- Job 40:1-14
Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said: “Shall the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him?
He who rebukes God, let him answer it.” Then Job answered the LORD and said: “ Behold, I am vile;
What shall I answer You?
I lay my hand over my mouth. Once I have spoken, but I will not answer;
Yes, twice, but I will proceed no further.” Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said: “Now prepare yourself like a man;
I will question you, and you shall answer Me: “ Would you indeed annul My judgment?
Would you condemn Me that you may be justified? Have you an arm like God?
Or can you thunder with a voice like His? Then adorn yourself with majesty and splendor,
And array yourself with glory and beauty. Disperse the rage of your wrath;
Look on everyone who is proud, and humble him. Look on everyone who is proud, and bring him low;
Tread down the wicked in their place. Hide them in the dust together,
Bind their faces in hidden darkness. Then I will also confess to you
That your own right hand can save you.
- James 5:11
Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.
- Numbers 12:1-15
Then Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married; for he had married an Ethiopian woman. So they said, “Has the LORD indeed spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us also?” And the LORD heard it. (Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth.) Suddenly the LORD said to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, "Come out, you three, to the tabernacle of meeting!" So the three came out. Then the LORD came down in the pillar of cloud and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam. And they both went forward. Then He said,
"Hear now My words:
If there is a prophet among you,
I, the LORD, make Myself known to him in a vision;
I speak to him in a dream. Not so with My servant Moses;
He is faithful in all My house. I speak with him face to face,
Even plainly, and not in dark sayings;
And he sees the form of the LORD.
Why then were you not afraid
To speak against My servant Moses?" So the anger of the LORD was aroused against them, and He departed. And when the cloud departed from above the tabernacle, suddenly Miriam became leprous, as white as snow. Then Aaron turned toward Miriam, and there she was, a leper. So Aaron said to Moses, “Oh, my lord! Please do not lay this sin on us, in which we have done foolishly and in which we have sinned. Please do not let her be as one dead, whose flesh is half consumed when he comes out of his mother’s womb!” So Moses cried out to the LORD, saying, “Please heal her, O God, I pray!” Then the LORD said to Moses, “If her father had but spit in her face, would she not be shamed seven days? Let her be shut out of the camp seven days, and afterward she may be received again.” So Miriam was shut out of the camp seven days, and the people did not journey till Miriam was brought in again.
- Job 1:6-12
Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them. And the LORD said to Satan, “From where do you come?” So Satan answered the LORD and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.” Then the LORD said to Satan, 'Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?' So Satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!” And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.” So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.
- Job 3:1-16
After this Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth. And Job spoke, and said: “May the day perish on which I was born,
And the night in which it was said,
‘A male child is conceived.’ May that day be darkness;
May God above not seek it,
Nor the light shine upon it. May darkness and the shadow of death claim it;
May a cloud settle on it;
May the blackness of the day terrify it. As for that night, may darkness seize it;
May it not rejoice among the days of the year,
May it not come into the number of the months. Oh, may that night be barren!
May no joyful shout come into it! May those curse it who curse the day,
Those who are ready to arouse Leviathan. May the stars of its morning be dark;
May it look for light, but have none,
And not see the dawning of the day; Because it did not shut up the doors of my mother’s womb,
Nor hide sorrow from my eyes. “Why did I not die at birth?
Why did I not perish when I came from the womb? Why did the knees receive me?
Or why the breasts, that I should nurse? For now I would have lain still and been quiet,
I would have been asleep;
Then I would have been at rest With kings and counselors of the earth,
Who built ruins for themselves, Or with princes who had gold,
Who filled their houses with silver; Or why was I not hidden like a stillborn child,
Like infants who never saw light?
- Job 9:1-22
Then Job answered and said: "Truly I know it is so,
But how can a man be righteous before God? If one wished to contend with Him,
He could not answer Him one time out of a thousand. God is wise in heart and mighty in strength.
