Study Desk

Wisdom and strength belong to God; counsel and understanding are His.^(j)

Whatever He tears down cannot be rebuilt; whoever He imprisons cannot be released.^(k)

When He withholds the waters, everything dries up, and when He releases them, they destroy the land.^(l)

True wisdom and power belong to Him. The deceived and the deceiver are His.

He leads counselors away barefoot and makes judges go mad.^(m)

He releases the bonds^[e] put on by kings⁽ⁿ⁾ and fastens a belt around their waists.

He leads priests away barefoot and overthrows established leaders.^(o)

He deprives trusted advisers of speech and takes away the elders' good judgment.

He pours out contempt on nobles and disarms^[f] the strong.

He reveals mysteries from the darkness and brings the deepest darkness into the light.^(p)

He makes nations great, then destroys them; He enlarges nations,^(q) then leads them away.

He deprives the world's leaders of reason, and makes them wander in a trackless wasteland.^(r)

They grope around in darkness without light; He makes them stagger like drunken men.^(s)

Look, my eyes have seen all this; my ears^(a) have heard and understood it.

Everything you know, I also know; I am not inferior to you.^(b)

Yet I prefer to speak to the Almighty and argue my case before God.^(c)

But you coat the truth with lies; you are all worthless doctors.^(d)

If only you would shut up and let that be your wisdom!

Hear now my argument, and listen to my defense.^[a]

Would you testify unjustly on God's behalf or speak deceitfully for Him?

Would you show partiality^(e) to Him or argue the case in His defense?

Would it go well if He examined you? Could you deceive Him as you would deceive a man?^(f)

Surely He would rebuke you if you secretly showed partiality.

Would God's majesty not terrify you?^(g) Would His dread not fall on you?

Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ash;^(h) your defenses are made of clay.

Be quiet,^[b] and I will speak. Let whatever comes happen to me.

Why do I put myself at risk^[c] and take my life in my own hands?

Even if He kills me, I will hope in Him.^[d] I will still defend⁽ⁱ⁾ my ways before Him.

Yes, this will result in my deliverance, for no godless person^(j) can appear before Him.

Pay close attention to my words; let my declaration ring in your ears.

Now then, I have prepared my case;^(k) I know that I am right.

Can anyone indict me? If so, I will be silent and die.

Only grant these two things to me, God, so that I will not have to hide from Your presence:

remove Your hand from me, and do not let Your terror frighten me.^(l)

Then call, and I will answer,^(m) or I will speak, and You can respond to me.

How many iniquities⁽ⁿ⁾ and sins have I committed?^[e] Reveal to me my transgression and sin.

Why do You hide Your face and consider me Your enemy?^(o)

Will You frighten a wind-driven leaf? Will You chase after dry straw?

For You record bitter accusations against me and make me inherit the iniquities of my youth.

You put my feet in the stocks and stand watch over all my paths, setting a limit for the soles^[f] of my feet.

Man wears out like something rotten, like a moth-eaten garment.^(p)

Man born of woman is short of days and full of trouble.^(a)

He blossoms like a flower, then withers;^(b) he flees like a shadow and does not last.

Do You really take notice of one like this? Will You bring me into judgment against You?^[a](c)

Who can produce something pure from what is impure? No one!

Since man's days are determined and the number of his months depends on You, and since You have set^[b] limits he cannot pass,^(d)

look away from him and let him rest so that he can enjoy his day like a hired hand.^(e)

There is hope for a tree: If it is cut down, it will sprout again, and its shoots will not die.

If its roots grow old in the ground and its stump starts to die in the soil,

the smell of water makes it thrive and produce twigs like a sapling.^(f)

But a man dies and fades away; he breathes his last—where is he?

As water disappears from the sea and a river becomes parched and dry,

so man lies down never to rise again. They will not wake up until the heavens are no more;^(g) they will not stir from their sleep.

If only You would hide me in Sheol^(h) and conceal me until Your anger⁽ⁱ⁾ passes. If only You would appoint a time for me and then remember me.

