4Q99 Job^a

Language: Hebrew

Date: 175 - 60 B.C.

Location: Qumran Cave 4

Contents: Job 31:14-19; 32:3-4; 33:10-11, 24-26, 28-30; 35:16; 36:7-27, 32-37:5, 14-15

 

Job 31

14 What then shall I do when God rises up?

When he visits, what shall I answer him?

15 Didn’t he who made me in the womb[1] make him?

Didn’t one fashion us in the womb?

16 “If I have withheld the poor from their desire,

or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail,

17 or have eaten my morsel alone,

and the fatherless has not eaten of it

18 (no, from my youth he grew up with me as with a father,

her I have guided from my mother’s womb);

19 if I have seen any perish for want of clothing,

or that the needy had no covering;

[..]

Job 32

3 Also his wrath was kindled against his three friends, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job. 4 Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job, because they were elder than he.

[..]

Job 33

10 Behold, he finds occasions against me.

He counts me for his enemy.

11 He puts my feet in the stocks.

He marks all my paths.’

[..]

24 then God is gracious to him, and says,

‘Deliver him from going down to the pit,

I have found a ransom.’

25 His flesh shall be fresher than a child’s.

He returns to the days of his youth.

26 He prays to God, and he is favorable to him,

so that he sees his face with joy.

He restores to man his righteousness.

[..]

28 He has redeemed my soul from going into the pit.

My life shall see the light.’

 

29 “Behold, God does all these things,

twice, yes three times, with a man,

30 to bring back his soul from the pit,

that he may be enlightened with the light of the living.

[..]

Job 35

16 Therefore Job opens his mouth with empty talk,

and he multiplies words without knowledge.”

 

Job 36

7 He doesn’t withdraw his eyes from the righteous,

but with kings on the throne,

he sets them forever, and they are exalted.

8 If they are bound in fetters,

and are taken in the cords of afflictions,

9 then he shows them their work,

and their transgressions, that they have behaved themselves proudly.

10 He also opens their ears to instruction,

and commands that they return from iniquity.

11 If they listen and serve him,

they shall spend their days in prosperity,

and their years in pleasures.

[..]

13 “But those who are godless in heart lay up anger.

They don’t cry for help when he binds them.

14 They die in youth.

Their life perishes among the unclean.

15 He delivers the afflicted by their affliction,

and opens their ear in oppression.

16 Yes, he would have allured you out of distress,

into a wide place, where there is no restriction.

That which is set on your table would be full of fatness.

 

17 “But you are full of the judgment of the wicked.

Judgment and justice take hold of you.

18 Don’t let riches entice you to wrath,

neither let the great size of a bribe turn you aside.

19 Would your wealth sustain you in distress,

or all the might of your strength?

20 Don’t desire the night,

when people are cut off in their place.

21 Take heed, don’t regard iniquity;

for you have chosen this rather than affliction.

22 Behold, God is exalted in his power.

Who is a teacher like him?

23 Who has prescribed his way for him?

Or who can say, ‘You have committed unrighteousness?’

 

24 “Remember that you magnify his work,

whereof men have sung.

25 All men have looked on it.

Man sees it afar off.

26 Behold, God is great, and we don’t know him.

The number of his years is unsearchable.

27 For he draws up the drops of water,

which distill in rain from his vapor,

[..]

32 He covers his hands with the lightning,

and commands it to strike the mark.

33 Its noise tells about him,

and the livestock also concerning the storm that comes up.

 

 

Job 37

1 “Yes, at this my heart does not tremble trembles,

and is moved out of its place.

2 Hear, oh, hear the noise of his voice,

the sound that goes out of his mouth.

3 He sends it out under the whole sky,

and his lightning to the ends of the earth.

4 After it a voice roars.

He thunders with the voice of his majesty.

He doesn’t hold back anything when his voice is heard.

5 God thunders marvelously with his voice.

He does great things, which we can’t comprehend.

[..]

14 “Listen to this, Job.

Stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.

15 Do you know how God controls them,

and causes the lightning of his cloud to shine?