Through the Bible – Day 180

₁My hopes have died,

my time is up,

and the grave is ready.

₂All I can see are angry crowds,

making fun of me.

₃If you, LORD, don't help,

who will pay the price

for my release?

₄My friends won't really listen,

all because of you,

and so you must be the one

to prove them wrong.

₅They have condemned me,

just to benefit themselves;

now blind their children.

₆You, God, are the reason

I am insulted and spat on.

₇I am almost blind with grief;

my body is a mere shadow.

₈People who are truly good

would feel so alarmed,

that they would become angry

with my worthless friends.

₉They would do the right thing

and because they did,

they would grow stronger.

₁₀But none of my friends

show any sense.

₁₁My life is drawing to an end;

hope has disappeared.

₁₂But all my friends can do

is offer empty hopes.

₁₃I could tell the world below

to prepare me a bed.

₁₄Then I could greet the grave

as my father

and say to the worms,

“Hello, mother and sisters!”

₁₅But what kind of hope is that?

₁₆Will it keep me company

in the world of the dead?

₁Bildad from Shuah said:

₂How long will you talk?

Be sensible! Let us speak.

₃Or do you think that we

are dumb animals?

₄You cut yourself in anger.

Will that shake the earth

or even move the rocks?

_5-6The lamps of sinful people

soon are snuffed out,

leaving their tents dark.

₇Their powerful legs become weak,

and they stumble on schemes

of their own doing.

_8-10Before they know it,

they are trapped in a net,

hidden along the path.

₁₁Terror strikes and pursues

from every side.

₁₂Starving, they run,

only to meet disaster,

₁₃then afterwards to be eaten alive

by death itself.

₁₄Those sinners are dragged

from the safety of their tents

to die a gruesome death.

₁₅Then their tents and possessions

are burnt to ashes,

₁₆and they are left like trees,

dried up from the roots.

₁₇They are gone and forgotten,

₁₈thrown far from the light

into a world of darkness,

₁₉without any children

to carry on their name.

₂₀Everyone, from east to west,

is overwhelmed with horror.

₂₁Such is the fate of sinners

and their families

who don't know God.

₁Job said:

₂How long will you torture me

with your words?

₃Isn't ten times enough

for you to accuse me?

Aren't you ashamed?

₄Even if I have sinned,

you haven't been harmed.

₅You boast of your goodness,

claiming I am suffering

because I am guilty.

₆But God is the one at fault

for finding fault with me.

₇Though I pray to be rescued

from this torment,

no whisper of justice

answers me.

₈God has me trapped

with a wall of darkness

₉and stripped of respect.

₁₀God rips me apart,

uproots my hopes,

₁₁and attacks with fierce anger,

as though I were his enemy.

₁₂His entire army advances,

then surrounds my tent.

_13-14God has turned relatives

and friends against me,

and I am forgotten.

₁₅My guests and my servants

consider me a stranger,

₁₆and when I call my servants,

they pay no attention.

₁₇My breath disgusts my wife;

everyone in my family

turns away.

₁₈Young children can't stand me,

and when I come near,

they make fun.

₁₉My best friends and loved ones

have turned from me.

₂₀I am skin and bones—

just barely alive.

₂₁My friends, I beg you for pity!

God has made me his target.

₂₂Hasn't he already done enough?

Why do you join the attack?

₂₃I wish that my words

could be written down

₂₄or chiselled into rock.

₂₅I know that my Saviour lives,

and at the end

he will stand on this earth.

₂₆My flesh may be destroyed,

yet from this body

I will see God.

₂₇Yes, I will see him for myself,

and I long for that moment.

₂₈My friends, you think up ways

to blame and torment me, saying

I brought it on myself.

₂₉But watch out for the judgment,

when God will punish you!

₁Zophar from Naamah said:

₂Your words are disturbing;

now I must speak.

₃You have accused

and insulted me,

and reason requires a reply.

₄Since the time of creation,

everyone has known

₅that sinful people are happy

for only a while.

₆Though their pride and power

may reach to the sky,

₇they will disappear like dust,

and those who knew them

will wonder what happened.

₈They will be forgotten

like a dream

₉and vanish from the sight

of family and friends.

₁₀Their children will have to repay

what the parents took

from the poor.

₁₁Indeed, the wicked will die

and go to their graves

in the prime of life.

₁₂Sinners love the taste of sin;

they relish every bite

₁₃and swallow it slowly.

₁₄But their food will turn sour

and poison their stomachs.

₁₅Then God will make them lose

the wealth they gobbled up.

₁₆They will die from the fangs

of poisonous snakes

₁₇and never enjoy rivers flowing

with milk and honey.

₁₈Their hard work will result

in nothing gained,

₁₉because they cheated the poor

and took their homes.

₂₀Greedy people want everything

and are never satisfied.

₂₁But when nothing remains

for them to grab,

they will be nothing.

₂₂Once they have everything,

distress and despair

will strike them down,

₂₃and God will make them swallow

his blazing anger.

₂₄While running from iron spears,

they will be killed

by arrows of bronze,

₂₅whose shining tips go straight

through their bodies.

They will be trapped by terror,

₂₆and what they treasure most

will be lost in the dark.

God will send flames

to destroy them in their tents

with all their property.

₂₇The heavens and the earth

will testify against them,

₂₈and all their possessions

will be dragged off

when God becomes angry.

₂₉This is what God has decided

for those who are evil.

₁Job said:

₂If you want to offer comfort,

then listen to me.

₃And when I have finished,

you can start your insults

all over again.

₄My complaint is against God;

that's why I am impatient.

₅Just looking at me is enough

to make you sick,

₆and the very thought of myself

fills me with disgust.

₇Why do evil people live so long

and gain such power?

₈Why are they allowed to see

their children grow up?

₉They have no worries at home,

and God never punishes them.

₁₀Their cattle have lots of calves

without ever losing one;

₁₁their children play and dance

safely by themselves.

₁₂These people sing and celebrate

to the sound of tambourines,

small harps, and flutes,

₁₃and they are successful,

without a worry,

until the day they die.

₁₄Those who are evil say

to God All-Powerful,

“Leave us alone! Don't bother us

with your teachings.

₁₅What do we gain from praying

and worshipping you?

₁₆We succeeded all on our own.”

And so, I keep away from them

and their evil schemes.

₁₇How often does God become angry

and send disaster and darkness

to punish sinners?

₁₈How often does he strike them

like a storm

that scatters straw?

₁₉You say, “God will punish

those sinners' children

in place of those sinners.”

But I say, “Let him punish

those sinners themselves

until they really feel it.

₂₀Let God All-Powerful force them

to drink their own destruction

from the cup of his anger.

₂₁Because after they are dead,

they won't care what happens

to their children.”

₂₂Who can tell God what to do?

He judges powerful rulers.

_23-24Some of us die prosperous,

enjoying good health,

₂₅while others die in poverty,

having known only pain.

₂₆But we all end up dead,

beneath a blanket of worms.

₂₇My friends, I know that you

are plotting against me.

₂₈You ask, “Where is the home

of that important person

who does so much evil?”

₂₉Everyone, near and far, agrees

₃₀that those who do wrong

never suffer disaster,

when God becomes angry.

₃₁No one points out their sin

or punishes them.

₃₂Then at their funerals,

they are highly praised;

₃₃the earth welcomes them home,

while crowds mourn.

₃₄But empty, meaningless words

are the comfort you offer me.