Study Desk

"Call now, is there anyone who will answer you? And to which of the ^(C1)holy ones will you turn?

-"For ^(C1)irritation kills the fool, And jealousy brings death to the simple.

-"I have seen the ^(C1)fool taking root, And I ^(C2)cursed his home immediately.

-"His ^(C1)sons are far from safety, They are also ^(F1)oppressed at the gate, And there is no one to save them.

-"^(F1)The hungry devour his harvest And take it to a place of thorns, And the ^(F2)(C1)schemer is eager for their wealth.

-"For ^(C1)disaster does not come from the dust, Nor does trouble sprout from the ground,

For ^(C1)man is born for trouble, As sparks fly upward.

"But as for me, I would ^(C1)seek God, And I would make my plea before God,

Who ^(C1)does great and unsearchable things, ^(F1)Wonders without number.

-"He ^(C1)gives rain on the earth, And sends water on the fields,

So that ^(C1)He sets on high those who are lowly, And those who mourn are lifted to safety.

-"He ^(C1)frustrates the schemes of the shrewd, So that their hands cannot attain success.

-"He ^(C1)captures the wise by their own cleverness, And the advice of the cunning is quickly thwarted.

-"By day they ^(C1)meet with darkness, And grope at noon as in the night.

-"But He saves from ^(C1)the sword of their mouth, And ^(C2)the poor from the hand of the strong.

-"So the helpless has hope, And ^(C1)injustice has shut its mouth.

"Behold, ^(C1)happy is the person whom God disciplines, So do not reject the ^(C2)discipline of ^(F1)the Almighty.

-"For ^(C1)He inflicts pain, and ^(F1)gives relief; He wounds, but His hands also heal.

-"In six troubles ^(C1)He will save you; Even in seven, ^(C2)evil will not touch you.

-"In ^(C1)famine He will redeem you from death, And ^(C2)in war, from the power of the sword.

-"You will be ^(C1)hidden ^(F1)from the scourge of the tongue, ^(C2)And you will not be afraid of violence when it comes.

-"You will ^(C1)laugh at violence and hunger, ^(C2)And you will not be afraid of ^(F1)wild animals.

-"For you will be in league with the stones of the field, And ^(C1)the animals of the field will be at peace with you.

-"You will know that your ^(C1)tent is secure, For you will visit your home and ^(F1)have nothing missing.

-"You will also know that your ^(F1)(C1)descendants will be many, And ^(C2)your offspring as the grass of the earth.

-"You will ^(C1)come to the grave at a ripe age, Like the stacking of grain in its season.

-"Behold this; we have investigated it, and so it is. Hear it, and know for yourself."

Then Job responded,

"^(C1)Oh if only my grief were actually weighed And laid in the balances together with my disaster!

-"For then it would be ^(C1)heavier than the sand of the seas; For that reason my words have been rash.

-"For the ^(C1)arrows of the Almighty are within me, ^(F1)My spirit drinks their ^(C2)poison; The ^(C3)terrors of God line up against me.

-"Does the ^(C1)wild donkey bray over his grass, Or does the ox low over his feed?

-"Can something tasteless be eaten without salt, Or is there any taste in the ^(F1)juice of an alkanet plant?

-"My soul ^(C1)refuses to touch them; They are like loathsome food to me.

"Oh, that my request might come to pass, And that God would grant my hope!

-"Oh, that God would ^(C1)decide to crush me, That He would let loose His hand and cut me off!

-"But it is still my comfort, And I rejoice in unsparing pain, That I ^(C1)have not ^(F1)denied the words of the Holy One.

-"What is my strength, that I should wait? And what is my end, that I should ^(F1)(C1)endure?

-"Is my strength the strength of stones, Or is my flesh bronze?

-"Is it that my ^(C1)help is not within me, And that a ^(C2)good outcome is driven away from me?

"For the ^(C1)despairing man there should be kindness from his friend; So that he does not ^(C2)abandon the ^(F1)fear of the Almighty.

-"My brothers have acted ^(C1)deceitfully like a ^(F1)wadi, Like the torrents of ^(F1)wadis which drain away,

Which are darkened because of ice, And into which the snow ^(F1)melts.

-"When ^(C1)they dry up, they vanish; When it is hot, they disappear from their place.

-"The ^(F1)paths of their course wind along, They go up into wasteland and perish.

-"The caravans of ^(C1)Tema looked, The travelers of ^(C2)Sheba hoped for them.

-"They ^(C1)were put to shame, for they had trusted, They came there and were humiliated.

-"Indeed, you have now become such, ^(C1)You see terrors and are afraid.

-"Have I said, 'Give me something,' Or, 'Offer a bribe for me from your wealth,'

Or, 'Save me from the hand of the enemy,' Or, 'Redeem me from the hand of the tyrants'?

"Teach me, and ^(C1)I will be silent; And show me how I have done wrong.

-"How painful are honest words! But what does your argument prove?

-"Do you intend to rebuke my words, When the ^(C1)words of one in despair belong to the wind?

-"You would even ^(C1)cast lots for ^(C2)the orphans, And ^(C3)barter over your friend.

-"Now please look at me, And see if I am ^(C1)lying to your face.

-"Please turn away, let there be no injustice; Turn away, ^(C1)my righteousness is still in it.

-"Is there injustice on my tongue? Does ^(C1)my palate not discern disasters?