Study Desk

What would be my portion from God above, and my heritage from the Almighty on high?

let me be weighed in a just balance, and let God know my integrity!—

what then shall I do when God rises up? When he makes inquiry, what shall I answer him?

For I was in terror of calamity from God, and I could not have faced his majesty.

this also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges, for I should have been false to God above.

Then Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, became angry. He was angry at Job because he justified himself rather than God;

Yet do not say, ‘We have found wisdom; God may vanquish him, not a human.'

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

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

"But in this you are not right. I will answer you: God is greater than any mortal.

For God speaks in one way, and in two, though people do not perceive it.

then he prays to God, and is accepted by him, he comes into his presence with joy, and God repays him for his righteousness.

"God indeed does all these things, twice, three times, with mortals,

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

For he has said, ‘It profits one nothing to take delight in God.'

"Therefore, hear me, you who have sense, far be it from God that he should do wickedness, and from the Almighty that he should do wrong.

Of a truth, God will not do wickedly, and the Almighty will not pervert justice.

For he has not appointed a time for anyone to go before God in judgment.

"For has anyone said to God, ‘I have endured punishment; I will not offend any more;

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