Job Muses on the Brevity of Life

141 " Man , who is born of woman , Is short-lived e and full of turmoil . 2 " Like a flower he comes forth and withers . He also flees like a shadow and does not remain . 3 "You also open Your eyes on him And bring him into judgment with Yourself. 4 " Who can make the clean out of the unclean ? No one ! 5 "Since his days are determined , The number of his months is with You; And his limits You have set so that he cannot pass . 6 " Turn Your gaze from him that he may rest , Until he fulfills his day like a hired man .

7 "For there is hope for a tree , When it is cut down , that it will sprout again , And its shoots will not fail . 8 "Though its roots grow old in the ground And its stump dies in the dry soil , 9 At the scent of water it will flourish And put forth sprigs like a plant . 10 "But man dies and lies prostrate . Man expires , and where is he? 11 "As water evaporates from the sea , And a river becomes parched and dried up, 12 So man lies down and does not rise . Until the heavens are no longer , He will not awake nor be aroused out of his sleep . 13 "Oh e that You would hide me in Sheol , That You would conceal me until Your wrath returns to You, That You would set a limit for me and remember me! 14 "If a man dies , will he live again? All the days of my struggle I will wait Until my change comes . 15 "You will call , and I will answer You; You will long for the work of Your hands .

16 "For now You number my steps , You do not observe my sin . 17 "My transgression is sealed up in a bag , And You wrap up my iniquity . 18 "But the falling mountain crumbles away , And the rock moves from its place ; 19 Water wears away stones , Its torrents wash away the dust of the earth ; So You destroy man's hope . 20 "You forever overpower him and he departs ; You change his appearance and send him away . 21 "His sons achieve honor , but he does not know it; Or they become insignificant , but he does not perceive it. 22 "But his body pains him, And he mourns only for himself ."

Eliphaz Reprimands Job

151 Then Eliphaz the Temanite responded e , 2 "Should a wise man answer with windy knowledge And fill himself with the east wind ? 3 "Should he argue with useless talk , Or with words which are not profitable ? 4 "Indeed , you do away with reverence And hinder meditation before God . 5 "For your guilt teaches your mouth , And you choose the language of the crafty . 6 "Your own mouth condemns you, and not I; And your own lips testify against you. 7 "Were you the first man to be born , Or were you brought forth before the hills ? 8 "Do you hear the secret counsel of God , And limit wisdom to yourself? 9 " What do you know that we do not know ? What do you understand that we do not? 10 "Both the gray-haired and the aged are among us, Older e than your father . 11 "Are the consolations of God too small for you, Even the word spoken gently with you? 12 "Why does your heart carry you away? And why do your eyes flash , 13 That you should turn your spirit against God And allow such words to go out of your mouth ? 14 "What is man , that he should be pure , Or he who is born of a woman , that he should be righteous ? 15 "Behold , He puts no trust in His holy ones , And the heavens are not pure in His sight ; 16 How much e less one who is detestable and corrupt , Man , who drinks iniquity like water !

17 "I will tell you, listen to me; And what I have seen I will also declare ; 18 What wise men have told , And have not concealed from their fathers , 19 To whom alone the land was given , And no alien passed among them. 20 "The wicked man writhes in pain all his days , And numbered are the years stored up for the ruthless . 21 "Sounds of terror are in his ears ; While at peace the destroyer comes upon him. 22 "He does not believe that he will return from darkness , And he is destined for the sword . 23 "He wanders about for food , saying, 'Where is it?' He knows that a day of darkness is at hand . 24 "Distress and anguish terrify him, They overpower him like a king ready for the attack , 25 Because he has stretched out his hand against God And conducts himself arrogantly against the Almighty . 26 "He rushes headlong at Him With his massive e shield . 27 "For he has covered his face with his fat And made his thighs heavy with flesh . 28 "He has lived in desolate cities , In houses no one would inhabit , Which are destined to become ruins . 29 "He will not become rich , nor will his wealth endure ; And his grain will not bend down to the ground . 30 "He will not escape from darkness ; The flame will wither his shoots , And by the breath of His mouth he will go away . 31 "Let him not trust in emptiness , deceiving himself; For emptiness will be his reward . 32 "It will be accomplished before his time , And his palm branch will not be green . 33 "He will drop off his unripe grape like the vine , And will cast off his flower like the olive tree . 34 "For the company of the godless is barren , And fire consumes the tents of the corrupt . 35 "They conceive mischief and bring forth iniquity , And their mind prepares deception ."

Job Complains of God's Dealings

161 Then Job answered , 2 "I have heard many such things ; Sorry comforters are you all . 3 "Is there no limit to windy words ? Or what plagues you that you answer ? 4 "I too could speak like you, If I were in your place . I could compose words against you And shake my head at you. 5 "I could strengthen you with my mouth , And the solace of my lips could lessen your pain.

6 "If I speak , my pain is not lessened , And if I hold back , what has left me? 7 "But now He has exhausted me; You have laid waste all my company . 8 "You have shriveled me up, It has become a witness ; And my leanness rises up against me, It testifies to my face . 9 "His anger has torn me and hunted me down , He has gnashed at me with His teeth ; My adversary glares e at me. 10 "They have gaped at me with their mouth , They have slapped me on the cheek with contempt ; They have massed themselves against me. 11 "God hands me over to ruffians And tosses me into the hands of the wicked . 12 "I was at ease , but He shattered me, And He has grasped me by the neck and shaken me to pieces ; He has also set me up as His target . 13 "His arrows surround me. Without mercy He splits my kidneys open ; He pours out my gall on the ground . 14 "He breaks through me with breach after e breach ; He runs at me like a warrior . 15 "I have sewed sackcloth over my skin And thrust my horn in the dust . 16 "My face is flushed from weeping , And deep darkness is on my eyelids ,

17 Although there is no violence in my hands , And my prayer is pure . 18 "O earth , do not cover my blood , And let there be no resting place for my cry . 19 "Even now , behold , my witness is in heaven , And my advocate is on high . 20 "My friends are my scoffers ; My eye weeps to God . 21 "O that a man might plead with God As a man e with his neighbor ! 22 "For when a few years are past , I shall go the way of no return .