Study Desk

if his heart has not blessed me for warming him with the fleece of my sheep,

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

I have not allowed my mouth to sin by asking for his life with a curse-

if the men of my house have not said, 'Who is there who has not had his fill?'-

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

So these three men stopped answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.

And his anger burned against Job's three friends, because they had failed to refute Job, and yet had condemned him.

But when he saw that the three men had no further reply, his anger was kindled.

I paid you full attention. But no one proved Job wrong; not one of you rebutted his arguments.

But Job has not directed his words against me, and I will not answer him with your arguments.

Yet He finds occasions against me; He counts me as His enemy.

to preserve his soul from the Pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.

A man is also chastened on his bed with pain and constant distress in his bones,

so that he detests his bread, and his soul loathes his favorite food.

His flesh wastes away from sight, and his hidden bones protrude.

He draws near to the Pit, and his life to the messengers of death.

Yet if there is a messenger on his side, one mediator out of a thousand, to tell a man what is right for him,

to be gracious to him and say, 'Spare him from going down to the Pit; I have found his ransom,'

then his flesh will be renewed like a child's, and he will return to the days of his youth.

He will pray to God and find favor; he will see His face and shout for joy, and God will restore the righteousness of that man.