1Call out, Job. See if anyone answers.

Is there any angel to whom you can turn?

2To worry yourself to death with resentment

would be a foolish, senseless thing to do.

3I have seen fools who looked secure,

but I called down a sudden curse on their homes.

4Their children can never find safety;

no one stands up to defend them in court.

5Hungry people will eat the fool's crops —

even the grain growing among thorns5.5 Probable text even… thorns; Hebrew unclear. —

and thirsty people will envy his wealth.

6Evil does not grow in the soil,

nor does trouble grow out of the ground.

7No indeed! People bring trouble on themselves,

as surely as sparks fly up from a fire.5.7 sparks fly up from a fire; or birds fly up to the sky.

8If I were you, I would turn to God

and present my case to him.

9We cannot understand the great things he does,

and to his miracles there is no end.

10He sends rain on the land

and he waters the fields.

11Yes, it is God who raises the humble

and gives joy to all who mourn.

12-135.13: 1 Cor 3.19He upsets the plans of cunning people,

and traps the wise in their own schemes,

so that nothing they do succeeds;

14even at noon they grope in darkness.

15But God saves the poor5.15 Probable text poor; Hebrew unclear. from death;

he saves the needy from oppression.

16He gives hope to the poor and silences the wicked.

175.17: Prov 3.11; Heb 12.5–6Happy is the person whom God corrects!

Do not resent it when he rebukes you.

185.18: Hos 6.1God bandages the wounds he makes;

his hand hurts you, and his hand heals.

19Time after time he will save you from harm;

20when famine comes, he will keep you alive,

and in war protect you from death.

21God will rescue you from slander;

he will save you when destruction comes.

22You will laugh at violence and hunger

and not be afraid of wild animals.

23The fields you plough will be free of rocks;

wild animals will never attack you.

24Then you will live at peace in your tent;

when you look at your sheep, you will find them safe.

25You will have as many children

as there are blades of grass in a pasture.

26Like wheat that ripens till harvest time,

you will live to a ripe old age.

27Job, we have learnt this by long study.

It is true, so now accept it.