#20 — fin!
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My ears had heard of you
but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes. Job 42:5-6 • New International Version |
Dust and AshesI've heard rumors of you but I now know they're true;
since I've seen you at last, I'm content. I retract every word and abhor what you've heard; in my ashes and dust, I repent. |
After nearly 6 months of early mornings and late, late nights filled with writing about Job; searching for words while driving or mowing the lawn; walking around with my head down, running verses in my mind — being literally consumed with Job (to which my wife can attest!) — it all suddenly came to an abrupt end with these words.
A day or two after completing the first poem (Job 3), I flew to Florida to visit family. I awoke early on my last day there in the hopes of starting the next one (Job 4). While driving south on I-95 a few hours later, I found myself pulling into several consecutive Rest Areas to transfer my thoughts and ideas to my laptop. More than half of it was written before I arrived home.
Let the consuming commence!
A day or two after completing the first poem (Job 3), I flew to Florida to visit family. I awoke early on my last day there in the hopes of starting the next one (Job 4). While driving south on I-95 a few hours later, I found myself pulling into several consecutive Rest Areas to transfer my thoughts and ideas to my laptop. More than half of it was written before I arrived home.
Let the consuming commence!
#19 — a storm is moo-ving in!
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See how he scatters his lightning about him,
bathing the depths of the sea. This is the way he governs d the nations and provides food in abundance. He fills his hands with lightning and commands it to strike its mark. His thunder announces the coming storm; even the cattle make known its approach. Job 36:30-33 • New International Version |
Like Cattle Announces a SquallBehold, how he causes the lightning to leap
and dance on the oceans and pierces the deep. These methods are used so the nations will reap their food in abundance for all. He seizes the lightning like arrows that fly, commands them to strike at his marks from the sky. His thunder declares that this presence is nigh; like cattle announcing a squall. |
For this poem, you needed to read all the way down to the last line in order to get the connection with the title. Obviously, I had no title in mind until after it was totally written; but I was mesmerized with that phrase and I had nothing better.
Sometimes I have titles before I start, midway through, or after it has been completed. I never read ahead throughout this series. I just concentrated on the current verse and the next one. I had a title for the very first one I wrote, Job's Lament (Job 3), before I started. Something like Maxims and Proverbs (Job 13), I came across your maxims are proverbs as I was writing and settled on that idea. But, for this one, I just plodded to the end before I settled on the title.
Sometimes I have titles before I start, midway through, or after it has been completed. I never read ahead throughout this series. I just concentrated on the current verse and the next one. I had a title for the very first one I wrote, Job's Lament (Job 3), before I started. Something like Maxims and Proverbs (Job 13), I came across your maxims are proverbs as I was writing and settled on that idea. But, for this one, I just plodded to the end before I settled on the title.
#18 — orions and pleiades and bears, oh my!
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He alone has spread out the heavens
and marches on the waves of the sea. He made all the stars—the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the constellations of the southern sky. Job 9:8-9 - New Living Translation |
The ArbiterFor he's stretched out the sky in the heavens on high,
and he walks on the waves of the seas. The Orion, the Bear, and the Pleiades there — he has hung constellations like these. |
More than once I would come up against verses containing words that made me think, I'm doomed! This is the verse that will end this project early!
There were times when I couldn't type or write fast enough and other times when I would chew on something all day long attempting to turn a phrase or find a word to sound a certain way.
There were times when I couldn't type or write fast enough and other times when I would chew on something all day long attempting to turn a phrase or find a word to sound a certain way.
My Top 20 Verses in this Series
(This started out as a Top 10 list, but I got carried away)
#20 — The final verse of the series!
Then Job spoke again:
Let the day of my birth disappear from the earth;
how I wish I had never been born!
You don’t know how I’m grieved that my mother conceived,
and I hold my conception in scorn.
Job 3:3
If I’d died there somehow I’d be resting right now
with the kings and the princes of old,
in the houses they’ve built and their palaces filled
with their treasures of silver and gold.
Job 3:13-15
Will you find my words too distressing?
Regardless — I really must speak.
For you’ve been to many a blessing,
and strengthened the hands of the weak.
Job 4:2-3
You’ll come to your graveside full-seasoned,
as ripe as the harvested sheave.
For, these are the facts and well-reasoned.
So, listen to me and believe.
Job 5:26-27
If my grief could be laid on the scales to be weighed,
with my troubles — how great would they be?
Its no wonder my words have been rash and absurd —
they’d outweigh all the sand in the sea.
Job 6:2-3
Is my strength like the stones? Have I rocks for my bones?
Am I covered in bronze as my flesh?
I’m unable to cope, at the end of my rope;
I’m without any hope of success.
Job 6:12-13
As the cloud floating by disappears in the sky,
so the grave won’t return those it claims.
For you cannot go home once you’re covered with loam,
since your place won’t remember your name.
Job 7:9-10
For he’s stretched out the sky in the heavens on high,
and he walks on the waves of the seas.
The Orion, the Bear, and the Pleiades there —
he has hung constellations like these.
Job 9:8-9
Please remember that day when you formed me from clay;
you’d return me to dust now so soon?
Did you not pour me out like some milk from a spout,
make me curdle like cheese in the womb?
Job 10:9-10
Since my days are so few I’d like one without you,
for one moment of joy — just a breath,
ere my trials adjourn and I never return
from the land of the shadow of death.
Job 10:20-21
For he knows the most worthless, deceitful of men,
and he notes every sin, evil deed and revolt.
And the fool can no more be intelligent than
any child can be born as a wild ass’s colt.
Job 11:11-12
He discharges the kings of their robes and their rings,
and they’re led with their chains in defeat.
And he leads priests away, stripped of rank and cachet;
overthrows the established elite.
