1 Sam. 25:24‑44• 24and fell at his feet, and said, Upon me, my lord, upon me let the iniquity be; but let thy handmaid, I pray thee, speak in thine ears, and hear the words of thy handmaid.
25Let not my lord, I pray thee, regard this man of Belial, Nabal; for as his name is, so is he: Nabal is his name, and folly is with him; and I thy handmaid did not see the young men of my lord, whom thou didst send.
26And now, my lord, as Jehovah liveth, and as thy soul liveth, seeing Jehovah has restrained thee from coming with bloodshed, and from avenging thyself with thine own hand, now let thine enemies, and they that seek evil to my lord, be as Nabal.
27And now this blessing which thy bondmaid has brought to my lord, let it be given to the young men that follow my lord.
28I pray thee, forgive the transgression of thy handmaid: for Jehovah will certainly make my lord a lasting house; because my lord fights the battles of Jehovah, and evil has not been found in thee all thy days.
29And if a man is risen up to pursue thee and to seek thy life, the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of the living with Jehovah thy God; and the souls of thine enemies, them shall he sling out from the hollow of the sling.
30And it shall come to pass, when Jehovah shall do to my lord according to all the good that he has spoken concerning thee, and shall appoint thee ruler over Israel,
31that this shall be no stumbling-block to thee, nor offence of heart for my lord, either that thou hast shed blood without cause, or that my lord has avenged himself. And when Jehovah shall deal well with my lord, then remember thy handmaid.
32And David said to Abigail, Blessed be Jehovah, the God of Israel, who sent thee this day to meet me.
33And blessed be thy discernment, and blessed be thou, who hast kept me this day from coming with bloodshed, and from avenging myself with mine own hand.
34But indeed, as Jehovah the God of Israel liveth, who has restrained me from hurting thee, except thou hadst hasted and come to meet me, there had not been left to Nabal by the morning light any male.
35So David received of her hand what she had brought him, and said to her, Go up in peace to thy house; see, I have hearkened to thy voice, and have accepted thy person.
36And Abigail came to Nabal; and behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king; and Nabal's heart was merry within him, for he was drunken to excess; so she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light.
37And it came to pass in the morning, when the wine was gone out of Nabal, that his wife told him these things; and his heart died within him, and he became as a stone.
38And it came to pass in about ten days that Jehovah smote Nabal, and he died.
39And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed be Jehovah, who has pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and has kept back his servant from evil; but Jehovah has returned Nabal's evil upon his own head. And David sent and communed with Abigail, to take her as his wife.
40And the servants of David came to Abigail to Carmel, and spoke to her, saying, David has sent us to thee, to take thee as his wife.
41And she arose and bowed herself on her face to the earth, and said, Behold, let thy handmaid be a bondwoman to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.
42And Abigail hasted, and arose, and rode upon an ass, with five damsels of hers that followed her; and she went after the messengers of David, and became his wife.
43David had also taken Ahinoam of Jizreel; and they became, even both of them, his wives.
44But Saul had given Michal his daughter, David's wife, to Phalti the son of Laish, who was of Gallim. (1 Sam. 25:24‑44)
Job 32:4‑37:24• 4But Elihu had waited till Job had finished speaking, because they were older than he.
5And Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of the three men, and his anger was kindled.
6And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said, I am young, and ye are aged; wherefore I was timid, and feared to shew you what I know.
7I said, Let days speak, and multitude of years teach wisdom.
8But there is a spirit which is in man; and the breath of the Almighty giveth them understanding.
9It is not the great that are wise; neither do the aged understand judgment.
10Therefore I say, Hearken to me; I also will shew what I know.
11Lo, I waited for your words; I gave ear to your reasonings, until ye searched out what to say.
12Yea, I gave you mine attention, and behold, there was none of you that confuted Job, that answered his words;
13That ye may not say, We have found out wisdom; *God will make him yield, not man.
14Now he hath not directed his words against me; and I will not answer him with your speeches. …
15They were amazed, they answered no more; words failed them.
16And I waited, for they spoke not, but stood still, and answered no more;--
17I will answer, I also in my turn, I also will shew what I know:
18For I am full of matter, the spirit within me constraineth me.
19Behold, my belly is as wine which hath no vent; like new flasks, it is ready to burst.
20I will speak, that I may find relief; I will open my lips and answer.
21Let me not, I pray you, accept any man's person; neither will I give flattery to man.
22For I know not how to flatter; my Maker would soon take me away.
1Howbeit, Job, I pray thee, hear mine utterances, and hearken to all my words.
