Job:21-23
nkjv@Job:21:1 @ Then Job answered and said:
nkjv@Job:21:2 @ "Listen carefully to my speech, And let this be your consolation.
nkjv@Job:21:3 @ Bear with me that I may speak, And after I have spoken, keep mocking.
nkjv@Job:21:4 @ "As for me, is my complaint against man? And if it were, why should I not be impatient?
nkjv@Job:21:5 @ Look at me and be astonished; Put your hand over your mouth.
nkjv@Job:21:6 @ Even when I remember I am terrified, And trembling takes hold of my flesh.
nkjv@Job:21:7 @ Why do the wicked live and become old, Yes, become mighty in power?
nkjv@Job:21:8 @ Their descendants are established with them in their sight, And their offspring before their eyes.
nkjv@Job:21:9 @ Their houses are safe from fear, Neither is the rod of God upon them.
nkjv@Job:21:10 @ Their bull breeds without failure; Their cow calves without miscarriage.
nkjv@Job:21:11 @ They send forth their little ones like a flock, And their children dance.
nkjv@Job:21:12 @ They sing to the tambourine and harp, And rejoice to the sound of the flute.
nkjv@Job:21:13 @ They spend their days in wealth, And in a moment go down to the grave.
nkjv@Job:21:14 @ Yet they say to God, "Depart from us, For we do not desire the knowledge of Your ways.
nkjv@Job:21:15 @ Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him? And what profit do we have if we pray to Him?'
nkjv@Job:21:16 @ Indeed their prosperity is not in their hand; The counsel of the wicked is far from me.
nkjv@Job:21:17 @ "How often is the lamp of the wicked put out? How often does their destruction come upon them, The sorrows God distributes in His anger?
nkjv@Job:21:18 @ They are like straw before the wind, And like chaff that a storm carries away.
nkjv@Job:21:19 @ They say, "God lays up one's iniquity for his children'; Let Him recompense him, that he may know it.
nkjv@Job:21:20 @ Let his eyes see his destruction, And let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
nkjv@Job:21:21 @ For what does he care about his household after him, When the number of his months is cut in half?
nkjv@Job:21:22 @ "Can anyone teach God knowledge, Since He judges those on high?
nkjv@Job:21:23 @ One dies in his full strength, Being wholly at ease and secure;
nkjv@Job:21:24 @ His pails are full of milk, And the marrow of his bones is moist.
nkjv@Job:21:25 @ Another man dies in the bitterness of his soul, Never having eaten with pleasure.
nkjv@Job:21:26 @ They lie down alike in the dust, And worms cover them.
nkjv@Job:21:27 @ "Look, I know your thoughts, And the schemes with which you would wrong me.
nkjv@Job:21:28 @ For you say, "Where is the house of the prince? And where is the tent, The dwelling place of the wicked?'
nkjv@Job:21:29 @ Have you not asked those who travel the road? And do you not know their signs?
nkjv@Job:21:30 @ For the wicked are reserved for the day of doom; They shall be brought out on the day of wrath.
nkjv@Job:21:31 @ Who condemns his way to his face? And who repays him for what he has done?
nkjv@Job:21:32 @ Yet he shall be brought to the grave, And a vigil kept over the tomb.
nkjv@Job:21:33 @ The clods of the valley shall be sweet to him; Everyone shall follow him, As countless have gone before him.
nkjv@Job:21:34 @ How then can you comfort me with empty words, Since falsehood remains in your answers?"
nkjv@Job:22:1 @ Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said:
nkjv@Job:22:2 @ "Can a man be profitable to God, Though he who is wise may be profitable to himself?
nkjv@Job:22:3 @ Is it any pleasure to the Almighty that you are righteous? Or is it gain to Him that you make your ways blameless?
nkjv@Job:22:4 @ "Is it because of your fear of Him that He corrects you, And enters into judgment with you?
nkjv@Job:22:5 @ Is not your wickedness great, And your iniquity without end?
nkjv@Job:22:6 @ For you have taken pledges from your brother for no reason, And stripped the naked of their clothing.
nkjv@Job:22:7 @ You have not given the weary water to drink, And you have withheld bread from the hungry.
