And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one on his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.

And it was so, when the days of their feasting were finished, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.

And the LORD said unto Satan, From where come you? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.

Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Does Job fear God for nothing?

While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God has fallen from heaven, and has burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I alone am escaped to tell you.

And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I alone am escaped to tell you.

And the LORD said unto Satan, From where come you? And Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.

And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man has will he give for his life.

Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.

So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spoke a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great.

As for that night, let darkness seize upon it; let it not rejoice among the days of the year, let it not come into the number of the months.

Let the stars of its twilight be dark; let it look for light, but have none; neither let it see the dawning of the day:

For now should I have lain still and been quiet, I should have slept: then would I have been at rest,

With kings and counselors of the earth, who built desolate places for themselves;

The small and great are there; and the servant is free from his master.

Who long for death, but it comes not; and dig for it more than for hidden treasures;

For my sighing comes before I eat, and my groanings are poured out like the waters.

For the thing which I greatly feared has come upon me, and that which I was afraid of has come unto me.

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

The old lion perishes for lack of prey, and the strong lion's whelps are scattered abroad.

Fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake.

For wrath kills the foolish man, and envy slays the simple one.

His children are far from safety, and they are crushed in the gate, neither is there any to deliver them.

For affliction comes not forth from the dust, neither does trouble spring out of the ground;

For he bruises, and binds up: he wounds, and his hands make whole.

For you shall be in covenant with the stones of the field: and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with you.

Lo this, we have searched it out, so it is; hear it, and know you it for your good.

For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my words are swallowed up.

For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison thereof drinks up my spirit: the terrors of God do set themselves in array against me.

Oh that I might have my request; and that God would grant me the thing that I long for!

Then should I still have comfort; yea, I would exult myself in sorrow: let him not spare; for I have not concealed the words of the Holy One.

To him that is afflicted pity should be shown from his friend; even though he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.

The caravans of Tema looked, the travelers of Sheba waited for them.

For now you are nothing; you see my terror, and are afraid.

Did I say, Bring unto me? or, Give a reward for me of your substance?

Yea, you overwhelm the fatherless, and you dig a pit for your friend.

Now therefore be content, look upon me; for it is evident unto you if I lie.

As a servant earnestly desires the shadow, and as a hireling looks for the reward of his work:

When I lie down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be gone? and I am full of tossings to and fro unto the dawning of the day.

I loathe it; I would not live always: let me alone; for my days are vanity.

And why do you not pardon my transgression, and take away my iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust; and you shall seek me in the morning, but I shall not be.

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

If you were pure and upright; surely now he would awake for you, and make the habitation of your righteousness prosperous.

For inquire, I pray you, of the former age, and prepare yourself to the findings of their fathers:

(For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow:)

His roots are wrapped about the stone heap, and looks for a place in the stones.

For, though I were righteous, yet could I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.

For he breaks me with a tempest, and multiplies my wounds without cause.

For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in trial.

Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me:

Then would I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.

For it increases. You hunt me as a fierce lion: and again you show yourself awesome against me.

For you have said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in your eyes.

For he knows vain men: he sees wickedness also; will he not then consider it?

For a vain man will be wise, when a man is born a wild donkey's colt.

If iniquity be in your hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in your tents.

For then shall you lift up your face without spot; yea, you shall be steadfast, and shall not fear:

Will you speak wickedly for God? and talk deceitfully for him?

Will you accept his person? will you contend for God?

He also shall be my salvation: for a hypocrite shall not come before him.

Who is he that will contend with me? for now, if I hold my tongue, I shall die.

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

Why hide you your face, and hold me for your enemy?

Will you break a leaf driven to and fro? and will you pursue the dry stubble?

For you write bitter things against me, and make me possess the iniquities of my youth.

For there is hope for a tree, if it is cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender shoots thereof will not cease.

For now you number my steps: do not watch over my sin.

Yea, you cast off fear, and restrain prayer before God.

For your mouth utters your iniquity, and you choose the tongue of the crafty.

Are the consolations of God too small for you? on the word that deals gently with you?

The wicked man travails with pain all his days, and the number of years is hidden for the oppressor.

He believes not that he shall return out of darkness, and he is waited for by the sword.

He wanders abroad for bread, saying, Where is it? he knows that the day of darkness is ready at his hand.

Trouble and anguish shall make him afraid; they shall prevail against him, as a king ready for battle.

For he stretches out his hand against God, and strengthens himself against the Almighty.

Let not him that is deceived trust in vanity: for futility shall be his reward.

For the congregation of hypocrites shall be desolate, and fire shall consume the tents of bribery.

I was at ease, but he has broken me asunder: he has also taken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces, and set me up for his mark.

Not for any violence in my hands: also my prayer is pure.

O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleads for his neighbor!

My breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the grave is ready for me.

Lay down a surety for me with you; who is he that will give surety for me?

For you have hidden their heart from understanding: therefore shall you not exalt them.

But as for you all, do you return, and come now: for I cannot find one wise man among you.

And where is now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it?

He tears himself in his anger: shall the earth be forsaken for you? and shall the rock be removed out of its place?

Yea, the light of the wicked shall be put out, and the flame of his fire shall not shine.

For he is cast into a net by his own feet, and he walks upon a snare.

The noose is laid for him on the ground, and a trap for him in the way.

He has put my brethren far from me, and my acquaintances are wholly estranged from me.

My breath is repulsive to my wife, though I make supplication for the children of my own body.

Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O you my friends; for the hand of God has touched me.

For I know that my redeemer lives, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:

Whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another; though my heart be consumed within me.

Be yourselves afraid of the sword: for wrath brings the punishment of the sword, that you may know there is a judgment.

Therefore do my thoughts cause me to answer, and for this I make haste.

That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?

That which he labored for shall he restore, and shall not swallow it down: from the proceeds of business he shall not rejoice.

There shall none of his food be left; therefore shall no man look for his goods.

All darkness shall be laid up for his treasures: a fire not blown upon shall consume him; it shall go ill with him who is left in his tent.