Job 21

“But Job answered and said,” Naming Job keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations.” Naming Hear keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.” Naming Suffer keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“As for me, is my complaint to man? and if it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.” Naming Mark keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh.” Naming Even keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.” Naming Their keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.” Naming Their keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.” Naming Their keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.” The line’s distinctive content terms include children, dance, flock. Its relationship to verses 10 and 12 shows what work it does in this passage.

“They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.” The line’s distinctive content terms include harp, organ, rejoice. Its relationship to verses 11 and 13 shows what work it does in this passage.

“They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave.” The line’s distinctive content terms include days, grave, moment. Its relationship to verses 12 and 14 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Lo, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me.” The line’s distinctive content terms include counsel, good, hand. Its relationship to verses 15 and 17 shows what work it does in this passage.

“How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows…” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away.” The line’s distinctive content terms include carrieth, chaff, storm. Its relationship to verses 17 and 19 shows what work it does in this passage.

“God layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know it.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high.” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow.” Naming His keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure.” The line’s distinctive content terms include bitterness, dieth, eateth. Its relationship to verses 24 and 26 shows what work it does in this passage.

“They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me.” The line’s distinctive content terms include devices, imagine, know. Its relationship to verses 26 and 28 shows what work it does in this passage.

“For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Have ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know their tokens,” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, and every man shall draw after him, as there are innumerable before…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.