Study Desk

I am a laughingstock to my friends; I, who called upon God and he answered me, a just and blameless man, I am a laughingstock.

What you know, I also know; I am not inferior to you.

"He has made me a byword of the peoples, and I am one before whom people spit.

Even when I cry out, ‘Violence!' I am not answered; I call aloud, but there is no justice.

He breaks me down on every side, and I am gone, he has uprooted my hope like a tree.

My breath is repulsive to my wife; I am loathsome to my own family.

When I think of it I am dismayed, and shuddering seizes my flesh.

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

"And now they mock me in song; I am a byword to them.

I am a brother of jackals, and a companion of ostriches.

Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite answered: "I am young in years, and you are aged; therefore I was timid and afraid to declare my opinion to you.

And am I to wait, because they do not speak, because they stand there, and answer no more?

For I am full of words; the spirit within me constrains me.

See, before God I am as you are; I too was formed from a piece of clay.

You say, ‘I am clean, without transgression; I am pure, and there is no iniquity in me.

For Job has said, ‘I am innocent, and God has taken away my right;

in spite of being right I am counted a liar; my wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.'

"Do you think this to be just? You say, ‘I am in the right before God.'

If you ask, ‘What advantage have I? How am I better off than if I had sinned?'

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