Who has hardened himself against Him and prospered? He removes the mountains, and they do not know
When He overturns them in His anger; He shakes the earth out of its place,
And its pillars tremble; He commands the sun, and it does not rise;
He seals off the stars; He alone spreads out the heavens,
And treads on the waves of the sea; He made the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades,
And the chambers of the south; He does great things past finding out,
Yes, wonders without number. If He goes by me, I do not see Him;
If He moves past, I do not perceive Him; If He takes away, who can hinder Him?
Who can say to Him, ‘What are You doing?’ God will not withdraw His anger,
The allies of the proud lie prostrate beneath Him. “How then can I answer Him,
And choose my words to reason with Him? For though I were righteous, I could not answer Him;
I would beg mercy of my Judge. If I called and He answered me,
I would not believe that He was listening to my voice. For He crushes me with a tempest,
And multiplies my wounds without cause. He will not allow me to catch my breath,
But fills me with bitterness. If it is a matter of strength, indeed He is strong;
And if of justice, who will appoint my day in court? Though I were righteous, my own mouth would condemn me;
Though I were blameless, it would prove me perverse. “I am blameless, yet I do not know myself;
I despise my life. It is all one thing;
Therefore I say, ‘He destroys the blameless and the wicked.’
- Job 9:32-35
"For He is not a man, as I am,
That I may answer Him,
And that we should go to court together. Nor is there any mediator between us,
Who may lay his hand on us both. Let Him take His rod away from me,
And do not let dread of Him terrify me. Then I would speak and not fear Him,
But it is not so with me.
- Job 10:2-22
I will say to God, ‘Do not condemn me;
Show me why You contend with me. Does it seem good to You that You should oppress,
That You should despise the work of Your hands,
And smile on the counsel of the wicked? Do You have eyes of flesh?
Or do You see as man sees? Are Your days like the days of a mortal man?
Are Your years like the days of a mighty man, That You should seek for my iniquity
And search out my sin, Although You know that I am not wicked,
And there is no one who can deliver from Your hand? ‘Your hands have made me and fashioned me,
An intricate unity;
Yet You would destroy me. Remember, I pray, that You have made me like clay.
And will You turn me into dust again? Did You not pour me out like milk,
And curdle me like cheese, Clothe me with skin and flesh,
And knit me together with bones and sinews? You have granted me life and favor,
And Your care has preserved my spirit. ‘And these things You have hidden in Your heart;
I know that this was with You: If I sin, then You mark me,
And will not acquit me of my iniquity. If I am wicked, woe to me;
Even if I am righteous, I cannot lift up my head.
I am full of disgrace;
See my misery! If my head is exalted,
You hunt me like a fierce lion,
And again You show Yourself awesome against me. You renew Your witnesses against me,
And increase Your indignation toward me;
Changes and war are ever with me. ‘Why then have You brought me out of the womb?
Oh, that I had perished and no eye had seen me! I would have been as though I had not been.
I would have been carried from the womb to the grave. Are not my days few?
Cease! Leave me alone, that I may take a little comfort, Before I go to the place from which I shall not return,
To the land of darkness and the shadow of death, A land as dark as darkness itself,
As the shadow of death, without any order,
Where even the light is like darkness.’”
- Job 13:20-27
“Only two things do not do to me,
Then I will not hide myself from You: Withdraw Your hand far from me,
And let not the dread of You make me afraid. Then call, and I will answer;
Or let me speak, then You respond to me. How many are my iniquities and sins?
Make me know my transgression and my sin. Why do You hide Your face,
And regard me as Your enemy? Will You frighten a leaf driven to and fro?
And will You pursue dry stubble? For You write bitter things against me,
And make me inherit the iniquities of my youth. You put my feet in the stocks,
And watch closely all my paths.
You set a limit for the soles of my feet.
- Job 32:1-3
So these three men ceased answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. Then the wrath of Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, was aroused against Job; his wrath was aroused because he justified himself rather than God. Also against his three friends his wrath was aroused, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.
- Job 33:6-14
Truly I am as your spokesman before God;
I also have been formed out of clay. Surely no fear of me will terrify you,
Nor will my hand be heavy on you. “Surely you have spoken in my hearing,
And I have heard the sound of your words, saying, ‘I am pure, without transgression;
I am innocent, and there is no iniquity in me. Yet He finds occasions against me,
He counts me as His enemy; He puts my feet in the stocks,
He watches all my paths.’ “Look, in this you are not righteous.
