Holman Christian Standard Bible (159 page)
Read Holman Christian Standard Bible Online
Authors: B&H Publishing Group
Job
35
Then Elihu continued, saying:
Then Elihu continued, saying:
2
Do you think it is just when you say,
“I am righteous before God”?
3
For you ask, “What does it profit You,
and what benefit comes to me, if I do not sin? ”
4
I will answer you
and your friends with you.
5
Look at the heavens and see;
gaze at the clouds high above you.
6
If you sin, how does it affect God?
If you multiply your transgressions, what does it do to Him?
7
If you are righteous, what do you give Him,
or what does He receive from your hand?
8
Your wickedness affects a person like yourself,
and your righteousness another human being.
9
People cry out because of severe oppression;
they shout for help because of the arm of the mighty.
10
But no one asks, “Where is God my Maker,
who provides us with songs in the night,
11
who gives us more understanding than the animals of the earth
and makes us wiser than the birds of the sky? ”
12
There they cry out, but He does not answer,
because of the pride of evil men.
13
Indeed, God does not listen to empty cries,
and the
•Almighty
does not take note of it —
14
how much less when you complain
that you do not see Him,
that your case is before Him
and you are waiting for Him.
15
But now, because God's anger does not punish
and He does not pay attention to transgression,
16
Job opens his mouth in vain
and multiplies words without knowledge.
Do you think it is just when you say,
“I am righteous before God”?
3
For you ask, “What does it profit You,
and what benefit comes to me, if I do not sin? ”
4
I will answer you
and your friends with you.
5
Look at the heavens and see;
gaze at the clouds high above you.
6
If you sin, how does it affect God?
If you multiply your transgressions, what does it do to Him?
7
If you are righteous, what do you give Him,
or what does He receive from your hand?
8
Your wickedness affects a person like yourself,
and your righteousness another human being.
9
People cry out because of severe oppression;
they shout for help because of the arm of the mighty.
10
But no one asks, “Where is God my Maker,
who provides us with songs in the night,
11
who gives us more understanding than the animals of the earth
and makes us wiser than the birds of the sky? ”
12
There they cry out, but He does not answer,
because of the pride of evil men.
13
Indeed, God does not listen to empty cries,
and the
•Almighty
does not take note of it —
14
how much less when you complain
that you do not see Him,
that your case is before Him
and you are waiting for Him.
15
But now, because God's anger does not punish
and He does not pay attention to transgression,
16
Job opens his mouth in vain
and multiplies words without knowledge.
Job
36
Then Elihu continued, saying:
Then Elihu continued, saying:
2
Be patient with me a little longer, and I will inform you,
for there is still more to be said on God's behalf.
3
I will get my knowledge from a distant place
and ascribe justice to my Maker.
4
For my arguments are without flaw;
one who has perfect knowledge is with you.
Be patient with me a little longer, and I will inform you,
for there is still more to be said on God's behalf.
3
I will get my knowledge from a distant place
and ascribe justice to my Maker.
4
For my arguments are without flaw;
one who has perfect knowledge is with you.
5
Yes, God is mighty, but He despises no one;
He understands all things.
6
He does not keep the wicked alive,
but He gives justice to the afflicted.
7
He does not remove His gaze from the righteous,
but He seats them forever with enthroned kings,
and they are exalted.
Yes, God is mighty, but He despises no one;
He understands all things.
6
He does not keep the wicked alive,
but He gives justice to the afflicted.
7
He does not remove His gaze from the righteous,
but He seats them forever with enthroned kings,
and they are exalted.
8
If people are bound with chains
and trapped by the cords of affliction,
9
God tells them what they have done
and how arrogantly they have transgressed.
10
He opens their ears to correction
and insists they repent from iniquity.
11
If they serve Him obediently,
they will end their days in prosperity
and their years in happiness.
12
But if they do not obey,
they will cross the river of death
and die without knowledge.
If people are bound with chains
and trapped by the cords of affliction,
9
God tells them what they have done
and how arrogantly they have transgressed.
10
He opens their ears to correction
and insists they repent from iniquity.
