51 “Call now; is there any who will answer you?
To which of the holy ones will you turn? 2 For resentment kills the foolish man,
and jealousy kills the simple. 3 I have seen the foolish taking root,
but suddenly I cursed his habitation. 4 His children are far from safety.
They are crushed in the gate.
Neither is there any to deliver them, 5 whose harvest the hungry eats up,
and take it even out of the thorns.
The snare gapes for their substance.

6 For affliction doesn’t come forth from the dust,
neither does trouble spring out of the ground; 7 but man is born to trouble,
as the sparks fly upward. 8 “But as for me, I would seek God.
I would commit my cause to God, 9 who does great things that can’t be fathomed,
marvelous things without number; 10 who gives rain on the earth,
and sends waters on the fields; 11 so that he sets up on high those who are low,
those who mourn are exalted to safety. 12 He frustrates the devices of the crafty,
So that their hands can’t perform their enterprise. 13 He takes the wise in their own craftiness;
the counsel of the cunning is carried headlong. 14 They meet with darkness in the day time,
and grope at noonday as in the night. 15 But he saves from the sword of their mouth,
even the needy from the hand of the mighty. 16 So the poor has hope,
and injustice shuts her mouth.

17 “Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects.
Therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty. 18 For he wounds, and binds up.
He injures, and his hands make whole. 19 He will deliver you in six troubles;
yes, in seven there shall no evil touch you. 20 In famine he will redeem you from death;
in war, from the power of the sword. 21 You shall be hidden from the scourge of the tongue,
neither shall you be afraid of destruction when it comes. 22 At destruction and famine you shall laugh,
neither shall you be afraid of the animals of the earth. 23 For you shall be in league with the stones of the field.
The animals of the field shall be at peace with you. 24 You shall know that your tent is in peace.
You shall visit your fold, and shall miss nothing. 25 You shall know also that your seed shall be great,
Your offspring as the grass of the earth. 26 You shall come to your grave in a full age,
like a shock of grain comes in its season. 27 Look this, we have searched it, so it is.
Hear it, and know it for your good.”

Job Reproaches His Friends

61 Then Job answered, 2 “Oh that my anguish were weighed,
and all my calamity laid in the balances! 3 For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas,
therefore have my words been rash. 4 For the arrows of the Almighty are within me.
My spirit drinks up their poison.
The terrors of God set themselves in array against me. 5 Does the wild donkey bray when he has grass?
Or does the ox low over his fodder? 6 Can that which has no flavor be eaten without salt?
Or is there any taste in the white of an egg? 7 My soul refuses to touch them.
They are as loathsome food to me.

8 “Oh that I might have my request,
that God would grant the thing that I long for, 9 even that it would please God to crush me;
that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off! 10 Be it still my consolation,
yes, let me exult in pain that doesn’t spare,
that I have not denied the words of the Holy One. 11 What is my strength, that I should wait?
What is my end, that I should be patient? 12 Is my strength the strength of stones?
Or is my flesh of brass? 13 Isn’t it that I have no help in me,
That wisdom is driven quite from me?

14 “To him who is ready to faint, kindness should be shown from his friend;
even to him who forsakes the fear of the Almighty. 15 My brothers have dealt deceitfully as a brook,
as the channel of brooks that pass away; 16 Which are black by reason of the ice,
in which the snow hides itself. 17 In the dry season, they vanish.
When it is hot, they are consumed out of their place. 18 The caravans that travel beside them turn aside.
They go up into the waste, and perish. 19 The caravans of Tema looked.
The companies of Sheba waited for them. 20 They were distressed because they were confident.
They came there, and were confounded. 21 For now you are nothing.
You see a terror, and are afraid.

22 Did I say, ‘Give to me?’
or, ‘Offer a present for me from your substance?’ 23 or, ‘Deliver me from the adversary’s hand?’
or, ‘Redeem me from the hand of the oppressors?’ 24 “Teach me, and I will hold my peace.
Cause me to understand wherein I have erred. 25 How forcible are words of uprightness!
But your reproof, what does it reprove? 26 Do you intend to reprove words,
seeing that the speeches of one who is desperate are as wind? 27 Yes, you would even cast lots for the fatherless,
and make merchandise of your friend. 28 Now therefore be pleased to look at me,
for surely I shall not lie to your face. 29 Please return.
Let there be no injustice.
Yes, return again.
My cause is righteous. 30 Is there injustice on my tongue?
Can’t my taste discern mischievous things?

Job Remonstrates with God

71 “Isn’t a man forced to labor on earth?
Aren’t his days like the days of a hired hand? 2 As a servant who earnestly desires the shadow,
as a hireling who looks for his wages, 3 so am I made to possess months of misery,
wearisome nights are appointed to me. 4 When I lie down, I say,
‘When shall I arise, and the night be gone?’
I toss and turn until the dawning of the day. 5 My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust.
My skin closes up, and breaks out afresh. 6 My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle,
and are spent without hope.

7 Oh remember that my life is a breath.
My eye shall no more see good. 8 The eye of him who sees me shall see me no more.
Your eyes shall be on me, but I shall not be. 9 As the cloud is consumed and vanishes away,
so he who goes down to Sheol shall come up no more. 10 He shall return no more to his house,
neither shall his place know him any more. 11 “Therefore I will not keep silent.
I will speak in the anguish of my spirit.
I will complain in the bitterness of my soul. 12 Am I a sea, or a sea monster,
that you put a guard over me? 13 When I say, ‘My bed shall comfort me.
My couch shall ease my complaint;’ 14 then you scare me with dreams,
and terrify me through visions: 15 so that my soul chooses strangling,
death rather than my bones. 16 I loathe my life.
I don’t want to live forever.
Leave me alone, for my days are but a breath.

17 What is man, that you should magnify him,
that you should set your mind on him, 18 that you should visit him every morning,
and test him every moment? 19 How long will you not look away from me,
nor leave me alone until I swallow down my spittle? 20 If I have sinned, what do I do to you, you watcher of men?
Why have you set me as a mark for you,
so that I am a burden to myself? 21 Why do you not pardon my disobedience, and take away my iniquity?
For now shall I lie down in the dust.
You will seek me diligently, but I shall not be.”