Job 12:18-19
Would you faint like one dead from his terror and dread?
Would his majesty not cause you fright?
Your defenses of clay are like ash blown away
with the maxims and proverbs you cite.
Job 13:11-12
Your own mouth — and not I — has condemned you;
and your lips, with each word that you blurt.
The first man to be born? I commend you!
But, does that make you older than dirt?
Job 15:6-7
Though my gaunt, sallow flesh clings to bones, more or less;
I’ve escaped by the skin of my teeth.
Friends, have mercy, I pray, in the things that you say;
for the hand of God brought me this grief.
Job 19:20-21
There are veins one can find where the silver is mined,
and a place where the gold’s purified.
Iron’s taken from dust, far below the earth’s crust,
and the rocks hide their copper inside.
Job 28:1-2
They are children of fools, without names — without rules,
they are outcasts and dregs of the earth.
Now this odious throng deigns to mock me in song;
I’m a byword and joke for their mirth.
Job 30:8-9
And my skin, front to back — it is peeling and black,
and there’s heat that is burning my bones.
I have tuned my harp’s string to the dirge mourners sing,
and my flute to their weeping and groans.
Job 30:30-31
Job, listen to me, I’ve some things you should hear.
I want what I say to be perfectly clear;
this knowledge I speak from my heart is sincere.
My motives are honest and just.
The breath of Almighty has made me this way;
feel free to stand up and refute what I say.
God views us the same — he has formed me from clay;
he’s fashioned us both out of dust.
Job 33:1-6
Were you there when I laid earth’s foundation?
Can you tell me — or, are you confused?
Did you hand me the twine when I stretch out my line?
Who determined the measurements used?
Job 38:4-5
Now the wings of the ostrich wave proudly,
but compared with the stork’s — there’s no match!
For her eggs can be found there on top of the ground,
keeping warm in the dust till they hatch.
Job 39:13-14
how I wish I had never been born!
You don’t know how I’m grieved that my mother conceived,
and I hold my conception in scorn.
Job 3:3
If I’d died there somehow I’d be resting right now
with the kings and the princes of old,
in the houses they’ve built and their palaces filled
with their treasures of silver and gold.
Job 3:13-15
Will you find my words too distressing?
Regardless — I really must speak.
For you’ve been to many a blessing,
and strengthened the hands of the weak.
Job 4:2-3
You’ll come to your graveside full-seasoned,
as ripe as the harvested sheave.
For, these are the facts and well-reasoned.
So, listen to me and believe.
Job 5:26-27
If my grief could be laid on the scales to be weighed,
with my troubles — how great would they be?
Its no wonder my words have been rash and absurd —
they’d outweigh all the sand in the sea.
Job 6:2-3
Is my strength like the stones? Have I rocks for my bones?
Am I covered in bronze as my flesh?
I’m unable to cope, at the end of my rope;
I’m without any hope of success.
Job 6:12-13
As the cloud floating by disappears in the sky,
so the grave won’t return those it claims.
For you cannot go home once you’re covered with loam,
since your place won’t remember your name.
Job 7:9-10
For he’s stretched out the sky in the heavens on high,
and he walks on the waves of the seas.
The Orion, the Bear, and the Pleiades there —
he has hung constellations like these.
Job 9:8-9
Please remember that day when you formed me from clay;
you’d return me to dust now so soon?
Did you not pour me out like some milk from a spout,
make me curdle like cheese in the womb?
Job 10:9-10
Since my days are so few I’d like one without you,
for one moment of joy — just a breath,
ere my trials adjourn and I never return
from the land of the shadow of death.
Job 10:20-21
For he knows the most worthless, deceitful of men,
and he notes every sin, evil deed and revolt.
And the fool can no more be intelligent than
any child can be born as a wild ass’s colt.
Job 11:11-12
He discharges the kings of their robes and their rings,
and they’re led with their chains in defeat.
And he leads priests away, stripped of rank and cachet;
overthrows the established elite.
Job 12:18-19
Would you faint like one dead from his terror and dread?
Would his majesty not cause you fright?
Your defenses of clay are like ash blown away
with the maxims and proverbs you cite.
Job 13:11-12
Your own mouth — and not I — has condemned you;
and your lips, with each word that you blurt.
The first man to be born? I commend you!
But, does that make you older than dirt?
Job 15:6-7
Though my gaunt, sallow flesh clings to bones, more or less;
I’ve escaped by the skin of my teeth.
Friends, have mercy, I pray, in the things that you say;
for the hand of God brought me this grief.
Job 19:20-21
There are veins one can find where the silver is mined,
and a place where the gold’s purified.
Iron’s taken from dust, far below the earth’s crust,
and the rocks hide their copper inside.
Job 28:1-2
They are children of fools, without names — without rules,
they are outcasts and dregs of the earth.
Now this odious throng deigns to mock me in song;
I’m a byword and joke for their mirth.
Job 30:8-9
And my skin, front to back — it is peeling and black,
and there’s heat that is burning my bones.
I have tuned my harp’s string to the dirge mourners sing,
and my flute to their weeping and groans.
Job 30:30-31
Job, listen to me, I’ve some things you should hear.
I want what I say to be perfectly clear;
this knowledge I speak from my heart is sincere.
My motives are honest and just.
The breath of Almighty has made me this way;
feel free to stand up and refute what I say.
God views us the same — he has formed me from clay;
he’s fashioned us both out of dust.
Job 33:1-6
Were you there when I laid earth’s foundation?
Can you tell me — or, are you confused?
Did you hand me the twine when I stretch out my line?
Who determined the measurements used?
Job 38:4-5
Now the wings of the ostrich wave proudly,
but compared with the stork’s — there’s no match!
For her eggs can be found there on top of the ground,
keeping warm in the dust till they hatch.
Job 39:13-14
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