11
If they serve Him obediently,
they will end their days in prosperity
and their years in happiness.
12
But if they do not obey,
they will cross the river of death
and die without knowledge.
13
Those who have a godless heart harbor anger;
even when God binds them, they do not cry for help.
14
They die in their youth;
their life ends among male cult prostitutes.
15
God rescues the afflicted by their affliction;
He instructs them by their torment.
Those who have a godless heart harbor anger;
even when God binds them, they do not cry for help.
14
They die in their youth;
their life ends among male cult prostitutes.
15
God rescues the afflicted by their affliction;
He instructs them by their torment.
16
Indeed, He lured you from the jaws of distress
to a spacious and unconfined place.
Your table was spread with choice food.
17
Yet now you are obsessed with the judgment due the wicked;
judgment and justice have seized you.
18
Be careful that no one lures you with riches;
do not let a large ransom lead you astray.
19
Can your wealth or all your physical exertion
keep you from distress?
20
Do not long for the night
when nations will disappear from their places.
21
Be careful that you do not turn to iniquity,
for that is why you have been tested by affliction.
Indeed, He lured you from the jaws of distress
to a spacious and unconfined place.
Your table was spread with choice food.
17
Yet now you are obsessed with the judgment due the wicked;
judgment and justice have seized you.
18
Be careful that no one lures you with riches;
do not let a large ransom lead you astray.
19
Can your wealth or all your physical exertion
keep you from distress?
20
Do not long for the night
when nations will disappear from their places.
21
Be careful that you do not turn to iniquity,
for that is why you have been tested by affliction.
22
Look, God shows Himself exalted by His power.
Who is a teacher like Him?
23
Who has appointed His way for Him,
and who has declared, “You have done wrong”?
24
Remember that you should praise His work,
which people have sung about.
25
All mankind has seen it;
people have looked at it from a distance.
26
Yes, God is exalted beyond our knowledge;
the number of His years cannot be counted.
27
For He makes waterdrops evaporate;
they distill the rain into its mist,
28
which the clouds pour out
and shower abundantly on mankind.
29
Can anyone understand how the clouds spread out
or how the thunder roars from God's pavilion?
30
See how He spreads His lightning around Him
and covers the depths of the sea.
31
For He judges the nations with these;
He gives food in abundance.
32
He covers His hands with lightning
and commands it to hit its mark.
33
The thunder declares His presence;
the cattle also, the approaching storm.
Look, God shows Himself exalted by His power.
Who is a teacher like Him?
23
Who has appointed His way for Him,
and who has declared, “You have done wrong”?
24
Remember that you should praise His work,
which people have sung about.
25
All mankind has seen it;
people have looked at it from a distance.
26
Yes, God is exalted beyond our knowledge;
the number of His years cannot be counted.
27
For He makes waterdrops evaporate;
they distill the rain into its mist,
28
which the clouds pour out
and shower abundantly on mankind.
29
Can anyone understand how the clouds spread out
or how the thunder roars from God's pavilion?
30
See how He spreads His lightning around Him
and covers the depths of the sea.
31
For He judges the nations with these;
He gives food in abundance.
32
He covers His hands with lightning
and commands it to hit its mark.
33
The thunder declares His presence;
the cattle also, the approaching storm.
Job
37
My heart pounds at this
and leaps from my chest.
2
Just listen to His thunderous voice
and the rumbling that comes from His mouth.
3
He lets it loose beneath the entire sky;
His lightning to the ends of the earth.
My heart pounds at this
and leaps from my chest.
2
Just listen to His thunderous voice
and the rumbling that comes from His mouth.
3
He lets it loose beneath the entire sky;
His lightning to the ends of the earth.
4
Then there comes a roaring sound;
God thunders with His majestic voice.
He does not restrain the lightning
when His rumbling voice is heard.
5
God thunders marvelously with His voice;
He does great things that we cannot comprehend.
6
For He says to the snow, “Fall to the earth,”
and the torrential rains, His mighty torrential rains,
7
serve as His sign to all mankind,
so that all men may know His work.
