Study Desk

For the fear of God kept me back, and because of his power I might not do such things.

That would have been another sin to be rewarded with punishment by the judges; for I would have been false to God on high.

If only God would give ear to me, and the Ruler of all would give me an answer! or if what he has against me had been put in writing!

And Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, was angry, burning with wrath against Job, because he seemed to himself more right than God;

Take care that you do not say, Wisdom is here; God may overcome him, but not man.

The spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Ruler of all gives me life.

See, I am the same as you are in the eyes of God; I was cut off from the same bit of wet earth.

Truly, in saying this you are wrong; for God is greater than man.

For God gives his word in one way, even in two, and man is not conscious of it:

If now there may be an angel sent to him, one of the thousands which there are to be between him and God, and to make clear to man what is right for him;

He makes his prayer to God, and he has mercy on him; he sees God's face with cries of joy; he gives news of his righteousness to men;

Truly, God does all these things to man, twice and three times,

For Job has said, I am upright, and it is God who has taken away my right;

What man is like Job, a man who freely makes sport of God,

For he has said, It is no profit to a man to take delight in God.

Now then, you wise, take note; you men of knowledge, give ear to me. Let it be far from God to do evil, and from the Ruler of all to do wrong.

Truly, God does not do evil, and the Ruler of all is not a false judge.

For in addition to his sin, he is uncontrolled in heart; before our eyes he makes sport of God, increasing his words against him.

Does it seem to you to be right, and righteousness before God, to say,

But no one has said, Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night;