Job Asks How He Has Sinned

[20] Only do not two things unto me: then will I not hide myself from thee. [21] Withdraw thine hand far from me: and let not thy dread make me afraid. [22] Then call thou, and I will answer: or let me speak, and answer thou me. [23] How many are mine iniquities and sins? make me to know my transgression and my sin. [24] Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and holdest me for thine enemy? [25] Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro? and wilt thou pursue the dry stubble? [26] For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth. [27] Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, and lookest narrowly unto all my paths; thou settest a print upon the heels of my feet. [28] And he, as a rotten thing, consumeth, as a garment that is moth eaten.

[1] Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. [2] He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not. [3] And dost thou open thine eyes upon such an one, and bringest me into judgment with thee? [4] Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one. [5] Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass; [6] Turn from him, that he may rest, till he shall accomplish, as an hireling, his day. [7] For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease. [8] Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground; [9] Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant. [10] But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he? [11] As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up: [12] So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep. [13] O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me! [14] If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come. [15] Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands. [16] For now thou numberest my steps: dost thou not watch over my sin? [17] My transgression is sealed up in a bag, and thou sewest up mine iniquity. [18] And surely the mountain falling cometh to nought, and the rock is removed out of his place. [19] The waters wear the stones: thou washest away the things which grow out of the dust of the earth; and thou destroyest the hope of man. [20] Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth: thou changest his countenance, and sendest him away. [21] His sons come to honour, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them. [22] But his flesh upon him shall have pain, and his soul within him shall mourn.

I have sinned; what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men? why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, so that I am a burden to myself?

In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away mine iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust; and thou shalt seek me in the morning, but I shall not be.

And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?

For thou saidst, What advantage will it be unto thee? and, What profit shall I have, if I be cleansed from my sin?

Why is light given to a man whose way is hid, and whom God hath hedged in?

• Job
• Family
• Parents

And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.

He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not;

Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more:

Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded.

• Blessing

And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.

If thy children have sinned against him, and he have cast them away for their transgression;

If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.