February 5 Daily Devotional

Job 32–42

After some more remarks by Eliphas, Bildad and Zophar, Elihu the Buzite began to speak. He said, “I am young, and ye are very old; wherefore I was afraid, and durst not show you mine opinion. I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom … Behold, I waited for your words; I gave ear to your reasons, whilst ye searched out what to say … I said, I will answer also my part, I also will show mine opinion … Far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty that he should commit iniquity. For the work of man shall he render unto him, and cause e very man to find according to his ways. Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment … For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings … Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any; he is mighty in strength and wisdom … Behold, God exalted by his power: who teacheth like him? Who hath enjoined him his way? … We know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out.”

“Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee and answer thou me. Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? … When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it broke forth, as if it had issued out of the womb? When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and the thick darkness a swaddlingband for it. And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors, and said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed? Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place? … Canst thou bind the sweet influences of the Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?”

“Then Job answered the Lord, and said, I know that thou canst do everything, and that no thought can be withholden from thee. Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not …Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” And “the Lord said to Eliphas the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends; for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath.” And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, and heard his prayer. He gave him twice as much as he had before. Again he had seven sons and three daughters. After this he lived 140 years, and saw his children and children’s children, even four generations.