Job 4-7; Psalms 136 - Prayer Tents

Eliphaz’s First Response to Job

4Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied to Job.H464H8489H6030H559 2"Will you be patient and let me say a word? For who could keep from speaking out?H5254H1697H3811H3201H6113H4405 3"In the past you have encouraged many people; you have strengthened those who were weak.H3256H7227H2388H7504H3027 4Your words have supported those who were falling; you encouraged those with shaky knees.H4405H6965H3782H553H3766H1290 5But now when trouble strikes, you lose heart. You are terrified when it touches you.H935H3811H5060H926 6Doesn't your reverence for God give you confidence? Doesn't your life of integrity give you hope?H3374H3690H8615H8537H1870 7"Stop and think! Do the innocent die? When have the upright been destroyed?H2142H6H5355H375H3477H3582 8My experience shows that those who plant trouble and cultivate evil will harvest the same.H7200H2790H205H2232H5999H7114 9A breath from God destroys them. They vanish in a blast of his anger.H5397H433H6H7307H639H3615 10The lion roars and the wildcat snarls, but the teeth of strong lions will be broken.H7581H738H6963H7826H8127H3715H5421 11The fierce lion will starve for lack of prey, and the cubs of the lioness will be scattered.H3918H6H1097H2964H3833H1121H6504 12"This truth was given to me in secret, as though whispered in my ear.H1697H1589H241H3947H8102 13It came to me in a disturbing vision at night, when people are in a deep sleep.H5587H2384H3915H8639H5307H582 14Fear gripped me, and my bones trembled.H6343H7122H7461H7230H6106H6342 15A spirit swept past my face, and my hair stood on end.H7307H2498H6440H8185H1320H5568 16The spirit stopped, but I couldn't see its shape. There was a form before my eyes. In the silence I heard a voice say,H5975H5234H4758H8544H5869H1827H8085H6963 17'Can a mortal be innocent before God? Can anyone be pure before the Creator?'H582H6663H433H1397H2891H6213 18"If God does not trust his own angels and has charged his messengers with foolishness,H539H5650H4397H7760H8417 19how much less will he trust people made of clay! They are made of dust, crushed as easily as a moth.H637H7931H1004H2563H3247H6083H1792H6440H6211 20They are alive in the morning but dead by evening, gone forever without a trace.H3807H1242H6153H6H5331H7760 21Their tent-cords are pulled and the tent collapses, and they die in ignorance.H3499H5265H4191H2451

Eliphaz’s Response Continues

5"Cry for help, but will anyone answer you? Which of the angels will help you?H7121H3426H6030H6918H6437 2Surely resentment destroys the fool, and jealousy kills the simple.H3708H2026H191H7068H4191H6601 3I have seen that fools may be successful for the moment, but then comes sudden disaster.H7200H191H8327H6597H5344H5116 4Their children are abandoned far from help; they are crushed in court with no one to defend them.H1121H7368H3468H1792H8179H5337 5The hungry devour their harvest, even when it is guarded by brambles. The thirsty pant after their wealth.H7105H7457H398H3947H413H6791H6782H7602H2428 6But evil does not spring from the soil, and trouble does not sprout from the earth.H205H3318H6083H5999H6779H127 7People are born for trouble as readily as sparks fly up from a fire.H120H3205H5999H1121H7565H5774H1361 8"If I were you, I would go to God and present my case to him.H199H1875H410H430H7760H1700 9He does great things too marvelous to understand. He performs countless miracles.H6213H1419H369H2714H6381H4557 10He gives rain for the earth and water for the fields.H5414H4306H6440H776H7971H4325H6440H2351 11He gives prosperity to the poor and protects those who suffer.H7760H4791H8217H6937H7682H3468 12He frustrates the plans of schemers so the work of their hands will not succeed.H6565H4284H6175H3027H6213H8454 13He traps the wise in their own cleverness so their cunning schemes are thwarted.H3920H2450H6193H6098H6617H4116 14They find it is dark in the daytime, and they grope at noon as if it were night.H6298H2822H3119H4959H6672H3915 15He rescues the poor from the cutting words of the strong, and rescues them from the clutches of the powerful.H3467H34H2719H6310H3027H2389 16And so at last the poor have hope, and the snapping jaws of the wicked are shut.H1800H8615H5766H7092H6310 17"But consider the joy of those corrected by God! Do not despise the discipline of the Almighty when you sin.H835H582H433H3198H3988H4148H7706 18For though he wounds, he also bandages. He strikes, but his hands also heal.H3510H2280H4272H3027H7495 19From six disasters he will rescue you; even in the seventh, he will keep you from evil.H5337H8337H6869H7651H7451H5060 20He will save you from death in time of famine, from the power of the sword in time of war.H7458H6299H4194H4421H3027H2719 21You will be safe from slander and have no fear when destruction comes.H2244H7752H3956H3372H7701H935 22You will laugh at destruction and famine; wild animals will not terrify you.H7701H3720H7832H3372H2416H776 23You will be at peace with the stones of the field, and its wild animals will be at peace with you.H1285H68H7704H2416H7704H7999 24You will know that your home is safe. When you survey your possessions, nothing will be missing.H3045H168H7965H6485H5116H2398 25You will have many children; your descendants will be as plentiful as grass!H3045H2233H7227H6631H6212H776 26You will go to the grave at a ripe old age, like a sheaf of grain harvested at the proper time!H935H6913H3624H1430H5927H6256 27"We have studied life and found all this to be true. Listen to my counsel, and apply it to yourself."H2713H8085H3045

