Bible For Young People Vol. 1 — Job's Comforters

CHAPTER 134 JOB'S COMFORTERS

NOW when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.

And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven.

So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great.

After this opened Job his mouth, and said, Let the day perish wherein I was born.

Why died I not from my birth?

For now should I have lain still and been quiet, I should have slept: then had I been at rest, With kings and counsellors of the earth, Which built desolate places for themselves.

There the wicked cease from troubling;

And there the weary be at rest.

There the prisoners rest together;

They hear not the voice of the oppressor.

The small and great are there;

And the servant is free from his master.

For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, And that which I was afraid of is come unto me.

I was not in safety, neither had I rest, Neither was I quiet; yet trouble came.

[Sidenote: Job 2] Then Eliphaz answered and said, Behold, thou hast instructed many, And thou hast strengthened the weak hands.

Thy words have upholden him that was falling, And thou hast strengthened the feeble knees.

But now it is come upon thee, and thou faintest;

It toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.

Is not this thy fear, thy confidence, Thy hope, and the uprightness of thy ways?

Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent?

Or where were the righteous cut off?

Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, And sow wickedness, reap the same.

By the blast of God they perish, And by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed.

Although affliction cometh not forth of the dust, Neither doth trouble spring out of the ground;

Yet man is born unto trouble, As the sparks fly upward.

I would seek unto God, And unto God would I commit my cause: Which doeth great things and unsearchable;

Marvellous things without number: Who giveth rain upon the earth, And sendeth waters upon the fields: To set up on high those that be low;

That those which mourn may be exalted to safety.

So the poor hath hope, And iniquity stoppeth her mouth.

Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: Therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty: For he maketh sore, and bindeth up: He woundeth, and his hands make whole.

He shall deliver thee in six troubles: Yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee.

In famine he shall redeem thee from death: And in war from the power of the sword.

Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue: Neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh.

At destruction and famine thou shalt laugh: Neither shalt thou be afraid of the beasts of the earth.

For thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field: And the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee.

And thou shalt know that thy tabernacle shall be in peace;

And thou shalt visit thy habitation, and shalt not sin.

Thou shalt know also that thy seed shall be great, And thine offspring as the grass of the earth.

Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, Like as a shock of corn cometh in in his season.

Lo this, we have searched it, so it is;

Hear it, and know thou it for thy good.

[Sidenote: Job 6] [Sidenote: Job 7] But Job answered and said, Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, And my calamity laid in the balances together!

For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: Therefore my words are swallowed up.

Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass?

Or loweth the ox over his fodder?

Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt?

Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?

The things that my soul refused to touch Are as my sorrowful meat.

Oh that I might have my request;

And that God would grant me the thing that I long for!

Even that it would please God to destroy me;

That he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!

Then should I yet have comfort;

Yea, I would harden myself in sorrow: let him not spare;

For I have not concealed the words of the Holy One.

What is my strength, that I should hope?

And what is mine end, that I should prolong my life?

To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend;

But he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.

Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: And cause me to understand wherein I have erred.

O remember that my life is wind: Mine eye shall no more see good.

The eye of him that hath seen me shall see me no more: Thine eyes are upon me, and I am not.

As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: So he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more.

He shall return no more to his house, Neither shall his place know him any more.

Therefore I will not refrain my mouth;

I will speak in the anguish of my spirit;

I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.

What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him?

And that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him?

And that thou shouldest visit him every morning, And try him every moment?

I have sinned; what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men?

Why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, So that I am a burden to myself?

And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, And take away mine iniquity?

For now shall I sleep in the dust;

And thou shalt seek me in the morning, but I shall not be.

Then answered Bildad, and said, How long wilt thou speak these things?

And how long shall the words of thy mouth be like a strong wind?

Doth God pervert judgment?

Or doth the Almighty pervert justice?

If thy children have sinned against him, And he have cast them away for their transgression;

If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, And make thy supplication to the Almighty;

If thou wert pure and upright;

Surely now he would awake for thee, And make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous.

Though thy beginning was small, Yet thy latter end should greatly increase.

Can the rush grow up without mire?

Can the flag grow without water?

Whilst it is yet in his greenness, and not cut down, It withereth before any other herb.

So are the paths of all that forget God;

And the hypocrite's hope shall perish: Whose hope shall be cut off, And whose trust shall be a spider's web.

He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand: He shall hold it fast, but it shall not endure.

He is green before the sun, And his branch shooteth forth in his garden.

His roots are wrapped about the heap, And seeth the place of stones.

If he destroy him from his place, Then it shall deny him, saying, I have not seen thee.

Behold, this is the joy of his way, And out of the earth shall others grow.

Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, Neither will he help the evil doers.

[Sidenote: Job 9] Then Job answered and said, I know it is so of a truth: But how should man be just with God?

