You must never forget the agreement I made with you, and you must not worship other gods.

The first time you did not carry it; that is why the Lord God attacked us, because we did not ask him about the proper way to carry it.”

However, the high places were not eliminated; the people were still not devoted to the God of their ancestors.

However, due to your abundant mercy you did not do away with them altogether; you did not abandon them. For you are a merciful and compassionate God.

“We will not give our daughters in marriage to the neighboring peoples, and we will not take their daughters in marriage for our sons.

In all this Job did not sin, nor did he charge God with moral impropriety.

Or why was I not buried like a stillborn infant, like infants who have never seen the light?

For evil does not come up from the dust, nor does trouble spring up from the ground,

Then I would yet have my comfort, then I would rejoice, in spite of pitiless pain, for I have not concealed the words of the Holy One.

Will you never look away from me, will you not let me alone long enough to swallow my spittle?

He leans against his house but it does not hold up, he takes hold of it but it does not stand.

“Surely, God does not reject a blameless man, nor does he grasp the hand of the evildoers.

If he passes by me, I cannot see him, if he goes by, I cannot perceive him.

If he tears down, it cannot be rebuilt; if he imprisons a person, there is no escape.

He has neither children nor descendants among his people, no survivor in those places he once stayed.

“Why are times not appointed by the Almighty? Why do those who know him not see his days?

There are those who rebel against the light; they do not know its ways and they do not stay on its paths.

If even the moon is not bright, and the stars are not pure as far as he is concerned,

if the members of my household have never said, ‘If only there were someone who has not been satisfied from Job’s meat!’ –

And I have waited. But because they do not speak, because they stand there and answer no more,