Job’s Second Speech: A Response to Eliphaz

6Then Job spoke again.H347H6030H559 2"If my misery could be weighed and my troubles be put on the scales,H3863H3708H8254H8254H1942H1962H5375H3976H3162 3they would outweigh all the sands of the sea. That is why I spoke impulsively.H3513H2344H3220H1697H3886 4For the Almighty has struck me down with his arrows. Their poison infects my spirit. God's terrors are lined up against me.H2671H7706H5978H2534H8354H7307H1161H433H6186 5Don't I have a right to complain? Don't wild donkeys bray when they find no grass, and oxen bellow when they have no food?H6501H5101H1877H1600H7794H1098 6Don't people complain about unsalted food? Does anyone want the tasteless white of an egg?H8602H398H4417H3426H2940H7388H2495 7My appetite disappears when I look at it; I gag at the thought of eating it!H5315H3985H5060H1741H3899 8"Oh, that I might have my request, that God would grant my desire.H935H7596H433H5414H8615 9I wish he would crush me. I wish he would reach out his hand and kill me.H2974H433H1792H5425H3027H1214 10At least I can take comfort in this: Despite the pain, I have not denied the words of the Holy One.H5165H5539H2427H2550H3582H561H6918 11But I don't have the strength to endure. I have nothing to live for.H3581H3176H7093H748H5315 12Do I have the strength of a stone? Is my body made of bronze?H3581H3581H68H1320H5153 13No, I am utterly helpless, without any chance of success.H5833H8454H5080 14"One should be kind to a fainting friend, but you accuse me without any fear of the Almighty.H4523H2617H7453H5800H3374H7706 15My brothers, you have proved as unreliable as a seasonal brook that overflows its banks in the springH251H898H5158H650H5158H5674 16when it is swollen with ice and melting snow.H6937H7140H7950H5956 17But when the hot weather arrives, the water disappears. The brook vanishes in the heat.H6256H2215H6789H2527H1846H4725 18The caravans turn aside to be refreshed, but there is nothing to drink, so they die.H734H1870H3943H5927H8414H6 19The caravans from Tema search for this water; the travelers from Sheba hope to find it.H734H8485H5027H1979H7614H6960 20They count on it but are disappointed. When they arrive, their hopes are dashed.H954H982H935H2659 21You, too, have given no help. You have seen my calamity, and you are afraid.H7200H2866H3372 22But why? Have I ever asked you for a gift? Have I begged for anything of yours for myself?H559H3051H7809H3581 23Have I asked you to rescue me from my enemies, or to save me from ruthless people?H4422H6862H3027H6299H3027H6184 24Teach me, and I will keep quiet. Show me what I have done wrong.H3384H2790H995H7686 25Honest words can be painful, but what do your criticisms amount to?H4834H3476H561H3198H3198 26Do you think your words are convincing when you disregard my cry of desperation?H2803H3198H4405H561H2976H7307 27You would even send an orphan into slavery or sell a friend.H5307H3490H3738H7453 28Look at me! Would I lie to your face?H2974H6437H6440H3576 29Stop assuming my guilt, for I have done no wrong.H7725H5766H7725H6664 30Do you think I am lying? Don't I know the difference between right and wrong?H3426H5766H3956H2441H995H1942

7"Is not all human life a struggle? Our lives are like that of a hired hand,H6635H582H776H3117H3117H7916 2like a worker who longs for the shade, like a servant waiting to be paid.H5650H7602H6738H7916H6960H6467 3I, too, have been assigned months of futility, long and weary nights of misery.H5157H3391H7723H5999H3915H4487 4Lying in bed, I think, 'When will it be morning?' But the night drags on, and I toss till dawn.H7901H559H6965H6153H4059H7646H5076H5399 5My body is covered with maggots and scabs. My skin breaks open, oozing with pus.H1320H3847H7415H1487H6083H5785H7280H3988