8
The wild animals enter their lairs
and stay in their dens.
9
The windstorm comes from its chamber,
and the cold from the driving north winds.
10
Ice is formed by the breath of God,
and watery expanses are frozen.
11
He saturates clouds with moisture;
He scatters His lightning through them.
12
They swirl about,
turning round and round at His direction,
accomplishing everything He commands them
over the surface of the inhabited world.
13
He causes this to happen for punishment,
for His land, or for His faithful love.
Then there comes a roaring sound;
God thunders with His majestic voice.
He does not restrain the lightning
when His rumbling voice is heard.
5
God thunders marvelously with His voice;
He does great things that we cannot comprehend.
6
For He says to the snow, “Fall to the earth,”
and the torrential rains, His mighty torrential rains,
7
serve as His sign to all mankind,
so that all men may know His work.
8
The wild animals enter their lairs
and stay in their dens.
9
The windstorm comes from its chamber,
and the cold from the driving north winds.
10
Ice is formed by the breath of God,
and watery expanses are frozen.
11
He saturates clouds with moisture;
He scatters His lightning through them.
12
They swirl about,
turning round and round at His direction,
accomplishing everything He commands them
over the surface of the inhabited world.
13
He causes this to happen for punishment,
for His land, or for His faithful love.
14
Listen to this, Job.
Stop and consider God's wonders.
15
Do you know how God directs His clouds
or makes their lightning flash?
16
Do you understand how the clouds float,
those wonderful works of Him who has perfect knowledge?
17
You whose clothes get hot
when the south wind brings calm to the land,
18
can you help God spread out the skies
as hard as a cast metal mirror?
19
Teach us what we should say to Him;
we cannot prepare our case because of our darkness.
20
Should He be told that I want to speak?
Can a man speak when he is confused?
21
Now men cannot even look at the sun
when it is in the skies,
after a wind has swept through and cleared them away.
22
Yet out of the north He comes, shrouded in a golden glow;
awesome majesty surrounds Him.
23
The
•Almighty
— we cannot reach Him —
He is exalted in power!
He will not oppress justice and abundant righteousness,
24
Therefore, men
•fear
Him.
He does not look favorably on any who are wise in heart.
Listen to this, Job.
Stop and consider God's wonders.
15
Do you know how God directs His clouds
or makes their lightning flash?
16
Do you understand how the clouds float,
those wonderful works of Him who has perfect knowledge?
17
You whose clothes get hot
when the south wind brings calm to the land,
18
can you help God spread out the skies
as hard as a cast metal mirror?
19
Teach us what we should say to Him;
we cannot prepare our case because of our darkness.
20
Should He be told that I want to speak?
Can a man speak when he is confused?
21
Now men cannot even look at the sun
when it is in the skies,
after a wind has swept through and cleared them away.
22
Yet out of the north He comes, shrouded in a golden glow;
awesome majesty surrounds Him.
23
The
•Almighty
— we cannot reach Him —
He is exalted in power!
He will not oppress justice and abundant righteousness,
24
Therefore, men
•fear
Him.
He does not look favorably on any who are wise in heart.
Job
The
Lord
Speaks
Lord
Speaks
38
Then the
Lord
answered Job from the whirlwind. He said:
Then the
Lord
answered Job from the whirlwind. He said:
2
Who is this who obscures My counsel
with ignorant words?
3
Get ready to answer Me like a man;
when I question you, you will inform Me.
4
Where were you when I established the earth?
Tell Me, if you have understanding.
5
Who fixed its dimensions? Certainly you know!
Who stretched a measuring line across it?
6
What supports its foundations?
Or who laid its cornerstone
7
while the morning stars sang together
and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
Who is this who obscures My counsel
with ignorant words?
3
Get ready to answer Me like a man;
when I question you, you will inform Me.
4
Where were you when I established the earth?
Tell Me, if you have understanding.
5
Who fixed its dimensions? Certainly you know!
Who stretched a measuring line across it?
6
What supports its foundations?
