Study Desk

And it was God who filled their houses with good things. No, I would never follow the advice of evil people.

"Now, Job, give yourself to God and make peace with him. Do this, and you will get many good things.

If you return to God All-Powerful, you will be restored. But remove the evil from your house.

And let God All-Powerful be your gold. Let him be your pile of silver.

Then you will enjoy God All-Powerful, and you will look up to him.

When people are brought down and you ask God to help them, he will rescue those who have been humbled.

"I am still complaining today. I groan because God is still making me suffer.

Would God use his power against me? No, he would listen to me!

"If I go to the east, God is not there. If I go to the west, I still don't see him.

But God knows me. He is testing me and will see that I am as pure as gold.

I have always lived the way God wants. I have never stopped following him.

"But God never changes, and who can stand against him? He does anything he wants.

The fear of God has made me lose my courage. God All-Powerful makes me afraid.

"Why doesn't God All-Powerful set times for judgment? And why can't his followers know when those times will be?

They are soaked with rain in the mountains. They stay close to the large rocks for shelter. They have no clothes, so they work naked. They carry piles of grain for others, but they go hungry. They press out olive oil and walk on grapes in the winepress, but they have nothing to drink. In the city you can hear the sad sounds of dying people. Those who are hurt cry out for help, but God does not listen. "Some people rebel against the light. They don't know what God wants. They don't live the way he wants. A murderer gets up at dawn and kills poor, helpless people. And at night he becomes a thief. A man who commits adultery waits for the night to come. He thinks, ‘No one will see me,' but still, he covers his face. When it is dark, evil people go out and break into houses. But during the day they lock themselves in their homes to avoid the light. The darkest night is their morning. They are friends with the terrors of darkness. " You say, ‘Evil people are taken away like things carried away in a flood. The land they own is cursed, so no one goes to work in their vineyards. As hot, dry weather melts away the winter snows, so the grave takes away those who have sinned. Their own mothers will forget them. Only the worms will want them. No one will remember them. They will be broken like a rotten stick! These evil people hurt women who have no children to protect them, and they refuse to help widows. By his power God removes the powerful. Even if they have a high position, they cannot be sure of their lives. They might feel safe and secure, but God is watching how they live. They might be successful for a while, but then they will be gone. Like everyone else, they will be cut down like grain.' "I swear these things are true! Who can prove that I lied? Who can show that I am wrong?"

In the city you can hear the sad sounds of dying people. Those who are hurt cry out for help, but God does not listen.

"Some people rebel against the light. They don't know what God wants. They don't live the way he wants.

By his power God removes the powerful. Even if they have a high position, they cannot be sure of their lives.

They might feel safe and secure, but God is watching how they live.

"God is the ruler. He makes people fear and respect him. He keeps peace in his kingdom above.