I will answer you,
For God is greater than man. Why do you contend with Him?
For He does not give an accounting of any of His words. For God may speak in one way, or in another,
Yet man does not perceive it.
- Job 33:19-30
“Man is also chastened with pain on his bed,
And with strong pain in many of his bones, So that his life abhors bread,
And his soul succulent food. His flesh wastes away from sight,
And his bones stick out which once were not seen. Yes, his soul draws near the Pit,
And his life to the executioners. “If there is a messenger for him,
A mediator, one among a thousand,
To show man His uprightness, Then He is gracious to him, and says,
‘ Deliver him from going down to the Pit;
I have found a ransom’; His flesh shall be young like a child’s,
He shall return to the days of his youth. He shall pray to God, and He will delight in him,
He shall see His face with joy,
For He restores to man His righteousness. Then he looks at men and says,
‘I have sinned, and perverted what was right,
And it did not profit me.’ He will redeem his soul from going down to the Pit,
And his life shall see the light. “ Behold, God works all these things,
Twice, in fact, three times with a man, To bring back his soul from the Pit,
That he may be enlightened with the light of life.
- Job 34:31-37
“For has anyone said to God,
‘I have borne chastening;
I will offend no more; Teach me what I do not see;
If I have done iniquity, I will do no more’? Should He repay it according to your terms,
Just because you disavow it?
You must choose, and not I;
Therefore speak what you know. “Men of understanding say to me,
Wise men who listen to me: ‘Job speaks without knowledge,
His words are without wisdom.’ Oh, that Job were tried to the utmost,
Because his answers are like those of wicked men! For he adds rebellion to his sin;
He claps his hands among us,
And multiplies his words against God.”
- Job 35:2-16
“Do you think this is right?
Do you say,
‘My righteousness is more than God’s’? For you say,
‘What advantage will it be to You?
What profit shall I have, more than if I had sinned?’ “I will answer you,
And your companions with you. Look to the heavens and see;
And behold the clouds—
They are higher than you. If you sin, what do you accomplish against Him?
Or, if your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to Him? If you are righteous, what do you give Him?
Or what does He receive from your hand? Your wickedness affects a man such as you,
And your righteousness a son of man. “ Because of the multitude of oppressions they cry out;
They cry out for help because of the arm of the mighty. But no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker,
Who gives songs in the night, Who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth,
And makes us wiser than the birds of heaven?’ There they cry out, but He does not answer,
Because of the pride of evil men. Surely God will not listen to empty talk,
Nor will the Almighty regard it. Although you say you do not see Him,
Yet justice is before Him, and you must wait for Him. And now, because He has not punished in His anger,
Nor taken much notice of folly, Therefore Job opens his mouth in vain;
He multiplies words without knowledge.”
- Job 42:1-8
Then Job answered the LORD and said: "I know that You can do everything,
And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You. You asked, "Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?"
Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand,
Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. Listen, please, and let me speak;
You said, "I will question you, and you shall answer Me." "I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear,
But now my eye sees You. Therefore I abhor myself,
And repent in dust and ashes." And so it was, after the LORD had spoken these words to Job, that the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, 'My wrath is aroused against you and your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has. Now therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, go to My servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and My servant Job shall pray for you. For I will accept him, lest I deal with you according to your folly; because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.'
- Isaiah 27:1
In that day the LORD with His severe sword, great and strong,
Will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent,
Leviathan that twisted serpent;
And He will slay the reptile that is in the sea.
- Ezekiel 14:14
Even if these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they would deliver only themselves by their righteousness,' says the Lord GOD.
- Romans 2:1-11
Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who "will render to each one according to his deeds": eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God.
- 1 Corinthians 13:8-13
Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
- Galatians 6:7
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.
- Genesis 3:24
So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.
- Genesis 36:4
Now Adah bore Eliphaz to Esau, and Basemath bore Reuel.
- Leviticus 26:16
I also will do this to you:I will even appoint terror over you, wasting disease and fever which shall consume the eyes and cause sorrow of heart. And you shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it.
