Day 7 The Wisdom Books in a Month

Job 33

1 Howbeit hear, Job, my words, and hearken to my speech. 2 For behold, I have opened my mouth, and my tongue has spoken. 3 My heart [shall be found] pure by [my] words; and the understanding of my lips shall meditate purity. 4 The Divine Spirit is that which formed me, and the breath of the Almighty that which teaches me. 5 If thou canst, give me an answer: wait therefore; stand against me, and I [will stand] against thee. 6 Thou art formed out of the clay as also I: we have been formed out of the same [substance]. 7 My fear shall not terrify thee, neither shall my hand be heavy upon thee. 8 But thou hast said in mine ears, (I have heard the voice of thy words;) because thou sayest, I am pure, not having sinned; 9 I am blameless, for I have not transgressed. 10 Yet he has discovered a charge against me, and he has reckoned me as an adversary. 11 And he has put my foot in the stocks, and has watched all my ways. 12 For how sayest thou, I am righteous, yet he has not hearkened to me? for he that is above mortals is eternal. 13 But thou sayest, Why has he not heard every word of my cause? 14 For when the Lord speaks once, or a second time, 15 [sending] a dream, or in the meditation of the night; (as when a dreadful alarm happens to fall upon men, in slumberings on the bed:) 16 then opens he the understanding of men: he scares them with such fearful visions: 17 to turn a man from unrighteousness, and he delivers his body from a fall. 18 He spares also his soul from death, and [suffers] him not to fall in war. 19 And again, he chastens him with sickness on his bed, and the multitude of his bones is benumbed. 20 And he shall not be able to take any food, though his soul shall desire meat; 21 until his flesh shall be consumed, and he shall shew his bones bare. 22 His soul also draws nigh to death, and his life is in Hades. 23 Though there should be a thousand messengers of death, not one of them shall wound him: if he should purpose in his heart to turn to the Lord, and declare to man his fault, and shew his folly; 24 he will support him, that he should not perish, and will restore his body as [fresh] plaster upon a wall; and he will fill his bones with marrow. 25 And he will make his flesh tender as that of a babe, and he will restore him among men in [his] full strength. 26 And he shall pray to the Lord, and his prayer shall be accepted of him; he shall enter with a cheerful countenance, with a full expression [of praise]: for he will render to men [their] due. 27 Even then a man shall blame himself, saying, What kind of things have I done? and he has not punished me according to the full amount of my sins. 28 Deliver my soul, that it may not go to destruction, and my life shall see the light. 29 Behold, all these things the Mighty One works in a threefold manner with a man. 30 And he has delivered my soul from death, that my life may praise him in the light. 31 Hearken, Job, and hear me: be silent, and I will speak. 32 If thou hast words, answer me: speak, for I desire thee to be justified. 33 If not, do thou hear me: be silent, and I will teach thee.

