12. More speeches by Jobs friends

More speeches by Job”s friends And note, this does not hinder Zophar again, in his turn, redoubling the attack (cf. Job 20:1-29). ’The triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of thehypocritebut for a moment’. This was a hard thrust after a moment’s relief. Job is somewhat stirred up, and gives a sharp rebut, by showing that sometimes the wicked prosper in this world.

Eliphaz returns to the attack with fury (Job 22:1-30). He says, ’Is not thy wickedness great, and thine iniquities infinite?’ And now he strikes Job in the most tender place. He brings false accusations against him. ’Thou hast taken a pledge from thy brother for nought, and stripped the naked of their clothing. Thou has not given water to the weary to drink, and thou hast withholden bread from the hungry. Thou hast sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken’. This makes the complaint of Job very bitter. He says, ’My stroke is heavier than my groaning.Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat’.

Again Bildad repeats the great difficulty: ’How then can man be justified with God! or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?’ (Job 25:1-6). This is no comfort, no help, for Job.