If he will contend with him, He cannot answer him one of a thousand.

He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: Who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?

Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: Which overturneth them in his anger.

Which shaketh the earth out of her place, And the pillars thereof tremble.

Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not;

And sealeth up the stars.

Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, And treadeth upon the waves of the sea.

Which doeth great things past finding out;

Yea, and wonders without number.

Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: He passeth on also, but I perceive him not.

Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him?

Who will say unto him, What doest thou?

How much less shall I answer him, And choose out my words to reason with him?

Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, But I would make supplication to my judge.

If I had called, and he had answered me;

Yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.

For he breaketh me with a tempest, And multiplieth my wounds without cause.

He will not suffer me to take my breath, But filleth me with bitterness.

If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: And if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?

If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: If I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.

This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.

Then answered Zophar, and said, Should not the multitude of words be answered?

And should a man full of talk be justified?

Should thy lies make men hold their peace?

And when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?

For thou hast said, My doctrine is pure, And I am clean in thine eyes.

But oh that God would speak, And open his lips against thee: And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, That they are double to that which is!

Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.

Canst thou by searching find out God?

Canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?

It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do?

Deeper than hell; what canst thou know?

The measure thereof is longer than the earth, And broader than the sea.

For he knoweth vain men: He seeth wickedness also; will he not then consider it?

For vain man would be wise, Though man be born like a wild ass's colt.

If thou prepare thine heart, And stretch out thine hands toward him;

If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, And let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles.

For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot;

Yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear: Because thou shalt forget thy misery, And remember it as waters that pass away: And thine age shall be clearer than the noonday;

Thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning.

And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope;

Yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.

Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid;

Yea, many shall make suit unto thee.

[Sidenote: Job 12] [Sidenote: Job 13] And Job answered and said, No doubt but ye are the people, And wisdom shall die with you.

But I have understanding as well as you;

I am not inferior to you: Yea, who knoweth not such things as these?

I am as one mocked of his neighbour, Who calleth upon God, and he answereth him: The just upright man is laughed to scorn.

But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee;

And the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee: Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: And the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.

Who knoweth not in all these That the hand of the LORD hath wrought this?

In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, And the breath of all mankind.

Doth not the ear try words?

And the mouth taste his meat?

With the ancient is wisdom;

And in length of days understanding.

With him is wisdom and strength, He hath counsel and understanding.

Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built again: He shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening.

Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up: Also he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.

With him is strength and wisdom: The deceived and the deceiver are his.

He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, And maketh the judges fools.

He looseth the bond of kings, And girdeth their loins with a girdle.

He leadeth princes away spoiled, And overthroweth the mighty.

He removeth away the speech of the trusty, And taketh away the understanding of the aged.

He poureth contempt upon princes, And weakeneth the strength of the mighty.

He discovereth deep things out of darkness, And bringeth out to light the shadow of death.

He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: He enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them again.

He taketh away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth, And causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.

They grope in the dark without light, And he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.

Lo, mine eye hath seen all this, Mine ear hath heard and understood it.

What ye know, the same do I know also: I am not inferior unto you.

Surely I would speak to the Almighty, And I desire to reason with God.

But ye are forgers of lies, Ye are all physicians of no value.

Hold your peace, let me alone, That I may speak, and let come on me what will.

Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth, And put my life in mine hand?

Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: But I will maintain mine own ways before him.

He also shall be my salvation: For an hypocrite shall not come before him.

Man that is born of a woman Is of few days, and full of trouble.

He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: He fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.

And dost thou open thine eyes upon such an one, And bringest me into judgment with thee?

As the waters fail from the sea, And the flood decayeth and drieth up: So man lieth down, and riseth not: Till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, Nor be raised out of their sleep.

O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, That thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, That thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me!

If a man die, shall he live again?

All the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.

Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: Thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands.

For now thou numberest my steps: Dost thou not watch over my sin?

And Eliphaz reproved Job.

And again Job answered and said, Miserable comforters are ye all.

I also could speak as ye do: If your soul were in my soul's stead, I could heap up words against you, And shake mine head at you.

But I would strengthen you with my mouth, And the moving of my lips should asswage your grief.

My friends scorn me: But mine eye poureth out tears unto God.

O that one might plead for a man with God, As a man pleadeth for his neighbour!

And Bildad reproved Job.

Then Job answered and said, How long will ye vex my soul, And break me in pieces with words?

These ten times have ye reproached me: Ye are not ashamed that ye make yourselves strange to me.

And be it indeed that I have erred, Mine error remaineth with myself.

If indeed ye will magnify yourselves against me, And plead against me my reproach: Know now that God hath overthrown me, And hath compassed me with his net.

Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard: I cry aloud, but there is no judgment.

He hath fenced up my way that I cannot pass, And he hath set darkness in my paths.

He hath stripped me of my glory, And taken the crown from my head.