Job 34

1 And Elius continued, and said, 2 Hear me, ye wise men; hearken, ye that have knowledge. 3 For the ear tries words, and the mouth tastes meat. 4 Let us choose judgment to ourselves: let us know among ourselves what is right. 5 For Job has said, I am righteous: the Lord has removed my judgment. 6 And he has erred in my judgment: my wound is severe without unrighteousness [of mine]. 7 What man is as Job, drinking scorning like water? 8 [saying], I have not sinned, nor committed ungodliness, nor had fellowship with workers of iniquity, to go with the ungodly. 9 For thou shouldest not say, There shall be no visitation of a man, whereas [there is] a visitation on him from the Lord. 10 Wherefore hear me, ye that are wise in heart: far be it from me to sin before the Lord, and to pervert righteousness before the Almighty. 11 Yea, he renders to a man accordingly as each of them does, and in a man's path he will find him. 12 And thinkest thou that the Lord will do wrong, or will the Almighty who made the earth wrest judgment? 13 And who is he that made [the whole world] under heaven, and all things therein? 14 For if he would confine, and restrain his spirit with himself; 15 all flesh would die together, and every mortal would return to the earth, whence also he was formed. 16 Take heed lest he rebuke [thee]: hear this, hearken to the voice of words. 17 Behold then the one that hates iniquities, and that destroys the wicked, who is for ever just. 18 [He is] ungodly that says to a king, Thou art a transgressor, [that says] to princes, O most ungodly one. 19 [Such a one] as would not reverence the face of an honourable man, neither knows how to give honour to the great, so as that their persons should be respected. 20 But it shall turn out vanity to them, to cry and beseech a man; for they dealt unlawfully, the poor being turned aside [from their right]. 21 For he surveys the works of men, and nothing of what they do has escaped him. 22 Neither shall there be a place for the workers of iniquity to hide themselves. 23 For he will not lay upon a man more [than right]. 24 For the Lord looks down upon all men, who comprehends unsearchable things, glorious also and excellent things without number. 25 Who discovers their works, and will bring night about [upon them], and they shall be brought low. 26 And he quite destroys the ungodly, for they are seen before him. 27 Because they turned aside from the law of God, and did not regard his ordinances, 28 so as to bring before him the cry of the needy; for he will hear the cry of the poor. 29 And he will give quiet, and who will condemn? and he will hide his face, and who shall see him? whether [it be done] against a nation, or against a man also: 30 causing a hypocrite to be king, because of the waywardness of the people. 31 For [there is] one that says to the Mighty One, I have received [blessings]; I will not take a pledge: 32 I will see apart from myself: do thou shew me if I have done unrighteousness; I will not do [so] any more. 33 Will he take vengeance for it on thee, whereas thou wilt put [it] far [from thee]? for thou shalt choose, and not I; and what thou knowest, speak thou. 34 Because the wise in heart shall say this, and a wise man listens to my word. 35 But Job has not spoken with understanding, his words are not [uttered] with knowledge. 36 Howbeit do thou learn, Job: no longer make answer as the foolish: 37 that we add not to our sins: for iniquity will be reckoned against us, if [we] speak many words before the Lord.

Job 35

1 And Elius resumed and said, 2 What is this that thou thinkest to be according to right? who art thou that thou hast said, I am righteous before the Lord? 4 I will answer thee, and thy three friends. 5 Look up to the sky and see; and consider the clouds, how high [they are] above thee. 6 If thou hast sinned, what wilt thou do? and if too thou hast transgressed much, what canst thou perform? 7 And suppose thou art righteous, what wilt thou give him? or what shall he receive of thy hand? 8 Thy ungodliness [may affect] a man who is like to thee; or thy righteousness a son of man. 9 They that are oppressed of a multitude will be ready to cry out; they will call for help because of the arm of many. 10 But none said, Where is God that made me, who appoints the night-watches; 11 who makes me to differ from the four-footed beasts of the earth, and from the birds of the sky? 12 There they shall cry, and none shall hearken, even because of the insolence of wicked men. 13 For the Lord desires not to look on error, for he is the Almighty One. 14 He beholds them that perform lawless deeds, and he will save me: and do thou plead before him, if thou canst praise him, as it is [possible] even now. 15 For he is not [now] regarding his wrath, nor has he noticed severely any trespass. 16 Yet Job vainly opens his mouth, in ignorance he multiplies words.

