Book of Job
Chapter
15
1. Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered: 2. "Should the wise answer with windy knowledge, and fill themselves with the east wind? 3. Should they argue in unprofitable talk, or in words with which they can do no good?
(Book of Wisdom Job Chapter 15 verses 1 to 3)
Oh God, my Father it seems that the more we grow in wisdom the more our belief decreases, because the temptation is that of reasoning and basing all on theoretical proof instead of on faith, which is a big mistake, because all knowledge has its root in You and not in the findings of the world. Even before the great philosophers reached their conclusions, You already knew the answers to their arguments. Oh God may we argue if necessary out of faith that is if necessary backed up by scientific and philosophical arguments and use sciences such as archaeology to back up the faith instead of refuting it Amen.
4. But you are doing away with the fear of God, and hindering meditation before God. 5. For your iniquity teaches your mouth, and you choose the tongue of the crafty. 6. Your own mouth condemns you, and not I; your own lips testify against you.
(Book of Wisdom Job Chapter 15 verses 4 to 6)
Oh God even though we try to disclose the truth by saying lies, Your truth will always surface, and even stands against us when we are doing negative actions that we consider as being wrong. I pray that before we decide on a decision we stop and consider the consequences of our actions and discern if the action is in favour or against Your will Amen.
7. "Are you the firstborn of the human race? Were you brought forth before the hills? 8. Have you listened in the council of God? And do you limit wisdom to yourself?
(Book of Wisdom Job Chapter 15 verses 7 to 8)
Oh God my Father Your servant Job is being put to the test. In other words, Eliphaz is telling Job, "Who do you think you are, do you think all knowledge is embedded in You, or do you consider yourself as being with God when he created the world?"
At times oh God my Father, we may consider ourselves as being an authority in our own sector of life. Even though I have been meditating and praying on Your Word for the last 14 years I do not claim to be an authority, or even equal to those who were inspired to write the doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church. In all our wisdom oh God my Father we are to retain our humility Amen.
9. What do you know that we do not know? What do you understand that is not clear to us? 10. The gray-haired and the aged are on our side, those older than your father.
(Book of Wisdom Job Chapter 15 verses 9 to 10)
Oh God my Father You give worldly wisdom to those who are of the world, but spiritual wisdom to those who are of the spirit. At times, those of the world do not understand this form of wisdom and do their utmost to contradict it.
11. Are the consolations of God too small for you, or the word that deals gently with you?
(Book of Wisdom Job Chapter 15 verse 11)
Oh God at times I also ask the same question to myself. Are not Your consolations enough for me and is not Your love not enough for me, then why do I expect the approval and gratitude and even the love of others, Oh God my Father I have learnt it the hard way that there is no greater love for me than Your love and there is also no consolation greater than Yours. Amen.
12. Why does your heart carry you away, and why do your eyes flash, 13. so that you turn your spirit against God, and let such words go out of your mouth?
Book of Wisdom Job Chapter 15 verses 12 to 13)
Oh God my Father our spirit wishes to follow You, we love and thirst for You but our body is in constant, struggle with our souls and makes it hard for us to be one with You. At times, we say words that we do not mean which reflect our brokenness, however in truth, our souls yearn to be with You Amen.
14. What are mortals, that they can be clean? Or those born of woman, that they can be righteous?
(Book of Wisdom Job Chapter 15 verse 14)
Oh God my Father and my good friend Job, whoever said that humans are clean, from the moment of our conception we are tainted by sin, up to the end of our lives we are constantly harrassed, by the forces of evil Amen.
15. God puts no trust even in his holy ones, and the heavens are not clean in his sight; 16. how much less one who is abominable and corrupt, one who drinks iniquity like water!
(Book of Wisdom Job Chapter 15 verse 15)
Oh God my Father You are the boss or greatest manager of the world. You wish that we place our trust in You and You also place Your trust in us. However there would be issues that are known only to You and Your Father such as that of the end of times, which have been not been yet revealed in concrete details in the sense of dates and times, for this is not our business to know it as You once had said to the apostles. Amen.
16. how much less one who is abominable and corrupt, one who drinks iniquity like water! 17. "I will show you; listen to me; what I have seen I will declare- 18. what sages have told, and their ancestors have not hidden, 19. to whom alone the land was given, and no stranger passed among them.
(Book of Wisdom Job Chapter 15 verses 16 to 19)
Oh God that we listen to You and Your 'Good News' as much as we listen to the world. May we choose to drink from the pure waters flowing from You instead of that foul water contaminated with impurities such as sin that flows from the world Amen.
20. The wicked writhe in pain all their days, through all the years that are laid up for the ruthless. 21. Terrifying sounds are in their ears; in prosperity the destroyer will come upon them. 22. They despair of returning from darkness and they are destined for the sword.