- Leviticus 26:25
And I will bring a sword against you that will execute the vengeance of the covenant; when you are gathered together within your cities I will send pestilence among you; and you shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy.
- Leviticus 26:33
I will scatter you among the nations and draw out a sword after you; your land shall be desolate and your cities waste.
- Deuteronomy 28:21-22
The LORD will make the plague cling to you until He has consumed you from the land which you are going to possess. The LORD will strike you with consumption, with fever, with inflammation, with severe burning fever, with the sword, with scorching, and with mildew; they shall pursue you until you perish.
- Joshua 7:1
But the children of Israel committed a trespass regarding the accursed things, for Achan the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed things; so the anger of the LORD burned against the children of Israel.
- Joshua 7:11
Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them. For they have even taken some of the accursed things, and have both stolen and deceived; and they have also put it among their own stuff.
- 1 Kings 20:11
So the king of Israel answered and said, “Tell him, ‘Let not the one who puts on his armor boast like the one who takes it off.’”
- Job 1:1
There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil.
- Job 1:20-22
Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped. And he said:
“ Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
And naked shall I return there.
The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away;
Blessed be the name of the LORD.” In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.
- Job 2:3-5
Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil? And still he holds fast to his integrity, although you incited Me against him, to destroy him without cause.” So Satan answered the LORD and said, 'Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life. But stretch out Your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will surely curse You to Your face!”
- Job 2:9-10
Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!” But he said to her, 'You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?' In all this Job did not sin with his lips.
- Job 3:20-26
“Why is light given to him who is in misery,
And life to the bitter of soul, Who long for death, but it does not come,
And search for it more than hidden treasures; Who rejoice exceedingly,
And are glad when they can find the grave? Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden,
And whom God has hedged in? For my sighing comes before I eat,
And my groanings pour out like water. For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me,
And what I dreaded has happened to me. I am not at ease, nor am I quiet;
I have no rest, for trouble comes."
- Job 4:2-21
"If one attempts a word with you, will you become weary?
But who can withhold himself from speaking? Surely you have instructed many,
And you have strengthened weak hands. Your words have upheld him who was stumbling,
And you have strengthened the feeble knees; But now it comes upon you, and you are weary;
It touches you, and you are troubled. Is not your reverence your confidence?
And the integrity of your ways your hope? “ Remember now, who ever perished being innocent?
Or where were the upright ever cut off? Even as I have seen,
Those who plow iniquity
And sow trouble reap the same. By the blast of God they perish,
And by the breath of His anger they are consumed. The roaring of the lion,
The voice of the fierce lion,
And the teeth of the young lions are broken. The old lion perishes for lack of prey,
And the cubs of the lioness are scattered. "Now a word was secretly brought to me,
And my ear received a whisper of it. In disquieting thoughts from the visions of the night,
When deep sleep falls on men, Fear came upon me, and trembling,
Which made all my bones shake. Then a spirit passed before my face;
The hair on my body stood up. It stood still,
But I could not discern its appearance.
A form was before my eyes;
There was silence;
Then I heard a voice saying: 'Can a mortal be more righteous than God?
Can a man be more pure than his Maker? If He puts no trust in His servants,
If He charges His angels with error, How much more those who dwell in houses of clay,
Whose foundation is in the dust,
Who are crushed before a moth? They are broken in pieces from morning till evening;
They perish forever, with no one regarding. Does not their own excellence go away?
They die, even without wisdom.'
- Job 6:6-7
Can flavorless food be eaten without salt?
Or is there any taste in the white of an egg? My soul refuses to touch them;
They are as loathsome food to me.
- Job 7:17
“What is man, that You should exalt him,
That You should set Your heart on him,
- Job 8:1-7
Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said: “How long will you speak these things,
And the words of your mouth be like a strong wind? Does God subvert judgment?
Or does the Almighty pervert justice? If your sons have sinned against Him,
He has cast them away for their transgression. If you would earnestly seek God
And make your supplication to the Almighty, If you were pure and upright,
Surely now He would awake for you,
And prosper your rightful dwelling place. Though your beginning was small,
Yet your latter end would increase abundantly.
