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Job 5:1-17

Job 5:1-19 The Message (MSG)

“Call for help, Job, if you think anyone will answer! To which of the holy angels will you turn? The hot temper of a fool eventually kills him, the jealous anger of an idiot does her in. I’ve seen it myself—seen fools putting down roots, and then, suddenly, their houses are cursed. Their children out in the cold, abused and exploited, with no one to stick up for them. Hungry people off the street plunder their harvests, cleaning them out completely, taking thorns and all, insatiable for everything they have. Don’t blame fate when things go wrong— trouble doesn’t come from nowhere. It’s human! Mortals are born and bred for trouble, as certainly as sparks fly upward. “If I were in your shoes, I’d go straight to God, I’d throw myself on the mercy of God. After all, he’s famous for great and unexpected acts; there’s no end to his surprises. He gives rain, for instance, across the wide earth, sends water to irrigate the fields. He raises up the down-and-out, gives firm footing to those sinking in grief. He aborts the schemes of conniving crooks, so that none of their plots come to term. He catches the know-it-alls in their conspiracies— all that intricate intrigue swept out with the trash! Suddenly they’re disoriented, plunged into darkness; they can’t see to put one foot in front of the other. But the downtrodden are saved by God, saved from the murderous plots, saved from the iron fist. And so the poor continue to hope, while injustice is bound and gagged. “So, what a blessing when God steps in and corrects you! Mind you, don’t despise the discipline of Almighty God! True, he wounds, but he also dresses the wound; the same hand that hurts you, heals you. From one disaster after another he delivers you; no matter what the calamity, the evil can’t touch you

Job 5:1-17 American Standard Version (ASV)

Call now; is there any that will answer thee? And to which of the holy ones wilt thou turn? For vexation killeth the foolish man, And jealousy slayeth the silly one. I have seen the foolish taking root: But suddenly I cursed his habitation. His children are far from safety, And they are crushed in the gate, Neither is there any to deliver them: Whose harvest the hungry eateth up, And taketh it even out of the thorns; And the snare gapeth for their substance. For affliction cometh not forth from the dust, Neither doth trouble spring out of the ground; But man is born unto trouble, As the sparks fly upward. But as for me, I would seek unto God, And unto God would I commit my cause; Who doeth great things and unsearchable, Marvellous things without number: Who giveth rain upon the earth, And sendeth waters upon the fields; So that he setteth up on high those that are low, And those that mourn are exalted to safety. He frustrateth the devices of the crafty, So that their hands cannot perform their enterprise. He taketh the wise in their own craftiness; And the counsel of the cunning is carried headlong. They meet with darkness in the day-time, And grope at noonday as in the night. But he saveth from the sword of their mouth, Even the needy from the hand of the mighty. So the poor hath hope, And iniquity stoppeth her mouth. Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: Therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty.

Job 5:1-17 Amplified Bible (AMP)

“Call now—is there anyone who will answer you? And to which of the holy ones (angels) will you turn? “For anger slays the foolish man, And jealousy kills the simple (naive). “I have seen the foolish taking root [and outwardly prospering], But I cursed his dwelling immediately [for his destruction was certain]. “His children are far from safety [and included in their father’s ruin], They are oppressed and crushed in the [court of justice in the city’s] gate, And there is no one to rescue them. “The hungry devour his harvest And take it even [when it grows] among the thorns; The trap opens for [his] wealth. “For affliction does not come forth from the dust, Nor does trouble spring forth from the ground. “For man is born for trouble, [As naturally] as sparks fly upward. ¶“As for me, I would seek God and inquire of Him, And I would commit my cause to God; Who does great and unsearchable things, Marvelous things without number. “He gives rain upon the earth And sends waters upon the fields, So that He sets on high those who are lowly, And He lifts to safety those who mourn. “He frustrates the devices and schemes of the crafty, So that their hands cannot attain success or achieve anything of [lasting] worth. “He catches the [so-called] wise in their own shrewdness, And the advice of the devious is quickly thwarted. [1 Cor 3:19, 20] “In the daytime they meet in darkness, And at noon they grope as in the night. “But God saves [the innocent] from the sword of the mouth of the devious, And the poor from the hand of the mighty. “So the helpless have hope, And injustice shuts its mouth. ¶“Behold, how happy and fortunate is the man whom God reproves, So do not despise or reject the discipline of the Almighty [subjecting you to trial and suffering].