(Book of Wisdom Job Chapter 15 verses 20 to 22)
Oh God my Father although wicked people seem to have the upper hand they are the ones who are in pain for by means of their negative acts they are transferring their hurt on others. They might even consider as pleasure the fact that the more they make others suffer, this will compensate for their own pain. I pray oh God my Father that we seek healing, instead of revenge or forms of negative compensation such as inflicting pain on others. Amen
23. They wander abroad for bread, saying, 'Where is it? They know that a day of darkness is ready at hand; 24. distress and anguish terrify them; they prevail against them, like a king prepared for battle. 25. Because they stretched out their hands against God, and bid defiance to the Almighty, 26. running stubbornly against him with a thick-bossed shield; 27. because they have covered their faces with their fat, and gathered fat upon their loins, 28. they will live in desolate cities, in houses that no one should inhabit, houses destined to become heaps of ruins; 29. they will not be rich, and their wealth will not endure, nor will they strike root in the earth; 30. they will not escape from darkness; the flame will dry up their shoots, and their blossom will be swept away by the wind.
(Book of Wisdom Job Chapter 15 verses 23 to 30)
When we decide to wander on our own without Your help we are on a collision course with our destruction for we are walking in a blind alley. Even though our objective may be under our very noses we may not see it, for our sinful situation or state of being, hinders us from seeing or experiencing the real reality based according to Your will. When we are in such a state, we wonder here and there go to seek the help of that professional or another, but still we remain in darkness until we decide to turn back to You my God and Father.
31. Let them not trust in emptiness, deceiving themselves; for emptiness will be their recompense.
(Book of Wisdom Job Chapter 15 verse 31)
Oh God my Father as spoken by my friend Job how right You both are. When we invest in that is of the world it is as though we are investing in smoke or darkness, for all that is worldly is subject to decay and corruption and is limited by time and space, but all our investments in You will last forever Amen.
32. It will be paid in full before their time, and their branch will not be green. 33. They will shake off their unripe grape, like the vine, and cast off their blossoms, like the olive tree. 34. For the company of the godless is barren, and fire consumes the tents of bribery, 35. They conceive mischief and bring forth evil and their heart prepares deceit."
(Book of Wisdom Job Chapter 15 verses 32 to 35)
Oh God my Father the victory is always yours, it is no use for us to seek revenge, for You are my avenger. I pray that You assist me in my situation because I greatly need Your help Amen.
Oh God, my Father I would like to end this chapter with the following prayer.
Oh God, my Father I pray that You awaken us out of our alienation. May our focus be totally on You and not on ourselves. I also pray that you free us from our selfish self that we may be considerate of others and their own needs. Thank You, God my Father.
Amen
Oh God, my Father it seems that the more we grow in wisdom the more our belief decreases, because the temptation is that of reasoning and basing all on theoretical proof instead of on faith, which is a big mistake, because all knowledge has its root in You and not in the findings of the world. Even before the great philosophers reached their conclusions, You already knew the answers to their arguments. Oh God may we argue if necessary out of faith that is if necessary backed up by scientific and philosophical arguments and use sciences such as archaeology to back up the faith instead of refuting it Amen.
4. But you are doing away with the fear of God, and hindering meditation before God. 5. For your iniquity teaches your mouth, and you choose the tongue of the crafty. 6. Your own mouth condemns you, and not I; your own lips testify against you.
(Book of Wisdom Job Chapter 15 verses 4 to 6)
Oh God even though we try to disclose the truth by saying lies, Your truth will always surface, and even stands against us when we are doing negative actions that we consider as being wrong. I pray that before we decide on a decision we stop and consider the consequences of our actions and discern if the action is in favour or against Your will Amen.
7. "Are you the firstborn of the human race? Were you brought forth before the hills? 8. Have you listened in the council of God? And do you limit wisdom to yourself?
(Book of Wisdom Job Chapter 15 verses 7 to 8)
Oh God my Father Your servant Job is being put to the test. In other words, Eliphaz is telling Job, "Who do you think you are, do you think all knowledge is embedded in You, or do you consider yourself as being with God when he created the world?"
At times oh God my Father, we may consider ourselves as being an authority in our own sector of life. Even though I have been meditating and praying on Your Word for the last 14 years I do not claim to be an authority, or even equal to those who were inspired to write the doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church. In all our wisdom oh God my Father we are to retain our humility Amen.
9. What do you know that we do not know? What do you understand that is not clear to us? 10. The gray-haired and the aged are on our side, those older than your father.
(Book of Wisdom Job Chapter 15 verses 9 to 10)
Oh God my Father You give worldly wisdom to those who are of the world, but spiritual wisdom to those who are of the spirit. At times, those of the world do not understand this form of wisdom and do their utmost to contradict it.
11. Are the consolations of God too small for you, or the word that deals gently with you?
(Book of Wisdom Job Chapter 15 verse 11)
Oh God at times I also ask the same question to myself. Are not Your consolations enough for me and is not Your love not enough for me, then why do I expect the approval and gratitude and even the love of others, Oh God my Father I have learnt it the hard way that there is no greater love for me than Your love and there is also no consolation greater than Yours. Amen.