nkjv@Job:22:8 @ But the mighty man possessed the land, And the honorable man dwelt in it.
nkjv@Job:22:9 @ You have sent widows away empty, And the strength of the fatherless was crushed.
nkjv@Job:22:10 @ Therefore snares are all around you, And sudden fear troubles you,
nkjv@Job:22:11 @ Or darkness so that you cannot see; And an abundance of water covers you.
nkjv@Job:22:12 @ "Is not God in the height of heaven? And see the highest stars, how lofty they are!
nkjv@Job:22:13 @ And you say, "What does God know? Can He judge through the deep darkness?
nkjv@Job:22:14 @ Thick clouds cover Him, so that He cannot see, And He walks above the circle of heaven.'
nkjv@Job:22:15 @ Will you keep to the old way Which wicked men have trod,
nkjv@Job:22:16 @ Who were cut down before their time, Whose foundations were swept away by a flood?
nkjv@Job:22:17 @ They said to God, "Depart from us! What can the Almighty do to them?'
nkjv@Job:22:18 @ Yet He filled their houses with good things; But the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
nkjv@Job:22:19 @ "The righteous see it and are glad, And the innocent laugh at them:
nkjv@Job:22:20 @ "Surely our adversaries are cut down, And the fire consumes their remnant.'
nkjv@Job:22:21 @ "Now acquaint yourself with Him, and be at peace; Thereby good will come to you.
nkjv@Job:22:22 @ Receive, please, instruction from His mouth, And lay up His words in your heart.
nkjv@Job:22:23 @ If you return to the Almighty, you will be built up; You will remove iniquity far from your tents.
nkjv@Job:22:24 @ Then you will lay your gold in the dust, And the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks.
nkjv@Job:22:25 @ Yes, the Almighty will be your gold And your precious silver;
nkjv@Job:22:26 @ For then you will have your delight in the Almighty, And lift up your face to God.
nkjv@Job:22:27 @ You will make your prayer to Him, He will hear you, And you will pay your vows.
nkjv@Job:22:28 @ You will also declare a thing, And it will be established for you; So light will shine on your ways.
nkjv@Job:22:29 @ When they cast you down, and you say, "Exaltation will come!' Then He will save the humble person.
nkjv@Job:22:30 @ He will even deliver one who is not innocent; Yes, he will be delivered by the purity of your hands."
nkjv@Job:23:1 @ Then Job answered and said:
nkjv@Job:23:2 @ "Even today my complaint is bitter; My hand is listless because of my groaning.
nkjv@Job:23:3 @ Oh, that I knew where I might find Him, That I might come to His seat!
nkjv@Job:23:4 @ I would present my case before Him, And fill my mouth with arguments.
nkjv@Job:23:5 @ I would know the words which He would answer me, And understand what He would say to me.
nkjv@Job:23:6 @ Would He contend with me in His great power? No! But He would take note of me.
nkjv@Job:23:7 @ There the upright could reason with Him, And I would be delivered forever from my Judge.
nkjv@Job:23:8 @ "Look, I go forward, but He is not there, And backward, but I cannot perceive Him;
nkjv@Job:23:9 @ When He works on the left hand, I cannot behold Him; When He turns to the right hand, I cannot see Him.
nkjv@Job:23:10 @ But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.
nkjv@Job:23:11 @ My foot has held fast to His steps; I have kept His way and not turned aside.
nkjv@Job:23:12 @ I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth More than my necessary food.
nkjv@Job:23:13 @ "But He is unique, and who can make Him change? And whatever His soul desires, that He does.
nkjv@Job:23:14 @ For He performs what is appointed for me, And many such things are with Him.
nkjv@Job:23:15 @ Therefore I am terrified at His presence; When I consider this, I am afraid of Him.
nkjv@Job:23:16 @ For God made my heart weak, And the Almighty terrifies me;
nkjv@Job:23:17 @ Because I was not cut off from the presence of darkness, And He did not hide deep darkness from my face.
nkjv@Job:24:1 @ "Since times are not hidden from the Almighty, Why do those who know Him see not His days?
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