God in Job

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1. 1:1

   There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job. And this man was blameless and upright, fearing God and shunning evil.

2. 1:5

   And when the days of feasting were over, Job would send for his children to purify them, rising early in the morning to offer burnt offerings for all of them. For Job thought, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular practice.

3. 1:6

   One day the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them.

4. 1:7

   “Where have you come from?” said the LORD to Satan. “From roaming through the earth,” he replied, “and walking back and forth in it.”

5. 1:8

   Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one on earth like him, a man who is blameless and upright, who fears God and shuns evil.”

6. 1:9

   Satan answered the LORD, “Does Job fear God for nothing?

7. 1:12

   “Very well,” said the LORD to Satan. “Everything he has is in your hands, but you must not lay a hand on the man himself.” Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.

8. 1:16

   While he was still speaking, another messenger came and reported: “The fire of God fell from heaven. It burned and consumed the sheep and the servants, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

9. 1:21

   saying: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.”

10. 1:22

    In all this, Job did not sin or charge God with wrongdoing.

11. 2:1

    On another day the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them to present himself before Him.

12. 2:2

    “Where have you come from?” said the LORD to Satan. “From roaming through the earth,” he replied, “and walking back and forth in it.”

13. 2:3

    Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one on earth like him, a man who is blameless and upright, who fears God and shuns evil. He still retains his integrity, even though you incited Me against him to ruin him without cause.”

14. 2:4

    “Skin for skin!” Satan replied. “A man will give up all he owns in exchange for his life.

15. 2:6

    “Very well,” said the LORD to Satan. “He is in your hands, but you must spare his life.”

16. 2:7

    So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and infected Job with terrible boils from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head.

17. 2:9

    Then Job’s wife said to him, “Do you still retain your integrity? Curse God and die!”

18. 2:10

    “You speak as a foolish woman speaks,” he told her. “Should we accept from God only good and not adversity?” In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.

19. 3:4

    If only that day had turned to darkness! May God above disregard it; may no light shine upon it.

20. 3:23

    Why is life given to a man whose way is hidden, whom God has hedged in?

21. 4:9

    By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast of His anger they are consumed.

22. 4:17

    ‘Can a mortal be more righteous than God, or a man more pure than his Maker?

23. 5:8

    However, if I were you, I would appeal to God and lay my cause before Him—

24. 5:17

    Blessed indeed is the man whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.

25. 6:4

    For the arrows of the Almighty have pierced me; my spirit drinks in their poison; the terrors of God are arrayed against me.

26. 6:8

    If only my request were granted and God would fulfill my hope:

27. 6:9

    that God would be willing to crush me, to unleash His hand and cut me off!

28. 6:10

    It still brings me comfort, and joy through unrelenting pain, that I have not denied the words of the Holy One.

29. 6:14

    A despairing man should have the kindness of his friend, even if he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.

30. 8:3

    Does God pervert justice? Does the Almighty pervert what is right?

31. 8:5

    But if you would earnestly seek God and ask the Almighty for mercy,

32. 8:13

    Such is the destiny of all who forget God; so the hope of the godless will perish.

33. 8:20

    Behold, God does not reject the blameless, nor will He strengthen the hand of evildoers.

34. 9:2

    “Yes, I know that it is so, but how can a mortal be righteous before God?

35. 9:13

    God does not restrain His anger; the helpers of Rahab cower beneath Him.

36. 10:2

    I will say to God: Do not condemn me! Let me know why You prosecute me.

37. 11:5

    But if only God would speak and open His lips against you,

38. 11:6

    and disclose to you the secrets of wisdom, for true wisdom has two sides. Know then that God exacts from you less than your iniquity deserves.

39. 11:7

    Can you fathom the deep things of God or discover the limits of the Almighty?

40. 12:4

    I am a laughingstock to my friends, though I called on God, and He answered. The righteous and upright man is a laughingstock.

41. 12:6

    The tents of robbers are safe, and those who provoke God are secure—those who carry their god in their hands.

42. 12:9

    Which of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this?

43. 13:3

    Yet I desire to speak to the Almighty and argue my case before God.

44. 13:7

    Will you speak wickedly on God’s behalf or speak deceitfully for Him?

45. 13:8

    Would you show Him partiality or argue in His defense?

