[...] Then Job spoke: ...
If only I knew where to find him;
if only I could go to his dwelling!
I would state my case before him
and fill my mouth with arguments. [...]
But he stands alone, and who can oppose him?
He does whatever he pleases. He carries out his decree
against me, and many such plans he still has in store.
That is why I am terrified before him;
when I think of all this, I fear him.
God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me.
Yet I am not silenced by the darkness,
by the thick darkness that covers my face. [...]
Terrors overwhelm me;
my dignity is driven away as by the wind,
my safety vanishes like a cloud. [...]
I cry out to you, O God, but you do not answer;
I stand up, but you merely look at me.
You turn on me ruthlessly;
with the might of your hand you attack me.
You snatch me up and drive me before the wind;
you toss me about in the storm.
I know you will bring me down to death,
to the place appointed for all the living.
Surely no one lays a hand on a broken man
when he cries for help in his distress.
Have I not wept for those in trouble?
Has not my soul grieved for the poor?
Yet when I hoped for good, evil came;
when I looked for light, then came darkness. [...]
Then Elihu said: [...]
Far be it from God to do evil,
from the Almighty to do wrong.
He repays a man for what he has done;
he brings upon him what his conduct deserves.
It is unthinkable that God would do wrong,
that the Almighty would pervert justice. [...]
Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm:
Brace yourself like a man;
I will question you, and you shall answer me.
Would you discredit my justice?
Would you condemn me to justify yourself?
Do you have an arm like God's,
and can your voice thunder like his?
Then adorn yourself with glory and splendor,
and clothe yourself in honor and majesty.
Unleash the fury of your wrath,
look at every proud man and bring him low,
Look at every proud man and humble him,
crush the wicked where they stand.
Bury them all in the dust together;
shroud their faces in the grave.
Then I myself will admit to you
that your own right hand can save you.
[...]
Who has a claim against me that I must pay?
Everything under heaven belongs to me.
Then Job replied to the Lord:
I know that you can do all things;
no plan of yours can be thwarted.
You asked, "Who is this that obscures my
counsel without knowledge?"
Surely I spoke of things I did not understand,
things too wonderful for me to know.
You said, "Listen now, and I will speak;
I will question you, and you shall answer me."
My ears had heard of you
but now my eyes have seen you.
Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.
Job 23, 29, 34, 40, 42
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