Job 36

1 And Elius further continued, and said, 2 Wait for me yet a little while, that I may teach thee: for there is yet speech in me. 3 Having fetched my knowledge from afar, and according to my works, 4 I will speak just things truly, and thou shalt not unjustly receive unjust words. 5 But know that the Lord will not cast off an innocent man: being mighty in strength of wisdom, 6 he will not by any means save alive the ungodly: and he will grant the judgment of the poor. 7 He will not turn away his eyes from the righteous, but [they shall be] with kings on the throne: and he will establish them in triumph, and they shall be exalted. 8 But they that are bound in fetters shall be holden in cords of poverty. 9 And he shall recount to them their works, and their transgressions, for such will act with violence. 10 But he will hearken to the righteous: and he has said that they shall turn from unrighteousness. 11 If they should hear and serve [him], they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in honour. 12 But he preserves not the ungodly; because they are not willing to know the Lord, and because when reproved they were disobedient. 13 And the hypocrites in heart will array wrath [against themselves]; they will not cry, because he has bound them. 14 Therefore let their soul die in youth, and their life be wounded by messengers [of death]. 15 Because they afflicted the weak and helpless: and he will vindicate the judgment of the meek. 16 And he has also enticed thee out of the mouth of the enemy: 17 [there is] a deep gulf [and] a rushing stream beneath it, and thy table came down full of fatness. Judgment shall not fail from the righteous; 18 but there shall be wrath upon the ungodly, by reason of the ungodliness of the bribes which they received for iniquities. 19 Let not [thy] mind willingly turn thee aside from the petition of the feeble that are in distress. 20 And draw not forth all the mighty [men] by night, so that the people should go up instead of them. 21 But take heed lest thou do that which is wrong: for of this thou hast made choice because of poverty. 22 Behold, the Mighty One shall prevail by his strength: for who is powerful as he is? 23 And who is he that examines his works? or who can say, He has wrought injustice? 24 Remember that his works are great [beyond] those which men have attempted. 25 Every man has seen in himself, how many mortals are wounded. 26 Behold, the Mighty One is great, and we shall not know [him]: the number of his years is even infinite. 27 And the drops of rain are numbered by him, and shall be poured out in rain to form a cloud. 28 The ancient [heavens] shall flow, and the clouds overshadow innumerable mortals: 28a he has fixed a time to cattle, and they know the order of rest. 28b [Yet] by all these things thy understanding is not astonished, neither is thy mind disturbed in [thy] body. 29 And though one should understand the outspreadings of the clouds, [or] the measure of his tabernacle; 30 behold he will stretch his bow against him, and he covers the bottom of the sea. 31 For by them he will judge the nations: he will give food to him that has strength. 32 He has hidden the light in [his] hands, and given charge concerning it to the interposing [cloud]. 33 The Lord will declare concerning this [to] his friend: [but there is] a portion also for unrighteousness.

Job 37

1 At this also my heart is troubled, and moved out of its place. 2 Hear thou a report by the anger of the Lord's wrath, and a discourse shall come out of his mouth. 3 His dominion is under the whole heaven, and his light is at the extremities of the earth. 4 After him shall be a cry with a [loud] voice; he shall thunder with the voice of his excellency, yet he shall not cause men to pass away, for one shall hear his voice. 5 The Mighty One shall thunder wonderfully with his voice: for he has done great things which we knew not; 6 commanding the snow, Be thou upon the earth, and the stormy rain, and the storm of the showers of his might. 7 He seals up the hand of every man, that every man may know his own weakness. 8 And the wild beasts come in under the covert, and rest in [their] lair. 9 Troubles come on out of the secret chambers, and cold from the mountain-tops. 10 And from the breath of the Mighty One he will send frost; and he guides the water in whatever way he pleases. 11 And [if] a cloud obscures [what is] precious [to him], his light will disperse the cloud. 12 And he will carry round the encircling [clouds] by his governance, to [perform] their works: whatsoever he shall command them, 13 this has been appointed by him on the earth, whether for correction, [or] for his land, or if he shall find him [an object] for mercy. 14 Hearken to this, O Job: stand still, and be admonished of the power of the Lord. 15 We know that God has disposed his works, having made light out of darkness. 16 And he knows the divisions of the clouds, and the signal overthrows of the ungodly. 17 But thy robe is warm, and there is quiet upon the land. 18 Wilt thou establish with him [foundations] for the ancient [heavens? they are] strong as a molten mirror. 19 Wherefore teach me, what shall we say to him? and let us cease from saying much. 20 Have I a book or a scribe by me, that I may stand and put man to silence? 21 But the light is not visible to all: it shines afar off in the heavens, as that which is from him in the clouds. 22 From the north [come] the clouds shining like gold: in these great are the glory and honour of the Almighty; 23 and we do not find another his equal in strength: [as for] him that judges justly, dost thou not think that he listens? 24 Wherefore men shall fear him; and the wise also in heart shall fear him.

