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Job 4-6
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Job 4-6
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Eliphaz Speaks: Job Has Sinned
4 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered:
2 “If one ventures a word with you, will you be offended?
But who can keep from speaking?(A)
3 See, you have instructed many;
you have strengthened the weak hands.(B)
4 Your words have supported those who were stumbling,
and you have made firm the feeble knees.(C)
5 But now it has come to you, and you are impatient;
it touches you, and you are dismayed.(D)
6 Is not your fear of God your confidence
and the integrity of your ways your hope?(E)
7 “Think now, who that was innocent ever perished?
Or where were the upright cut off?(F)
8 As I have seen, those who plow iniquity
and sow trouble reap the same.(G)
9 By the breath of God they perish,
and by the blast of his anger they are consumed.(H)
10 The roar of the lion, the voice of the fierce lion,
and the teeth of the young lions are broken.(I)
11 The strong lion perishes for lack of prey,
and the whelps of the lioness are scattered.(J)
12 “Now a word came stealing to me;
my ear received the whisper of it.(K)
13 Amid thoughts from visions of the night,
when deep sleep falls on mortals,
14 dread came upon me and trembling,
which made all my bones shake.(L)
15 A spirit glided past my face;
the hair of my flesh bristled.
16 It stood still,
but I could not discern its appearance.
A form was before my eyes;
there was silence; then I heard a voice:
17 ‘Can mortals be righteous before[a] God?
Can humans be pure before[b] their Maker?(M)
18 Even in his servants he puts no trust,
and his angels he charges with error;(N)
19 how much more those who live in houses of clay,
whose foundation is in the dust,
who are crushed like a moth.(O)
20 Between morning and evening they are destroyed;
they perish forever without any regarding it.(P)
21 Their tent cord is plucked up within them,
and they die devoid of wisdom.’(Q)
Job Is Corrected by God
5 “Call now; is there anyone who will answer you?
To which of the holy ones will you turn?(R)
2 Surely vexation kills the fool,
and jealousy slays the simple.(S)
3 I have seen fools taking root,
but suddenly I cursed their dwelling.(T)
4 Their children are far from safety,
they are crushed in the gate,
and there is no one to deliver them.(U)
5 The hungry eat their harvest,
and they take it even out of the thorns,[c]
and the thirsty[d] pant after their wealth.(V)
6 For misery does not come from the earth,
nor does trouble sprout from the ground,
7 but humans are born to trouble
just as sparks[e] fly upward.(W)
8 “As for me, I would seek God,
and to God I would commit my cause.(X)
9 He does great things and unsearchable,
marvelous things without number.(Y)
10 He gives rain on the earth
and sends waters on the fields;(Z)
11 he sets on high those who are lowly,
and those who mourn are lifted to safety.(AA)
12 He frustrates the devices of the crafty,
so that their hands achieve no success.(AB)
13 He takes the wise in their own craftiness,
and the schemes of the wily are brought to a quick end.
14 They meet with darkness in the daytime
and grope at noonday as in the night.(AC)
15 But he saves the needy from the sword of their mouth,
from the hand of the mighty.(AD)
16 So the poor have hope,
and injustice shuts its mouth.(AE)
17 “How happy is the one whom God reproves;
therefore do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.[f](AF)
18 For he wounds, but he binds up;
he strikes, but his hands heal.(AG)
19 He will deliver you from six troubles;
in seven no harm shall touch you.(AH)
20 In famine he will redeem you from death
and in war from the power of the sword.(AI)
21 You shall be hidden from the scourge of the tongue
and shall not fear destruction when it comes.(AJ)
22 At destruction and famine you shall laugh
and shall not fear the wild animals of the earth.(AK)
23 For you shall be in league with the stones of the field,
and the wild animals shall be at peace with you.(AL)
24 You shall know that your tent is safe;
you shall inspect your fold and miss nothing.(AM)
25 You shall know that your descendants will be many
and your offspring like the grass of the earth.(AN)
26 You shall come to your grave in ripe old age,
as a shock of grain comes up to the threshing floor in its season.(AO)
27 See, we have searched this out; it is true.
Hear, and know it for yourself.”
Job Replies: My Complaint Is Just
6 Then Job answered:
2 “O that my vexation were weighed
and all my calamity laid in the balances!(AP)
3 For then it would be heavier than the sand of the sea;
therefore my words have been rash.(AQ)
4 For the arrows of the Almighty[g] are in me;
my spirit drinks their poison;
the terrors of God are arrayed against me.(AR)
5 Does the wild ass bray over its grass
or the ox low over its fodder?
