some way, if only partially or indirectly, to what has just been said.4 There is one important respect in which Job’s speeches differ from those of his friends. It strengthens the impression that there is not much meeting of minds in this clash of words. They talk to Job about God. Job too talks about God, and sometimes he addresses them. Here it is in order to look for something like a debate. But much of Job’s utterance is in an entirely different direction. Job is not arguing a point; he is trying