Chapter 17 Book of Job

Book of Job faithful job In Uz there was a man named Job, who was upright and godly, and never did anything wrong.He has a happy family, his wife gave birth to him 7 sons and 3 daughters; there are 7000 sheep, 3000 camels, 500 cows and 500 donkeys in the family; he also has groups of servants.He is the most famous man in the East.His sons often set up banquets in their respective homes and invited their three sisters to eat and drink together.The morning after each banquet, Job would offer burnt offerings for each of the children, because he was afraid that any of them would offend God. One day, all the angels gathered before God, and Satan was among them.Jehovah asked Satan, "Where did you come from?" I walked all over the earth, where did I come from.

"Then have you seen my servant Job? There is no one on earth who is as upright and God-respecting as he is. "How could Job worship God for no reason? Isn't it because you protect him and his family, protect his everything, his happiness is bestowed by you, if you stretch out your hand and destroy everything he has, will he still worship you ?" "Okay," said God, "I give you everything that is his, but don't reach out to him. With the permission of Jehovah, Satan began to bring disasters on Job.One day, Job's sons and daughters were drinking at their elder brother's house. Suddenly, a messenger ran to Job, panting, and said, "The ox is plowing the field. While the donkey is grazing nearby, the Shebas burst in. They looted the livestock and killed many servants with knives, and I was the only one who escaped by chance." Another servant ran in, "The sky fire burned the sheep and many servants to death, and I was the only one who escaped by chance." A servant ran in, "The Chaldeans broke in in three groups, looted all the camels, and killed many servants with knives. I was the only one who managed to escape."

Another servant ran in, "Your sons and daughters were drinking at the eldest brother's house, when suddenly a strong wind blew up and knocked down the house. Your children were crushed to death inside, and I was the only one who managed to escape." In the blink of an eye, Job lost everything, his family and property, but he didn't complain about anything.He stood up, tore his clothes, shaved his head, fell on the ground, and said, "I came naked, and I will go naked. The LORD gave me life, and I will take my life away." I will always sing praises to Jehovah, "Under such misfortune, Job still respected and loved God. Another day, all the angels gathered before God again, and Satan was also among them. Jehovah asked Satan, "Where did you come from?" "I walked the earth, and from there I came."

"Then have you seen my servant Job? There is no one on earth who is as upright and God-respecting as him. Even though you have brought so many disasters to him for no reason, he is still devoted to God. Of course, everyone is willing to give up everything to save their lives. "If you hurt his body, will he worship you?" Well," said God, "I will give him to you now, but you don't want to hurt him." his life. With Jehovah's permission, Satan began to bring disasters on Job himself.Job was suddenly covered with sores from head to toe, and he had to sit in the ashes and scrape himself with tiles.His wife said to him, "Are you still stubborn? Give up your beliefs!" How can you say such stupid things?Job blamed his wife: "Are we only willing to enjoy God's blessings, but not accept God's disasters? After suffering so much, Job never said a word disrespectful to God.

Job had three friends: Ephrael the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite.After they learned about Job, they made an appointment to visit him together. When they saw that Job was so disfigured by the disease that he could hardly recognize him, they burst into tears, tore his clothes, and threw dust on them. .They sat on the ground with Job for seven days and seven nights without saying a word to each other. Six days later, Job began to curse his own birthday: "May the night that conceived me and the day that I was born perish! May that day be dark, may God not seek, may light not shine. May the cloud Cover him, may the eclipse of the sun appear to frighten him, may that night never enter the growth rings, and remember no human years. May that night be without the voice of joy, the joy of childbearing. To the light of dawn.

"Why didn't I die in my mother's womb? Why didn't I die without my mother's womb? Why did I have a knee to receive me? Why did I have milk to feed me? If there were no such things, I would have been sleeping forever, with those kings and counselors who once lived in mansions. Those princes whose houses were full of gold and silver are the companions. In that world, the wicked do no more evil, and the weary are at peace, and even prisoners can rest from the overseer's scolding; in that world, there is no Corrupt officials are divided into high and low, and slaves are as free as servants.

