Online Bible

Job Despairs of God’s Dealings

“^aI am disgusted with my life and loathe it!I will give free expression to ^bmy complaint;I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.2 “I will say to God, ‘^aDo not condemn me and declare me guilty!Show me why You contend and argue and struggle with me.3 ‘Does it indeed seem right to You to ^aoppress,To despise and reject ^bthe work of Your hands,And to look with favor on ^cthe schemes of the wicked?4 ‘Do You have eyes of flesh?Do You ^asee as a man sees?5 ‘Are Your days as the days of a mortal,Are ^aYour years as man’s years,6 That ^aYou seek my guiltAnd search for my sin?7 ‘Although You know that ^aI am not guilty or wicked,Yet there is ^bno one who can rescue me from Your hand.

8 ‘^aYour hands have formed and made me altogether.^bWould You turn around and destroy me?9 ‘Remember now, that You have made me as ^aclay;So will You ^bturn me into dust again?10 ‘Have You not poured me out like milkAnd curdled me like cheese?11 ‘You have clothed me with skin and flesh,And knit me together with bones and sinews.12 ‘You have ^agranted me life and lovingkindness;And Your providence (divine care, supervision) has preserved my spirit.13 ‘Yet ^athese present evils You have hidden in Your heart since my creation:I know that this was within You in Your purpose and thought.14 ‘If I sin, then You would ^atake note and observe me,And You ^bwould not acquit me of my guilt.15 ‘If ^aI am wicked, woe to me for judgment comes!And ^bif I am righteous, I dare not lift up my head.For I am sated and filled with disgrace and the sight of my misery.16 ‘Should I lift my head up, ^aYou would hunt me like a lion;And again You would show Your marvelous ^bpower against me.17 ‘You renew ^aYour witnesses against meAnd increase Your indignation and anger toward me;^bHardship after hardship is with me attacking me time after time.

18 ‘^aWhy then did You bring me out of the womb?Would that I had perished and no eye had seen me!19 ‘I should have been as though I had not existed;I should have been carried from the womb to the grave.’20 “Would He not ^alet my few days alone,^bWithdraw from me that I may have a little cheer21 Before I go—^aand I shall not return—^bTo the land of darkness and the ^cdeep shadow of death,22 The sunless land of utter gloom as darkness itself,The land of the shadow of death, without order,And where it shines as thick darkness.”

Job Cries Out to God

“^aMy soul is loathed by my life;I will abandon all restraint in myself to ^bmy complaint;I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.2 “I will say to God, ‘^aDo not account me as wicked;Let me know why You contend with me.3 ‘Is it good to You that You ^aoppress,That You reject ^bthe labor of Your hands,And ¹cause ^cthe counsel of the wicked to shine forth?4 ‘Have You eyes of flesh?Or do You ^asee as a mortal man sees?5 ‘Are Your days as the days of a mortal man,Or ^aYour years as man’s years,6 That ^aYou should seek for my guiltAnd search after my sin?7 ‘According to Your knowledge ^aI am indeed not wicked,Yet there is ^bno ¹deliverer from Your hand.

8 ‘^aYour hands fashioned and made me ¹altogether,^bAnd would You swallow me up?9 ‘Remember now, that You have made me as ^aclay;And would You ^bturn me into dust again?10 ‘Did You not pour me out like milkAnd curdle me like cheese,11 Clothe me with skin and flesh,And knit me together with bones and sinews?12 ‘You have ^amade alongside me life and lovingkindness;And Your care has kept my spirit.13 ‘Yet ^athese things You have concealed in Your heart;I know that this is within You:14 If I sin, then You would ^atake note of meAnd ^bwould not acquit me of my guilt.15 ‘If ^aI am wicked, woe to me!And ^bif I am righteous, I dare not lift up my head.I am sated with disgrace—so see my misery!16 ‘Should my head be set on high, ^aYou would hunt me like a lion;And again You would show Your ^bwonders against me.17 ‘You renew ^aYour witnesses against meAnd increase Your vexation toward me;¹^bHardship after hardship is with me.

18 ‘^aWhy then have You brought me out of the womb?Would that I had breathed my last and no eye had seen me!19 ‘I should have been as though I had not been,Carried from womb to tomb.’20 “Would He not cease ^afor a few of my days?¹^bWithdraw from me that I may have a little cheer21 Before I go—^aand I shall not return—^bTo the land of darkness and ^cshadow of death,22 The land of utter gloom as the thick darkness itself,Of the shadow of death, without order,And which shines as the thick darkness.”