6 Can that which is tasteless be eaten without salt,
or is there any flavor in the juice of mallows?[h]
7 My appetite refuses to touch them;
they are like food that is loathsome to me.[i]
8 “O that I might have my request
and that God would grant my desire,(AS)
9 that it would please God to crush me,
that he would let loose his hand and cut me off!(AT)
10 This would be my consolation;
I would even exult[j] in unrelenting pain,
for I have not denied the words of the Holy One.(AU)
11 What is my strength, that I should wait?
And what is my end, that I should be patient?(AV)
12 Is my strength the strength of stones,
or is my flesh bronze?
13 In truth I have no help in me,
and any resource is driven from me.(AW)
14 “Those who withhold[k] kindness from a friend
forsake the fear of the Almighty.[l]
15 My companions are treacherous like a torrent bed,
like swollen streams that pass away,(AX)
16 that run dark with ice,
turbid with melting snow.
17 In time of heat they disappear;
when it is hot, they vanish from their place.(AY)
18 The caravans turn aside from their course;
they go up into the waste and perish.
19 The caravans of Tema look;
the travelers of Sheba hope.(AZ)
20 They are disappointed because they were confident;
they come there and are confounded.(BA)
21 Such you have now become to me;[m]
you see my calamity and are afraid.
22 Have I said, ‘Make me a gift’?
Or, ‘From your wealth offer a bribe for me’?
23 Or, ‘Save me from an opponent’s hand’?
Or, ‘Ransom me from the hand of oppressors’?
24 “Teach me, and I will be silent;
make me understand how I have gone wrong.
25 How forceful are honest words!
But your reproof, what does it reprove?(BB)
26 Do you think that you can reprove words,
as if the speech of the desperate were wind?(BC)
27 You would even cast lots over the orphan
and bargain over your friend.(BD)
28 “But now, be pleased to look at me,
for I will not lie to your face.(BE)
29 Turn, I pray; let no wrong be done.
Turn now; my vindication is at stake.
30 Is there any wrong on my tongue?
Cannot my taste discern calamity?(BF)
Footnotes
- 4.17 Or more righteous than
- 4.17 Or more pure than
- 5.5 Meaning of Heb uncertain
- 5.5 Aquila Symmachus Syr Vg: Heb snare
- 5.7 Or birds; Heb sons of Resheph
- 5.17 Traditional rendering of Heb Shaddai
- 6.4 Traditional rendering of Heb Shaddai
- 6.6 Meaning of Heb uncertain
- 6.7 Meaning of Heb uncertain
- 6.10 Meaning of Heb uncertain
- 6.14 Syr Vg Compare Tg: Meaning of Heb uncertain
- 6.14 Traditional rendering of Heb Shaddai
- 6.21 Cn Compare Gk Syr: Meaning of Heb uncertain
Job 4-6
New International Version
Job 4-6
New International Version
Eliphaz
4 Then Eliphaz the Temanite(A) replied:
2 “If someone ventures a word with you, will you be impatient?
But who can keep from speaking?(B)
3 Think how you have instructed many,(C)
how you have strengthened feeble hands.(D)
4 Your words have supported those who stumbled;(E)
you have strengthened faltering knees.(F)
5 But now trouble comes to you, and you are discouraged;(G)
it strikes(H) you, and you are dismayed.(I)
6 Should not your piety be your confidence(J)
and your blameless(K) ways your hope?
7 “Consider now: Who, being innocent, has ever perished?(L)
Where were the upright ever destroyed?(M)
8 As I have observed,(N) those who plow evil(O)
and those who sow trouble reap it.(P)
9 At the breath of God(Q) they perish;
at the blast of his anger they are no more.(R)
10 The lions may roar(S) and growl,
yet the teeth of the great lions(T) are broken.(U)
11 The lion perishes for lack of prey,(V)
and the cubs of the lioness are scattered.(W)
12 “A word(X) was secretly brought to me,
my ears caught a whisper(Y) of it.(Z)
13 Amid disquieting dreams in the night,
when deep sleep falls on people,(AA)
14 fear and trembling(AB) seized me
and made all my bones shake.(AC)
15 A spirit glided past my face,
and the hair on my body stood on end.(AD)
16 It stopped,
but I could not tell what it was.
A form stood before my eyes,
and I heard a hushed voice:(AE)
17 ‘Can a mortal be more righteous than God?(AF)
Can even a strong man be more pure than his Maker?(AG)
18 If God places no trust in his servants,(AH)
if he charges his angels with error,(AI)
19 how much more those who live in houses of clay,(AJ)
whose foundations(AK) are in the dust,(AL)
who are crushed(AM) more readily than a moth!(AN)
20 Between dawn and dusk they are broken to pieces;
unnoticed, they perish forever.(AO)
21 Are not the cords of their tent pulled up,(AP)
so that they die(AQ) without wisdom?’(AR)
5 “Call if you will, but who will answer you?(AS)
To which of the holy ones(AT) will you turn?
