Job 42

Then Job replied to God. He said, 2 “Now I realize that you can do anything you want. No one can stop you from doing what you want to do. 3 You told me that I had been speaking ignorantly, and that as a result, I was making it harder for people to understand your actions. I will admit that I was speaking about things that I did not understand. Those things were very amazing, and I did not really know what I was talking about. \* 4 You told me that I should listen and let you talk because you were going to ask me some questions. You wanted me to try to answer them. {But I will admit that I am not able to answer the questions you asked.} 5 I had previously heard many things about you. But now I have actually seen you! 6 Therefore I am ashamed of myself for what I said. I am sitting in dust and ashes to show that I am sorry for what I said.” \*

When God had finished speaking with Job, he spoke to Eliphaz, Job’s friend from the town of Teman. He said, “I am very angry with you and your two friends. I am angry because you did not say true things about me the way Job did. He serves me faithfully.

So now you must bring seven young bulls and seven rams to Job, that man who serves me faithfully. While he is with you, kill these animals and burn them as a sacrifice for yourselves. Then Job will pray for you, and I will do what he asks me to do for you. I will not punish you for speaking foolishly about me. You deserve for me to punish you because you did not say the right things about me as Job did. He serves me faithfully.”

So Eliphaz, Job’s friend from the town of Teman; Bildad, Job’s friend from the Shuhite people group; and Zophar, Job’s friend from the town of Naamah, did what God had commanded them to do. Then Job prayed for his friends, and God forgave them as Job asked him to do. \*

After Job had prayed for his three friends, God healed him and made him wealthy again. God gave him twice as much wealth as he had before.

Then Job’s family and friends came to his house and had a feast with him. All of his brothers and sisters came, and all of his former acquaintances also came. They cheered him up now that all of the troubles were over that God had allowed to happen to him. Each of them gave Job a valuable piece of silver and a gold earring. \*

God blessed Job more in the second part of his life than he had blessed him in the first part of his life. Job acquired 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 pairs of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys.

Job also had seven more sons and three more daughters.

He named the first daughter Jemimah. He named the second daughter Keziah. And he named the third daughter Keren Happuch. \*

Job’s three daughters were the most beautiful women in the whole land of Uz. As their father, Job declared that his daughters would each receive an inheritance from him, just as their brothers would.

After God restored Job’s prosperity, he lived for 140 more years. His new children had children of their own. Then his grandchildren had children of their own, so Job was even able to get to know his great-grandchildren.

Job finally died after living a good long life.