Old Testament

He shall shake off his unripe grape as the vine, and shall cast off his flower as the olive.

For the congregation of hypocrites shall be desolate, and fire shall consume the tabernacles of bribery. Reflection Job 15:34 warns against the consequences of hypocrisy and corruption: “For the congregation of hypocrites shall be desolate, and fire shall consume the tabernacles of bribery.” Eliphaz, speaking to Job, highlights that deceit, greed, and unjust gain are […]

They conceive mischief, and bring forth vanity, and their belly prepareth deceit.

Yea, thou castest off fear, and restrainest prayer before God.

For thy mouth uttereth thine iniquity, and thou choosest the tongue of the crafty.

Thine own mouth condemneth thee, and not I: yea, thine own lips testify against thee. Reflection In this verse, Eliphaz confronts Job during their dialogue about suffering and righteousness. He points out that Job’s own words reveal his struggles with doubt or misjudgment, highlighting how speech can betray inner thoughts or attitudes. This reminds us […]

Art thou the first man that was born? or wast thou made before the hills?

Hast thou heard the secret of God? and dost thou restrain wisdom to thyself?

What knowest thou, that we know not? what understandest thou, which is not in us?

Then Job answered and said,

They have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me.

God hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked.

I was at ease, but he hath broken me asunder: he hath also taken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces, and set me up for his mark.

His archers compass me round about, he cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground.

He breaketh me with breach upon breach, he runneth upon me like a giant.

I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and defiled my horn in the dust. Reflection In this verse, Job expresses profound grief and mourning over his suffering. The imagery of wearing sackcloth—a traditional sign of penitence, mourning, or distress—and “defiling his horn in the dust” conveys deep humiliation and personal anguish. The “horn” symbolizes strength […]

My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death;

Not for any injustice in mine hands: also my prayer is pure.

O earth, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry have no place.

Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high.

I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all.

My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God.

O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour!

When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return.

Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest?

I also could speak as ye do: if your soul were in my soul’s stead, I could heap up words against you, and shake mine head at you.

But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage your grief.

Though I speak, my grief is not asswaged: and though I forbear, what am I eased?

But now he hath made me weary: thou hast made desolate all my company.

And thou hast filled me with wrinkles, which is a witness against me: and my leanness rising up in me beareth witness to my face.