The Bible (Old and New Testaments)

For it is a fire that consumeth unto destruction, and would root out all mine increase.

If I did despise the cause of my man-servant, or of my maid-servant, when they contended with me —

What then shall I do when God riseth up? And when He remembereth, what shall I answer Him?

Did not He that made me in the womb make him? And did not One fashion us in the womb?

If I have withheld aught that the poor desired, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail;

Or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof —

Nay, from my youth he grew up with me as with a father, and I have been her guide from my mother's womb.

If I have seen any wanderer in want of clothing, or that the needy had no covering;

If his loins have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep;

If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, because I saw my help in the gate;

Then let my shoulder fall from the shoulder-blade, and mine arm be broken from the bone.

For calamity from God was a terror to me, and by reason of His majesty I could do nothing.

If I have made gold my hope, and have said to the fine gold: 'Thou art my confidence';

If I rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because my hand had gotten much;

If I beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness;

And my heart hath been secretly enticed, and my mouth hath kissed my hand;

This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judges; for I should have lied to God that is above.

If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, or exulted when evil found him —

Yea, I suffered not my mouth to sin by asking his life with a curse.

If the men of my tent said not: 'Who can find one that hath not been satisfied with his meat?'

The stranger did not lodge in the street; my doors I opened to the roadside.

If after the manner of men I covered my transgressions, by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom —

Because I feared the great multitude, and the most contemptible among families terrified me, so that I kept silence, and went not out of the door.

Oh that I had one to hear me! — Lo, here is my signature, let the Almighty answer me — and that I had the indictment which mine adversary hath written!

Surely I would carry it upon my shoulder; I would bind it unto me as a crown.

I would declare unto him the number of my steps; as a prince would I go near unto him.

If my land cry out against me, and the furrows thereof weep together;

If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, or have caused the tillers thereof to be disappointed —

Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and noisome weeds instead of barley. The words of Job are ended.

So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.

Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram; against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God.

Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.

Now Elihu had waited to speak unto Job, because they were older than he.

And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, his wrath was kindled.

And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said: I am young, and ye are very old; wherefore I held back, and durst not declare you mine opinion.

I said: 'Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom.'

But it is a spirit in man, and the breath of the Almighty, that giveth them understanding.

It is not the great that are wise, nor the aged that discern judgment.

Therefore I say: 'Hearken to me; I also will declare mine opinion.'

Behold, I waited for your words, I listened for your reasons, whilst ye searched out what to say.

Yea, I attended unto you, and, behold, there was none that convinced Job, or that answered his words, among you.

Beware lest ye say: 'We have found wisdom; God may vanquish him, not man!'

For he hath not directed his words against me; neither will I answer him with your speeches.

They are amazed, they answer no more; words are departed from them.

And shall I wait, because they speak not, because they stand still, and answer no more?

I also will answer my part, I also will declare mine opinion.

For I am full of words; the spirit within me constraineth me.

Behold, mine inwards are as wine which hath no vent; like new wine-skins which are ready to burst.

I will speak, that I may find relief; I will open my lips and answer.

Let me not, I pray you, respect any man's person; neither will I give flattering titles unto any man.

For I know not to give flattering titles; else would my Maker soon take me away.

Howbeit, Job, I pray thee, hear my speech, and hearken to all my words.

Behold now, I have opened my mouth, my tongue hath spoken in my mouth.

My words shall utter the uprightness of my heart; and that which my lips know they shall speak sincerely.

The spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty given me life.

If thou canst, answer thou me, set thy words in order before me, stand forth.

Behold, I am toward God even as thou art; I also am formed out of the clay.

Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, neither shall my pressure be heavy upon thee.

Surely thou hast spoken in my hearing, and I have heard the voice of thy words;

'I am clean, without transgression, I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me;

Behold, He findeth occasions against me, He counteth me for His enemy;

He putteth my feet in the stocks, He marketh all my paths.'

Behold, I answer thee: In this thou art not right, that God is too great for man;

Why hast thou striven against Him? seeing that He will not answer any of his words.

For God speaketh in one way, yea in two, though man perceiveth it not.

In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed;

Then He openeth the ears of men, and by their chastisement sealeth the decree,

That men may put away their purpose, and that He may hide pride from man;

That He may keep back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.

He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and all his bones grow stiff;

So that his life maketh him to abhor bread, and his soul dainty food.

His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones corrode to unsightliness.

Yea, his soul draweth near unto the pit, and his life to the destroyers.

If there be for him an angel, an intercessor, one among a thousand, to vouch for a man's uprightness;

Then He is gracious unto him, and saith: 'Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom.'

His flesh is tenderer than a child's; he returneth to the days of his youth;

He prayeth unto God, and He is favourable unto him; so that he seeth His face with joy; and He restoreth unto man his righteousness.

He cometh before men, and saith: 'I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not.'

So He redeemeth his soul from going into the pit, and his life beholdeth the light.

Lo, all these things doth God work, twice, yea thrice, with a man,

To bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of the living.

Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me; hold thy peace, and I will speak.

If thou hast any thing to say, answer me; speak, for I desire to justify thee.

If not, hearken thou unto me; hold thy peace, and I will teach thee wisdom.

Moreover Elihu answered and said:

Hear my words, ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.

For the ear trieth words, as the palate tasteth food.

Let us choose for us that which is right; let us know among ourselves what is good.

For Job hath said: 'I am righteous, and God hath taken away my right;

Notwithstanding my right I am accounted a liar; my wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.'

What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water?

Who goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men.

For he hath said: 'It profiteth a man nothing that he should be in accord with God.'

Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: Far be it from God, that He should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that He should commit iniquity.

For the work of a man will He requite unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.

Yea, of a surety, God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert justice.

Who gave Him a charge over the earth? Or who hath disposed the whole world?

If He set His heart upon man, if He gather unto Himself his spirit and his breath;

All flesh shall perish together, and man shall return unto dust.

If now thou hast understanding, hear this; hearken to the voice of my words.