Job 14; Job 23; Job 40

Job 14

1 "A mortal, born of woman, few of days and full of trouble,

2 comes up like a flower and withers, flees like a shadow and does not last.

3 Do you fix your eyes on such a one? Do you bring me into judgment with you?

4 Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? No one can.

5 Since their days are determined, and the number of their months is known to you, and you have appointed the bounds that they cannot pass,

6 look away from them, and desist, that they may enjoy, like laborers, their days.

7 "For there is hope for a tree, if it is cut down, that it will sprout again, and that its shoots will not cease.

8 Though its root grows old in the earth, and its stump dies in the ground,

9 yet at the scent of water it will bud and put forth branches like a young plant.

10 But mortals die, and are laid low; humans expire, and where are they?

11 As waters fail from a lake, and a river wastes away and dries up,

12 so mortals lie down and do not rise again; until the heavens are no more, they will not awake or be roused out of their sleep.

13 O that you would hide me in Sheol, that you would conceal me until your wrath is past, that you would appoint me a set time, and remember me!

14 If mortals die, will they live again? All the days of my service I would wait until my release should come.

15 You would call, and I would answer you; you would long for the work of your hands.

16 For then you would not number my steps, you would not keep watch over my sin;

17 my transgression would be sealed up in a bag, and you would cover over my iniquity.

18 "But the mountain falls and crumbles away, and the rock is removed from its place;

19 the waters wear away the stones; the torrents wash away the soil of the earth; so you destroy the hope of mortals.

20 You prevail forever against them, and they pass away; you change their countenance, and send them away.

21 Their children come to honor, and they do not know it; they are brought low, and it goes unnoticed.

22 They feel only the pain of their own bodies, and mourn only for themselves."

Job 23

1 Then Job answered:

2 "Today also my complaint is bitter; his hand is heavy despite my groaning.

3 Oh, that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his dwelling!

4 I would lay my case before him, and fill my mouth with arguments

5 I would learn what he would answer me, and understand what he would say to me.

6 Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power? No; but he would give heed to me.

7 There an upright person could reason with him, and I should be acquitted forever by my judge.

8 "If I go forward, he is not there; or backward, I cannot perceive him;

9 on the left he hides, and I cannot behold him; I turn to the right, but I cannot see him.

10 But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I shall come out like gold.

11 My foot has held fast to his steps; I have kept his way and have not turned aside.

12 I have not departed from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured in my bosom the words of his mouth.

13 But he stands alone and who can dissuade him? What he desires, that he does.

14 For he will complete what he appoints for me; and many such things are in his mind

15 Therefore I am terrified at his presence; when I consider, I am in dread of him.

16 God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me;

17 If only I could vanish in darkness, and thick darkness would cover my face!

Job 40

1 And the Lord said to Job:

2 "Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty? Anyone who argues with God must respond."

3 Then Job answered the Lord:

4 "See, I am of small account; what shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth.

5 I have spoken once, and I will not answer; twice, but will proceed no further."

6 Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind:

7 "Gird up your loins like a man; I will question you, and you declare to me.

8 Will you even put me in the wrong? Will you condemn me that you may be justified?

9 Have you an arm like God, and can you thunder with a voice like his?

10 "Deck yourself with majesty and dignity; clothe yourself with glory and splendor.

11 Pour out the overflowings of your anger, and look on all who are proud, and abase them.

12 Look on all who are proud, and bring them low; tread down the wicked where they stand.

13 Hide them all in the dust together; bind their faces in the world below.

14 Then I will also acknowledge to you that your own right hand can give you victory.

15 "Look at Behemoth, which I made just as I made you; it eats grass like an ox.

16 Its strength is in its loins, and its power in the muscles of its belly.

17 It makes its tail stiff like a cedar; the sinews of its thighs are knit together.

18 Its bones are tubes of bronze, its limbs like bars of iron.

19 "It is the first of the great acts of God— only its Maker can approach it with the sword.

20 For the mountains yield food for it where all the wild animals play.

21 Under the lotus plants it lies, in the covert of the reeds and in the marsh.

22 The lotus trees cover it for shade; the willows of the wadi surround it.

23 Even if the river is turbulent, it is not frightened; it is confident though Jordan rushes against its mouth.

24 Can one take it with hooks or pierce its nose with a snare?