Oratorios

Job, the Oratorio
Richard Bansemer, Librettist

1. Now Job was blameless and upright
Narrator
Now Job was blameless and upright,
A citizen ev’rybody knew,
He said his prayers ev’ry morning
And gave generous offerings too!

Each day the sun rose in glory
Or rain gently watered his land,
His crops and his cattle all flourished,
For Job nearly sat at God’s right hand.

He had seven sons and three daughters,
Each one as fair as morning dew.
His livestock numbered in the thousands
For Job was a rich man too.

He knew the laws of Almighty
And sought ev’ryday to obey.
He turned away from all evil;
He set a good example ev’ryday.

His life was full and well-rounded.
His health as strong as his mind.
Yes, God had noticed his goodness,
And kept Job’s well well-primed!

2. Now on the day when the spirits sing
Narrator
Now on the day when the spirits sing (Job 1:6)
Gathered to be with God,
Deep joy abounds in heaven’s halls,
Glorious is the sound:

Chorus
All Glory ! Power! Wisdom and Might!
Love never ending here in our sight.
Thank you Lord for our glorious life,
We are free from earthly strife.
Thank you Lord for every day.
We see you when we pray!

All Glory ! Power! Wisdom and Might!
Love never ending here in our sight.
Thank you Lord for all of our skills,
We are pure for you have our wills.
Being your person makes us sing.
Thank you Heavenly King.

Narrator
Now on the day when the spirits sing
Gathered to be with God,
Past leader of the angels came,
“Satan” was his name.

God
Satan! How I wish you’d love me
Like you did so long ago.
Have you come to say you’re sorry?
Will you sing or be my foe?

Satan
I’m so happy.
I’m delighted.
I’ve been ‘round and around.
To and fro, up and down, (Job 1:7, 2:2)
I’ve seen the world.

I’m so happy.
I’m delighted.
All follow me, me, me,
To and fro, up and down,
I run the world.

I’m the prince
Of the earth.
All know my name, a prince! a prince!
To and fro, up and down,
I own the world. It’s mine!

God
Satan. Satan, have you seen my servant Job?
He’s not your man.
Satan, Satan, have you seen my servant Job?
Blameless.
Upright.
Not of your world.

Satan
Well, of course not.
How could he
Follow my way?
You’ve blessed him
Beyond measure.
Bought his soul with pay.

Does he love you?
I doubt it.
He’s spoiled
With your protective fence.
Strike him.
Then I’ll have his soul.

God
For you, then, I permit it.
May you see love’s power work in faith.
And return, prince, to love me,
For Job will always be my saint.

You may do the evil you intend,
But touch not his health,
You’re not his friend.
And come back,
I miss you. I long for your song.

3. Oxen, asses, servants are slain by the sword (Job 1:13-19)
Messenger
Oxen, asses, servants are slain by the sword;
I escaped to tell you, Sabeans are at war.

Chorus
As the message settled on the heart of Job,
Another came in breathless and this is what he told:

Messenger
Fire fell from heaven, both sheep and shepherd burned,
I escaped to tell you it was God’s consuming word.

Chorus
As the message settled on the heart of Job,
Another came in breathless and this is what he told:

Messenger
Chaldeans stole the camels, then killed the servants cold,
I escaped to tell you, was violence so bold.”

Chorus
As the message settled on the heart of Job,
The last one came in tearful and this is what he told:

Messenger
A storm came from the wilderness, the house foundation gave.
The wind struck hard and not a single child of yours is saved.

Chorus
As the message settled on the heart of Job,
He shaved his head in sorrow
And then he tore his robe.

4. Naked, naked I came (Job 1:20-22)
Job
Naked,
Naked I came.
Naked from my mother’s womb.

Job
Blessed be
The name of the Lord.
God gave, now he takes all away.

5. Again the day of singing came (Job 2:1-6)
Narrator
Again the day of singing came,
All gathered to be with God.
And Satan joined the holy ones
But not to sing praise songs.

No thing can stop the joy for God,
No one can stop the praise.
The dark one who would quench the light
Could not his brightness stay:

Satan
Let me touch his lovely flesh,
Then we’ll know if he is true.
When he thinks that he might die
He will turn his eyes from you.

Let him feel a little pain,
Skin for skin, where the shame?
Then he’ll curse you to his face
As he sees himself debased.

Skin for skin, nothing less.
That’s the key for mortals.
Skin for skin, fear of death
Then they’ll seek my portals.

