has taken away all my family.

I was living in comfort, but He has taken that away. He has taken hold of me by the neck and shaken me to pieces. He has set me up for something to shoot at.

But my hands have done nothing bad, and my prayer is pure.

"But He has made me an object of shame to the people. Men spit on me.

But the one who is right with God will hold to his way. And he who has clean hands will become stronger and stronger.

But all of you try again, and I will not find a wise man among you.

"See, I cry, ‘Someone is hurting me!' but I get no answer. I call for help, but no one stands for what is right and fair.

I call to my servant, but he does not answer. I have to beg him.

But as for me, I know that the One Who bought me and made me free from sin lives, and that He will stand upon the earth in the end.

His bones are full of the strength of the young, but it will lie down with him in the dust.

He eats riches, but will spit them up. God will take them out of his stomach.

He may get away from the iron sword, but the brass bow will shoot an arrow in him.

But you were a powerful and respected man owning land and living on it.

Yet He filled their houses with good things. But the wisdom of the sinful is far from me.