Job 38

1 And after Elius had ceased from speaking, the Lord spoke to Job through the whirlwind and clouds, [saying], 2 Who is this that hides counsel from me, and confines words in [his] heart, and thinks to conceal [them] from me? 3 Gird thy loins like a man; and I will ask thee, and do thou answer me. 4 Where wast thou when I founded the earth? tell me now, if thou hast knowledge, 5 who set the measures of it, if thou knowest? or who stretched a line upon it? 6 On what are its rings fastened? and who is he that laid the corner-stone upon it? 7 When the stars were made, all my angels praised me with a loud voice. 8 And I shut up the sea with gates, when it rushed out, coming forth out of its mother's womb. 9 And I made a cloud its clothing, and swathed it in mist. 10 And I set bounds to it, surrounding it with bars and gates. 11 And I said to it, Hitherto shalt thou come, but thou shalt not go beyond, but thy waves shall be confined within thee. 12 Or did I order the morning light in thy time; and [did] the morning star [then first] see his appointed place; 13 to lay hold of the extremities of the earth, to cast out the ungodly out of it? 14 Or didst thou take clay of the ground, and form a living creature, and set it with the power of speech upon the earth? 15 And hast thou removed light from the ungodly, and crushed the arm of the proud? 16 Or hast thou gone to the source of the sea, and walked in the tracks of the deep? 17 And do the gates of death open to thee for fear; and did the porters of hell quake when they saw thee? 18 And hast thou been instructed in the breadth of the [whole earth] under heaven? tell me now, what is the extent of it? 19 And in what kind of a land does the light dwell? and of what kind is the place of darkness? 20 If thou couldest bring me to their [utmost] boundaries, and if also thou knowest their paths; 21 I know then that thou wert born at that time, and the number of thy years is great. 22 But hast thou gone to the treasures of snow? and hast thou seen the treasures of hail? 23 And is there a store [of them], for thee against the time of [thine] enemies, for the day of wars and battle? 24 And whence proceeds the frost? or [whence] is the south wind dispersed over the [whole world] under heaven? 25 And who prepared a course for the violent rain, and a way for the thunders; 26 to rain upon the land where [there is] no man, the wilderness, where there is not a man in it; so as to feed the untrodden and uninhabited [land], 27 and cause it to send forth a crop of green herbs? 28 Who is the rain's father? and who has generated the drops of dew? 29 And out of whose womb comes the ice? and who has produced the frost in the sky, 30 which descends like flowing water? who has terrified the face of the ungodly? 31 And dost thou understand the band of Pleias, and hast thou opened the barrier of Orion? 32 Or wilt thou reveal Mazuroth in his season, and the evening star with his rays? Wilt thou guide them? 33 And knowest thou the changes of heaven, or the events which take place together under heaven? 34 And wilt thou call a cloud with thy voice, and will it obey thee with a violent shower of much rain? 35 And wilt thou send lightnings, and they shall go? and shall they say to thee, What is [thy pleasure]? 36 And who has given to women skill in weaving, or knowledge of embroidery? 37 And who is he that numbers the clouds in wisdom, and has bowed the heaven [down] to the earth? 38 For it is spread out as dusty earth, and I have cemented it as one hewn stone to another. 39 And wilt thou hunt a prey for the lions? and satisfy the desires of the serpents? 40 For they fear in their lairs, and lying in wait couch in the woods. 41 And who has prepared food for the raven? for its young ones wander and cry to the Lord, in search of food.