Let him feel a little pain
A friendly death will seem like gain.
I’ll offer him a quick escape,
Then you’ll see whom he’ll embrace.

Don’t you know your human race
Is not worth a moment’s grace?
They are animals at best,
Eve and Adam failed your test.

I’ll get Job. No one less.
Give up love for humanness.
Give up Job. He’s my man.
He is clay in my hand.

God
Satan, do you not see me loving him as I loved you?
Go do what you want to, only do not take his life.
Satan, do you not see it? Job will always love me.
Nothing you do will keep him from seeking,
Nothing you do will keep him from me.

He will not fall down and worship you.
When he has nothing, it’s you he’ll ignore.
He is my soul now and forever.
You will be poorer rather than he.
Satan, he needs not my blessings
To know that I am the Lord.
He knows my ways are a mystery.
He’ll wait for my time to come.

6. Our God above is full of love (Job 2:7-10)
Chorus
Our God above is full of love,
Though it may not be clear.
That loss and pain are but a time,
And measured by mere years.
He lets the dark clouds rumble in.
He lets our lives know fear.
But never does he go away,
Eternity is near.
Job’s wife
My Job, my handsome man,
Still lying in the dust.
I wish that you were well:
Your suffering’s unjust.

Poor Job, my Job, I miss you so.
Our children’s lives were all too brief,
May God be good and soon take you.

I’ll hold your memory dear.
I risk eternity to say:
Curse God and die!
Hope for one last mercy.

Be done, dear Job, let go of life.
You’ve suffered so let death come now.
No one has ever matched your strife.

Your pain I cannot bear.
I wish your suffering o’er.
We’ll never have an heir.
Curse God and have no fear!

It is the hardest gift of all
To let you go to God’s beyond,
And mourn you ever in my mind.

Job
My wife, my life, my tender one.
You grieve too much for me.
What’s happening here we cannot see.
It’s more than misery.
I never will curse God and die.
I am the apple of his eye;
It is a mystery.

Chorus
Our God above is full of love,
Though it may not be clear.
That loss and pain are but a time,
And measured by mere years.
He lets the dark clouds rumble in.
He lets our lives know fear.
But never does he go away,
Eternity is near.

7. From the cities of the region (Job 2:11-13)
Narrator
From the cities of the region
Came three faithful friends so dear.
They wanted to be with poor Job
Whose suffering was clear.
The rumors of his bitter plight
Had not prepared them for this sight
Of Job in deep despair.

Chorus
Look he lies among the ashes,
Sores they cover ev’rywhere.

Narrator
Consolation was their love gift,
They had come to bring him cheer.
They had wanted to dish out relief
And heal him with their care.
They silently attended to his ev’ry need and groan,
Of Job in deep despair.

Chorus
Look, he lies among the ashes,
Sores they cover ev’rywhere.
He is nearing death’s dark portal.
The end is very near.

Narrator
The seven days of waiting passed,
The seven nights were spent.
The suffering was very great,
They hoped that he’d repent.
The plans for burial were set
And yet he did not die.
Poor Job in deep despair.

Chorus
Look he lies among the ashes,
Sores they cover ev’rywhere.
He is nearing death’s dark portal.
The end is very near.

8. Like a phoenix from the ash bed (Job 3)
Chorus and Narrator
Like a phoenix from the ash bed Job rose up.
His troubles all around.
And he let it out
With a bitter shout:
I am being wronged.

Job
Let the day perish in which I was born, (Job 3:1f)
Let my day of conception be no more.
Let my birthday perish, sing no song,
Let darkness cover my life.

That night, that long ago night,
That was my beginning time,
Let it be no more
Let it disappear
It is barren waste
It is joyless dearth:
I curse the day of my birth.

Chorus and Narrator
Like a phoenix from the ash bed Job rose up.
His eyes were all ablaze
With an angry shout
He let it out:
Better had I never been born.

Job
Let the day perish in which I was born,
I should have died at birth,
Then I would dwell in the realm of the dead
And I would be at rest.

That night, that long ago night,
When my mother held me near,
Light entered my eyes,
First time I could see:
But better had it never occurred!

Why comes life to the bitter in soul?
Why shine light on misery?
Life is barren
It is joyless dearth:
I curse the day of my birth.

Chorus and Narrator
Like a phoenix from the ash bed Job rose up.
His troubles all around.
And he let it out
With a bitter shout:
Evil has come upon me.