2Behold now, I have opened my mouth, my tongue speaketh in my palate,
3My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart, and my lips shall utter knowledge purely.
4The Spirit of *God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.
5If thou canst, answer me; array thy words before me: take thy stand.
6Behold, before *God I am as thou; I also am formed out of the clay.
7Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, nor my burden be heavy upon thee.
8Surely thou hast spoken in my hearing, and I have heard the voice of thy words:--
9I am clean without transgression; I am pure, and there is no iniquity in me;
10Lo, he findeth occasions of hostility against me, he counteth me for his enemy;
11He putteth my feet in the stocks, he marketh all my paths.
12Behold, I will answer thee in this, thou art not right; for +God is greater than man.
13Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters.
14For *God speaketh once, and twice,-- and man perceiveth it not--
15In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed;
16Then he openeth men's ears, and sealeth their instruction,
17That he may withdraw man from his work, and hide pride from man.
18He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from passing away by the sword.
19He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and with constant strife in his bones;
20And his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty food;
21His flesh is consumed away from view, and his bones that were not seen stick out;
22And his soul draweth near to the pit, and his life to the destroyers.
23If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his duty;
24Then he will be gracious unto him, and say, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.
25His flesh shall be fresher than in childhood; he shall return to the days of his youth.
26He shall pray unto +God, and he will receive him with favour; and he shall see his face with shoutings, and he will render unto man his righteousness.
27He will sing before men, and say, I have sinned, and perverted what was right, and it hath not been requited to me;
28He hath delivered my soul from going into the pit, and my life shall see the light.
29Lo, all these things worketh *God twice, thrice, with man,
30To bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of the living.
31Mark well, Job, hearken unto me; be silent, and I will speak.
32If thou hast anything to say, answer me; speak, for I desire to justify thee.
33If not, hearken thou unto me; be silent, and I will teach thee wisdom.
1Moreover Elihu answered and said,
2Hear my words, ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.
3For the ear trieth words, as the palate tasteth food.
4Let us choose for ourselves what is right; let us know among ourselves what is good!
5For Job hath said, I am righteous, and *God hath taken away my judgment:
6Should I lie against my right? My wound is incurable without transgression.
7What man is like Job? he drinketh up scorning like water,
8And goeth in company with workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men.
9For he hath said, It profiteth not a man if he delight himself in God.
10Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: Far be wickedness from *God, and wrong from the Almighty!
11For a man's work will he render to him, and cause every one to find according to his way.
12Yea, surely, *God acteth not wickedly, and the Almighty perverteth not judgment.
13Who hath entrusted to him the earth? and who hath disposed the whole world?
14If he only thought of himself, and gathered unto him his spirit and his breath,
15All flesh would expire together, and man would return to the dust.
16If now thou hast understanding, hear this: give ear to the voice of my words!
17Should he that hateth right indeed govern? and wilt thou condemn the All-just?
18Shall one say to a king, Belial? to nobles, Wicked?
19How then to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich man more than the poor? for they are all the work of his hands.
20In a moment they die, even at midnight the people are convulsed and pass away; and the strong are taken away without hand.
21For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his steps.
22There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
23For he doth not long consider a man, to bring him before *God in judgment.
24He breaketh in pieces mighty men without inquiry, and setteth others in their stead;
25Since he knoweth their actions; and he overthroweth them in the night, and they are crushed.
26He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others,
27Because they have turned back from him, and would consider none of his ways;
28So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted.
29When he giveth quietness, who then will disturb? and when he hideth his face, who shall behold him? and this towards a nation, or towards a man alike;
30That the ungodly man reign not, that the people be not ensnared.
31For hath he said unto *God, I bear chastisement, I will not offend;
32What I see not, teach thou me; if I have done wrong, I will do so no more?
33Shall he recompense according to thy mind? for thou hast refused his judgment; for thou so choosest, and not I; speak then what thou knowest.
34Men of understanding will say to me, and a wise man who heareth me:
35Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were not with intelligence.
36Would that Job may be tried unto the end, because of his answers after the manner of evil men!
37For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against *God.
1Moreover Elihu answered and said,
2Thinkest thou this to be right, that thou saidst, My righteousness is more than *God's?
3For thou hast asked of what profit it is unto thee: what do I gain more than if I had sinned?
4I will reply to thee in words, and to thy companions with thee.
5Look unto the heavens and see; and survey the skies: they are higher than thou.
6If thou sinnest, what doest thou against him? If thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto him?
7If thou be righteous, what givest thou to him? or what doth he receive of thy hand?
