Study Desk

They might feel safe and secure, but God is watching how they live.

They might be successful for a while, but then they will be gone. Like everyone else, they will be cut down like grain.'

But God can see clearly into that place of death. Death is not hidden from God.

He fills the thick clouds with water. But he does not let its heavy weight break the clouds open.

"God All-Powerful has been unfair to me; he has made my life bitter. But I swear by his life,

But you have seen it all with your own eyes. So why do you say such useless things?

They may have many children, but all of them will be killed in war. Or their children will not have enough to eat.

But their piles of clothes will be worn by those who have lived right. All that silver will be given to those who have done no wrong.

Evil people might build houses, but they will not last long. They will be like a spider's web or a guard's tent.

They might be rich when they go to bed, but when they open their eyes, all their riches will be gone.

They may try to run away from the power of the storm, but it will come down on them without mercy.

Food grows on the ground above. But underground it is different, as if everything were melted by fire.

"But where can anyone find wisdom? Where can we get understanding?

"But now men younger than I make fun of me— men whose fathers were too worthless to put with my sheep dogs.

"God, I cry out to you for help, but you don't answer. I stand up and pray, but you don't pay attention to me.

But when I hoped for good, trouble came instead. When I looked for light, darkness came.

But I didn't do any of these bad things. I fear God's punishment too much. His majesty scares me.

I have been wealthy, but that didn't make me proud. I earned a lot of money, but that is not what made me happy.

But there was a young man there named Elihu son of Barakel. He was a descendant of a man named Buz. Elihu was from the family of Ram. He became very angry because Job kept saying he was innocent—that he was right and God was wrong.

But when he saw that Job's three friends had nothing more to say, his anger forced him to speak.