Job
I am not at ease, I have no rest,
Troubles fall on me.
God has fenced me in, fenced me in (Job 5:23)
Like a captured beast.
What I feared has come upon me. (Job 3:25-26)

Like a lion in a cage
Or a wing-clipped bird
There is no amazing grace.
You’ve fenced me in, you fenced me in
Like a captured beast.
Why not protect me?

Chorus and Narrator
Like a phoenix from the ash bed Job rose up.
His troubles all around.
And he let it out
With a bitter shout:
My God, please answer me.
Like a phoenix from the ash bed Job rose up.

9. O who can keep from speaking
Zophar, Bildad, and Eliphaz
O who can keep from speaking
When blasphemy appears?
Insult the God who does no wrong
Is what our ears do hear.

Eliphaz
Job, listen to me. I’m Eliphaz your friend.
Why are you looking within
At your own miseries?
God is great, he does no wrong,
Majestic bold and true.
God crushes the proud in heart,
The fault lies just within you.

Can mortals be righteous before God? (Job 4:17)
Accept God’s discipline.
All this has fallen on you:
You have sinned a mighty sin.

Job
When my troubles are weighed (Job 6:3)
They are heavier than the sea.
The arrows of God are loose,
They pierce the soul in me.

I have one request, (Job 6:8)
God should crush me to death.
And you, Eliphaz,
Speak not as a friend.
Kindness you withhold,
Triteness does not mend.

Bildad
God is just, your words are sour,
Sin is your condition.
Even your children, admit it now,
Perished because of their sin. (Job 8:4)

Repent, turn back, remember the past,
Tradition is always God’s way.
Happy are the righteous,
They turn not away.

Job
You dare mention my kin
As fodder for God’s wrath?
Shame on you Bildad,
You know not God’s path.

You clothed me God with skin and flesh, (Job 10:11)
You knit me like a robe.
Do you not see
I loathe my life, (Job 10:1)
Why give birth to me? (Job 11:18)

Zophar
If God gave to you
What you truly deserved,
What you suffer now
Would hardly be enough!

God is deep and higher than heaven,
He knows who is worthless.
Direct your heart, stretch out your hands,
Only the wicked hope to die.

Job
Count me not as your enemy, Lord.
Grant that I not hide from you.
My spirit is broken,
My days are extinct.
The grave is ready for me.

I desire to argue my case
Only with God.
Friends have failed me,
They have no hope
Of ever seeing you.

Zophar, Bildad, and Eliphaz
O who can keep from speaking
When blasphemy appears?
Insult the God who does no wrong
Is what our ears do hear.

10. Words break the heart (Job 19:1-22)
Chorus
Words break the heart.
Their power is greater than a Chaldean’s sword. (Job 1:17)
They wound, they scar, they trouble the soul.
They create discord.

Hard words, disgrace,
Put us in the wrong:
Judge the man and make him pay,
Shame the woman make her say,
“Sorry, I am sorry though I do not know what for.
Mercy, have mercy I am broken like a bow.

The wrath of an enemy posing as friend
In words both cunning and glib.
They sound so true
But are cleverly skewed
To murder the one named you.

Shun him, evil one,
Hate is his just reward.
Shun him, break him.
Watch his spirit die.
Shrivel him, kill him
With many, many lies:
Till without God, he dies.

11. O God, my God
Job
O God, my God,
Do you see what has happened to me?
O that my words were written down!
O that they were written in a book! Job 19:23

Chorus
The God of love has noted it all,
It is written in the book.
No pain is lost, no suffering untold,
When for God’s sake it is borne.

Job
O that with an iron pen Job 19:24
My words were etched forever!
With lead and iron and stone,
I wish to be remembered.

I do not know, I cannot tell
Why this has come upon me.
But to you I pray and have my say,
I wait, I wait for another day.

12. You know, you know, you know (A)
Chorus
You know, you know, you know,
And yet you know not how.
You know, you know, you know,
That your Redeemer Lives!
He lives, rejoice, give thanks and sing,
Though yet unborn he is your king!
Messiah lives, be not forlorn,
He’s coming soon, he will be born.

Job
I know that my Redeemer lives (Job 19:25)
God will be born, he will forgive.
I know that God will come in flesh,
And I shall see him face to face.

Chorus
You know, you know, you know,
And yet you know not how.
God’s Spirit is within your life,
He entered in to quell your strife.
He lives, he lives in you,
A love that knows your sighs.
For you and all humanity,
God comes, we will not die.

