Job 5

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5 <1> "Job, call out if you want.

See if anyone answers you!

But to which of the angels will you turn?

<2> A fool's anger will kill him.

His strong emotions will kill him.

<3> I saw a fool who thought he was safe,

but suddenly he died.[16]

<4> There was no one to help his children.

No one defended them in court.

<5> Hungry people ate all his crops

They even took the grain growing among the thorns.

Greedy people took all they had.

<6> Bad times don't come up from the dirt.

Trouble does not grow from the ground.

<7> But people are born to have trouble,

as surely as sparks rise from a fire.

<8> If I were you, I would turn to God

and tell him about my problems.

<9> People cannot understand

the wonderful things God does.

His miracles are too many to count.

<10> He sends rain on the earth.

He sends water to the fields.

<11> He raises up the humble,

and makes sad people happy.

<12> He can spoil the plans

of even the smartest people so that they will not succeed.

<13> He catches even wise people in their own traps,

so their clever plans are not successful.

<14> Such people will not see it coming.

They will be like a blind man

stumbling around in broad daylight.

Even at noon they will be like someone

feeling their way in the dark.

<15> God saves the poor from the edge of the sword.

He saves them from powerful people.

<16> The poor have hope; God protects them

from those who would harm them.

<17> "You are fortunate when God corrects you.

So don't complain when God All-Powerful punishes you.

<18> God might injure you,

but he will bandage those wounds.

He might hurt you,

but his hands also heal.

<19> He will save you again and again.

No evil will harm you.[17]

<20> God will save you from death

when there is famine.[18]

He will protect you from the sword

when there is war.

<21> People might say bad things about you with their sharp tongues.

But God will protect you.

You will not be afraid

when bad things happen!

<22> You will laugh at destruction and famine.

You will not be afraid of wild animals!

<23> It is as if you have a peace treaty

with the wild animals and the rocks in the field.

<24> You will live in peace

because your tent is safe.

You will count your property

and find nothing missing.

<25> You will have many children.

They will be as many as the blades of grass on the earth.

<26> You will be like the wheat that grows

until harvest time.

Yes, you will live to a ripe old age.

<27> "We have studied this, and we know it is true.

So listen to us, and learn it yourself."