Book of Job Loyalty to God Quotes Page 2

Page (2 of 3) Quotes: 1 2 3

How we cite the quotes:
(Chapter:Verse)

Quote #4

'For you shall be in league with the stones of the field,
and the wild animals shall be at peace with you.' (NRSV 5:23)

For thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field: and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee. (KJV 5:23)

This verse forms part of a long list of why we should be thankful for God. Bottom line: he'll protect us when things get messy. In this case, divine loyalty is linked with safety in the natural world. It makes sense, too. If you were a shepherd—which was likely back then—safety from wild animals would huge.

Quote #5

'See, God will not reject a blameless person,
nor take the hand of evildoers.
He will yet fill your mouth with laughter,
and your lips with shouts of joy.
Those who hate you will be clothed with shame,
and the tent of the wicked will be no more.' (NRSV 8:20-23)

Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he help the evil doers:
Till he fill thy mouth with laughing, and thy lips with rejoicing.
They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame; and the dwelling place of the wicked shall come to nought. (KJV 8:20-23)

Seems like the whole stinkin' world is divided into Lakers fans and Celtics fan—and you know whose side God is on, right? But seriously, the text is promising a lot here. Seems like if you're on the right team, you get free stuff. We're talking SWAG galore. Sounds great, but what effect would this have had on Job? He had probably heard this speech at some point in his life before he lost everything….

Quote #6

'If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away,
and do not let wickedness reside in your tents.
Surely then you will lift up your face without blemish;
you will be secure, and will not fear.
You will forget your misery;
you will remember it as waters that have passed away.' (NRSV 11:14-16)

If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles.
For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear:
Because thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters that pass away. (KJV 11:14-16)

Zophar is giving Job a major dose of "this too shall pass." It's a little less gentle, though. More like this: "Dude, you must have messed up. People who renounce their sins do fine, so why don't you just say you sinned? You must have. Just do it."

Here's the best part: when you renounce your evil ways, you get to live in peace with nature—and its metaphors.

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