Immerse: Poets Full Volume - Flipbook - Page 313
24:19–26:4
Job
The grave consumes sinners
just as drought and heat consume snow.
Their own mothers will forget them.
Maggots will find them sweet to eat.
No one will remember them.
Wicked people are broken like a tree in the storm.
They cheat the woman who has no son to help her.
They refuse to help the needy widow.
“God, in his power, drags away the rich.
They may rise high, but they have no assurance of life.
They may be allowed to live in security,
but God is always watching them.
And though they are great now,
in a moment they will be gone like all others,
cut off like heads of grain.
Can anyone claim otherwise?
Who can prove me wrong?”
Then Bildad the Shuhite replied:
“God is powerful and dreadful.
He enforces peace in the heavens.
Who is able to count his heavenly army?
Doesn’t his light shine on all the earth?
How can a mortal be innocent before God?
Can anyone born of a woman be pure?
God is more glorious than the moon;
he shines brighter than the stars.
In comparison, people are maggots;
we mortals are mere worms.”
Then Job spoke again:
“How you have helped the powerless!
How you have saved the weak!
How you have enlightened my stupidity!
What wise advice you have offered!
Where have you gotten all these wise sayings?
Whose spirit speaks through you?
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