Revised Version 1885 (RV1885)

1 Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,

2 Therefore do my thoughts give answer to me, even by reason of my haste that is in me.

3 I have heard the reproof which putteth me to shame, and the spirit of my understanding answereth me.

4 Knowest thounotthis of old time, since man was placed upon earth,

5 That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the godless but for a moment?

6 Though his excellency mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds;

7 Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung: they which have seen him shall say, Where is he?

8 He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night.

9 The eye which saw him shall see him no more; neither shall his place any more behold him.

10 His children shall seek the favour of the poor, and his hands shall give back his wealth.

11 His bones are full of his youth, but it shall lie down with him in the dust.

12 Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue;

13 Though he spare it, and will not let it go, but keep it still within his mouth;

14 Yet his meat in his bowels is turned, it is the gall of asps within him.

15 He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again: God shall cast them out of his belly.

16 He shall suck the poison of asps: the viper’s tongue shall slay him.

17 He shall not look upon the rivers, the flowing streams of honey and butter.

18 That which he laboured for shall he restore, and shall not swallow it down; according to the substance that he hath gotten, he shall not rejoice.

19 For he hath oppressed and forsaken the poor; he hath violently taken away an house, and he shall not build it up.

20 Because he knew no quietness within him, he shall not save aught of that wherein he delighteth.

21 There was nothing left that he devoured not; therefore his prosperity shall not endure.

22 In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits: the hand of every one that is in misery shall come upon him.

23 When he is about to fill his belly,Godshall cast the fierceness of his wrath upon him, and shall rain it upon him while he is eating.

24 He shall flee from the iron weapon, and the bow of brass shall strike him through.

25 He draweth it forth, and it cometh out of his body: yea, the glittering point cometh out of his gall; terrors are upon him.

26 All darkness is laid up for his treasures: a fire not blownby manshall devour him; it shall consume that which is left in his tent.

27 The heavens shall reveal his iniquity, and the earth shall rise up against him.

28 The increase of his house shall depart,his goodsshall flow away in the day of his wrath.

29 This is the portion of a wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed unto him by God.

1 Then Job answered and said,

2 Hear diligently my speech; and let this be your consolations.

3 Suffer me, and I also will speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.

4 As for me, is my complaint to man? and why should I not be impatient?

5 Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.

6 Even when I remember I am troubled, and horror taketh hold on my flesh.

7 Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, wax mighty in power?

8 Their seed is established with them in their sight, and their offspring before their eyes.

9 Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.

10 Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.

11 They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.

12 They sing to the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.

13 They spend their days in prosperity, and in a moment they go down to Sheol.

14 Yet they said unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.

15 What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?

16 Lo, their prosperity is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

17 How oft is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out? that their calamity cometh upon them? thatGoddistributeth sorrows in his anger?

18 That they are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away?

19 Ye say, God layeth up his iniquity for his children. Let him recompense it unto himself, that he may know it.

20 Let his own eyes see his destruction, and let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.

21 For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst?

22 Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high.

23 One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet:

24 His breasts are full of milk, and the marrow of his bones is moistened.

25 And another dieth in bitterness of soul, and never tasteth of good.

26 They lie down alike in the dust, and the worm covereth them.

27 Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me.

28 For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? and where is the tent wherein the wicked dwelt?

29 Have ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know their tokens?

30 That the evil man is reserved to the day of calamity? that they are led forth to the day of wrath?

31 Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?

32 Yet shall he be borne to the grave, and shall keep watch over the tomb.

33 The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, and all men shall draw after him, as there were innumerable before him.

34 How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth only falsehood?

1 Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said,

2 Can a man be profitable unto God? surely he that is wise is profitable unto himself.

3 Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? or is it gainto him, that thou makest thy ways perfect?

4 Is it for thy fearof himthat he reproveth thee, that he entereth with thee into judgment?

5 Is not thy wickedness great? neither is there any end to thine iniquities.

6 For thou hast taken pledges of thy brother for nought, and stripped the naked of their clothing.

7 Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink, and thou hast withholden bread from the hungry.

8 But as for the mighty man, he had the earth; and the honourable man, he dwelt in it.

9 Thou hast sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.

10 Therefore snares are round about thee, and sudden fear troubleth thee,

11 Or darkness, that thou canst not see, and abundance of waters cover thee.

12 Is not God in the height of heaven? and behold the height of the stars, how high they are!

13 And thou sayest, What doth God know? can he judge through the thick darkness?

14 Thick clouds are a covering to him, that he seeth not; and he walketh in the circuit of heaven.

15 Wilt thou keep the old way which wicked men have trodden?

16 Who were snatched away before their time, whose foundation was poured out as a stream:

17 Who said unto God, Depart from us; and, What can the Almighty do for us?

18 Yet he fired their houses with good things: but the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

19 The righteous see it, and are glad; and the innocent laugh them to scorn:

20 Saying, Surely they that did rise up against us are cut off, and the remnant of them the fire hath consumed.

21 Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee.

