Job 5  Living Bible

5 “They cry for help but no one listens; they turn to their gods, but none gives them aid. ² They die in helpless frustration, overcome by their own anger. ³ Those who turn from God may be successful for the moment, but then comes sudden disaster. ⁴ Their children are cheated, with no one to defend them. ⁵ Their harvests are stolen, and their wealth slakes the thirst of many others, not themselves! ⁶ Misery comes upon them to punish them for sowing seeds of sin. ⁷ Mankind heads for sin and misery as predictably as flames shoot upwards from a fire.

⁸ “My advice to you is this: Go to God and confess your sins to him.^{[a] 9} For he does wonderful miracles, marvels without number. ¹⁰ He sends the rain upon the earth to water the fields, ¹¹ and gives prosperity to the poor and humble, and takes sufferers to safety.

¹² “He frustrates the plans of crafty men. ¹³ They are caught in their own traps; he thwarts their schemes. ¹⁴ They grope like blind men in the daylight; they see no better in the daytime than at night.

¹⁵ “God saves the fatherless and the poor from the grasp of these oppressors. ¹⁶ And so at last the poor have hope, and the fangs of the wicked are broken.

¹⁷ “How enviable the man whom God corrects! Oh, do not despise the chastening of the Lord when you sin. ¹⁸ For though he wounds, he binds and heals again. ¹⁹ He will deliver you again and again so that no evil can touch you.

²⁰ “He will keep you from death in famine and from the power of the sword in time of war.

²¹ “You will be safe from slander; no need to fear the future.

²² “You shall laugh at war and famine; wild animals will leave you alone. ²³ Dangerous animals will be at peace with you.

²⁴ “You need not worry about your home while you are gone; nothing shall be stolen from your barns.

²⁵ “Your sons shall become important men; your descendants shall be as numerous as grass! ²⁶ You shall live a long, good life; like standing grain, you’ll not be harvested until it’s time! ²⁷ I have found from experience that all of this is true. For your own good, listen to my counsel.”