2 Resentment(AU) kills a fool,
and envy slays the simple.(AV)
3 I myself have seen(AW) a fool taking root,(AX)
but suddenly(AY) his house was cursed.(AZ)
4 His children(BA) are far from safety,(BB)
crushed in court(BC) without a defender.(BD)
5 The hungry consume his harvest,(BE)
taking it even from among thorns,
and the thirsty pant after his wealth.
6 For hardship does not spring from the soil,
nor does trouble sprout from the ground.(BF)
7 Yet man is born to trouble(BG)
as surely as sparks fly upward.
8 “But if I were you, I would appeal to God;
I would lay my cause before him.(BH)
9 He performs wonders(BI) that cannot be fathomed,(BJ)
miracles that cannot be counted.(BK)
10 He provides rain for the earth;(BL)
he sends water on the countryside.(BM)
11 The lowly he sets on high,(BN)
and those who mourn(BO) are lifted(BP) to safety.
12 He thwarts the plans(BQ) of the crafty,
so that their hands achieve no success.(BR)
13 He catches the wise(BS) in their craftiness,(BT)
and the schemes of the wily are swept away.(BU)
14 Darkness(BV) comes upon them in the daytime;
at noon they grope as in the night.(BW)
15 He saves the needy(BX) from the sword in their mouth;
he saves them from the clutches of the powerful.(BY)
16 So the poor(BZ) have hope,
and injustice shuts its mouth.(CA)
17 “Blessed is the one whom God corrects;(CB)
so do not despise the discipline(CC) of the Almighty.[a](CD)
18 For he wounds, but he also binds up;(CE)
he injures, but his hands also heal.(CF)
19 From six calamities he will rescue(CG) you;
in seven no harm will touch you.(CH)
20 In famine(CI) he will deliver you from death,
and in battle from the stroke of the sword.(CJ)
21 You will be protected from the lash of the tongue,(CK)
and need not fear(CL) when destruction comes.(CM)
22 You will laugh(CN) at destruction and famine,(CO)
and need not fear the wild animals.(CP)
23 For you will have a covenant(CQ) with the stones(CR) of the field,
and the wild animals will be at peace with you.(CS)
24 You will know that your tent is secure;(CT)
you will take stock of your property and find nothing missing.(CU)
25 You will know that your children will be many,(CV)
and your descendants like the grass of the earth.(CW)
26 You will come to the grave in full vigor,(CX)
like sheaves gathered in season.(CY)
Job
6 Then Job replied:
2 “If only my anguish could be weighed
and all my misery be placed on the scales!(DB)
3 It would surely outweigh the sand(DC) of the seas—
no wonder my words have been impetuous.(DD)
4 The arrows(DE) of the Almighty(DF) are in me,(DG)
my spirit drinks(DH) in their poison;(DI)
God’s terrors(DJ) are marshaled against me.(DK)
5 Does a wild donkey(DL) bray(DM) when it has grass,
or an ox bellow when it has fodder?(DN)
6 Is tasteless food eaten without salt,
or is there flavor in the sap of the mallow[b]?(DO)
7 I refuse to touch it;
such food makes me ill.(DP)
8 “Oh, that I might have my request,
that God would grant what I hope for,(DQ)
9 that God would be willing to crush(DR) me,
to let loose his hand and cut off my life!(DS)
10 Then I would still have this consolation(DT)—
my joy in unrelenting pain(DU)—
that I had not denied the words(DV) of the Holy One.(DW)
11 “What strength do I have, that I should still hope?
What prospects, that I should be patient?(DX)
12 Do I have the strength of stone?
Is my flesh bronze?(DY)
13 Do I have any power to help myself,(DZ)
now that success has been driven from me?
14 “Anyone who withholds kindness from a friend(EA)
forsakes the fear of the Almighty.(EB)
15 But my brothers are as undependable as intermittent streams,(EC)
as the streams that overflow
16 when darkened by thawing ice
and swollen with melting snow,(ED)
17 but that stop flowing in the dry season,
and in the heat(EE) vanish from their channels.
18 Caravans turn aside from their routes;
they go off into the wasteland and perish.
19 The caravans of Tema(EF) look for water,
the traveling merchants of Sheba(EG) look in hope.
20 They are distressed, because they had been confident;
they arrive there, only to be disappointed.(EH)
21 Now you too have proved to be of no help;
you see something dreadful and are afraid.(EI)
22 Have I ever said, ‘Give something on my behalf,
pay a ransom(EJ) for me from your wealth,(EK)
23 deliver me from the hand of the enemy,
rescue me from the clutches of the ruthless’?(EL)
24 “Teach me, and I will be quiet;(EM)
show me where I have been wrong.(EN)
25 How painful are honest words!(EO)
But what do your arguments prove?
26 Do you mean to correct what I say,
and treat my desperate words as wind?(EP)
27 You would even cast lots(EQ) for the fatherless(ER)
and barter away your friend.
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition (NRSVUE)
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.