"Why do you give light to those who are suffering? Why do you give life to those who are suffering? They want to die but not die, and they will choose the latter without hesitation between treasures and graves. Why do I fear , just happens to come to me, and what I fear, just happens to meet me. There is no stability, no peace, no happiness, only disaster." When Eliphaz the Temanite saw his friend in such pain, he comforted him: "Job, you don't want to talk to others, do you? Those who have fallen become strong, and those who have fallen are helped to get up again. Now it’s your turn to suffer, but you become confused. Don’t you know that your worship of God is not your hope, and your heart without evil thoughts is your comfort? "Cry out, Job, and see who will help you? You are so foolish. I knew a fool whose sons and daughters were crushed at the gate of the city; his crops were devoured by the hungry, and even those that grew on thorns There was nothing left in the house; his property was burned in the middle of the fire. Disasters do not emerge from the ground, and people will have misfortunes of one kind or another in this world.

"As for me, I respect God and ask God for advice in everything. God's deeds are immeasurable. He rains on the earth, gives water to the fields, helps the humble, and forgives the suffering. God exposes the tricks of good people and helps the wise to succeed. Blessed is the man whom God chastises, so do not despise his discipline. For what he breaks he binds up: he wounds he heals. In desolation he saves you from death; in battle, He saves you from the sword. He protects you from wild beasts and protects your flock from nothing. Your descendants will prosper and your descendants will be as numerous as the grass on the ground. You yourself will live long and old age. These are our experiences, you must listen to them, they will benefit you,” Job replied, “If I can weigh the troubles in my heart and the sufferings in my body, they will be weighed on the scale. It will be heavier than sea sand, so I speak hastily.

"I only wish that God would grant my request and end my life. I have never disobeyed God's will, and I use it to comfort myself. I am not made of copper and iron, and I have no strength to wait any longer. Disappointed with a person, I will Friends who give up worshiping God should care and love him, but you are afraid when you see my suffering, do I ask you for something? Do I ask you to save me?" Well, you continue to teach me.I just keep silent.However, what is the use of high-sounding work?Please look into my eyes, I am not lying, why do you think I do not know good from evil? "Living in this world is like fighting a war, working like a slave every day, day after day, year after year. God, my life is but one breath, and I may never see happiness and joy again. I will stop my mouth, I want to pour out all the pain. I am not the ocean, not a big fish, why do you defend me? What are people, you put him in your heart, monitor him every morning and night, and test him all the time .When did you turn your back on me and let me swallow my saliva?"

Bildad the Shuhite interrupted Job: "How long are you going to say these words? How can God be unfair? Maybe your children offended him, and he caused them to be punished. If you ask God Pray that God will grant you greater prosperity and prosperity if you are truly righteous. "Reeds cannot be separated from water. Once there is no water, they will wither immediately. Forgotten children will also be like this, and they will lose what they rely on. God will not abandon those who are loyal to Him, and will not help evil people, wicked people Everything will eventually come to nothing."

