Job 42

New International Reader’s Version

1 Job replied to the LORD,2 ‘I know that you can do anything. No one can keep you from doing what you plan to do.3 You asked me, “Who do you think you are to disagree with my plans? You do not know what you are talking about.” I spoke about things I didn’t completely understand. I talked about things that were too wonderful for me to know.4 ‘You said, “Listen now, and I will speak. I will ask you some questions. Then I want you to answer me.”5 My ears had heard about you. But now my own eyes have seen you.6 So I hate myself. I’m really sorry for what I said about you. That’s why I’m sitting in dust and ashes.’

The story ends

7 After the LORD finished speaking to Job, he spoke to Eliphaz the Temanite. He said, ‘I am angry with you and your two friends. You have not said what is true about me, as my servant Job has.8 So now get seven bulls and seven rams. Go to my servant Job. Then sacrifice a burnt offering for yourselves. My servant Job will pray for you. And I will accept his prayer. I will not punish you for saying the foolish things you said. You have not said what is true about me, as my servant Job has.’9 So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite did what the LORD told them to do. And the LORD accepted Job’s prayer.10 After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD made him successful again. He gave him twice as much as he had before.11 All his brothers and sisters and everyone who had known him before came to see him. They ate with him in his house. They showed their concern for him. They comforted him because of all the troubles the LORD had brought on him. Each one gave him a piece of silver and a gold ring.12 The LORD blessed the last part of Job’s life even more than the first part. He gave Job 14,000 sheep and 6,000 camels. He gave him 1,000 pairs of oxen and 1,000 donkeys.13 Job also had seven sons and three daughters.14 He named the first daughter Jemimah. He named the second Keziah. And he named the third Keren-Happuch.15 Job’s daughters were more beautiful than any other women in the whole land. Their father gave them a share of property along with their brothers.16 After all of that happened, Job lived for 140 years. He saw his children, his grandchildren and his great-grandchildren.17 And so Job died. He had lived for a very long time.

Job 42

English Standard Version

1 Then Job answered the Lord and said:2 “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. (Ge 18:14; Mt 19:26)3 ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. (Job 38:2; Ps 40:5; Ps 131:1; Ps 139:6)4 ‘Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you make it known to me.’ (Job 38:3; Job 40:7)5 I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you;6 therefore I despise myself, and repent[1] in dust and ashes.” (Ge 18:27; Job 2:8; Job 30:19)7 After the Lord had spoken these words to Job, the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite: “My anger burns against you and against your two friends, for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has. (1Ch 1:45; Job 2:11)8 Now therefore take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and offer up a burnt offering for yourselves. And my servant Job shall pray for you, for I will accept his prayer not to deal with you according to your folly. For you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.” (Ge 20:7; Nu 23:1; 1Sa 12:23; 1Ch 15:26; Job 1:5; Jas 5:16; 1Jo 5:16)9 So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did what the Lord had told them, and the Lord accepted Job’s prayer. (Job 2:11)10 And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends. And the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. (Ps 14:7; Isa 40:2; Isa 61:7)11 Then came to him all his brothers and sisters and all who had known him before, and ate bread with him in his house. And they showed him sympathy and comforted him for all the evil[2] that the Lord had brought upon him. And each of them gave him a piece of money[3] and a ring of gold. (Ge 24:22; Ge 33:19; Jos 24:32; Job 2:11; Job 19:13)12 And the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning. And he had 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 yoke of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys. (Job 1:3; Job 8:7; Job 42:10)13 He had also seven sons and three daughters. (Job 1:2)14 And he called the name of the first daughter Jemimah, and the name of the second Keziah, and the name of the third Keren-happuch.15 And in all the land there were no women so beautiful as Job’s daughters. And their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers. (Nu 27:1)16 And after this Job lived 140 years, and saw his sons, and his sons’ sons, four generations. (Ge 50:23; Ps 128:6; Isa 53:10)17 And Job died, an old man, and full of days. (Job 5:26)