22 Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart.

23 If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up; if thou put away unrighteousness far from thy tents.

24 And lay thouthytreasure in the dust, andthe gold ofOphir among the stones of the brooks;

25 And the Almighty shall be thy treasure, and precious silver unto thee.

26 For then shalt thou delight thyself in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God.

27 Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee; and thou shalt pay thy vows.

28 Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee; and light shall shine upon thy ways.

29 When they casttheedown, thou shalt say,There islifting up; and the humble person he shall save.

30 He shall deliverevenhim that is not innocent: yea, he shall be delivered through the cleanness of thine hands.

1 Then Job answered and said,

2 Even today is my complaint rebellious: my stroke is heavier than my groaning.

3 Oh that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his seat!

4 I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.

5 I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.

6 Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power? Nay; but he would give heed unto me.

7 There the upright might reason with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge.

8 Behold, I go forward, but he is notthere; and backward, but I cannot perceive him:

9 On the left hand, when he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him.

10 But he knoweth the way that I take; when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

11 My foot hath held fast to his steps; his way have I kept, and turned not aside.

12 I have not gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured up the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

13 But he is in onemind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.

14 For he performeth that which is appointed for me: and many such things are with him.

15 Therefore am I troubled at his presence; when I consider, I am afraid of him.

16 For God hath made my heart faint, and the Almighty hath troubled me:

17 Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither did he cover the thick darkness from my face.

1 Why are times not laid up by the Almighty? and why do not they which know him see his days?

2 There are that remove the landmarks; they violently take away flocks, and feed them.

3 They drive away the ass of the fatherless, they take the widow’s ox for a pledge.

4 They turn the needy out of the way: the poor of the earth hide themselves together.

5 Behold, as wild asses in the desert they go forth to their work, seeking diligently for meat; the wildernessyieldeththem food for their children.

6 They cut their provender in the field; and they glean the vintage of the wicked.

7 They lie all night naked without clothing, and have no covering in the cold.

8 They are wet with the showers of the mountains, and embrace the rock for want of a shelter.

9 There are that pluck the fatherless from the breast, and take a pledge of the poor:

10 So thatthey go about naked without clothing, and being an-hungred they carry the sheaves;

11 They make oil within the walls of these men; they treadtheirwinepresses, and suffer thirst.

12 From out of the populous city men groan, and the soul of the wounded crieth out: yet God imputeth it not for folly.

13 These are of them that rebel against the light; they know not the ways thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof.

14 The murderer riseth with the light, he killeth the poor and needy; and in the night he is as a thief.

15 The eye also of the adulterer waiteth for the twilight, saying, No eye shall see me: and he disguiseth his face.

16 In the dark they dig through houses: they shut themselves up in the daytime; they know not the light.

17 For the morning is to all of them as the shadow of death; for they know the terrors of the shadow of death.

18 He is swift upon the face of the waters; their portion is cursed in the earth: he turneth not by the way of the vineyards.

19 Drought and heat consume the snow waters:so dothSheolthose whichhave sinned.

20 The womb shall forget him; the worm shall feed sweetly on him; he shall be no more remembered: and unrighteousness shall be broken as a tree.

21 He devoureth the barren that beareth not; and doeth not good to the widow.

22 He draweth away the mighty also by his power: he riseth up, and no man is sure of life.

23 Godgiveth them to be in security, and they rest thereon; and his eyes are upon their ways.

24 They are exalted; yet a little while, and they are gone; yea, they are brought low, they are taken out of the way as all other, and are cut off as the tops of the ears of corn.

25 And if it be not so now, who will prove me a liar, and make my speech nothing worth?

1 Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,

2 Dominion and fear are with him; he maketh peace in his high places.

3 Is there any number of his armies? and upon whom doth not his light arise?

4 How then can man be just with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?

5 Behold, even the moon hath no brightness, and the stars are not pure in his sight:

6 How much less man, that is a worm! and the son of man, which is a worm!

1 Then Job answered and said,

2 How hast thou helped him that is without power! how hast thou saved the arm that hath no strength!

3 How hast thou counselled him that hath no wisdom, and plentifully declared sound knowledge!

4 To whom hast thou uttered words? and whose spirit came forth from thee?

5 They that are deceased tremble beneath the waters and the inhabitants thereof.

6 Sheol is naked before him, and Abaddon hath no covering.

7 He stretcheth out the north over empty space, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.

8 He bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds; and the cloud is not rent under them.

9 He closeth in the face of his throne, and spreadeth his cloud upon it.

10 He hath described a boundary upon the face of the waters, unto the confines of light and darkness.

11 The pillars of heaven tremble and are astonished at his rebuke.

12 He stirreth up the sea with his power, and by his understanding he smiteth through Rahab.

13 By his spirit the heavens are garnished; his hand hath pierced the swift serpent.

14 Lo, these are but the outskirts of his ways: and how small a whisper do we hear of him! but the thunder of his power who can understand?

