Job – Chapter 5

Old Testament • 27 Verses

Chapter Summary

"Call now, if there be any that will answer thee, and turn to some of the saints." — so begins Job 5. Across its 27 verses, two threads run through the text: God's protection and deliverance and justice and care for the poor. Read slowly, this chapter rewards the kind of prayerful attention the Church calls lectio divina.

1Call now, if there be any that will answer thee, and turn to some of the saints.

2Anger indeed killeth the foolish, and envy slayeth the little one.

3I have seen a fool with a strong root, and I cursed his beauty immediately.

4His children shall be far from safety, and shall be destroyed in the gate, and there shall be none to deliver them.

5Whose harvest the hungry shall eat, and the armed man shall take him by violence, and the thirsty shall drink up his riches.

6Nothing upon earth is done without a cause, and sorrow doth not spring out of the ground.

7Man is born to labour, and the bird to fly.

8Wherefore I will pray to the Lord, and address my speech to God:

9Who doth great things, and unsearchable and wonderful things without number:

10Who giveth rain upon the face of the earth, and watereth all things with waters:

11Who setteth up the humble on high, and comforteth with health those that mourn.

12Who bringeth to nought the designs of the malignant, so that their hands cannot accomplish what they had begun:

13Who catcheth the wise in their craftiness, and disappointeth the counsel of the wicked:

14They shall meet with darkness in the day, and grope at noonday as in the night.

15But he shall save the needy from the sword of their mouth, and the poor from the hand of the violent.

16And to the needy there shall be hope, but iniquity shall draw in her mouth.

17Blessed is the man whom God correcteth: refuse not, therefore, the chastising of the Lord.

18For he woundeth, and cureth: he striketh, and his hands shall heal.

19In six troubles he shall deliver thee, and in the seventh, evil shall not touch thee.

20In famine he shall deliver thee from death; and in battle, from the hand of the sword.

21Thou shalt be hidden from the scourge of the tongue: and thou shalt not fear calamity when it cometh.

22In destruction and famine thou shalt laugh: and thou shalt not be afraid of the beasts of the earth.

23But thou shalt have a covenant with the stones of the lands, and the beasts of the earth shall be at peace with thee.

24And thou shalt know that thy tabernacle is in peace, and visiting thy beauty, thou shalt not sin.

25Thou shalt know also that thy seed shall be multiplied, and thy offspring like the grass of the earth.

26Thou shalt enter into the grave in abundance, as a heap of wheat is brought in its season.

27Behold, this is even so, as we have searched out: which thou having heard, consider it thoroughly in thy mind.

Important Verses in Job 5

“Call now, if there be any that will answer thee, and turn to some of the saints.”

Job 5:1

“Wherefore I will pray to the Lord, and address my speech to God:”

Job 5:8

“Blessed is the man whom God correcteth: refuse not, therefore, the chastising of the Lord.”

Job 5:17

“But thou shalt have a covenant with the stones of the lands, and the beasts of the earth shall be at peace with thee.”

Job 5:23

Historical Context

Job belongs to the Old Testament and was composed for all who wrestle with the mystery of suffering and God's justice. Chapter 5 of 42 belongs to the early movement of the book, where the narrative or argument is still unfolding. It is a wisdom instruction on how to live before God in ordinary circumstances with 27 verses in the Douay-Rheims translation. The passage starts with these words: "Call now, if there be any that will answer thee, and turn to some of the saints." The chapter ends with: "Behold, this is even so, as we have searched out: which thou having heard, consider it thoroughly in thy mind. " In terms of historical background, Job confronts the deepest human question: why do the innocent suffer? Scholarly and ecclesial tradition places the composition of Job around Uncertain; commonly dated between the 7th and 4th centuries BC.

Who Wrote It

Unknown inspired poet of Israel

When It Was Written

Uncertain; commonly dated between the 7th and 4th centuries BC

Catholic Commentary

The literal sense presents maxims, observations, or arguments meant to form character and discernment. A pivotal line is verse 1: "Call now, if there be any that will answer thee, and turn to some of the saints." The passage repeatedly touches on God's protection and deliverance.

The Church teaches that every passage of Scripture must be read in light of Christ and the Magisterium (CIC 2215). Here, the Church sees Job as prefiguring Christ in innocent suffering (CIC 1502). The spiritual sense invites believers to recognize God's protection and deliverance as part of God's pedagogy of salvation.

The moral and spiritual import remains timely: The Lord is a refuge and deliverer for all who call upon Him in trouble.. St. Jerome insisted that ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ; this chapter offers material for meditation, examination of conscience, and deeper love of God.

Main Teachings

  • ✓The Lord is a refuge and deliverer for all who call upon Him in trouble.
  • ✓God defends the poor and the oppressed, and calls His people to act with justice.
  • ✓Christ is the Divine Physician who heals both body and soul.

Reflection for Today

Sacred Scripture presents Job Chapter 5 as a unique stage in salvation history, not merely as background to other books.

St. Gregory the Great and other Fathers of the Church meditated on texts like this one, seeing in them instruction for the spiritual life. the Church sees Job as prefiguring Christ in innocent suffering (CIC 1502). The passage calls believers to grasp that God's ways transcend human understanding.

Consider praying with this chapter again at day's end, offering God gratitude for one insight received. The Church encourages daily contact with Scripture (CIC 133) so that Christ's mind may be formed in us.

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Job Chapter 5 about?

Job 5 contains 27 verses. It opens with "Call now, if there be any that will answer thee, and turn to some of the saints." and closes with "Behold, this is even so, as we have searched out: which thou having heard, consider it thoroughly in thy mind. ". The book as a whole is wisdom literature in poetic dialogue.

What is a key verse in Job 5?

One of the most significant verses is verse 1: "Call now, if there be any that will answer thee, and turn to some of the saints." It is often cited in Catholic teaching and preaching.

Who wrote Job and when?

Unknown inspired poet of Israel. Uncertain; commonly dated between the 7th and 4th centuries BC.

Prayers Related to This Chapter

🙏Prayers for Protection🙏Prayer to St. Michael🙏Prayer for the Poor🙏Prayer for the World

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