- Job 11:2-20
“ Should not the multitude of words be answered?
And should a man full of talk be vindicated? Should your empty talk make men hold their peace?
And when you mock, should no one rebuke you? For you have said,
‘My doctrine is pure,
And I am clean in your eyes.’ But oh, that God would speak,
And open His lips against you, That He would show you the secrets of wisdom!
For they would double your prudence.
Know therefore that God exacts from you
Less than your iniquity deserves. "Can you search out the deep things of God?
Can you find out the limits of the Almighty? They are higher than heaven— what can you do?
Deeper than Sheol— what can you know? Their measure is longer than the earth
And broader than the sea. “If He passes by, imprisons, and gathers to judgment,
Then who can hinder Him? For He knows deceitful men;
He sees wickedness also.
Will He not then consider it? For an empty-headed man will be wise,
When a wild donkey’s colt is born a man. “If you would prepare your heart,
And stretch out your hands toward Him; If iniquity were in your hand, and you put it far away,
And would not let wickedness dwell in your tents; Then surely you could lift up your face without spot;
Yes, you could be steadfast, and not fear; Because you would forget your misery,
And remember it as waters that have passed away, And your life would be brighter than noonday.
Though you were dark, you would be like the morning. And you would be secure, because there is hope;
Yes, you would dig around you, and take your rest in safety. You would also lie down, and no one would make you afraid;
Yes, many would court your favor. But the eyes of the wicked will fail,
And they shall not escape,
And their hope—loss of life!”
- Job 12:2-14
“No doubt you are the people,
And wisdom will die with you! But I have understanding as well as you;
I am not inferior to you.
Indeed, who does not know such things as these? “I am one mocked by his friends,
Who called on God, and He answered him,
The just and blameless who is ridiculed. A lamp is despised in the thought of one who is at ease;
It is made ready for those whose feet slip. The tents of robbers prosper,
And those who provoke God are secure—
In what God provides by His hand. “But now ask the beasts, and they will teach you;
And the birds of the air, and they will tell you; Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you;
And the fish of the sea will explain to you. Who among all these does not know
That the hand of the LORD has done this, In whose hand is the life of every living thing,
And the breath of all mankind? Does not the ear test words
And the mouth taste its food? Wisdom is with aged men,
And with length of days, understanding. “With Him are wisdom and strength,
He has counsel and understanding. If He breaks a thing down, it cannot be rebuilt;
If He imprisons a man, there can be no release.
- Job 13:1-13
“Behold, my eye has seen all this,
My ear has heard and understood it. What you know, I also know;
I am not inferior to you. But I would speak to the Almighty,
And I desire to reason with God. But you forgers of lies,
You are all worthless physicians. Oh, that you would be silent,
And it would be your wisdom! Now hear my reasoning,
And heed the pleadings of my lips. Will you speak wickedly for God,
And talk deceitfully for Him? Will you show partiality for Him?
Will you contend for God? Will it be well when He searches you out?
Or can you mock Him as one mocks a man? He will surely rebuke you
If you secretly show partiality. Will not His excellence make you afraid,
And the dread of Him fall upon you? Your platitudes are proverbs of ashes,
Your defenses are defenses of clay. “Hold your peace with me, and let me speak,
Then let come on me what may!
- Job 13:15
Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.
Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him.
- Job 14:16-17
For now You number my steps,
But do not watch over my sin. My transgression is sealed up in a bag,
And You cover my iniquity.
- Job 28:28
And to man He said,
" Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom,
And to depart from evil is understanding.""
- Job 29:2
“Oh, that I were as in months past,
As in the days when God watched over me;
- Job 29:7-17
“When I went out to the gate by the city,
When I took my seat in the open square, The young men saw me and hid,
And the aged arose and stood; The princes refrained from talking,
And put their hand on their mouth; The voice of nobles was hushed,
And their tongue stuck to the roof of their mouth. When the ear heard, then it blessed me,
And when the eye saw, then it approved me; Because I delivered the poor who cried out,
The fatherless and the one who had no helper. The blessing of a perishing man came upon me,
And I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy. I put on righteousness, and it clothed me;
My justice was like a robe and a turban. I was eyes to the blind,
And I was feet to the lame. I was a father to the poor,
And I searched out the case that I did not know. I broke the fangs of the wicked,
And plucked the victim from his teeth.
