Jun 6 - Job 31-32
Job
1"I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin?2What would be my portion from God above and my heritage from the Almighty on high?3Is not calamity for the unrighteous, and disaster for the workers of iniquity?4Does not he see my ways and number all my steps?5"If I have walked with falsehood and my foot has hastened to deceit;6(Let me be weighed in a just balance, and let God know my integrity!)7if my step has turned aside from the way and my heart has gone after my eyes, and if any spot has stuck to my hands,8then let me sow, and another eat, and let what grows for me be rooted out.9"If my heart has been enticed toward a woman, and I have lain in wait at my neighbor's door,10then let my wife grind for another, and let others bow down on her.11For that would be a heinous crime; that would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges;12for that would be a fire that consumes as far as Abaddon, and it would burn to the root all my increase.13"If I have rejected the cause of my manservant or my maidservant, when they brought a complaint against me,14what then shall I do when God rises up? When he makes inquiry, what shall I answer him?15Did not he who made me in the womb make him? And did not one fashion us in the womb?16"If I have withheld anything that the poor desired, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail,17or have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless has not eaten of it18(for from my youth the fatherless grew up with me as with a father, and from my mother's womb I guided the widow ),19if I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing, or the needy without covering,20if his body has not blessed me, and if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep,21if I have raised my hand against the fatherless, because I saw my help in the gate,22then let my shoulder blade fall from my shoulder, and let my arm be broken from its socket.23For I was in terror of calamity from God, and I could not have faced his majesty.24"If I have made gold my trust or called fine gold my confidence,25if I have rejoiced because my wealth was abundant or because my hand had found much,26if I have looked at the sun when it shone, or the moon moving in splendor,27and my heart has been secretly enticed, and my mouth has kissed my hand,28this also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges, for I would have been false to God above.29"If I have rejoiced at the ruin of him who hated me, or exulted when evil overtook him30(I have not let my mouth sin by asking for his life with a curse),31if the men of my tent have not said, 'Who is there that has not been filled with his meat?'32(the sojourner has not lodged in the street; I have opened my doors to the traveler),33if I have concealed my transgressions as others do by hiding my iniquity in my bosom,34because I stood in great fear of the multitude, and the contempt of families terrified me, so that I kept silence, and did not go out of doors--35Oh, that I had one to hear me! (Here is my signature! Let the Almighty answer me!) Oh, that I had the indictment written by my adversary!36Surely I would carry it on my shoulder; I would bind it on me as a crown;37I would give him an account of all my steps; like a prince I would approach him.38"If my land has cried out against me and its furrows have wept together,39if I have eaten its yield without payment and made its owners breathe their last,40let thorns grow instead of wheat, and foul weeds instead of barley."The words of Job are ended.
1So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.2Then Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, burned with anger. He burned with anger at Job because he justified himself rather than God.3He burned with anger also at Job's three friends because they had found no answer, although they had declared Job to be in the wrong.4Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were older than he.5And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, he burned with anger.6And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said: "I am young in years, and you are aged; therefore I was timid and afraid to declare my opinion to you.7I said, 'Let days speak, and many years teach wisdom.'8But it is the spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand.9It is not the old who are wise, nor the aged who understand what is right.10Therefore I say, 'Listen to me; let me also declare my opinion.'11"Behold, I waited for your words, I listened for your wise sayings, while you searched out what to say.12I gave you my attention, and, behold, there was none among you who refuted Job or who answered his words.13Beware lest you say, 'We have found wisdom; God may vanquish him, not a man.'14He has not directed his words against me, and I will not answer him with your speeches.15"They are dismayed; they answer no more; they have not a word to say.16And shall I wait, because they do not speak, because they stand there, and answer no more?17I also will answer with my share; I also will declare my opinion.18For I am full of words; the spirit within me constrains me.19Behold, my belly is like wine that has no vent; like new wineskins ready to burst.20I must speak, that I may find relief; I must open my lips and answer.21I will not show partiality to any man or use flattery toward any person.22For I do not know how to flatter, else my Maker would soon take me away.