Add parallel Print Page Options

¶ Call now, if there shall be anyone to answer thee; and if there shall be any of the saints for thee to look unto?

It is certain that wrath kills the foolish man, and envy consumes the covetous one.

I have seen the foolish taking root, but at the same time I cursed his habitation.

His sons are far from saving health, and they shall be crushed in the gate, and there shall be no one to deliver them.

The hungry shall eat up his harvest, and even take it out from among the thorns, and the thirsty shall drink up their substance.

¶ For the iniquity does not come forth out of the dust; neither does chastisement spring up out of the ground;

yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward.

I would certainly seek God, and unto God would I commit my affairs;

who does great things that no one can understand, and marvels that have no explanation;

10 who gives rain upon the earth and sends waters abroad;

11 who sets up the humble on high, that those who mourn may be lifted up with saving health.

12 He frustrates the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise.

13 He takes the wise in their own prudence, and the counsel of his adversaries is turned to folly.

14 They meet with darkness in the daytime and grope in the noonday as in the night.

15 But he saves the poor from the sword, from the mouth of the wicked, and from the hand of the violent.

16 Who is the hope of the poor, and iniquity closes her mouth.

17 ¶ Behold, blessed is the man whom God chastens; therefore, do not despise not the correction of the Almighty.

18 For he makes sore, and binds up; he wounds, and his hands make whole.

19 He shall deliver thee in six tribulations, and in the seventh no evil shall touch thee.

20 In famine he shall ransom thee from death, and in war from the power of the sword.

21 Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue; neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it comes.

22 At destruction and famine thou shalt laugh; neither shalt thou be afraid of the beasts of the earth;

23 for thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field; and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee.

24 And thou shalt know that there is peace in thy tent, and thou shalt visit thy habitation and shalt not sin.

25 Thou shalt know that thy seed is great and thine offspring as the grass of the earth.

26 Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, like a shock of wheat that is gathered in its season.

27 Behold that which we have searched out, so it is; hear it and judge it for thyself.

“Call if you will, but who will answer you?(A)
    To which of the holy ones(B) will you turn?
Resentment(C) kills a fool,
    and envy slays the simple.(D)
I myself have seen(E) a fool taking root,(F)
    but suddenly(G) his house was cursed.(H)
His children(I) are far from safety,(J)
    crushed in court(K) without a defender.(L)
The hungry consume his harvest,(M)
    taking it even from among thorns,
    and the thirsty pant after his wealth.
For hardship does not spring from the soil,
    nor does trouble sprout from the ground.(N)
Yet man is born to trouble(O)
    as surely as sparks fly upward.

“But if I were you, I would appeal to God;
    I would lay my cause before him.(P)
He performs wonders(Q) that cannot be fathomed,(R)
    miracles that cannot be counted.(S)
10 He provides rain for the earth;(T)
    he sends water on the countryside.(U)
11 The lowly he sets on high,(V)
    and those who mourn(W) are lifted(X) to safety.
12 He thwarts the plans(Y) of the crafty,
    so that their hands achieve no success.(Z)
13 He catches the wise(AA) in their craftiness,(AB)
    and the schemes of the wily are swept away.(AC)
14 Darkness(AD) comes upon them in the daytime;
    at noon they grope as in the night.(AE)
15 He saves the needy(AF) from the sword in their mouth;
    he saves them from the clutches of the powerful.(AG)
16 So the poor(AH) have hope,
    and injustice shuts its mouth.(AI)

17 “Blessed is the one whom God corrects;(AJ)
    so do not despise the discipline(AK) of the Almighty.[a](AL)
18 For he wounds, but he also binds up;(AM)
    he injures, but his hands also heal.(AN)
19 From six calamities he will rescue(AO) you;
    in seven no harm will touch you.(AP)
20 In famine(AQ) he will deliver you from death,
    and in battle from the stroke of the sword.(AR)
21 You will be protected from the lash of the tongue,(AS)
    and need not fear(AT) when destruction comes.(AU)
22 You will laugh(AV) at destruction and famine,(AW)
    and need not fear the wild animals.(AX)
23 For you will have a covenant(AY) with the stones(AZ) of the field,
    and the wild animals will be at peace with you.(BA)
24 You will know that your tent is secure;(BB)
    you will take stock of your property and find nothing missing.(BC)
25 You will know that your children will be many,(BD)
    and your descendants like the grass of the earth.(BE)
26 You will come to the grave in full vigor,(BF)
    like sheaves gathered in season.(BG)

27 “We have examined this, and it is true.
    So hear it(BH) and apply it to yourself.”(BI)

Footnotes

  1. Job 5:17 Hebrew Shaddai; here and throughout Job