- Job 30:19-22
He has cast me into the mire,
And I have become like dust and ashes. “I cry out to You, but You do not answer me;
I stand up, and You regard me. But You have become cruel to me;
With the strength of Your hand You oppose me. You lift me up to the wind and cause me to ride on it;
You spoil my success.
- Job 31:1
“I have made a covenant with my eyes;
Why then should I look upon a young woman?
- Job 31:35-37
Oh, that I had one to hear me!
Here is my mark.
Oh, that the Almighty would answer me,
That my Prosecutor had written a book! Surely I would carry it on my shoulder,
And bind it on me like a crown; I would declare to Him the number of my steps;
Like a prince I would approach Him.
- Job 37:1-2
“At this also my heart trembles,
And leaps from its place. Hear attentively the thunder of His voice,
And the rumbling that comes from His mouth.
- Job 37:13
He causes it to come,
Whether for correction,
Or for His land,
Or for mercy.
- Job 37:23-24
As for the Almighty, we cannot find Him;
He is excellent in power,
In judgment and abundant justice;
He does not oppress. Therefore men fear Him;
He shows no partiality to any who are wise of heart.”
- Job 38:2-3
“Who is this who darkens counsel
By words without knowledge? Now prepare yourself like a man;
I will question you, and you shall answer Me.
- Job 38:33
Do you know the ordinances of the heavens?
Can you set their dominion over the earth?
- Job 38:41
Who provides food for the raven,
When its young ones cry to God,
And wander about for lack of food?
- Job 39:2-29
Can you number the months that they fulfill?
Or do you know the time when they bear young? They bow down,
They bring forth their young,
They deliver their offspring. Their young ones are healthy,
They grow strong with grain;
They depart and do not return to them. “Who set the wild donkey free?
Who loosed the bonds of the onager, Whose home I have made the wilderness,
And the barren land his dwelling? He scorns the tumult of the city;
He does not heed the shouts of the driver. The range of the mountains is his pasture,
And he searches after every green thing. “Will the wild ox be willing to serve you?
Will he bed by your manger? Can you bind the wild ox in the furrow with ropes?
Or will he plow the valleys behind you? Will you trust him because his strength is great?
Or will you leave your labor to him? Will you trust him to bring home your grain,
And gather it to your threshing floor? “The wings of the ostrich wave proudly,
But are her wings and pinions like the kindly stork’s? For she leaves her eggs on the ground,
And warms them in the dust; She forgets that a foot may crush them,
Or that a wild beast may break them. She treats her young harshly, as though they were not hers;
Her labor is in vain, without concern, Because God deprived her of wisdom,
And did not endow her with understanding. When she lifts herself on high,
She scorns the horse and its rider. “Have you given the horse strength?
Have you clothed his neck with thunder? Can you frighten him like a locust?
His majestic snorting strikes terror. He paws in the valley, and rejoices in his strength;
He gallops into the clash of arms. He mocks at fear, and is not frightened;
Nor does he turn back from the sword. The quiver rattles against him,
The glittering spear and javelin. He devours the distance with fierceness and rage;
Nor does he come to a halt because the trumpet has sounded. At the blast of the trumpet he says, ‘Aha!’
He smells the battle from afar,
The thunder of captains and shouting. “Does the hawk fly by your wisdom,
And spread its wings toward the south? Does the eagle mount up at your command,
And make its nest on high? On the rock it dwells and resides,
On the crag of the rock and the stronghold. From there it spies out the prey;
Its eyes observe from afar.
- Job 41:7-11
Can you fill his skin with harpoons,
Or his head with fishing spears? Lay your hand on him;
Remember the battle—
Never do it again! Indeed, any hope of overcoming him is false;
Shall one not be overwhelmed at the sight of him? No one is so fierce that he would dare stir him up.
Who then is able to stand against Me? Who has preceded Me, that I should pay him?
Everything under heaven is Mine.
- Job 41:15-17
His rows of scales are his pride,
Shut up tightly as with a seal; One is so near another
That no air can come between them; They are joined one to another,
They stick together and cannot be parted.
- Psalm 74:14
You broke the heads of Leviathan in pieces,
And gave him as food to the people inhabiting the wilderness.
- Psalm 119:67
Before I was afflicted I went astray,
But now I keep Your word.
- Psalm 119:71
It is good for me that I have been afflicted,
That I may learn Your statutes.
- Psalm 119:75
I know, O LORD, that Your judgments are right,
And that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.
- Psalm 139:23-24
Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my anxieties;
And see if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting.
- Ecclesiastes 5:2
Do not be rash with your mouth,
And let not your heart utter anything hastily before God.
For God is in heaven, and you on earth;
Therefore let your words be few.
- Ecclesiastes 8:11
Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.
- Isaiah 14:12-14
"How you are fallen from heaven,
O Lucifer, son of the morning!
How you are cut down to the ground,
You who weakened the nations!
For you have said in your heart:
'I will ascend into heaven,
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God;
I will also sit on the mount of the congregation
On the farthest sides of the north;
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds,
I will be like the Most High.'
- Isaiah 45:7
I form the light and create darkness,
I make peace and create calamity;
I, the LORD, do all these things.’
- Jeremiah 17:9-10
" The heart is deceitful above all things,
And desperately wicked;
Who can know it?
I, the LORD, search the heart,
I test the mind,
Even to give every man according to his ways,
According to the fruit of his doings.
- Jeremiah 18:15-17
“ Because My people have forgotten Me,
They have burned incense to worthless idols.
And they have caused themselves to stumble in their ways,
From the ancient paths,
To walk in pathways and not on a highway,
To make their land desolate and a perpetual hissing;
Everyone who passes by it will be astonished
And shake his head.
I will scatter them as with an east wind before the enemy;
I will show them the back and not the face
In the day of their calamity.”
- Lamentations 2:6
He has done violence to His tabernacle,
As if it werea garden;
He has destroyed His place of assembly;
The LORD has caused
The appointed feasts and Sabbaths to be forgotten in Zion.
In His burning indignation He has spurned the king and the priest.
- Ezekiel 14:20
even though Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, as I live,' says the Lord GOD, 'they would deliver neither son nor daughter; they would deliver only themselves by their righteousness.'
- Ezekiel 20:12
Moreover I also gave them My Sabbaths, to be a sign between them and Me, that they might know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them.
- Ezekiel 20:20
hallow My Sabbaths, and they will be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I am the LORD your God.'
- Ezekiel 20:23
Also I raised My hand in an oath to those in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the Gentiles and disperse them throughout the countries,
- Ezekiel 28:12-15
"Son of man, take up a lamentation for the king of Tyre, and say to him, 'Thus says the Lord GOD:
"You were the seal of perfection,
Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.
You were in Eden, the garden of God;
Every precious stone was your covering:
The sardius, topaz, and diamond,
Beryl, onyx, and jasper,
Sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold.
The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes
Was prepared for you on the day you were created.
"You were the anointed cherub who covers;
I established you;
You were on the holy mountain of God;
You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones.
You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created,
Till iniquity was found in you.
- Ezekiel 28:17
"Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty;
You corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor;
I cast you to the ground,
I laid you before kings,
That they might gaze at you.
