Job 20:1–4

¹¹¶ Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.

¹THEN answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,

⁹So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went, and did according as the Lord commanded them: the Lord also accepted Job.

²⁹He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.

²²For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee.

⁹Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.

¹⁹Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

⁹Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.

¹⁹Who is he that will plead with me? for now, if I hold my tongue, I shall give up the ghost.

³I have heard the check of my reproach, and the spirit of my understanding causeth me to answer.

¹³Lest ye should say, We have found out wisdom: God thrusteth him down, not man.

¹⁴Now he hath not directed his words against me: neither will I answer him with your speeches.

¹⁵They were amazed, they answered no more: they left off speaking.

¹⁶When I had waited, (for they spake not, but stood still, and answered no more;)

¹⁷I said, I will answer also my part, I also will shew mine opinion.

¹⁸For I am full of matter, the spirit within me constraineth me.

¹⁹Behold, my belly is as wine which hath no vent; it is ready to burst like new bottles.

²⁰I will speak, that I may be refreshed: I will open my lips and answer.

²If we assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? but who can withhold himself from speaking?

²⁵And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist.

²⁰Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him.

¹¹I said in my haste, All men are liars.

²I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred.

³My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue,

²For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.

³My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart: and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly.

²⁹Be ye afraid of the sword: for wrath bringeth the punishments of the sword, that ye may know there is a judgment.

³These ten times have ye reproached me: ye are not ashamed that ye make yourselves strange to me.

²Therefore do my thoughts cause me to answer, and for this I make haste.

¹¹I will teach you by the hand of God: that which is with the Almighty will I not conceal.

³My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.

²I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:

³Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.

⁴We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.

⁵For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children:

²⁸And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

¹AND God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.

²And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered.

³Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.

¹⁰With us are both the grayheaded and very aged men, much elder than thy father.

⁷I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom.

⁸For inquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself to the search of their fathers:

⁹(For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow:)

¹⁶The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord’s: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.