1 And Job again took up his parable, and said,

2 As God liveth, who hath taken away my right; and the Almighty, who hath vexed my soul;

3 (For my life is yet whole in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils;)

4 Surely my lips shall not speak unrighteousness, neither shall my tongue utter deceit.

5 God forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will not put away mine integrity from me.

6 My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproachmeso long as I live.

7 Let mine enemy be as the wicked, and let him that riseth up against me be as the unrighteous.

8 For what is the hope of the godless, though he get him gain, when God taketh away his soul?

9 Will God hear his cry, when trouble cometh upon him?

10 Will he delight himself in the Almighty, and call upon God at all times?

11 I will teach you concerning the hand of God; that which is with the Almighty will I not conceal.

12 Behold, all ye yourselves have seen it; why then are ye become altogether vain?

13 This is the portion of a wicked man with God, and the heritage of oppressors, which they receive from the Almighty.

14 If his children be multiplied, it is for the sword; and his offspring shall not be satisfied with bread.

15 Those that remain of him shall be buried in death, and his widows shall make no lamentation.

16 Though he heap up silver as the dust, and prepare raiment as the clay;

17 He may prepare it, but the just shall put it on, and the innocent shall divide the silver.

18 He buildeth his house as the moth, and as a booth which the keeper maketh.

19 He lieth down rich, but he shall not be gathered; he openeth his eyes, and he is not.

20 Terrors overtake him like waters; a tempest stealeth him away in the night.

21 The east wind carrieth him away, and he departeth; and it sweepeth him out of his place.

22 ForGodshall hurl at him, and not spare: he would fain flee out of his hand.

23 Men shall clap their hands at him, and shall hiss him out of his place.

1 Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place for gold which they refine.

2 Iron is taken out of the earth, and brass is molten out of the stone.

3 Mansetteth an end to darkness, and searcheth out to the furthest bound the stones of thick darkness and of the shadow of death.

4 He breaketh open a shaft away from where men sojourn; they are forgotten of the footthat passeth by; they hang afar from men, they swing to and fro.

5 As for the earth, out of it cometh bread: and underneath it is turned up as it were by fire.

6 The stones thereof are the place of sapphires, and it hath dust of gold.

7 That path no bird of prey knoweth, neither hath the falcon’s eye seen it:

8 The proud beasts have not trodden it, nor hath the fierce lion passed thereby.

9 He putteth forth his hand upon the flinty rock; he overturneth the mountains by the roots.

10 He cutteth out channels among the rocks; and his eye seeth every precious thing.

11 He bindeth the streams that they trickle not; and the thing that is hid bringeth he forth to light.

12 But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding?

13 Man knoweth not the price thereof; neither is it found in the land of the living.

14 The deep saith, It is not in me: and the sea saith, It is not with me.

15 It cannot be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof.

16 It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire.

17 Gold and glass cannot equal it: neither shall the exchange thereof be jewels of fine gold.

18 No mention shall be made of coral or of crystal: yea, the price of wisdom is above rubies.

19 The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, neither shall it be valued with pure gold.

20 Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding?

21 Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the fowls of the air.

22 Destruction and Death say, We have heard a rumour thereof with our ears.

23 God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof.

24 For he looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven;

25 To make a weight for the wind; yea, he meteth out the waters by measure.

26 When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder:

27 Then did he see it, and declare it; he established it, yea, and searched it out.

28 And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.

1 And Job again took up his parable, and said,

2 Oh that I were as in the months of old, as in the days when God watched over me;

3 When his lamp shined upon my head, and by his light I walked through darkness;

4 As I was in the ripeness of my days, when the secret of God was upon my tent;

5 When the Almighty was yet with me, and my children were about me;

6 When my steps were washed with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil!

7 When I went forth to the gate unto the city, when I prepared my seat in the street,

8 The young men saw me and hid themselves, and the aged rose up and stood;

9 The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth;

10 The voice of the nobles was hushed, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.

11 For when the ear heardme, then it blessed me; and when the eye sawme, it gave witness unto me:

12 Because I delivered the poor that cried, the fatherless also, that had none to help him.

13 The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.

14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my justice was as a robe and a diadem.

15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.

16 I was a father to the needy: and the cause of him that I knew not I searched out.

17 And I brake the jaws of the unrighteous, and plucked the prey out of his teeth.

18 Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand:

19 My root is spread out to the waters, and the dew lieth all night upon my branch:

20 My glory is fresh in me, and my bow is renewed in my hand.

21 Unto me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence for my counsel.

22 After my words they spake not again; and my speech dropped upon them.

23 And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.

24 If I laughed on them, they believeditnot; and the light of my countenance they cast not down.

25 I chose out their way, and sataschief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners.