Job 5
1Eliphaz continued,
“Call out if you want to, Job.
But who will answer you?
Which one of the holy angels will you turn to?
2Anger kills foolish people.
Jealousy destroys those who are childish.
3I saw that foolish people were having success.
But suddenly harm came to their homes.
4Their children aren’t safe at all.
They lose their case in court.
No one speaks up for them.
5Hungry people eat up the crops of the foolish.
They even take the food that grows among thorns.
Thirsty people long for the wealth of the foolish.
6Hard times don’t just grow out of the soil.
Trouble doesn’t jump out of the ground.
7People are born to have trouble.
And that’s just as sure as sparks fly up.
8“If I were you, I’d make my appeal to God.
I’d bring my case to be judged by him.
9He does wonderful things that can’t be understood.
He does miracles that can’t even be counted.
10He sends rain on the earth.
He sends water on the countryside.
11He lifts up people who are lowly in spirit.
He lifts up those who are sad.
He keeps them safe.
12He stops the evil plans of those who are clever.
The work of their hands doesn’t succeed.
13Some people think they are so wise.
But God catches them in their own tricks.
He sweeps away the evil plans of sinful people.
14Darkness covers them in the daytime.
At noon they feel their way around as if it were night.
15God saves needy people from the cutting words of their enemies.
He saves them from their power.
16So poor people have hope.
And God shuts the mouths of those who don’t treat others fairly.
17“Blessed is the person God corrects.
So don’t hate the Mighty One’s training.
18He wounds. But he also bandages up those he wounds.
He harms. But his hands also heal those he harms.
19From six troubles he will save you.
Even if you are in trouble seven times, no harm will come to you.
20When there isn’t enough food, God will keep you from dying.
When you go into battle, he won’t let a sword strike you down.
21He will keep you safe from words that can hurt you.
You won’t need to be afraid
when everything is being destroyed.
22You will laugh when things are being destroyed.
You will enjoy life even when there isn’t enough food.
You won’t be afraid of wild animals.
23You will make a covenant with the stones in the fields.
They won’t keep your crops from growing.
Even wild animals will be at peace with you.
24You will know that the tent you live in is secure.
You will check out your property.
You will see that nothing is missing.
25You can be sure you will have a lot of children.
They will be as many as the blades of grass on the earth.
26You will go down to the grave
while you are still very strong.
You will be like a crop that is gathered at the right time.
27“We have carefully studied all these things.
And they are true.
So pay attention to them.
Apply them to yourself.”