When a man dies, will he come back to life? If so, I would wait^(j) all the days of my struggle^(k) until my relief comes.

You would call, and I would answer You. You would long for the work of Your hands.^(l)

For then You would count my steps^(m) but would not take note⁽ⁿ⁾ of my sin.

My rebellion would be sealed up in a bag, and You would cover over my iniquity.

But as a mountain collapses and crumbles and a rock is dislodged from its place,

as water wears away stones and torrents wash away the soil from the land, so You destroy a man's hope.^(o)

You completely overpower him, and he passes on; You change his appearance and send him away.

If his sons receive honor, he does not know it; if they become insignificant, he is unaware of it.^(p)

He feels only the pain of his own body and mourns only for himself.

Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:

Does a wise man answer with empty^[a] counsel^(a) or fill himself^[b] with the hot east wind?

Should he argue^(b) with useless talk or with words that serve no good purpose?

But you even undermine the fear of God and hinder meditation before Him.

Your iniquity^(c) teaches you what to say, and you choose the language of the crafty.

Your own mouth condemns you, not I; your own lips testify against you.^(d)

Were you the first person ever born, or were you brought forth before the hills?^(e)

Do you listen in on the council of God, or have a monopoly on wisdom?^(f)

What do you know that we don't? What do you understand that is not clear to us?

Both the gray-haired and the elderly are with us, men older than your father.

Are God's consolations not enough for you, even the words that deal gently with you?

Why has your heart misled you, and why do your eyes flash

as you turn your anger^[c] against God and allow such words to leave your mouth?

What is man, that he should be pure,^(g) or one born of woman, that he should be righteous?

If God puts no trust in His holy ones^(h) and the heavens are not pure in His sight,⁽ⁱ⁾

how much less one who is revolting and corrupt,^(j) who drinks injustice^(k) like water?

Listen to me and I will inform you. I will describe what I have seen,

what was declared by wise men and was not suppressed by their ancestors,^(l)

the land was given to them alone when no foreigner passed among them.

A wicked man writhes in pain all his days; only a few^[d] years are reserved for the ruthless.

Dreadful sounds fill his ears; when he is at peace, a robber attacks him.

He doesn't believe he will return from darkness; he is destined for the sword.^(m)

He wanders about for food, saying, "Where is it?" He knows the day of darkness is at hand.

Trouble⁽ⁿ⁾ and distress terrify him, overwhelming him like a king prepared for battle.

For he has stretched out his hand^(o) against God and has arrogantly opposed the Almighty.

He rushes headlong at Him with his thick, studded shields.

Though his face is covered with fat^[e] and his waistline bulges with it,

he will dwell in ruined cities, in abandoned houses destined to become piles of rubble.^(p)

He will no longer be rich; his wealth will not endure. His possessions^[f] will not increase in the land.

He will not escape from the darkness; flames will wither his shoots, and by the breath of God's mouth, he will depart.^(q)

Let him not put trust in worthless things, being led astray, for what he gets in exchange will prove worthless.

It will be accomplished before his time, and his branch will not flourish.

He will be like a vine that drops its unripe grapes^(r) and like an olive tree that sheds its blossoms.

For the company of the godless^(s) will have no children, and fire will consume the tents of those who offer bribes.

They conceive trouble^(t) and give birth to evil; their womb^(u) prepares deception.^(v)

Then Job answered:

I have heard many things like these. You are all miserable comforters.^(a)

Is there no end to your empty^[a](b) words? What provokes you that you continue testifying?

If you were in my place I could also talk like you. I could string words together against you and shake my head at you.

Instead, I would encourage you with my mouth, and the consolation from my lips would bring relief.^(c)

Even if I speak, my suffering is not relieved, and if I hold back, what have I lost?

Surely He^[b] has now exhausted me. You have devastated my entire family.

You have shriveled me up^[c]—it has become a witness; My frailty rises up against me and testifies to my face.

His anger tears at me, and He harasses^(d) me. He gnashes His teeth at me. My enemy pierces me with His eyes.

They open their mouths against me and strike my cheeks with contempt;^(e) they join themselves together against me.