Job 42

Job’s Reply to the Lord

No One Can Oppose You

1 Job said:

2 No one can oppose you,

because you have the power

to do what you want.

3 *Job 38.2. You asked why I talk so much

when I know so little.

I have talked about things

that are far beyond

my understanding.

4 *Job 38.3. You told me to listen

and answer your questions.*42.4 questions: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 4.

5 I heard about you from others;

now I have seen you

with my own eyes.

6 That’s why I hate myself

and sit here in dust and ashes

to show my sorrow.

The Lord Corrects Job’s Friends

7 The Lord said to Eliphaz:

What my servant Job has said about me is true, but I am angry with you and your two friends for not telling the truth. 8 So I want you to go over to Job and offer seven bulls and seven goats on an altar as a sacrifice to please me.*42.8 sacrifice to please me: These sacrifices have traditionally been called "whole burnt offerings" because the whole animal was burned on the altar. A main purpose of such sacrifices was to please the Lord with the smell of the sacrifice, and so in the CEV they are often called "sacrifices to please the Lord." After this, Job will pray, and I will agree not to punish you for your foolishness.

9 Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar obeyed the Lord, and he answered Job’s prayer.

A Happy Ending

10 *Job 1.1-3. After Job had prayed for his three friends, the Lord made Job twice as rich as he had been before. 11 Then Job gave a feast for his brothers and sisters and for his old friends. They expressed their sorrow for the suffering the Lord had brought on him, and they each gave Job some silver and a gold ring.

12 The Lord now blessed Job more than ever; he gave him 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 pair of oxen, and 1,000 donkeys.

13 In addition to seven sons, Job had three daughters, 14 whose names were Jemimah, Keziah, and Keren Happuch. 15 They were the most beautiful women in that part of the world, and Job gave them shares of his property, along with their brothers.

16 Job lived for another 140 years—long enough to see his great-grandchildren have children of their own— 17 and when he finally died, he was very old.