12. Why does your heart carry you away, and why do your eyes flash, 13. so that you turn your spirit against God, and let such words go out of your mouth?
Book of Wisdom Job Chapter 15 verses 12 to 13)
Oh God my Father our spirit wishes to follow You, we love and thirst for You but our body is in constant, struggle with our souls and makes it hard for us to be one with You. At times, we say words that we do not mean which reflect our brokenness, however in truth, our souls yearn to be with You Amen.
14. What are mortals, that they can be clean? Or those born of woman, that they can be righteous?
(Book of Wisdom Job Chapter 15 verse 14)
Oh God my Father and my good friend Job, whoever said that humans are clean, from the moment of our conception we are tainted by sin, up to the end of our lives we are constantly harrassed, by the forces of evil Amen.
15. God puts no trust even in his holy ones, and the heavens are not clean in his sight; 16. how much less one who is abominable and corrupt, one who drinks iniquity like water!
(Book of Wisdom Job Chapter 15 verse 15)
Oh God my Father You are the boss or greatest manager of the world. You wish that we place our trust in You and You also place Your trust in us. However there would be issues that are known only to You and Your Father such as that of the end of times, which have been not been yet revealed in concrete details in the sense of dates and times, for this is not our business to know it as You once had said to the apostles. Amen.
16. how much less one who is abominable and corrupt, one who drinks iniquity like water! 17. "I will show you; listen to me; what I have seen I will declare- 18. what sages have told, and their ancestors have not hidden, 19. to whom alone the land was given, and no stranger passed among them.
(Book of Wisdom Job Chapter 15 verses 16 to 19)
Oh God that we listen to You and Your 'Good News' as much as we listen to the world. May we choose to drink from the pure waters flowing from You instead of that foul water contaminated with impurities such as sin that flows from the world Amen.
20. The wicked writhe in pain all their days, through all the years that are laid up for the ruthless. 21. Terrifying sounds are in their ears; in prosperity the destroyer will come upon them. 22. They despair of returning from darkness and they are destined for the sword.
(Book of Wisdom Job Chapter 15 verses 20 to 22)
Oh God my Father although wicked people seem to have the upper hand they are the ones who are in pain for by means of their negative acts they are transferring their hurt on others. They might even consider as pleasure the fact that the more they make others suffer, this will compensate for their own pain. I pray oh God my Father that we seek healing, instead of revenge or forms of negative compensation such as inflicting pain on others. Amen
23. They wander abroad for bread, saying, 'Where is it? They know that a day of darkness is ready at hand; 24. distress and anguish terrify them; they prevail against them, like a king prepared for battle. 25. Because they stretched out their hands against God, and bid defiance to the Almighty, 26. running stubbornly against him with a thick-bossed shield; 27. because they have covered their faces with their fat, and gathered fat upon their loins, 28. they will live in desolate cities, in houses that no one should inhabit, houses destined to become heaps of ruins; 29. they will not be rich, and their wealth will not endure, nor will they strike root in the earth; 30. they will not escape from darkness; the flame will dry up their shoots, and their blossom will be swept away by the wind.
(Book of Wisdom Job Chapter 15 verses 23 to 30)
When we decide to wander on our own without Your help we are on a collision course with our destruction for we are walking in a blind alley. Even though our objective may be under our very noses we may not see it, for our sinful situation or state of being, hinders us from seeing or experiencing the real reality based according to Your will. When we are in such a state, we wonder here and there go to seek the help of that professional or another, but still we remain in darkness until we decide to turn back to You my God and Father.
31. Let them not trust in emptiness, deceiving themselves; for emptiness will be their recompense.
(Book of Wisdom Job Chapter 15 verse 31)
Oh God my Father as spoken by my friend Job how right You both are. When we invest in that is of the world it is as though we are investing in smoke or darkness, for all that is worldly is subject to decay and corruption and is limited by time and space, but all our investments in You will last forever Amen.
32. It will be paid in full before their time, and their branch will not be green. 33. They will shake off their unripe grape, like the vine, and cast off their blossoms, like the olive tree. 34. For the company of the godless is barren, and fire consumes the tents of bribery, 35. They conceive mischief and bring forth evil and their heart prepares deceit."
(Book of Wisdom Job Chapter 15 verses 32 to 35)
Oh God my Father the victory is always yours, it is no use for us to seek revenge, for You are my avenger. I pray that You assist me in my situation because I greatly need Your help Amen.
Oh God, my Father I would like to end this chapter with the following prayer.
Oh God, my Father I pray that You awaken us out of our alienation. May our focus be totally on You and not on ourselves. I also pray that you free us from our selfish self that we may be considerate of others and their own needs. Thank You, God my Father.
Amen