8Thy wickedness may affect a man as thou art, and thy righteousness a son of man.
9By reason of the multitude of oppressions they cry; they cry out by reason of the arm of the mighty:
10But none saith, Where is +God my Maker, who giveth songs in the night,
11Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and maketh us wiser than the fowl of the heavens?
12There they cry, and he answereth not, because of the pride of evil men.
13Surely *God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it.
14Although thou sayest thou dost not see him, judgment is before him, therefore wait for him.
15But now, because he hath not visited in his anger, doth not Job know his great arrogancy?
16For Job hath opened his mouth in vanity, and made words abundant without knowledge.
1And Elihu proceeded and said,
2Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee that I have yet words for +God.
3I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Creator.
4For truly my words shall be no falsehood: one perfect in knowledge is with thee.
5Lo, *God is mighty, but despiseth not any; mighty in strength of understanding:
6He saveth not the wicked alive; but he doeth justice to the afflicted.
7He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous, but with kings on the throne doth he even set them for ever; and they are exalted.
8And if, bound in fetters, they be held in cords of affliction,
9Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions, because they have increased.
10And he openeth their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity.
11If they hearken and serve him, they shall accomplish their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.
12But if they hearken not, they shall pass away by the sword, and expire without knowledge.
13But the godless in heart heap up anger; they cry not when he bindeth them:
14Their soul dieth in youth, and their life is among the unclean.
15But he delivereth the afflicted in his affliction, and openeth their ear in their oppression.
16Even so would he have allured thee out of the jaws of distress into a broad place, where there is no straitness; and the supply of thy table would be full of fatness.
17But thou art full of the judgments of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold on thee.
18Because there is wrath, beware lest it take thee away through chastisement: then a great ransom could not avail thee.
19Will he esteem thy riches? Not gold, nor all the resources of strength!
20Desire not the night, when peoples are cut off from their place.
21Take heed, turn not to iniquity; for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.
22Lo, *God is exalted in his power: who teacheth as he?
23Who hath appointed him his way? or who hath said, Thou hast wrought unrighteousness?
24Remember that thou magnify his work, which men celebrate.
25All men look at it; man beholdeth it afar off.
26Lo, *God is great, and we comprehend him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out.
27For he draweth up the drops of water: they distil in rain from the vapour which he formeth,
28Which the skies pour down and drop upon man abundantly.
29But can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the crashing of his pavilion?
30Lo, he spreadeth his light around him, and covereth the bottom of the sea.
31For with them he judgeth the peoples; he giveth food in abundance.
32His hands he covereth with lightning, and commandeth it where it is to strike.
33His thundering declareth concerning him; the cattle even, concerning its coming.
1Aye, my heart trembleth at this also, and leapeth up out of its place:
2Hear attentively the roar of his voice, and the murmur going forth from his mouth.
3He sendeth it forth under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto the ends of the earth.
4After it a voice roareth: he thundereth with the voice of his excellency, and holdeth not back the flashes when his voice is heard.
5*God thundereth marvellously with his voice, doing great things which we do not comprehend.
6For he saith to the snow, Fall on the earth! and to the pouring rain, even the pouring rains of his might.
7He sealeth up the hand of every man; that all men may know his work.
8And the wild beast goeth into its lair, and they remain in their dens.
9From the chamber of the south cometh the whirlwind; and cold from the winds of the north.
10By the breath of *God ice is given; and the breadth of the waters is straitened.
11Also with plentiful moisture he loadeth the thick clouds, his light dispels the cloud;
12And they are turned every way by his guidance, that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the circuit of the earth,
13Whether he cause it to come as a rod, or for his land, or in mercy.
14Hearken unto this, Job; stand still and discern the wondrous works of *God.
15Dost thou know how +God hath disposed them, and how he causeth the lightning of his cloud to flash?
16Dost thou know about the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him that is perfect in knowledge?
17How thy garments become warm when he quieteth the earth by the south wind?
18Hast thou with him spread out the sky, firm, like a molten mirror?
19Teach us what we shall say unto him! We cannot order our words by reason of darkness.
20Shall it be told him if I would speak? if a man so say, surely he shall be swallowed up.
21And now men see not the light as it gleameth, it is hidden in the skies. But the wind passeth by and cleareth them.
22From the north cometh gold; with +God is terrible majesty.
23The Almighty, we cannot find him out: excellent in power, and in judgment, and in abundance of justice, he doth not afflict.
24Men do therefore fear him: he respecteth not any that are wise of heart. (Job 32:4‑37:24)