Bible-Reading.comJob 20
1Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,
2Therefore do my thoughts give answer to me, even by reason of my haste that is in me.
3I have heard the reproof which putteth me to shame, and the spirit of my understanding answereth me.
4Knowest thou not this of old time, since man was placed upon earth,
5That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the godless but for a moment?
6Though his excellency mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds;
7Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung: they which have seen him shall say, Where is he?
8He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night.
9The eye which saw him shall see him no more; neither shall his place any more behold him.
10His children shall seek the favour of the poor, and his hands shall give back his wealth.
11His bones are full of his youth, but it shall lie down with him in the dust.
12Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue;
13Though he spare it, and will not let it go, but keep it still within his mouth;
14Yet his meat in his bowels is turned, it is the gall of asps within him.
15He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again: God shall cast them out of his belly.
16He shall suck the poison of asps: the viper’s tongue shall slay him.
17He shall not look upon the rivers, the flowing streams of honey and butter.
18That 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.
19For he hath oppressed and forsaken the poor; he hath violently taken away an house, and he shall not build it up.
20Because he knew no quietness within him, he shall not save aught of that wherein he delighteth.
21There was nothing left that he devoured not; therefore his prosperity shall not endure.
22In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits: the hand of every one that is in misery shall come upon him.
23When he is about to fill his belly, God shall cast the fierceness of his wrath upon him, and shall rain it upon him while he is eating.
24He shall flee from the iron weapon, and the bow of brass shall strike him through.
25He draweth it forth, and it cometh out of his body: yea, the glittering point cometh out of his gall; terrors are upon him.
26All darkness is laid up for his treasures: a fire not blown by man shall devour him; it shall consume that which is left in his tent.
27The heavens shall reveal his iniquity, and the earth shall rise up against him.
28The increase of his house shall depart, his goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath.
29This is the portion of a wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed unto him by God.
Job 21
1Then Job answered and said,
2Hear diligently my speech; and let this be your consolations.
3Suffer me, and I also will speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.
4As for me, is my complaint to man? and why should I not be impatient?
5Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
6Even when I remember I am troubled, and horror taketh hold on my flesh.
7Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, wax mighty in power?
8Their seed is established with them in their sight, and their offspring before their eyes.
9Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.
10Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.
11They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.
12They sing to the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
13They spend their days in prosperity, and in a moment they go down to Sheol.
14Yet they said unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.
15What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?
16Lo, their prosperity is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
17How oft is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out? that their calamity cometh upon them? that God distributeth sorrows in his anger?
18That they are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away?
19Ye say, God layeth up his iniquity for his children. Let him recompense it unto himself, that he may know it.
20Let his own eyes see his destruction, and let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
21For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst?
22Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high.
23One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet:
24His breasts are full of milk, and the marrow of his bones is moistened.
25And another dieth in bitterness of soul, and never tasteth of good.
26They lie down alike in the dust, and the worm covereth them.
27Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me.
28For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? and where is the tent wherein the wicked dwelt?
29Have ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know their tokens?
30That the evil man is reserved to the day of calamity? that they are led forth to the day of wrath?
31Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?
32Yet shall he be borne to the grave, and shall keep watch over the tomb.
33The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, and all men shall draw after him, as there were innumerable before him.
34How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth only falsehood?
Job 22
1Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said,
2Can a man be profitable unto God? surely he that is wise is profitable unto himself.
3Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? or is it gain to him, that thou makest thy ways perfect?
4Is it for thy fear of him that he reproveth thee, that he entereth with thee into judgment?
5Is not thy wickedness great? neither is there any end to thine iniquities.
6For thou hast taken pledges of thy brother for nought, and stripped the naked of their clothing.
7Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink, and thou hast withholden bread from the hungry.
8But as for the mighty man, he had the earth; and the honourable man, he dwelt in it.
9Thou hast sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.
10Therefore snares are round about thee, and sudden fear troubleth thee,
11Or darkness, that thou canst not see, and abundance of waters cover thee.
12Is not God in the height of heaven? and behold the height of the stars, how high they are!
13And thou sayest, What doth God know? can he judge through the thick darkness?
14Thick clouds are a covering to him, that he seeth not; and he walketh in the circuit of heaven.
15Wilt thou keep the old way which wicked men have trodden?
16Who were snatched away before their time, whose foundation was poured out as a stream:
17Who said unto God, Depart from us; and, What can the Almighty do for us?
18Yet he fired their houses with good things: but the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
19The righteous see it, and are glad; and the innocent laugh them to scorn:
20Saying, Surely they that did rise up against us are cut off, and the remnant of them the fire hath consumed.
21Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee.
22Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart.
23If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up; if thou put away unrighteousness far from thy tents.
24And lay thou thy treasure in the dust, and the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks;
25And the Almighty shall be thy treasure, and precious silver unto thee.
26For then shalt thou delight thyself in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God.
27Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee; and thou shalt pay thy vows.
28Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee; and light shall shine upon thy ways.
29When they cast thee down, thou shalt say, There is lifting up; and the humble person he shall save.
30He shall deliver even him that is not innocent: yea, he shall be delivered through the cleanness of thine hands.
Job 23
1Then Job answered and said,
2Even today is my complaint rebellious: my stroke is heavier than my groaning.
3Oh that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his seat!
4I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.
5I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.
6Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power? Nay; but he would give heed unto me.
7There the upright might reason with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge.
8Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him:
9On the left hand, when he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him.
10But he knoweth the way that I take; when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
11My foot hath held fast to his steps; his way have I kept, and turned not aside.
12I have not gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured up the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.
13But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.
14For he performeth that which is appointed for me: and many such things are with him.
15Therefore am I troubled at his presence; when I consider, I am afraid of him.
16For God hath made my heart faint, and the Almighty hath troubled me:
17Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither did he cover the thick darkness from my face.