46. 15:4

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

47. 15:8

    Do you listen in on the council of God or limit wisdom to yourself?

48. 15:11

    Are the consolations of God not enough for you, even words spoken gently to you?

49. 15:13

    so that you turn your spirit against God and pour such words from your mouth?

50. 15:25

    For he has stretched out his hand against God and has vaunted himself against the Almighty,

51. 16:11

    God has delivered me to unjust men; He has thrown me to the clutches of the wicked.

52. 16:20

    My friends are my scoffers as my eyes pour out tears to God.

53. 16:21

    Oh, that a man might plead with God as he pleads with his neighbor!

54. 18:21

    Surely such is the dwelling of the wicked and the place of one who does not know God.”

55. 19:6

    then understand that it is God who has wronged me and drawn His net around me.

56. 19:21

    Have pity on me, my friends, have pity, for the hand of God has struck me.

57. 19:22

    Why do you persecute me as God does? Will you never get enough of my flesh?

58. 19:26

    Even after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God.

59. 20:15

    He swallows wealth but vomits it out; God will force it from his stomach.

60. 20:23

    When he has filled his stomach, God will vent His fury upon him, raining it down on him as he eats.

61. 20:29

    This is the wicked man’s portion from God, the inheritance God has appointed him.”

62. 21:9

    Their homes are safe from fear; no rod of punishment from God is upon them.

63. 21:14

    Yet they say to God: ‘Leave us alone! For we have no desire to know Your ways.

64. 21:15

    Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him, and what would we gain if we pray to Him?’

65. 21:17

    How often is the lamp of the wicked put out? Does disaster come upon them? Does God, in His anger, apportion destruction?

66. 21:19

    It is said that God lays up one’s punishment for his children. Let God repay the man himself, so he will know it.

67. 21:20

    Let his eyes see his own destruction; let him drink for himself the wrath of the Almighty.

68. 21:22

    Can anyone teach knowledge to God, since He judges those on high?

69. 22:2

    “Can a man be of use to God? Can even a wise man benefit Him?

70. 22:3

    Does it delight the Almighty that you are righteous? Does He profit if your ways are blameless?

71. 22:12

    Is not God as high as the heavens? Look at the highest stars, how lofty they are!

72. 22:13

    Yet you say: ‘What does God know? Does He judge through thick darkness?

73. 22:17

    They said to God, ‘Depart from us. What can the Almighty do to us?’

74. 22:23

    If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored. If you remove injustice from your tents

75. 22:25

    then the Almighty will be your gold and the finest silver for you.

76. 22:26

    Surely then you will delight in the Almighty and lift up your face to God.

77. 23:16

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

78. 24:1

    “Why does the Almighty not reserve times for judgment? Why may those who know Him never see His days?

79. 24:12

    From the city, men groan, and the souls of the wounded cry out, yet God charges no one with wrongdoing.

80. 25:4

    How then can a man be just before God? How can one born of woman be pure?

81. 27:2

    “As surely as God lives, who has deprived me of justice—the Almighty, who has embittered my soul—

82. 27:3

    as long as my breath is still within me and the breath of God remains in my nostrils,

83. 27:5

    I will never say that you are right; I will maintain my integrity until I die.

84. 27:8

    For what is the hope of the godless when he is cut off, when God takes away his life?

85. 27:9

    Will God hear his cry when distress comes upon him?

86. 27:10

    Will he delight in the Almighty? Will he call upon God at all times?

87. 27:11

    I will instruct you in the power of God. I will not conceal the ways of the Almighty.

88. 27:13

    This is the wicked man’s portion from God—the heritage the ruthless receive from the Almighty.

89. 27:22

    It hurls itself against him without mercy as he flees headlong from its power.

90. 28:23

    But God understands its way, and He knows its place.

91. 28:28

    And He said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”

92. 29:2

    “How I long for the months gone by, for the days when God watched over me,

93. 29:4

    when I was in my prime, when the friendship of God rested on my tent,

94. 29:5

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

95. 31:2

    For what is the allotment of God from above, or the heritage from the Almighty on high?

96. 31:6

    let God weigh me with honest scales, that He may know my integrity.

97. 31:14

    what will I do when God rises to judge? How will I answer when called to account?

98. 31:23

    For calamity from God terrifies me, and His splendor I cannot overpower.

99. 31:28

    this would also be an iniquity to be judged, for I would have denied God on high.

100. 31:35

     (Oh, that I had one to hear me! Here is my signature. Let the Almighty answer me; let my accuser compose an indictment.

101. 32:2

     This kindled the anger of Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram. He burned with anger against Job for justifying himself rather than God,

102. 32:8

     But there is a spirit in a man, the breath of the Almighty, that gives him understanding.

103. 32:13

     So do not claim, ‘We have found wisdom; let God, not man, refute him.’

104. 33:4

     The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.

105. 33:6

     I am just like you before God; I was also formed from clay.

106. 33:12

     Behold, you are not right in this matter. I will answer you, for God is greater than man.

107. 33:14

     For God speaks in one way and in another, yet no one notices.

108. 33:26

     He prays to God and finds favor; he sees God’s face and shouts for joy, and God restores His righteousness to that man.

109. 33:29

     Behold, all these things God does to a man, two or even three times,

110. 34:5

     For Job has declared, ‘I am righteous, yet God has deprived me of justice.

111. 34:9

     For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing that he should delight in God.’

112. 34:10

     Therefore listen to me, O men of understanding. Far be it from God to do wrong, and from the Almighty to act unjustly.

113. 34:12

     Indeed, it is true that God does not act wickedly, and the Almighty does not pervert justice.

114. 34:23

     For God need not examine a man further or have him approach for judgment.

115. 34:31

     Suppose someone says to God, ‘I have endured my punishment; I will offend no more.

116. 34:37

     For he adds rebellion to his sin; he claps his hands among us and multiplies his words against God.”

117. 35:2

     “Do you think this is just? You say, ‘I am more righteous than God.’

118. 35:10

     But no one asks, ‘Where is God my Maker, who gives us songs in the night,

119. 35:13

     Surely God does not listen to empty pleas, and the Almighty does not take note of it.

120. 36:2

     “Bear with me a little longer, and I will show you that there is more to be said on God’s behalf.

121. 36:5

     Indeed, God is mighty, but He despises no one; He is mighty in strength of understanding.

122. 36:22

     Behold, God is exalted in His power. Who is a teacher like Him?

123. 36:26

     Indeed, God is great—beyond our knowledge; the number of His years is unsearchable.

124. 37:5

     God thunders wondrously with His voice; He does great things we cannot comprehend.

125. 37:10

     By the breath of God the ice is formed and the watery expanses are frozen.

126. 37:14

     Listen to this, O Job; stand still and consider the wonders of God.

127. 37:15

     Do you know how God dispatches the clouds or makes the lightning flash?

128. 37:22

     Out of the north He comes in golden splendor; awesome majesty surrounds Him.

129. 37:23

     The Almighty is beyond our reach; He is exalted in power! In His justice and great righteousness He does not oppress.

130. 38:1

     Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:

131. 38:7

     while the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

132. 38:41

     Who provides food for the raven when its young cry out to God as they wander about for lack of food?

133. 39:17

     For God has deprived her of wisdom; He has not endowed her with understanding.

134. 40:1

     And the LORD said to Job:

135. 40:2

     “Will the faultfinder contend with the Almighty? Let him who argues with God give an answer.”

136. 40:3

     Then Job answered the LORD:

137. 40:6

     Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:

138. 40:9

     Do you have an arm like God’s? Can you thunder with a voice like His?

139. 40:19

     He is the foremost of God’s works; only his Maker can draw the sword against him.

140. 42:1

     Then Job replied to the LORD:

141. 42:7

     After the LORD had spoken these words to Job, He said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My wrath is kindled against you and your two friends. For you have not spoken about Me accurately, as My servant Job has.

142. 42:9

     So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite went and did as the LORD had told them; and the LORD accepted Job’s prayer.

143. 42:10

     After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD restored his prosperity and doubled his former possessions.

144. 42:11

     All his brothers and sisters and prior acquaintances came and dined with him in his house. They consoled him and comforted him over all the adversity that the LORD had brought upon him. And each one gave him a piece of silver and a gold ring.

145. 42:12

     So the LORD blessed Job’s latter days more than his first. He owned 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 yoke of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys.