Study Desk

Then Zophar the Naamathite responded,

"Therefore my disquieting thoughts make me ^(F1)respond, Even because of my ^(F2)inward agitation.

-"I listened to ^(C1)the reprimand which insults me, And the spirit of my understanding makes me answer.

-"Do you know this from ^(C1)ancient times, From the establishment of mankind on earth,

That the ^(C1)rejoicing of the wicked is short, And ^(C2)the joy of the godless momentary?

-"Though his arrogance ^(F1)(C1)reaches the heavens, And his head touches the clouds,

He ^(C1)perishes forever like his refuse; Those who have seen him ^(C2)will say, 'Where is he?'

-"He flies away like a ^(C1)dream, and they cannot find him; Like a vision of the night he is ^(C2)chased away.

-"The ^(C1)eye which saw him sees him no longer, And ^(C2)his place no longer beholds him.

-"His ^(C1)sons ^(F1)favor the poor, And his hands ^(C2)give back his wealth.

-"His ^(C1)bones are full of his youthful strength, But it lies down with him ^(F1)in the dust.

"Though ^(C1)evil tastes sweet in his mouth And he hides it under his tongue,

Though he ^(F1)desires it and will not let it go, But holds it ^(C1)in his ^(F2)mouth,

Yet his food in his stomach is changed To the ^(F1)venom of cobras within him.

-"He swallows riches, But will ^(C1)vomit them up; God will expel them from his belly.

-"He sucks ^(C1)the poison of cobras; The viper's tongue kills him.

-"He does not look at ^(C1)the streams, The rivers flowing with honey and curds.

-"He ^(C1)returns the product of his labor And cannot swallow it; As to the riches of his trading, He cannot even enjoy them.

-"For he has ^(C1)oppressed and neglected the poor; He has seized a house which he has not built.

"Because he knew no quiet ^(F1)within him, He does ^(C1)not retain anything he desires.

-"Nothing remains ^(F1)for him to devour, Therefore ^(C1)his prosperity does not endure.

-"In the fullness of his excess he will be cramped; The ^(C1)hand of everyone who suffers will come against him.

-"When he ^(C1)fills his belly, God will send His fierce anger on him And ^(C2)rain it on him ^(F1)while he is eating.

-"He may ^(C1)flee from the iron weapon, But the bronze bow will pierce him.

-"It is drawn and comes out of his back, Even the flashing point from ^(C1)his gallbladder; ^(C2)Terrors come upon him,

Complete ^(C1)darkness is held in reserve for his treasures, And unfanned ^(C2)fire will devour him; It will consume the survivor in his tent.

-"The ^(C1)heavens will reveal his guilt, And the earth will rise up against him.

-"The ^(C1)increase of his house will disappear; His possessions will flow away ^(C2)on the day of His anger.

-"This is a wicked person's ^(C1)portion from God, The inheritance decreed to him by God."

Then Job responded,

"Listen carefully to my speech, And let this be your way of consolation.

-"Bear with me that I may speak; Then after I have spoken, you may ^(C1)mock me.

-"As for me, is ^(C1)my complaint ^(F1)to a mortal? Or ^(C2)why should ^(F2)I not be impatient?

-"Look at me, and be astonished, And ^(C1)put your hand over your mouth.

-"Even when I remember, I am disturbed, And ^(C1)horror takes hold of my flesh.

-"Why ^(C1)do the wicked still live, Grow old, and also become very ^(F1)(C2)powerful?

-"Their ^(F1)(C1)descendants endure with them in their sight, And their offspring before their eyes,

Their houses ^(C1)are safe from fear, And the ^(F1)rod of God is not on them.

-"His ox mates ^(F1)without fail; His cow calves and does not miscarry.

-"They send out their boys like the flock, And their children dance.

-"They ^(F1)sing with the tambourine and harp, And rejoice at the sound of the flute.

-"They ^(C1)spend their days in prosperity, And ^(F1)suddenly they go down to ^(F2)Sheol.

-"Yet they say to God, '^(C1)Go away from us! We do not even desire the knowledge of Your ways.

-'^(F1)Who is ^(F2)the Almighty, that we should serve Him, And ^(C1)what would we gain if we plead with Him?'

-"Behold, their prosperity is not in their hand; The ^(C1)advice of the wicked is far from me.

"How often is ^(C1)the lamp of the wicked put out, Or does their ^(C2)disaster fall on them? Does ^(F1)God apportion destruction in His anger?

-"Are they as ^(C1)straw before the wind, And like ^(C2)chaff which the storm carries away?

-"You say, '^(C1)God saves up ^(F1)a person's ^(F2)wrongdoing for his sons.' Let ^(F3)God repay him so that he may know it.

-"Let his ^(C1)own eyes see his destruction, And let him ^(C2)drink of the wrath of ^(F1)the Almighty.

-"For what does he care about his household ^(F1)after him, When the number of his months is at an end?

-"Can anyone ^(C1)teach God knowledge, In that He ^(C2)judges those on high?

-"One ^(C1)dies in his full strength, Being wholly undisturbed and at ease;

His ^(F1)sides are filled with fat, And the ^(C1)marrow of his bones is wet,

While another dies with a bitter soul, Never even ^(F1)tasting anything good.

-"Together they ^(C1)lie down in the dust, And ^(C2)maggots cover them.

"Behold, I know your thoughts, And the plots you devise against me.

-"For you say, 'Where is the house of ^(C1)the nobleman, And where is the ^(C2)tent, the dwelling places of the wicked?'

-"Have you not asked travelers, And do you not examine their ^(F1)evidence?

-"For the ^(C1)wicked person is spared ^(F1)a day of disaster; They ^(F2)are led away from ^(C2)a day of fury.

-"Who ^(F1)confronts him with his actions, And who repays him for what he has done?

-"When he is carried to the grave, People will keep watch over his tomb.

-"The ^(C1)clods of the valley will ^(F1)gently cover him; Moreover, ^(C2)all mankind will ^(F2)follow after him, While countless others go before him.

-"So how dare you give me empty ^(C1)comfort? For your answers remain nothing but falsehood!"