Eliphaz continues

Call out for help

1Job, call out for help

and see if an angel comes!

2Envy and jealousy

will kill a stupid fool.

3I have seen fools take root.

But God sends a curse,

suddenly uprooting them

4and leaving their children

helpless in court.

5Then hungry and greedy people

gobble up their crops

and grab their wealth.5.5 wealth: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 5.

6Our suffering isn't caused

by the failure of crops;

7it's all part of life,

like sparks shooting skyward.

8Job, if I were you,

I would ask God for help.

9His miracles are marvellous,

more than we can count.

10God sends showers on earth

and waters the fields.

11He protects the sorrowful

and lifts up those

who have been disgraced.

12-13God swiftly traps the wicked5.13: 1 Co 3.19.

in their own evil schemes,

and their wisdom fails.

14Darkness is their only companion,

hiding their path at midday.

15God rescues the needy

from the words of the wicked

and the fist of the mighty.

16The poor are filled with hope,

and injustice is silenced.

Consider yourself fortunate

17Consider yourself fortunate5.17: Pr 3.11,12; He 12.5,6.

if God All-Powerful

chooses to correct you.

18He may cause injury and pain,5.18: Ho 6.1.

but he will bandage and heal

your cuts and bruises.

19God will protect you from harm,

no matter how often

trouble may strike.

20In times of war and famine,

God will keep you safe.

21You will be sheltered,

without fear of hurtful words

or any other weapon.

22You will laugh at the threat

of destruction and famine.

And you won't be afraid

of wild animals—

23they will no longer be fierce,

and your rocky fields

will become friendly.

24Your home will be secure,

and your sheep will be safe.

25You will have more descendants

than there are blades of grass

on the face of the earth.

26You will live a long life,

and your body will be strong

until the day you die.

27Our experience has proved

these things to be true,

so listen and learn.