"I know that's the case," Job continued, "but how can man compete with God? Even if God asks a thousand questions, man can't answer a single one. God is omnipotent. He turns the world upside down at will, and rules over the sun and the moon. The stars. He walked by me, and even stood in front of me, and I didn’t even feel it. He wanted what he wanted, and no one dared to ask him; what are you doing? How dare I argue with God? Although I am innocent Yes. How can God believe me even if I cry out? The world is in the hands of the wicked, and the judges are covered. There is no distinction between good and evil. "I am troubled in my heart, so I must speak. I want to say to God: Don't condemn me, tell me, why did you destroy me after you created me, and why did you let the scheme of the wicked succeed? I am innocent, I am not guilty. Why do you want me to be born, it is better to let me die in the womb. I have very few days left, please let me go, just let me go to the darkness and the shadow of death and let me go quickly.” Zopher the Naamathite had been silent all this time, but when he heard this, he spoke up: “How can you be righteous when you are so talkative? You exaggerate. You stopped talking. You said that you were sinful and pure before God. You really want Shin to expose your lies immediately. Therefore, what God will punish you for is less than what you deserve for the sins you committed. You have to set your heart straight and drive the sins and evils far away from the house, only then can you be an upright person.you live.Be as bright and upright as the sun at noonday.I want to tell you that the wicked are blind, they have no escape, they can only die. " Job was very angry when he heard Zophar's words: "You are really better than the people! If you die, there will be no wise people in this world. But I have the same wisdom as you, not a little worse than you. What you have You said it, don’t you know? You are safe and sound, and you gloat over those who are suffering. I want to ask God, why are innocent people being ridiculed. "You can ask the birds and beasts in the sky, the fish in the water, and the earth. Who among them does not know that Jehovah made them. It is Jehovah who created all life in the world. What God destroys cannot be rebuilt : People who are bound by God cannot let go; if he keeps the water, the water will dry up, and if he releases the water, the water will turn the earth upside down. "The power of God is boundless. He can overturn the clouds, make the country prosper, or cause the country to perish; he can make the territory vast, or make it disappear. "I have seen all this with my own eyes, heard it with my own ears, and I understand it all. I know everything you know. You fabricate lies and argue for God without seeking facts. Do you want to interrogate him? I know I There is no hope of living anymore, but I still have to appeal for myself, this is the only way I can save myself, because unfaithful people dare not face God. Please listen to me carefully, I am innocent: "Man is born of a woman, his life is short, and he has to go through many sufferings. He is born like a blooming flower, and when it fades away like a fleeting shadow, such a person How can you pay attention to him? Man's life is fixed, and he is no exception, so please turn away from him and let him rest until he ends his days in labor like a hired laborer . "If a tree is cut down, it can still be expected to sprout again, but it is impossible for a person to regenerate after death, just like the sea is exhausted. The river is dry. Please hide me in the shadows, put me in a secret place, and wait After you calm down, set a day to remember me." But Eliphaz the Temanite heard it impatiently: "How can a wise man answer questions with vain knowledge, and use these useless words and useless verbal theories? From what you said, it can be seen that you no longer worship God. I don’t need to say anything, your own words have already proved you guilty. "Are you the first to be born? Are you created before the mountains? Have you heard the secret decree of God? Can you monopolize the wisdom of all? What do you know that we don't? You understand What, we don't understand? The gray-haired old man among us is older than your father. "I tell you, you must listen, these are also things handed down from our ancestors: whoever is unfaithful to God will not have children; whoever takes bribes from others, his tent will be burned. The wicked can only live in Unoccupied and cluttered houses, he will never be rich, and his possessions will not be preserved, "Job is so tired of their words," I have heard this much. You comfort people and ask people What's the use of all this nonsense? I can say the same thing as you. If you were in my situation, I would attack you too. "I speak, and sorrow does not dissolve; I do not speak, and sorrow does not leave me. God keeps my friends and relatives away from me, they attack me, and my enemies mock me.Ask God to give me a chance to argue, just like a person argues with a friend.My life is at an end, my grave is prepared.May God give me evidence to present my injustice. " Since Job insisted on his innocence, his three friends stopped arguing with him. No, Elihu, the son of Balachah, the tribe of the Buziite, overheard their conversation.On the one hand, Elihu was angry with Job for refusing to admit his guilt and instead complained to God, and on the other hand, he was angry with Job’s three friends for not being able to answer Job’s words.When they stopped arguing, Elihu chased after him, "I am young