He hath destroyed me on every side, and I am gone: And mine hope hath he removed like a tree.

He hath also kindled his wrath against me, And he counteth me unto him as one of his enemies.

His troops come together, and raise up their way against me, And encamp round about my tabernacle.

He hath put my brethren far from me, And mine acquaintance are verily estranged from me.

My kinsfolk have failed, And my familiar friends have forgotten me.

Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O ye my friends;

For the hand of God hath touched me.

Why do ye persecute me as God, And are not satisfied with my flesh?

Oh that my words were now written!

Oh that they were printed in a book!

That they were graven with an iron pen And lead in the rock for ever!

For I know that my redeemer liveth, And that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, Yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, And mine eyes shall behold, and not another;

Though my reins be consumed within me.

[Sidenote: Job 20] Then answered Zophar, and said, Knowest thou not this of old, Since man was placed upon earth, That the triumphing of the wicked is short, And the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?

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

The eye also which saw him shall see him no more;

Neither shall his place any more behold him.

His children shall seek to please the poor, And his hands shall restore their goods.

His bones are full of the sin of his youth, Which shall lie down with him in the dust.

That which he laboured for shall he restore, And shall not swallow it down: According to his substance shall the restitution be, And he shall not rejoice therein.

Because he hath oppressed and hath forsaken the poor;

Because he hath violently taken away an house which he builded not;

He shall flee from the iron weapon, And the bow of steel shall strike him through.

The heaven shall reveal his iniquity;

And the earth shall rise up against him.

The increase of his house shall depart, And his goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath.

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

[Sidenote: Job 21] But Job answered and said, Hear diligently my speech, And let this be your consolations.

Suffer me that I may speak;

And after that I have spoken, mock on.

Wherefore do the wicked live, Become old, yea, are mighty in power?

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

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

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

They take the timbrel and harp, And rejoice at the sound of the organ.

They spend their days in wealth, And in a moment go down to the grave.

Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us;

For we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.

What is the Almighty, that we should serve him?

And what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?

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

How oft is the candle of the wicked put out!

And how oft cometh their destruction upon them!

God distributeth sorrows in his anger.

They are as stubble before the wind, And as chaff that the storm carrieth away.

God layeth up his iniquity for his children: He rewardeth him, and he shall know it.

His eyes shall see his destruction, And he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.

Have ye not asked them that go by the way?

And do ye not know their tokens, That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction?

They shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.

Who shall declare his way to his face?

And who shall repay him what he hath done?

Yet shall he be brought to the grave, And shall remain in the tomb.

The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, And every man shall draw after him, As there are innumerable before him.

How then comfort ye me in vain, Seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood?

Then Eliphaz accused Job of divers sins, and exhorted him to repentance with promises of mercy.

Then Job answered and said, Even to day is my complaint bitter: My stroke is heavier than my groaning.

Oh that I knew where I might find him!

That I might come even to his seat!

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

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

Will he plead against me with his great power?

No; but he would put strength in me.

There the righteous might dispute with him;

So should I be delivered for ever from my judge.

Behold, I go forward, but he is not there;

And backward, but I cannot perceive him: On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: He hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him: But he knoweth the way that I take: When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

My foot hath held his steps, His way have I kept, and not declined.

Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips;

I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

But he is in one mind, and who can turn him?

And what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.

For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: And many such things are with him.

Therefore am I troubled at his presence: When I consider, I am afraid of him.

For God maketh my heart soft, And the Almighty troubleth me: Because I was not cut off before the darkness, Neither hath he covered the darkness from my face.

[Sidenote: Job 25] Then Bildad replied to Job, and Job answered and said, How hast thou helped him that is without power?

How savest thou the arm that hath no strength?

How hast thou counselled him that hath no wisdom?

And how hast thou plentifully declared the thing as it is?

To whom hast thou uttered words?

And whose spirit came from thee?

Dead things are formed From under the waters, and the inhabitants thereof.

Hell is naked before him, And destruction hath no covering.

He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, And hangeth the earth upon nothing.

He bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds;

And the cloud is not rent under them.

He holdeth back the face of his throne, And spreadeth his cloud upon it.

He hath compassed the waters with bounds, Until the day and night come to an end.

The pillars of heaven tremble And are astonished at his reproof.

He divideth the sea with his power, And by his understanding he smiteth through the proud.

By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens;

His hand hath formed the crooked serpent.

Lo, these are parts of his ways: But how little a portion is heard of him?

But the thunder of his power who can understand?

Whence then cometh wisdom?

And where is the place of understanding?

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

Destruction and death say, We have heard the fame thereof with our ears.

God understandeth the way thereof, And he knoweth the place thereof.

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

To make the weight for the winds;

And he weigheth the waters by measure.

When he made a decree for the rain, And a way for the lightning of the thunder: Then did he see it, and declare it;