- Daniel 9:1-19
In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the lineage of the Medes, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans— in the first year of his reign I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years specified by the word of the LORD through Jeremiah the prophet, that He would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem. Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. And I prayed to the LORD my God, and made confession, and said, "O Lord, great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and mercy with those who love Him, and with those who keep His commandments, we have sinned and committed iniquity, we have done wickedly and rebelled, even by departing from Your precepts and Your judgments. Neither have we heeded Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings and our princes, to our fathers and all the people of the land. O Lord, righteousness belongs to You, but to us shame of face, as it is this day—to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, those near and those far off in all the countries to which You have driven them, because of the unfaithfulness which they have committed against You. "O Lord, to us belongs shame of face, to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, because we have sinned against You. To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against Him. We have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in His laws, which He set before us by His servants the prophets. Yes, all Israel has transgressed Your law, and has departed so as not to obey Your voice; therefore the curse and the oath written in the Law of Moses the servant of God have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against Him. And He has confirmed His words, which He spoke against us and against our judges who judged us, by bringing upon us a great disaster; for under the whole heaven such has never been done as what has been done to Jerusalem. "As it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come upon us; yet we have not made our prayer before the LORD our God, that we might turn from our iniquities and understand Your truth. Therefore the LORD has kept the disaster in mind, and brought it upon us; for the LORD our God is righteous in all the works which He does, though we have not obeyed His voice. And now, O Lord our God, who brought Your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and made Yourself a name, as it is this day—we have sinned, we have done wickedly! "O Lord, according to all Your righteousness, I pray, let Your anger and Your fury be turned away from Your city Jerusalem, Your holy mountain; because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and Your people are a reproach to all those around us. Now therefore, our God, hear the prayer of Your servant, and his supplications, and for the Lord’s sake cause Your face to shine on Your sanctuary, which is desolate. O my God, incline Your ear and hear; open Your eyes and see our desolations, and the city which is called by Your name; for we do not present our supplications before You because of our righteous deeds, but because of Your great mercies. O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and act! Do not delay for Your own sake, my God, for Your city and Your people are called by Your name."
- Amos 3:6
If a trumpet is blown in a city, will not the people be afraid?
If there is calamity in a city, will not the LORD have done it?
- Matthew 3:1-6
In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!' For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying:
“ The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘ Prepare the way of the LORD;
Make His paths straight.’” Now John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.
- Matthew 5:1-3
And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
- Matthew 7:1
"Judge not, that you be not judged.
- Matthew 7:3-5
And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, "Let me remove the speck from your eye"; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
- Matthew 7:11-12
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
- Matthew 11:7-19
As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. For this is he of whom it is written:
‘ Behold, I send My messenger before Your face,
Who will prepare Your way before You.’ 'Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come. He who has ears to hear, let him hear! “But to what shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their companions, and saying:
‘ We played the flute for you, And you did not dance;
We mourned to you, And you did not lament.’ For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by her children.”
- Luke 13:1-5
There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answered and said to them, "Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish."
- John 7:10-12
But when His brothers had gone up, then He also went up to the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret. Then the Jews sought Him at the feast, and said, “Where is He?” And there was much complaining among the people concerning Him. Some said, “He is good”; others said, “No, on the contrary, He deceives the people.”
- John 7:24-31
Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment." Now some of them from Jerusalem said, 'Is this not He whom they seek to kill? But look! He speaks boldly, and they say nothing to Him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is truly the Christ? However, we know where this Man is from; but when the Christ comes, no one knows where He is from.” Then Jesus cried out, as He taught in the temple, saying, “You both know Me, and you know where I am from; and I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know. But I know Him, for I am from Him, and He sent Me.” Therefore they sought to take Him; but no one laid a hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come. And many of the people believed in Him, and said, “When the Christ comes, will He do more signs than these which this Man has done?”
- John 7:40-43
Therefore many from the crowd, when they heard this saying, said, “Truly this is the Prophet.” Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Will the Christ come out of Galilee? Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the seed of David and from the town of Bethlehem, where David was?' So there was a division among the people because of Him.
- John 15:5
"I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
- Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
- Romans 11:35
'Or who has first given to Him
And it shall be repaid to him?'
- 1 Corinthians 3:19
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, "He catches the wise in their own craftiness";
- 1 Corinthians 15:10
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
- 2 Corinthians 12:7-9
And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
- 2 Corinthians 13:5
Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.
- Hebrews 2:1-3
Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him,
- Hebrews 3:12
Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God;
- Hebrews 10:25
not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
- James 1:21-25
Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
- James 1:27
Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
- 1 Peter 4:1-2
Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.
- 1 Peter 4:7-8
But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins."
- Revelation 3:17
Because you say, "I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing"—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—
- Revelation 12:3
And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads.
- Revelation 12:10
Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, 'Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.