Job Cries Out to God

6"My days fly faster than a weaver's shuttle. They end without hope.H3117H7043H708H3615H657H8615 7O God, remember that my life is but a breath, and I will never again feel happiness.H2142H2416H7307H5869H7725H7200H2896 8You see me now, but not for long. You will look for me, but I will be gone.H5869H7210H7789H5869 9Just as a cloud dissipates and vanishes, those who die will not come back.H6051H3615H3212H3381H7585H5927 10They are gone forever from their home—never to be seen again.H7725H1004H4725H5234 11"I cannot keep from speaking. I must express my anguish. My bitter soul must complain.H2820H6310H1696H6862H7307H7878H4751H5315 12Am I a sea monster or a dragon that you must place me under guard?H3220H8577H7760H4929 13I think, 'My bed will comfort me, and sleep will ease my misery,'H559H6210H5162H4904H5375H7879 14but then you shatter me with dreams and terrify me with visions.H2865H2472H1204H2384 15I would rather be strangled—rather die than suffer like this.H5315H977H4267H4194H6106 16I hate my life and don't want to go on living. Oh, leave me alone for my few remaining days.H3988H2421H5769H2308H3117H1892 17"What are people, that you should make so much of us, that you should think of us so often?H582H1431H7896H3820 18For you examine us every morning and test us every moment.H6485H1242H974H7281 19Why won't you leave me alone, at least long enough for me to swallow!H4100H8159H7503H1104H7536 20If I have sinned, what have I done to you, O watcher of all humanity? Why make me your target? Am I a burden to you?H2398H6466H5341H120H7760H4645H4853 21Why not just forgive my sin and take away my guilt? For soon I will lie down in the dust and die. When you look for me, I will be gone."H5375H6588H5674H5771H7901H6083H7836

136Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.H3034H3068H2896H2617H5769 2Give thanks to the God of gods. His faithful love endures forever.H3034H430H430H2617H5769 3Give thanks to the Lord of lords. His faithful love endures forever.H3034H113H113H2617H5769 4Give thanks to him who alone does mighty miracles. His faithful love endures forever.H6213H1419H6381H2617H5769 5Give thanks to him who made the heavens so skillfully. His faithful love endures forever.H8394H6213H8064H2617H5769 6Give thanks to him who placed the earth among the waters. His faithful love endures forever.H7554H776H4325H2617H5769 7Give thanks to him who made the heavenly lights—His faithful love endures forever.H6213H1419H216H2617H5769 8the sun to rule the day, His faithful love endures forever.H8121H4475H3117H2617H5769 9and the moon and stars to rule the night. His faithful love endures forever.H3394H3556H4475H3915H2617H5769 10Give thanks to him who killed the firstborn of Egypt. His faithful love endures forever.H5221H4714H1060H2617H5769 11He brought Israel out of Egypt. His faithful love endures forever.H3318H3478H8432H2617H5769 12He acted with a strong hand and powerful arm. His faithful love endures forever.H2389H3027H5186H2220H2617H5769 13Give thanks to him who parted the Red Sea. His faithful love endures forever.H1504H5488H3220H1506H2617H5769 14He led Israel safely through, His faithful love endures forever.H3478H5674H8432H2617H5769 15but he hurled Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea. His faithful love endures forever.H5287H6547H2428H5488H3220H2617H5769 16Give thanks to him who led his people through the wilderness. His faithful love endures forever.H3212H5971H4057H2617H5769 17Give thanks to him who struck down mighty kings. His faithful love endures forever.H5221H1419H4428H2617H5769 18He killed powerful kings—His faithful love endures forever.H2026H117H4428H2617H5769 19Sihon king of the Amorites, His faithful love endures forever.H5511H4428H567H2617H5769 20and Og king of Bashan. His faithful love endures forever.H5747H4428H1316H2617H5769 21God gave the land of these kings as an inheritance—His faithful love endures forever.H5414H776H5159H2617H5769 22a special possession to his servant Israel. His faithful love endures forever.H5159H3478H5650H2617H5769 23He remembered us in our weakness. His faithful love endures forever.H2142H8216H2617H5769 24He saved us from our enemies. His faithful love endures forever.H6561H6862H2617H5769 25He gives food to every living thing. His faithful love endures forever.H5414H3899H1320H2617H5769 26Give thanks to the God of heaven. His faithful love endures forever.H3034H410H8064H2617H5769