Part III - Job and his "friends" speak (3rd time)
Chapters 23-24

I still have a complaint to register.
If only I could find God and go to His house.
Then I could state my case and finally have an answer.
He would be fair and listen to me.
He would deliver me and declare me not guilty.

But I can't find Him.
I look all around but catch no glimpse of Him.
Even so, He knows what I do.
He knows I have stayed true to Him.
He knows I have not turned away from Him.
I live by His commands.
What God says is even more importanat to me than food!

But He is above all!
He does as He pleases.
Who can stop Him?
He inflicts this suffering on me and there is nothing for me to look forward to but more of the same.
Just thinking of it fills me with terror.
God has weakened my heart.
Even so, I will not be silent. I will speak out.

Why doesn't God have a courtroom?
Why must the ones who respect Him wonder what He is doing?

Evil men cheat and steal.
They take advantage of the helpless and poor.
They leave the poor destitute.
They have no compassion on those in poverty.
They do nothing to stop the suffereing and death.
They dying people cry out but God doesn't charge anybody with wrongdoing!

Murderers and thieves and adulterers think they can hide in darkness.
In time, they will fade away. Like heat melts snow, the grave takes the wicked man down. He is not remembered after he dies.

They oppress the powerless but God drags away the powerful.
God may let them feel secure for a while but they are not really secure. They too are brought down like the others.
If I am wrong, prove me false!

Bildad - His reply is short and to the point.
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This document (modified Dec. 21, 1997)