Study Desk

Job continued his discourse, saying:

If only I could be as in months gone by, in the days when God watched over me,

when His lamp shone above my head, and I walked through darkness by His light!^(a)

I would be as I was in the days of my youth when God's friendship^(b) rested on my tent,

when the Almighty was still with me and my children were around me,

when my feet were bathed in cream and the rock^(c) poured out streams of oil for me!

When I went out to the city gate and took my seat in the town square,

the young men saw me and withdrew, while older men stood to their feet.

City officials stopped talking and covered their mouths with their hands.^(d)

The noblemen's voices were hushed, and their tongues stuck to the roof of their mouths.

When they heard me, they blessed me, and when they saw me, they spoke well of me.^[a]

For I rescued the poor man who cried out for help, and the fatherless child who had no one to support him.^(e)

The dying man blessed me, and I made the widow's heart rejoice.

I clothed myself in righteousness,^(f) and it enveloped me; my just decisions were like a robe and a turban.

I was eyes to the blind and feet to the lame.^(g)

I was a father to the needy, and I examined the case of the stranger.

I shattered the fangs of the unjust^(h) and snatched the prey from his teeth.

So I thought: I will die in my own nest and multiply my days as the sand.^[b]

My roots will have access to water,⁽ⁱ⁾ and the dew will rest on my branches all night.

My strength will be refreshed within me, and my bow will be renewed in my hand.^(j)

Men listened to me with expectation, waiting silently for my advice.

After a word from me they did not speak again; my speech settled on them like dew.

They waited for me as for the rain and opened their mouths as for spring showers.

If I smiled at them, they couldn't believe it; they were thrilled at^[c] the light of my countenance.

I directed their course and presided as chief. I lived as a king among his troops, like one who comforts those who mourn.

But now they mock^(a) me, men younger than I am, whose fathers I would have refused to put with my sheep dogs.

What use to me was the strength of their hands? Their vigor had left them.

Emaciated from poverty and hunger, they gnawed the dry land, the desolate wasteland by night.

They plucked mallow^[a](b) among the shrubs, and the roots of the broom tree were their food.

They were expelled from human society; people shouted at them as if they were thieves.

They are living on the slopes of the wadis, among the rocks and in holes in the ground.

They bray among the shrubs; they huddle beneath the thistles.

Foolish^(c) men, without even a name. They were forced to leave the land.

Now I am mocked by their songs;^(d) I have become an object of scorn to them.

They despise me and keep their distance from me;^(e) they do not hesitate to spit^(f) in my face.

Because God has loosened my^[b] bowstring and oppressed me, they have cast off restraint in my presence.^(g)

The rabble^[c] rise up at my right; they trap^[d] my feet and construct their siege ramp^[e] against me.^(h)

They tear up my path; they contribute to my destruction,⁽ⁱ⁾ without anyone to help them.

They advance as through a gaping breach; they keep rolling in through the ruins.^(j)

Terrors^(k) are turned loose against me; they chase my dignity away like the wind, and my prosperity has passed by like a cloud.

Now my life is poured out before my eyes, and days of suffering^(l) have seized me.

Night pierces my bones, but my gnawing pains never rest.^(m)

My clothing is distorted with great force; He chokes me by the neck of my garment.^[f]

He throws me into the mud, and I have become like dust and ashes.⁽ⁿ⁾

I cry out to You for help, but You do not answer me;^(o) when I stand up, You merely look at me.

You have turned against me with cruelty; You harass^(p) me with Your strong hand.

You lift me up on the wind and make me ride it; You scatter me in the storm.^(q)

Yes, I know that You will lead me to death— the place^(r) appointed for all who live.

Yet no one would stretch out his hand against a ruined man^[g] when he cries out to him for help because of his distress.^(s)

Have I not wept for those who have fallen on hard times? Has my soul not grieved for the needy?^(t)

But when I hoped for good, evil came; when I looked for light, darkness^(u) came.

I am churning within^[h] and cannot rest; days of suffering confront me.

I walk about blackened, but not by the sun.^[i] I stood in the assembly and cried out for help.

I have become a brother to jackals and a companion of ostriches.

My skin blackens and flakes off,^[j] and my bones burn with fever.^(v)

My lyre is used for mourning and my flute for the sound of weeping.^(w)