The Makers and Teachers of Judaism Part 9

Curse G.o.d, and die. But he said to her, You speak like one of the foolish women. We receive good at the hand of G.o.d, shall we not also receive evil?

In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

[Sidenote: Job 2:11-13]

Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came each from his own place: Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite; and they made an appointment together to come to show their sympathy for him and to comfort him. And when they lifted up their eyes afar off and knew him not, they raised their voice and wept; and all tore their robes, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven. So they sat down with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, without any one speaking a word to him, for they saw that his pain was very great.

[Sidenote: Job 3:2, 11, 13-15, 17-19]

Then Job began to speak and said:

Why did I not die before birth?

Why did I not expire when my mother bore me?

For now would I have lain down and been quiet, I would have slept, then had I been at rest, With kings and counsellors of the earth, Who built up ruins for themselves; Or with princes who possessed gold, Who filled their houses with silver.

There the wicked cease from raging, And the weary are at rest.

There the prisoners have peace as well, They hear not the voice of the taskmaster.

The small and the great are there, And the servant is free from his master.

[Sidenote: Job 3:20-22, 25, 26]

Why is light given to the suffering, And life to those in anguish, Who long for death but it comes not, And search for it more than treasures, Who rejoice with great exultation, And are glad when they can find the grave?

For the thing which I feared has come upon me, And that of which I was afraid has overtaken me.

No peace nor quiet, have I, No rest, but trembling seizes me.

[Sidenote: Job 4:1-7]

Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said:

If one tries to speak with you, will you be impatient, But who can restrain himself from speaking?

Behold, you have instructed many, And have strengthened feeble hands.

Your words have upheld him who was falling, And you have made tottering knees strong.

But now, that it is come to you, you are impatient, It touches yourself and you lose courage.

Is not your piety, your trust, Your hope the integrity of your ways?

Remember now who, being innocent, perished?

Or where have the upright been destroyed?

[Sidenote: Job 4:17-19]

Can mortal man be righteous before G.o.d?

Can a man be pure before his maker?

Behold, he trusteth not in his own servants, And his angels he chargeth with error; How much more the dwellers in clay houses, Whose foundation is laid in the dust?

[Sidenote: Job 5:17-22, 26, 27]

Happy is the man whom G.o.d correcteth, Therefore reject not the chastening of the Almighty.

For he causeth pain and bindeth up; He woundeth and his hands heal.

He will deliver you out of six troubles, Yea, in seven, no evil shall touch you, In famine he will redeem you from death, And in war from the power of the sword.

You shall be hid from the scourge of the tongue; You shall not be afraid of destruction when it comes.

At destruction and want you shall laugh, And you need not fear the beasts of the earth.

You shall come to your grave in a ripe old age, As a sheaf garnered in its season.

Lo this, we have searched out, so it is; Hear it and know it yourself.

[Sidenote: Job 6:1-4b]

Then Job answered and said:

Oh, that my bitterness were weighed, All my calamity laid in the scales!

Then would it be heavier than the sand of the seas; For this reason my words are rash.

For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, Their poison my spirit drinks up.

[Sidenote: Job 6:8-10]

Oh that I might have my request, And that G.o.d would grant that for which I long: Even that it would please G.o.d to crush me, And that he would let loose his hand and cut me off!

Then this would be my consolation, I would exult in pain that spares not.

[Sidenote: Job 6:11-13]

What strength have I still to endure?

And what is mine end that I should be patient?

Is my strength the strength of stones?

Or is my body made of bra.s.s?

Behold there is no help in me, And wisdom is driven quite from me.

[Sidenote: Job 6:14, 15, 20-23]

Kindness from his friend is due to one in despair, Even though he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.

My brothers have been as deceptive as a brook, As the channel of brooks that disappear.

For now you are nothing, You see a terror and are afraid.

Did I say, 'Give to me?'

Or, 'Offer a present to me of your wealth?'

Or, 'Deliver me from a foeman's hand?'

Or, 'Redeem me from the oppressor's power?'

[Sidenote: Job 6:24-39]

Teach me and I will hold my peace, And make plain to me wherein I have erred.

How agreeable are upright words!

But what does a reproof from you reprove?

Do you think to reprove mere words, When the speeches of the desperate are as wind?

You fall upon a blameless man, And you make merchandise of your friend.

Now therefore be pleased to look upon me; For surely I will not lie to you.

Turn ere you let injustice be done, Yea, turn again, my cause is righteous.

Is there injustice on my tongue?

Can not my taste discern what is evil?

[Sidenote: Job 7:1-6]

Has not man a hard service on earth?

And are not his days like the days of a hireling?

As a slave who sighs for the shadows of the evening, And as a hireling who looks for his wages, So am I given months of misery, And wearisome nights are appointed me.

When I lie down, I say: 'When shall I arise, and the night be gone?'

And I am full of unrest until the dawn.

My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; My skin hardens, then breaks out again.

My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, And are spent without hope.

[Sidenote: Job 7:9, 10]

As the cloud is consumed and vanishes away, So he who goes down to Sheol shall come up no more, He shall return no more to his house, Nor shall his place know him any more.

[Sidenote: Job 7:11, 19]

Therefore I will not refrain my mouth; I will speak in the bitterness of my spirit.

Am I a sea, or a sea-monster, That thou shouldest set a watch over me?

When I say, "My bed shall comfort me, My couch shall ease my complaint;"