And Jehovah saith unto the Adversary, 'Hast thou set thy heart against My servant Job because there is none like him in the land, a man perfect and upright, fearing God, and turning aside from evil?'

But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.

And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.

the Sabeans came in violently, and took them all away: yea, they have slain thy servants with the sword, and I only ran my way, to tell thee."

And while he was yet speaking, there came another, and said, "The fire of God is fallen from heaven, it hath consumed, and burnt up all thy sheep and servants: and I only ran my way, to tell thee."

In the mean season while he was yet speaking, there came another, and said, "The Chaldeans made three armies, and fell upon thy camels, which they have carried away: yea, and slain thy servants with the sword, and I only am gotten away, to tell thee."

While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:

and suddenly there came a mighty great wind out of the South, and smote the four corners of the house: which fell upon thy children, so that they are dead, and I alone am gotten away, to tell thee."

And Jehovah saith unto the Adversary, 'Hast thou set thy heart unto My servant Job because there is none like him in the land, a man perfect and upright, fearing God and turning aside from evil? and still he is keeping hold on his integrity, and thou dost move Me against him to swallow him up for nought!'

But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.

And Jehovah said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thy hand; only spare his life.

Then said his wife to him, Dost thou still retain thy integrity? curse God, and die.

Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees.

Is not this thy fear, thy confidence, thy hope, and the uprightness of thy ways?

(For with sons of the field is thy covenant, And the beast of the field Hath been at peace with thee.)

And thou shalt know that thy tabernacle shall be in peace; and thou shalt visit thy habitation, and shalt not sin.

Thou shalt know also that thy seed shall be great, and thine offspring as the grass of the earth.

Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in in his season.

Lo this, we have searched it, so it is; hear it, and know thou it for thy good.

The eye of him that hath seen me shall see me no more: thy eyes are upon me, and I am not.

What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him, And that thou shouldest set thy mind upon him,

I have offended; what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men? Why hast thou made me to stand in thy way, and am so heavy a burden unto myself?

How long wilt thou speak these things? and how long shall the words of thy mouth be like a strong wind?

If thy children have sinned against him, and he have cast them away for their transgression;

If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty;

If thou wert pure and upright; surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous.

Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase.

"Enquire, I pray thee, of them that have been before thee; and search diligently among thy forefathers.

Till he fill thy mouth with laughing, and thy lips with rejoicing.

Is it good unto thee that thou shouldest oppress, That thou shouldest despise the work of thy hands, And shine upon the counsel of the wicked?

Are thy days as the days of man? are thy years as man's days,

Although thou knowest that I am not wicked, And there is none that can deliver out of thy hand?

Thy hands have framed me and fashioned me Together round about; yet thou dost destroy me.

Thou hast granted me life and favour, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit.

Yet these things thou didst hide in thy heart; I know that this is with thee:

And it increaseth: thou huntest me as a fierce lion; and ever again thou shewest thy marvellous power upon me.

Thou renewest thy witnesses against me, and increasest thine indignation upon me; changes and war are against me.

Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?

For thou hast said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thy eyes.

And that he would show thee the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thy iniquity deserveth.

"Wilt thou find out God with thy seeking? Wilt thou attain to the perfectness of the Almighty?

If thou set thy heart aright, And stretch out thy hands toward him;

If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles.

For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear:

Because thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters that pass away:

And thy life shall be clearer than the noonday; Though there be darkness, it shall be as the morning.

And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.

Yea, thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; and many shall seek thy favour.

Only do not two things unto me; Then will I not hide myself from thy face:

Withdraw thine hand far from me: and let not thy dread make me afraid.

Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and holdest me for thine enemy?

And dost thou open thy eyes upon such one, and bring me into judgment with thee?

O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me!

Thou wouldest call, and I would answer thee: Thou wouldest have a desire to the work of thy hands.

For thy mouth uttereth thine iniquity, and thou choosest the tongue of the crafty.

Thine own mouth condemneth thee, and not I; and thy lips testify against thee.

With us are both the grayheaded and very aged men, much elder than thy father.

Why doth thine heart carry thee away? and what do thy eyes wink at,

That thou turnest thy spirit against God, and lettest such words go out of thy mouth?

Shall not thy vain words come yet to an end? Or, hast thou yet any more to say?

(He is tearing himself in his anger.) For thy sake is earth forsaken? And removed is a rock from its place?

I have sufficiently heard thy checking and reproof; therefore am I purposed to make answer after mine understanding.

Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.

Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? or is it gain to him, that thou makest thy ways perfect?

Is it for thy fear of him that he reproveth thee, That he entereth with thee into judgment?

Is not thy wickedness great? and thine iniquities infinite?

For thou hast taken a pledge from thy brother for nought, and stripped the naked of their clothing.

Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, And lay up his words in thy heart.

If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles.

And lay thou thy treasure in the dust, And the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks;

Yea, the Almighty shall be thy defence, and thou shalt have plenty of silver.

For then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God.

Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows.

Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways.

He will deliver even him that is not innocent: Yea, he shall be delivered through the cleanness of thy hands.

Thou art become cruel to me: with thy strong hand thou opposest thyself against me.

If thou canst answer me, set thy words in order before me, stand up.

Behold, I am according to thy wish in God's stead: I also am formed out of the clay.

Surely thou hast spoken in mine hearing, and I have heard the voice of thy words, saying,

Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I will speak.

But if thou hast anything to say, then answer me, and speak, for thy answer pleaseth me.

If not, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I shall teach thee wisdom.

Should it be according to thy mind? he will recompense it, whether thou refuse, or whether thou choose; and not I: therefore speak what thou knowest.

Thinkest thou this to be thy right, Or'sayest thou, My righteousness is more than God's,

I will answer thee, and thy companions with thee.

If thou sinnest, what doest thou against him? or if thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto him?

If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? Or what receiveth he of thy hand?

Thy wickedness may hurt a man as thou art; and thy righteousness may profit the son of man.

"When thou speakest, then, should not he pardon thee, if thou open thyself before him, and put thy trust in him?

Even so would he have removed thee out of the strait into a broad place, where there is no straitness; and that which should be set on thy table should be full of fatness.

For then shall not thy cause be stilled with cruelty, nor pacified with many gifts.

Will he esteem thy riches? no, not gold, nor all the forces of strength.

Prolong not thou the time, till there come a night for thee, to set other people in thy stead.

How thy garments are warm, when he quieteth the earth by the south wind?

Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.

And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?

Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place;

Knowest thou it, because thou wast then born? or because the number of thy days is great?

Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee?

Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or abide by thy crib?