13. Dear Job, I see your awful plight
Elihu
Dear Job, I see your awful plight,
I’ve yearned so long to speak.
I am so young I’ve had to wait
Till all have said their piece.

Your friends I fear have been no help
And you yourself are cold.
You dare to ask for an audience (Job 31:35f)
With God—how terribly bold.

Now hear me out, I wish to say
That God is just and true.
Self-righteousness he will condemn,
His majesty will do for you.

Almighty God cannot be found,
Worship what you see.
Creation is so marvelous,
God’s wondrous works are free.

Just watch the sunrise, sunset too.
God’s work is evident.
Forget vain hope for face to face
God gives no audience.

14. Gird up your strength (Job 38)
God
Gird up your strength like a big strong man.
You darken truth with ignorant words.
I have some questions, now you answer me,
Know I’ve not come to comfort you.
Were you there when I made the earth?
Tell me wise one of clay.
Who set earth’s measurements?
Tell me what do you say?
Have you one ounce of knowledge?

Who shuts up oceans with boundary doors?
Who sets the shoal and sandy shore?
Who says “Proud waves, this far you may come
But not one half inch further?”
Who makes the sun to rise?
Who lets the dusk descend?
Have you walked ocean floors?
Are death’s dark gates no chore,
Have you no sense of all I am?

Where is light made that has no source?
Perhaps you make the rain to fall?
Can you guide one star of the night?
Do you know how to feed ravens?
Do you know how to birth
A lion from the earth?
Can you give horses might?
Their manes that flow in flight?
Tell me which of these things you can do.

Do hawks that fly from crag to crag
Do so by your great wisdom?
Shall faultfinders who raise their voice
Expect their God to falter?
Do you now even fault me?
Can I not use your life?
The whole world is in my hands,
I’ve come at your request.
Now you must give me answer.

Job
My God, what shall I say?
I am only a lump of clay.
I lay my hand on my mouth.
I’ve been far too rash.
I talked to you like a man,
Not like the God whom you are.
I know not all your ways,
So few have been my days.
Forgive my puny wails,
Your cosmic strength prevails.

15. Gird up your loins
God
Gird up your loins,
You’ve put me in the wrong.
Saving face has been your shameful song.
You condemn me
So you are justified,
But I picked you
To be my earthly pride.

Can you bring down
Those with a boastful heart?
Save yourself from Satan,
Hope that he’ll depart
From all vain glory
Sought upon the earth,
And know the joy
Of spirit led rebirth?

Leviathan,
The monster of the deep,
I sing soft words to him
Bring his restful sleep.
My world is broad
Beyond the sky and sea.
I chose you Job,
My child ever to be.

Job
My God, the only God,
All things you can do.
All space and time are yours,
All purpose is from you.

You’ve chosen me to be
Your child eternally.
Too wonderful for me,
Beyond my highest dream.

My eye now sees you clear,
My ear is sharper too.
You say that I am dear,
Forgive me all my sin.

16. Now God was very angry
Narrator
Now God was very angry with the friends who counseled Job.
He told them to make offerings for all their wrongs of old.
They asked for Job’s forgiveness for all that they had done,
And Job prayed to our God for each and everyone.

Chorus
And there was healing, precious healing.
God listened to Job’s prayers.
And there was healing, precious healing
For friends who did Job wrong.

Narrator
God gave to Job a new life, twice what he knew before.
Brothers, sisters, wife came; family love restored.
He served the Lord in joy one hundred forty years.
God’s iron pen has listed every daughter’s name!

Chorus
And there was healing, precious healing,
Four generations more were born.
And there was healing, precious healing,
And the daughters each inherited
Equal with their brothers’ worth.

And there was healing, precious healing
All the cosmos know its true.
And there was healing, precious healing,
For when God and Satan converse,
It is God who speaks for you!

17. You know, you know, you know (B)
Chorus
You know, you know, you know,
And yet you know not how.
You know, you know, you know,
That your Redeemer Lives!
He lives, rejoice, give thanks and sing,
Though yet unborn he is your king!
Messiah lives, be not forlorn,
He’s coming soon, he will be born.

You know, you know, you know,
And yet you know not how.
God’s lives, God loves through us,
His mighty works august.

He lives, rejoice, give thanks and sing
To God who is the King of Kings,
To God who is the Prince of Peace.

Job
I know that my Redeemer lives.
God will be born, he will forgive.
I know that God will come in flesh,
And I shall see him face to face.