Job 5

Don’t Blame Fate When Things Go Wrong

5"Call for help, Job, if you think anyone will answer! To which of the holy angels will you turn?H7121H3426H6030H6918H64372The hot temper of a fool eventually kills him, the jealous anger of a simpleton does her in.H3708H2026H191H7068H4191H66013I've seen it myself—seen fools putting down roots, and then, suddenly, their houses are cursed.H7200H191H8327H6597H5344H51164Their children out in the cold, abused and exploited, with no one to stick up for them.H1121H7368H3468H1792H8179H53375Hungry people off the street plunder their harvests, cleaning them out completely, taking thorns and all, insatiable for everything they have.H7105H7457H398H3947H413H6791H6782H7602H24286Don't blame fate when things go wrong— trouble doesn't come from nowhere.H205H3318H6083H5999H6779H1277It's human! Mortals are born and bred for trouble, as certainly as sparks fly upward.H120H3205H5999H1121H7565H5774H1361

What a Blessing When God Corrects You!

8"If I were in your shoes, I'd go straight to God, I'd throw myself on the mercy of God.H199H1875H410H430H7760H17009After all, he's famous for great and unexpected acts; there's no end to his surprises.H6213H1419H369H2714H6381H455710He gives rain, for instance, across the wide earth, sends water to irrigate the fields.H5414H4306H6440H776H7971H4325H6440H235111He raises up the down-and-out, gives firm footing to those sinking in grief.H7760H4791H8217H6937H7682H346812He aborts the schemes of conniving crooks, so that none of their plots come to term.H6565H4284H6175H3027H6213H845413He catches the know-it-alls in their conspiracies— all that intricate intrigue swept out with the trash!H3920H2450H6193H6098H6617H411614Suddenly they're disoriented, plunged into darkness; they can't see to put one foot in front of the other.H6298H2822H3119H4959H6672H391515But the downtrodden are saved by God, saved from the murderous plots, saved from the iron fist.H3467H34H2719H6310H3027H238916And so the poor continue to hope, while injustice is bound and gagged.H1800H8615H5766H7092H631017"So, what a blessing when God steps in and corrects you! Mind you, don't despise the discipline of Almighty God!H835H582H433H3198H3988H4148H770618True, he wounds, but he also dresses the wound; the same hand that hurts you, heals you.H3510H2280H4272H3027H749519From one disaster after another he delivers you; no matter what the calamity, the evil can't touch you—H5337H8337H6869H7651H7451H506020"In famine, he'll keep you from starving, in war, from being gutted by the sword.H7458H6299H4194H4421H3027H271921You'll be protected from vicious gossip and live fearless through any catastrophe.H2244H7752H3956H3372H7701H93522You'll shrug off disaster and famine, and stroll fearlessly among wild animals.H7701H3720H7832H3372H2416H77623You'll be on good terms with rocks and mountains; wild animals will become your good friends.H1285H68H7704H2416H7704H799924You'll know that your place on earth is safe, you'll look over your goods and find nothing amiss.H3045H168H7965H6485H5116H239825You'll see your children grow up, your family lovely and lissome as orchard grass.H3045H2233H7227H6631H6212H77626You'll arrive at your grave ripe with many good years, like sheaves of golden grain at harvest.H935H6913H3624H1430H5927H625627"Yes, this is the way things are—my word of honor! Take it to heart and you won't go wrong."H2713H8085H3045