Bible translations to polish language by Czesław Miłosz. On the left Five Megillot, in center Book of Job, on right Psalms (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Sometimes when I read my bible, I am not sure what it is that I am to be reading, so I pray and ask God to lead me to something I can learn from. This was the case last evening for me, and I ended up in the book of Job, from the bible called The Message. I love this version of the bible. It is very similar to the Living bible, but it is so much easier for me to understand. Here is what I read.
Job Answers Bildad
I Call for Help and No One Bothers
Job 19
1-6
How long are you going to keep battering away at me, pounding me with these harangues? Time after time after time you jump all over me. Do you have no conscience, abusing me like this? Even if I have, somehow or other, gotten off the track, what business is that of yours? Why do you insist on putting me down, using my troubles as a stick to beat me? Tell it to God- he’s the one behind all this, he’s the one who dragged me into this mess.
7-12
Look at me- I shout ‘Murder’ and I’m ignored; I call for help and no one bothers to stop. God threw a barricade across my path- I’m stymied; he turned out all the lights- I’m stuck in the dark. He destroyed my reputation, robbed me of all self-respect. He tore me apart piece by piece – I’m ruined! Then he yanked out hope by the roots. He’s angry with me- oh, how he’s angry! He treats me like his worst enemy. He has launched a major campaign against me, using every weapon he can think of, coming at me from all sides at once.
I Know That God Lives
13-20
God alienated my family from me; everyone who knows me avoids me. My relatives and friends have all left; house guests forget I ever existed. The servant girls treat me like a bum off the street, look at me like they’ve never seen me before. I call my attendant and he ignores me, ignores me even though I plead with him. My wife can’t stand to be around me anymore. I’m repulsive to my family. Even street urchins despise me; when I come out, they taunt and jeer. Everyone I’ve ever been close to abhors me; my dearest loved ones rejects me. I’m nothing but a bag of bones; my life hangs by a thread.
21-22
Oh, friends, dear friends, take pity on me. God has come down hard on me! Do you have to be hard on me, too? Don’t you ever tire of abusing me?
23-27
If only my words were written in a book – better yet, chiseled in stone! Still, I know that God lives – the One who gives me back my life – and eventually he’ll take his stand on earth. And I’ll see him – even though I get skinned alive!- see God myself, with my very own eyes. Oh, how I long for that day!
28-29
If you’re thinking, How can we get through to him, get him to see that his trouble is all his own fault? Forget it. Start worrying about ourselves. Worry about your own sins and God’s coming judgement, for judgment is most certainly on the way.
I miss you!!!!
I’ll be on as soon as I can
good, i have been wondering where you are!!!!!!!!
Lost in the land of limited technology and overworked by basketball and the crusade at church
Now I’ve got aches, pains, and headaches too, but they’re fading. 
i understand, and no matter what, u r starting to ache less, and i also know you are alright, and i will be able to talk to you again. have missed you.
I have read some of Milosz’s poetry, in translation, but your Bible verses sure seem apt and applicable (to me, too). I hope you are well! I know you are Lovely (previous post), but I hope that all is well with you and your brother too, Terry. ~ Lily
Al and I have had a couple of nice days. i love it, a nice break from the cold and silent days
If you reread this Terry, you can hear the voices of those going through terrible times and blaming God instead of looking at the true cause of their troubles. Job stood against earthly friends, even his wife who chose to blame God, but at one point he had enough and in that moment showed pity for himself, which is something we are all guilty of. It is a human failing that we need to overcome, just like Job had to, and take it to the Lord for forgiveness. But that is the purpose of the book of Job in the Bible to help us through those times, when we are going through these rough times and it seems no one understands, no one cares, and there is no one there for us. It also shows us that if we persevere as Job did, that our reward will be even greater than what we had in the beginning. God blessed Job for his perseverence by giving him double of what he had in the beginning, once his trial was over, and Job knew then that God had always been there to see him through and keep him from death.
and this is why i believe God wanted me to read this
I believe this is meant for us, both going through rough stuff with illness and yet you are caring for you brother and you did for you father. You’ve had to give up yourself to care for another, and in the end God will give you a life full of blessings to make up for what you gave up to care for those you love.
thank you Bonita…………where would i be without you to help me understand
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I still think you’d enjoy my “Mrs. Job.”
i am planning on acquiring it, it is the getting enough time to myself to get it
Job is such a great book. Oh, the things that he experienced in his life. So much perspective to be gained from reading that book of the Bible. I think I’m gonna take a look at Job tonight. Thanks Terry! Glad you found the passages that you did. Glad God led you to those passages, I should say
Have a great day.
thank you Brian, for allowing me to share this passage with you……………have a wonderful day!!!!
Terry, Oh so true! Great posting, thanks.
thank you Rob, glad you enjoyed reading it!