February 3 Daily Devotional

Job 4–10

Now the friends of Job, that had come to comfort him, spoke. Eliphas the Temanite answered and said, “If we assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? but who can withhold himself from speaking? Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands … but now it has come upon thee, and thou faintest … Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth; therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty; for he maketh sore, and bindeth up: he woundeth, and his hands make whole. He shall deliver thee in six troubles; yea, in seven t ere shall no evil touch thee …Thou shalt come unto thy grave m a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in in his season.” But Job replied and said, “Oh that my grief were thoroughly weighed … it would be heavier than the sand of the sea … For the arrows of the Almighty are within me … the terrors of God do set themselves in array against me. Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth … My days are swifter than a weaver’s and are spent without hope … for my days are vanity … What shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men? … Why doest thou not pardon my transgressions?”

Then Bildad the Shuhite took the word, saying, “How long wilt thou speak these things? … Doth God pervert judgment, or doth the Almighty pervert justice? … We are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow … For inquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself the search of their fathers … Can the rush grow up without mire Can the flag grow without water? While it is yet in his greenness, and not cut down it withereth before any other herb … they that hate thee shall be clothed with shame; and the dwelling place of the wicked shall come to nought.”

Again Job, the afflicted, answered and said, “I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God? If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand. He is wise in heart and mighty in strength. Who removeth the mountains and shaketh the earth out of her place … which commandeth the sun … and sealeth the stars which alone spreadeth out the heavens and treadeth upon the waves of the sea. Which maketh Arcturus, Orion and the Pleiades … which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number. Lo, he goeth? by me, and I see him not … Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? Who will say unto him, What doest thou? … Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good … They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hasteth to the prey … Thou hast granted me life and favor, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit … I am full of confusion; therefore see thou mine affliction.”