Month: April 2026

Then Job spoke again:

“How you have helped the powerless! How have you saved the weak! How have you enlightened my stupidity! What wise advice have you offered! Where have you gotten all these wise sayings? Whose spirit speaks through you?

The dead tremble-those who live beneath the waters. The underworld is naked in God’s presence. The place of destruction is uncovered. God stretches the northern sky over the empty space and hands the earth on nothing. He wraps the rain in His thick clouds, and the clouds don’t burst with the weight. He covers the face of the moon, shrouding it with His clouds. He created the horizon when He separated the waters; He set the boundary between day and night. The foundations of heaven tremble; they shudder at His rebuke. By His power the sea grew calm. By His skill, He crushed the great sea monster.

His Spirit made the heavens beautiful, and HIs power pierced the gliding serpent. These are just the beginning of all that He does, merely a whisper of His power. Who then can comprehend the thunder of His power.”

“Why doesn’t the Almighty bring wicked to judgment? Why must the godly wait for Him in vain? (v. 1, NLT)

“God, in His power, drags away the rich. They may rise high, but they have no assurance in life. They may be allowed to live in security, but God is always watching them. And though they are great now, in a moment they will be gone like all the others, cut off like heads of grain. Can anyone claim otherwise? Who can prove me wrong? (vv. 22-25, NLT)

“But He knows where I am going. And when He tests me, I will come out a pure as gold. For I have stayed on God’s paths: I have followed His ways and not turned aside. I have not departed from His commands, but have treasured His words more than daily food. But once He has made His decision, who can change His mind? Whatever He wants to do , He does SoHe will doe to me whatever He has planned. He controls my destiny. No wonder I am so terrified in His presence. When I think of it, terror. grips me. God has made me sick at heart; the Almighty has terrified me. Darkness is all around me; thick, impenetrable darkness is everywhere. (vv. 10-17, NLT)

Then Job spoke again:

“Listen closely to what I am saying. That’s one consolation you can give me. Bear with me, and let me speak. After I have spoken, you may resume mocking me.

My complaint is with God, not with people. I have good reason to be so impatient. Look at me and be stunned. Put your hand over your mouth in shock. When I think about what I am sayin, I shudder. My body trembles.

Why do the wicked prosper, growing old and powerful? They live to see their children grow up and settle down, and they enjoy their grandchildren. Their homes are safe from every fear, and God does not punish them.” (vv. 1-9, NLT)

“But who can each a lesson to God, since He judges even the most powerful?One person dies in prosperity, completely comfortable and secure, the picture of good health, vigorous and fit. Another person dies in bitter poverty, never having tasted the good life. But both are buried in the same dust, both are eaten by the same maggots.

Look, I know what you’re thinking. I know the schemes you plot against me. You will tell me of rich and wicked people whose houses have vanished because of their sins. But ask those who have been around, and they will tell you the truth. Evil people are spared in times of calamity and are allowed to escape disaster. No one criticizes them openly or pay them back for what they have done.” (vv. 27-31, NLT]

“How can your empty cliches comfort me? All your explanations are lies!” (v. 34, NLT)

“How long will you torture me? How long will you try to crush me with your words? You have already insulted me ten times. You should be ashamed of treating me so badly.

Even if I have sinned, that is my concern, not yours. You think you’re better than I am, using my humiliation as evidence of my sin. But it is God who has wronged me, capturing me in His net.” (vv. 1-6, NLT)

“But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and He will stand upon the earth as last. And after my body has decayed, yet in my body, I will see God. I will see Him for myself. Yes, I will see Him with my own eyes. I am overwhelmed at the thought!

How dare you go on persecuting me, saying, ‘It’s his own fault’? You should fear punishment yourselves, for your attitude deserves punishment. Then you will know that there is indeed a judgment.” (vv. 25-29, NLT)

Then Job spoke again:

“I have heard all this before. What miserable comforters you are! Won’t you ever stop blowing hot air? What makes you keep on talking? I could say the same things if you were in my place. I could spout out criticisms and shake my head at you. But if it were me, I would encourage you. I would try to take away your grief. Instead, I suffer no less if I refuse to speak.

“O God, you have ground me down and devastated my family. As if to prove I have sinned, you’ve reduced me to skin and bones. My gaunt flesh testifies against me.” (vv. 1-8, NLT)

“O earth, do not conceal my blood. Let cry out on my behalf. Even now my witness is in heaven. My advocate is there on high. My friends scorn me, but I pour out my tears to God. I need someone to mediate between God and me, as a person mediates between friends. For soon I must go down that road from which I will never return.” (vv.18-22, NLT)

[Job continues his case with God]

“How frail is humanity! How short is life, how full of trouble! Like a passing shadow, we quickly disappear. Must You keep an eye on such a frail creature and demand an accounting from me? Who can bring impurity out of an impure person? No one! You have decided the length of our lives. You know how many months we will live, and we are not given a minute longer. So leave us alone and let us rest! We are like hired hands, so let us finish our work in peace! (vv. 1-6,NLT)

Your would call and I would answer, and You would yearn foe me, your handiwork. For then you would guard my steps, instead of watching for my sins. My sins would be sealed in a pouch, and you would cover my guilt. (vv. 15-17, NLT)

Job Asks How He Has Sinned

“O God, grant mw these two things, and then I will be able to face you. Remove Your heavy hand from me, and don’t terrify me with Your awesome presence. Now summon me, and I will answer! Or let me speak to You, and Your reply. Tell me , what have I don wrong? Show me my rebellion and my sin. Why do You turn away from me? Why do You treat me as Your enemy? Would You terrify a leaf blown by the wind? Would You chase dry straw?”

” You write bitter accusations against me and bring up all the sins of my youth. You put my feet in stocks. You trace all my footprints. I waste away like rotting wood, like a moth-eaten coat.” (vv. 20-28, NLT)

Then Job spoke again:

“Yes, I know all this is true in principle. But how can a person be declared innocent in God’s sight? If someone wanted to take God to court, would it be possible to answer Him even once in a thought times? For God is so wise and mighty. Who has ever challenged Him successfully?

Without warning, He moves the. mountains, overturning them in His anger. He shakes the earth from its place, and it foundations tremble. If He commands it, the sun won’t rise and the stars won’t shine. He alone has spread our the heavens and marches on the waves of the sea. He made all the stars-the Bear an Orion, the Pleiades and the constellations of the southern sky. He does great things too marvelous to understand. He performs countless miracles.

Yet when he comes near, I cannot see him. When He moves by, I do not see Him go. If He snatches someone in death, who can stop Him? Who dares to ask, ‘What are your doing?’ And does does not restrain His anger. Even the monsters of the sea are crushed beneath His feet.” (vv. 1-13, NLT)

When three of Job’s friends heard of the tragedy he had suffered, they go together and traveled from their homes of comfort to console him. Their names were Eliphaz the Tenamite, Bildatd the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. When they saw Job from a distance, they scarcely recognized him. Wailing loudly, they tore their robes and thew dust into the air over their heads to show their grief. Then the sat on the ground with him for seven days and nights. No one said a word to Job, for they saw that his suffering was to great for words. (vv. 11-13, NLT)