Or who laid its cornerstone
7
while the morning stars sang together
and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
8
Who enclosed the sea behind doors
when it burst from the womb,
9
when I made the clouds its garment
and thick darkness its blanket,
10
when I determined its boundaries
and put its bars and doors in place,
11
when I declared: “You may come this far, but no farther;
your proud waves stop here”?
Who enclosed the sea behind doors
when it burst from the womb,
9
when I made the clouds its garment
and thick darkness its blanket,
10
when I determined its boundaries
and put its bars and doors in place,
11
when I declared: “You may come this far, but no farther;
your proud waves stop here”?
12
Have you ever in your life commanded the morning
or assigned the dawn its place,
13
so it may seize the edges of the earth
and shake the wicked out of it?
14
The earth is changed as clay is by a seal;
its hills stand out like the folds of a garment.
15
Light is withheld from the wicked,
and the arm raised in violence is broken.
Have you ever in your life commanded the morning
or assigned the dawn its place,
13
so it may seize the edges of the earth
and shake the wicked out of it?
14
The earth is changed as clay is by a seal;
its hills stand out like the folds of a garment.
15
Light is withheld from the wicked,
and the arm raised in violence is broken.
16
Have you traveled to the sources of the sea
or walked in the depths of the oceans?
17
Have the gates of death been revealed to you?
Have you seen the gates of deep darkness?
18
Have you comprehended the extent of the earth?
Tell Me, if you know all this.
Have you traveled to the sources of the sea
or walked in the depths of the oceans?
17
Have the gates of death been revealed to you?
Have you seen the gates of deep darkness?
18
Have you comprehended the extent of the earth?
Tell Me, if you know all this.
19
Where is the road to the home of light?
Do you know where darkness lives,
20
so you can lead it back to its border?
Are you familiar with the paths to its home?
21
Don't you know? You were already born;
you have lived so long!
22
Have you entered the place where the snow is stored?
Or have you seen the storehouses of hail,
23
which I hold in reserve for times of trouble,
for the day of warfare and battle?
24
What road leads to the place where light is dispersed?
Where is the source of the east wind that spreads across the earth?
Where is the road to the home of light?
Do you know where darkness lives,
20
so you can lead it back to its border?
Are you familiar with the paths to its home?
21
Don't you know? You were already born;
you have lived so long!
22
Have you entered the place where the snow is stored?
Or have you seen the storehouses of hail,
23
which I hold in reserve for times of trouble,
for the day of warfare and battle?
24
What road leads to the place where light is dispersed?
Where is the source of the east wind that spreads across the earth?
25
Who cuts a channel for the flooding rain
or clears the way for lightning,
26
to bring rain on an uninhabited land,
on a desert with no human life,
27
to satisfy the parched wasteland
and cause the grass to sprout?
28
Does the rain have a father?
Who fathered the drops of dew?
29
Whose womb did the ice come from?
Who gave birth to the frost of heaven
30
when water becomes as hard as stone,
and the surface of the watery depths is frozen?
Who cuts a channel for the flooding rain
or clears the way for lightning,
26
to bring rain on an uninhabited land,
on a desert with no human life,
27
to satisfy the parched wasteland
and cause the grass to sprout?
28
Does the rain have a father?
Who fathered the drops of dew?
29
Whose womb did the ice come from?
Who gave birth to the frost of heaven
30
when water becomes as hard as stone,
and the surface of the watery depths is frozen?
31
Can you fasten the chains of the Pleiades
or loosen the belt of Orion?
32
Can you bring out the constellations in their season
and lead the Bear and her cubs?
33
Do you know the laws of heaven?
Can you impose its authority on earth?
34
Can you command the clouds
so that a flood of water covers you?
35
Can you send out lightning bolts, and they go?
Do they report to you: “Here we are.”?
Can you fasten the chains of the Pleiades
or loosen the belt of Orion?
32
Can you bring out the constellations in their season
and lead the Bear and her cubs?
33
Do you know the laws of heaven?
Can you impose its authority on earth?
34
Can you command the clouds
so that a flood of water covers you?
35
Can you send out lightning bolts, and they go?
Do they report to you: “Here we are.”?
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