and you are old. Even so, I will give my opinion. I don't speak favorably, and I never flatter anyone. Job, I hear you say You are innocent and say you have not committed any sin, and God is waiting to attack you. I will answer you, you are not right. God is greater than all the people in the world, how can you accuse God? God often uses dreams and visions to remind people what to do and what to do when they are sleeping, but people can’t always understand. God rewards everyone according to their behavior, and He is never unfair. If God had taken back all the spirit and energy for His own sake, then people with blood and energy would die immediately, and people in the world would return to the vast dust. "God does not despise anyone, He does not protect the life of the wicked, nor avenge the poor. He exalts the righteous so that they may sit on the same throne as the king; if they behave arrogantly, they will suffer affliction and show them their faults; kill.Those who are ungodly in their hearts will surely die early.God inspires wisdom when people are suffering.God will surely save you from suffering, but how can you go unpunished with your evil words? "God draws water and turns it into rain, and pours rain from the clouds on the earth; God gives abundant food to the people; God strikes the enemy with lightning, and God's breath turns into ice... Do you know how all this is formed? How can you compare with God? God is extremely fair, God never treats people hard, but shows no mercy to those who are self-righteous.” At this time, Nawa said to Job in the whirlwind: “Who is using ignorance I ask you, when I laid the foundation of the earth, where were you? Do you know that the length and breadth of the earth were determined, where was the foundation laid, and who laid the foundation stone? On that day , the stars sing, the angels cry, the sea pours out like a womb, shall it be closed? It is I who clothe the sea with clouds and cloth with darkness, draw a boundary for the sea, put a bar on it, and say to it: "Your waves can only go so far, not beyond.It was I who set the position for the sun and let it shine on all sides of the earth. "Have you ever been to the source of the sea, walked through the bottom of the abyss, has the door of death ever opened to you? Can you understand its vastness? If you know, just tell me!" You have entered the snow bank, Have you seen the hail bin? This snow and hail are prepared by me for disasters and wars. "Do you know who channels the rain, who makes the way for the thunder and lightning, who sends rain on the wilderness and makes the grass grow in the barren land? Do you know where the dew comes from, and where the ice comes from?" Can you get rid of the stars, can you lead out the zodiac on time, guide the Big Dipper and its seven stars? "Can you bestow wisdom on all beings?" "Do you know when the wild sheep are born among the rocks? Can you determine the day when the doe calves? Whoever untie the wild ass and let it go free, whoever makes the wild bull serve you, is up to you Raking the ground to transport grain? "Is it you who gave the horse the strength?Did you wear the mane on its neck?Did you make it jump?It farms at home, goes out with the army, and can hear the voice of its master from a distance. "Job who argues. Job who argues with God. Can you answer?" Job replied, "I am so humble, what can I answer you? I will say nothing more." The LORD said to Job again from the whirlwind: "I ask you, how can you condemn God to show that you are righteous? Do you have an arm like God, and can you make thunder like him? Look at the giant hippopotamus It eats grass like a cow and is as strong as copper and iron. Among the creatures created by God, the hippopotamus is the first. Who can catch him? Who can put a cage through its nose? Can you catch a crocodile with a hook? Can you press down its tongue with a rope and pierce its gill bones with a hook? Will the crocodile beg you to speak good words, and make a covenant with you to be your slave forever? Can you put your hand on it and play with it? ?It is in vain for a man to hope to catch a crocodile." After hearing this, Job said to God: "I know that you are omnipotent, and no one can violate your will. What I said is beyond my understanding; I beg you to listen because I have something to say; I Asking you, I beg you to show me. I have only heard about you before, and today I saw you with my own eyes. I am ashamed of what I have said." The LORD then said to Eliphaz the Temanite: "I am very dissatisfied with you and your two friends, because your comments about me are far less right than what my servant Job said. Now go and get seven bulls , 7 rams come to my servant Job to offer burnt offerings for himself, and Job will pray for you. Because I am happy with what he has done, I will no longer punish you as you deserve." After Job prayed for his friends, God released him from his misery and gave him many times what he had before.Job's brothers, sisters, and friends all came to visit him, talked about the disasters that the Lord had brought to him, and comforted him. Each of them gave him a piece of silver and a gold ring. Job is bittersweet.Later, he had 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 2,000 cows, and 1,000 donkeys.His wife gave birth to seven children and three daughters for him.His daughters were the most beautiful women in the world, and they shared their father's inheritance with their brothers. Afterwards, Job lived for another 140 years and saw the happy days of four generations living under one roof. (Job 1-42)