His sons went and held a feast in the house of each one on his birthday; and they sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.

It was so, when the days of their feasting had run their course, 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 renounced God in their hearts." Job did so continually.

The LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant, Job? For there is none like him in the earth, a blameless and an upright man, one who fears God, and turns away from evil."

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

While he was still speaking, there also came another, and said, "The fire of God has fallen from the sky, and has burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them, and I alone have 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 on the young men, and they are dead. I alone have escaped to tell you."

The LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? For there is none like him in the earth, a blameless and an upright man, one who fears God, and turns away from evil. He still maintains his integrity, although you incited me against him, to ruin him without cause."

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

He took for himself a potsherd to scrape himself with, and he sat among the ashes.

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

Let that day be darkness. Do not let God from above seek for it, neither let the light shine on it.

Let darkness and the shadow of death claim it for their own. Let a cloud dwell on it. Let all that makes black the day terrify it.

As for that night, let thick darkness seize on 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 eyelids of the morning,

For now should I have lain down and been quiet. I should have slept, then I would have been at rest,

with kings and counselors of the earth, who built up waste places for themselves;

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

Who long for death, but it doesn't come; and dig for it more than for hidden treasures,

For my sighing comes before I eat. My groanings are poured out like water.

For the thing which I fear comes on me, That which I am afraid of comes to me.

The old lion perishes for lack of prey. The cubs of the lioness are scattered abroad.

fear came on me, and trembling, which made all my bones shake.

For resentment kills the foolish man, and jealousy kills the simple.

His children are far from safety. They are crushed in the gate. Neither is there any to deliver them,

whose harvest the hungry eats up, and take it even out of the thorns. The snare gapes for their substance.

For affliction doesn't come forth from the dust, neither does trouble spring out of the ground;

"But as for me, I would seek God. I would commit my cause to God,

For he wounds, and binds up. He injures, and his hands make whole.

For you shall be in league with the stones of the field. The animals of the field shall be at peace with you.

Look this, we have searched it, so it is. Hear it, and know it for your good."

For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas, therefore have my words been rash.

For the arrows of Shaddai are within me. My spirit drinks up their poison. The terrors of God set themselves in array against me.

"Oh that I might have my request, that God would grant the thing that I long for,

"To him who is ready to faint, kindness should be shown from his friend; even to him who forsakes the fear of Shaddai.

The caravans of Tema looked. The companies of Sheba waited for them.

For now you are nothing. You see a terror, and are afraid.

Did I say, 'Give to me?' or, 'Offer a present for me from your substance?'

Yes, you would even cast lots for the fatherless, and make merchandise of your friend.

Now therefore be pleased to look at me, for surely I shall not lie to your face.

As a servant who earnestly desires the shadow, as a hireling who looks for his wages,

I loathe my life. I do not want to live forever. Leave me alone, for my days are but a breath.

If I have sinned, what do I do to you, you watcher of men? Why have you set me as a mark for you, so that I am a burden to myself?

Why do you not pardon my disobedience, and take away my iniquity? For now shall I lie down in the dust. You will seek me diligently, but I shall not be."

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

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

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

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

then I would speak, and not fear him, for I am not so in myself.

"My soul is weary of my life. I will give free course to my complaint. I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.

For you say, 'My doctrine is pure. I am clean in your eyes.'

that he would show you the secrets of wisdom. For true wisdom has two sides. Know therefore that God exacts of you less than your iniquity deserves.

For he knows false men. He sees iniquity also, even though he doesn't consider it.

If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away. Do not let unrighteousness dwell in your tents.

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

for you shall forget your misery. You shall remember it as waters that are passed away.

In the thought of him who is at ease there is contempt for misfortune. It is ready for them whose foot slips.

Will you speak unrighteously for God, and talk deceitfully for him?

Will you show partiality to him? Will you contend for God?

Who is he who will contend with me? For then would I hold my peace and give up the spirit.

withdraw your hand far from me; and do not let your terror make me afraid.

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

For you write bitter things against me, and make me inherit the iniquities of my youth:

"For there is hope for a tree, If it is cut down, that it will sprout again, that the tender branch of it will not cease.

Yes, you do away with fear, and hinder devotion before God.

For your iniquity teaches your mouth, and you choose the language of the crafty.

Are the consolations of God too small for you, even the word that is gentle toward you?

the wicked man writhes in pain all his days, even the number of years that are laid up for the oppressor.

He doesn't believe that he shall return out of darkness. 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.

Let him not trust in emptiness, deceiving himself; for emptiness shall be his reward.

For the company of the godless shall be barren, and fire shall consume the tents of bribery.

I was at ease, and he broke me apart. Yes, he has taken me by the neck, and dashed me to pieces. He has also set me up for his target.

Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven. He who vouches for me is on high.

For when a few years are come, I shall go the way from whence I shall not return.

"My spirit is consumed. My days are extinct, And the grave is ready for me.

"Now give a pledge, be collateral for me with yourself. Who is there who will strike hands with me?

For you have hidden their heart from understanding, Therefore you shall not exalt them.

He who denounces his friends for a prey, Even the eyes of his children shall fail.

But as for you all, come on now again; I shall not find a wise man among you.

If I look for Sheol as my house, if I have spread my couch in the darkness,

where then is my hope? As for my hope, who shall see it?

"How long will you hunt for words? Consider, and afterwards we will speak.

You who tear yourself in your anger, shall the earth be forsaken for you? Or shall the rock be removed out of its place?

"Yes, the light of the wicked shall be put out, The spark of his fire shall not shine.

For he is cast into a net by his own feet, and he wanders into its mesh.

A noose is hidden for him in the ground, a trap for him in the way.

"He has put my brothers far from me. My acquaintances are wholly estranged from me.

Those who dwell in my house, and my maids, count me for a stranger. I am a foreigner in their sight.

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

But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives. In the end, he will stand upon the earth.

be afraid of the sword, for wrath brings the punishments of the sword, that you may know there is a judgment."

that the triumphing of the wicked is short, the joy of the godless but for a moment?

That for which he labored he shall restore, and shall not swallow it down. According to the substance that he has gotten, he shall not rejoice.

For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor. He has violently taken away a house, and he shall not build it up.

All darkness is laid up for his treasures. An unfanned fire shall devour him. It shall consume that which is left in his tent.

As for me, is my complaint to man? Why shouldn't I be impatient?

Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.

They tell God, 'Depart from us, for we do not want to know about your ways.

Behold, their prosperity is not in their hand. The counsel of the wicked is far from me.

You say, 'God lays up his iniquity for his children.' Let him recompense it to himself, that he may know it.