Satan answered the Lord and said, “Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life.

“Why is light given to him who suffers,
And life to the bitter of soul,

“Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden,
And whom God has hedged in?

“He gives rain on the earth
And sends water on the fields,

“For He inflicts pain, and gives relief;
He wounds, and His hands also heal.

“Have I said, ‘Give me something,’
Or, ‘Offer a bribe for me from your wealth,’

“The earth is given into the hand of the wicked;
He covers the faces of its judges.
If it is not He, then who is it?

“I loathe my own life;
I will give full vent to my complaint;
I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.

To whom alone the land was given,
And no alien passed among them.

“Indeed, the light of the wicked goes out,
And the flame of his fire gives no light.

“His sons favor the poor,
And his hands give back his wealth.

“To the weary you have given no water to drink,
And from the hungry you have withheld bread.

“What counsel you have given to one without wisdom!
What helpful insight you have abundantly provided!

“Pure gold cannot be given in exchange for it,
Nor can silver be weighed as its price.

“But it is a spirit in man,
And the breath of the Almighty gives them understanding.

“The Spirit of God has made me,
And the breath of the Almighty gives me life.

“Why do you complain against Him
That He does not give an account of all His doings?

“If you are righteous, what do you give to Him,
Or what does He receive from your hand?

“But no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker,
Who gives songs in the night,

“He does not keep the wicked alive,
But gives justice to the afflicted.

“For by these He judges peoples;
He gives food in abundance.

“From whose womb has come the ice?
And the frost of heaven, who has given it birth?

“Who has put wisdom in the innermost being
Or given understanding to the mind?

“Do you know the time the mountain goats give birth?
Do you observe the calving of the deer?

“Can you count the months they fulfill,
Or do you know the time they give birth?

Because God has made her forget wisdom,
And has not given her a share of understanding.

“Do you give the horse his might?
Do you clothe his neck with a mane?

“Who has given to Me that I should repay him?
Whatever is under the whole heaven is Mine.