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Job’s Seventh Speech: A Response to Zophar
Then Job spoke again:
Then Job spoke again:
Job Says God Will Deal with the Wicked
Then Job answered,
Then Job answered,
“Listen closely to what I am saying.
That’s one consolation you can give me.
That’s one consolation you can give me.
“Listen carefully to my speech,
And let this be your way of consolation.
And let this be your way of consolation.
Bear with me, and let me speak.
After I have spoken, you may resume mocking me.
After I have spoken, you may resume mocking me.
“Bear with me that I may speak;
Then after I have spoken, you may mock.
Then after I have spoken, you may mock.
“My complaint is with God, not with people.
I have good reason to be so impatient.
I have good reason to be so impatient.
“As for me, is my complaint to man?
And why should I not be impatient?
And why should I not be impatient?
Look at me and be stunned.
Put your hand over your mouth in shock.
Put your hand over your mouth in shock.
“Look at me, and be astonished,
And put your hand over your mouth.
And put your hand over your mouth.
When I think about what I am saying, I shudder.
My body trembles.
My body trembles.
“Even when I remember, I am disturbed,
And horror takes hold of my flesh.
And horror takes hold of my flesh.
“Why do the wicked prosper,
growing old and powerful?
growing old and powerful?
“Why do the wicked still live,
Continue on, also become very powerful?
Continue on, also become very powerful?
They live to see their children grow up and settle down,
and they enjoy their grandchildren.
and they enjoy their grandchildren.
“Their descendants are established with them in their sight,
And their offspring before their eyes,
And their offspring before their eyes,
Their homes are safe from every fear,
and God does not punish them.
and God does not punish them.
Their houses are safe from fear,
And the rod of God is not on them.
And the rod of God is not on them.
Their bulls never fail to breed.
Their cows bear calves and never miscarry.
Their cows bear calves and never miscarry.
“His ox mates without fail;
His cow calves and does not abort.
His cow calves and does not abort.
They let their children frisk about like lambs.
Their little ones skip and dance.
Their little ones skip and dance.
“They send forth their little ones like the flock,
And their children skip about.
And their children skip about.
They sing with tambourine and harp.
They celebrate to the sound of the flute.
They celebrate to the sound of the flute.
“They sing to the timbrel and harp
And rejoice at the sound of the flute.
And rejoice at the sound of the flute.
“They spend their days in prosperity,
And suddenly they go down to Sheol.
And suddenly they go down to Sheol.
And yet they say to God, ‘Go away.
We want no part of you and your ways.
We want no part of you and your ways.
“They say to God, ‘Depart from us!
We do not even desire the knowledge of Your ways.
We do not even desire the knowledge of Your ways.
Who is the Almighty, and why should we obey him?
What good will it do us to pray?’
What good will it do us to pray?’
‘Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him,
And what would we gain if we entreat Him?’
And what would we gain if we entreat Him?’
(They think their prosperity is of their own doing,
but I will have nothing to do with that kind of thinking.)
but I will have nothing to do with that kind of thinking.)
“Behold, their prosperity is not in their hand;
The counsel of the wicked is far from me.
The counsel of the wicked is far from me.
“Yet the light of the wicked never seems to be extinguished.
Do they ever have trouble?
Does God distribute sorrows to them in anger?
Do they ever have trouble?
Does God distribute sorrows to them in anger?
“How often is the lamp of the wicked put out,
Or does their calamity fall on them?
Does God apportion destruction in His anger?
Or does their calamity fall on them?
Does God apportion destruction in His anger?
Are they driven before the wind like straw?
Are they carried away by the storm like chaff?
Not at all!
Are they carried away by the storm like chaff?
Not at all!
“Are they as straw before the wind,
And like chaff which the storm carries away?
And like chaff which the storm carries away?
“‘Well,’ you say, ‘at least God will punish their children!’
But I say he should punish the ones who sin,
so that they understand his judgment.
But I say he should punish the ones who sin,
so that they understand his judgment.
“You say, ‘God stores away a man’s iniquity for his sons.’
Let God repay him so that he may know it.
Let God repay him so that he may know it.
Let them see their destruction with their own eyes.
Let them drink deeply of the anger of the Almighty.
Let them drink deeply of the anger of the Almighty.
“Let his own eyes see his decay,
And let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
And let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
For they will not care what happens to their family
after they are dead.
after they are dead.
“For what does he care for his household after him,
When the number of his months is cut off?
When the number of his months is cut off?
“But who can teach a lesson to God,
since he judges even the most powerful?
since he judges even the most powerful?
“Can anyone teach God knowledge,
In that He judges those on high?
In that He judges those on high?
One person dies in prosperity,
completely comfortable and secure,
completely comfortable and secure,
“One dies in his full strength,
Being wholly at ease and satisfied;
Being wholly at ease and satisfied;
the picture of good health,
vigorous and fit.
vigorous and fit.
His sides are filled out with fat,
And the marrow of his bones is moist,
And the marrow of his bones is moist,
Another person dies in bitter poverty,
never having tasted the good life.
never having tasted the good life.
While another dies with a bitter soul,
Never even tasting anything good.
Never even tasting anything good.
But both are buried in the same dust,
both eaten by the same maggots.
both eaten by the same maggots.
“Together they lie down in the dust,
And worms cover them.
And worms cover them.
“Look, I know what you’re thinking.
I know the schemes you plot against me.
I know the schemes you plot against me.
“Behold, I know your thoughts,
And the plans by which you would wrong me.
And the plans by which you would wrong me.
You will tell me of rich and wicked people
whose houses have vanished because of their sins.
whose houses have vanished because of their sins.
“For you say, ‘Where is the house of the nobleman,
And where is the tent, the dwelling places of the wicked?’
And where is the tent, the dwelling places of the wicked?’
But ask those who have been around,
and they will tell you the truth.
and they will tell you the truth.
“Have you not asked wayfaring men,
And do you not recognize their witness?
And do you not recognize their witness?
Evil people are spared in times of calamity
and are allowed to escape disaster.
and are allowed to escape disaster.
“For the wicked is reserved for the day of calamity;
They will be led forth at the day of fury.
They will be led forth at the day of fury.
No one criticizes them openly
or pays them back for what they have done.
or pays them back for what they have done.
“Who will confront him with his actions,
And who will repay him for what he has done?
And who will repay him for what he has done?
When they are carried to the grave,
an honor guard keeps watch at their tomb.
an honor guard keeps watch at their tomb.
“While he is carried to the grave,
Men will keep watch over his tomb.
Men will keep watch over his tomb.
A great funeral procession goes to the cemetery.
Many pay their respects as the body is laid to rest,
and the earth gives sweet repose.
Many pay their respects as the body is laid to rest,
and the earth gives sweet repose.
“The clods of the valley will gently cover him;
Moreover, all men will follow after him,
While countless ones go before him.
Moreover, all men will follow after him,
While countless ones go before him.