[1] “Job, call out if you want, but no one will answer you! You can’t turn to any of the angels!
[2] A foolish person’s anger will kill him. A fool’s strong emotions will kill him.
[3] I saw a foolish person who thought he was safe. But suddenly, he died.
[4] There was no one to help his children. No one defended them in court.
[5] Hungry people ate all his crops. Those hungry people took even the grain growing among the thorns. Greedy people took all they had.
[6] Bad times don’t come up from the dirt. Trouble does not grow from the ground.
[7] But man is born to have trouble, as sure as sparks fly up from a fire.
[8] “But Job, if I were you, I would turn to God and tell him about my problems.
[9] People can’t understand the wonderful things God does. There is no end to the miracles God does.
[10] God sends rain on the earth. He sends water to the fields.
[11] God raises up the humble person, and he makes a sad person very happy.
[12] God stops the plans of clever, evil people, so they have no success.
[13] God catches even wise people in their own traps. So those clever plans are not successful.
[14] Those smart people stumble around even in the daytime. Even at noon, they are like a person who feels his way in the dark.
[15] God saves poor people from death. He saves the poor people from the power of the clever people.
[16] So poor people have hope. God destroys bad people who are not fair.
[17] “A person is fortunate when God corrects him! So don’t complain when God All-Powerful punishes you.
[18] God puts bandages on the wounds he makes. He might injure someone, but his hands also heal.
[19] He will save you from six troubles. Yes, might endure seven disasters and not be hurt!
[20] God will save you from death when there is famine. And God will protect you from death when there is war.
[21] People might say bad things about you with their sharp tongues. But God will protect you. You won’t need to be afraid when bad things happen!
[22] You will laugh at destruction and famine. You won’t be afraid of wild animals!
[23] ˻Your agreement is with God,˼ so even the rocks in the field share in your agreement. Even the wild animals make peace with you.
[24] You will live in peace because your tent is safe. You will count your property and find nothing missing.
[25] You will have many children. They will be as many as the blades of grass on the earth.
[26] You will be like the wheat that grows until harvest time. Yes, you will live to a ripe old age.
[27] “Job, we have studied these things, and we know they are true. So Job, listen to us, and learn them for yourself.”