and it cometh to pass, when they have gone round the days of the banquet, that Job doth send and sanctify them, and hath risen early in the morning, and caused to ascend burnt-offerings -- the number of them all -- for Job said, 'Perhaps my sons have sinned, yet blessed God in their heart.' Thus doth Job all the days.

And Jehovah saith unto the Adversary, 'Whence comest thou?' And the Adversary answereth Jehovah and saith, 'From going to and fro in the land, and from walking up and down on it.'

And the Adversary answereth Jehovah and saith, 'For nought is Job fearing God?

Hast not Thou made a hedge for him, and for his house, and for all that he hath -- round about?

While this one is speaking another also hath come and saith, 'Fire of God hath fallen from the heavens, and burneth among the flock, and among the young men, and consumeth them, and I am escaped -- only I alone -- to declare it to thee.'

And lo, a great wind hath come from over the wilderness, and striketh against the four corners of the house, and it falleth on the young men, and they are dead, and I am escaped -- only I alone -- to declare it to thee.'

And Jehovah saith unto the Adversary, 'Whence camest thou?' And the Adversary answereth Jehovah and saith, 'From going to and fro in the land, and from walking up and down in it.'

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!'

And the Adversary answereth Jehovah and saith, 'A skin for a skin, and all that a man hath he doth give for his life.

Let the stars of its twilight be dark, Let it wait for light, and there is none, And let it not look on the eyelids of the dawn.

For now, I have lain down, and am quiet, I have slept -- then there is rest to me,

With kings and counsellors of earth, These building wastes for themselves.

Small and great are there the same. And a servant is free from his lord.

Who are waiting for death, and it is not, And they seek it above hid treasures.

For before my food, my sighing cometh, And poured out as waters are my roarings.

For a fear I feared and it meeteth me, And what I was afraid of doth come to me.

Fear hath met me, and trembling, And the multitude of my bones caused to fear.

From morning to evening are beaten down, Without any regarding, for ever they perish.

For provocation slayeth the perverse, And envy putteth to death the simple,

Far are his sons from safety, And they are bruised in the gate, And there is no deliverer.

For sorrow cometh not forth from the dust, Nor from the ground springeth up misery.

For man to misery is born, And the sparks go high to fly.

Yet I -- I inquire for God, And for God I give my word,

For He doth pain, and He bindeth up, He smiteth, and His hands heal.

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

Lo, this -- we searched it out -- it is right, hearken; And thou, know for thyself!

For now, than the sands of the sea it is heavier, Therefore my words have been rash.

For arrows of the Mighty are with me, Whose poison is drinking up my spirit. Terrors of God array themselves for me!

To a despiser of his friends is shame, And the fear of the Mighty he forsaketh.

Passengers of Tema looked expectingly, Travellers of Sheba hoped for them.

Is it because I said, Give to me? And, By your power bribe for me?

For reproof -- do you reckon words? And for wind -- sayings of the desperate.

I have wasted away -- not to the age do I live. Cease from me, for my days are vanity.

I have sinned, what do I to Thee, O watcher of man? Why hast Thou set me for a mark to Thee, And I am for a burden to myself -- and what?

Thou dost not take away my transgression, And cause to pass away mine iniquity, Because now, for dust I lie down: And Thou hast sought me -- and I am not!

If pure and upright thou art, Surely now He waketh for thee, And hath completed The habitation of thy righteousness.

For, ask I pray thee of a former generation, And prepare to a search of their fathers,

(For of yesterday we are, and we know not, For a shadow are our days on earth.)

By a heap his roots are wrapped, A house of stones he looketh for.

Whom, though I were righteous, I answer not, For my judgment I make supplication.

Because with a tempest He bruiseth me, And hath multiplied my wounds for nought.

I speak, and do not fear Him, But I am not right with myself.

Is it good for Thee that Thou dost oppress? That Thou despisest the labour of Thy hands, And on the counsel of the wicked hast shone?

That Thou inquirest for mine iniquity, And for my sin seekest?

For Thou knowest that I am not wicked, And there is no deliverer from Thy hand.

And declare to thee secrets of wisdom, For counsel hath foldings. And know thou that God forgetteth for thee, Some of thine iniquity.

For he hath known men of vanity, And He seeth iniquity, And one doth not consider it!

If iniquity is in thy hand, put it far off, And let not perverseness dwell in thy tents.

For then thou liftest up thy face from blemish, And thou hast been firm, and fearest not.

For thou dost forget misery, As waters passed away thou rememberest.

A torch -- despised in the thoughts of the secure Is prepared for those sliding with the feet.

Doth not the ear try words? And the palate taste food for itself?

Yet I for the Mighty One do speak, And to argue for God I delight.

O that ye would keep perfectly silent, And it would be to you for wisdom.

For God do ye speak perverseness? And for Him do ye speak deceit?

His face do ye accept, if for God ye strive?

Your remembrances are similes of ashes, For high places of clay your heights.

Also -- He is to me for salvation, For the profane cometh not before Him.

Who is he that doth strive with me? For now I keep silent and gasp.

Thy hand put far off from me, And Thy terror let not terrify me.

Why dost Thou hide Thy face? And reckonest me for an enemy to Thee?

For Thou writest against me bitter things, And causest me to possess iniquities of my youth:

For there is of a tree hope, if it be cut down, That again it doth change, That its tender branch doth not cease.

O that in Sheol Thou wouldest conceal me, Hide me till the turning of Thine anger, Set for me a limit, and remember me.

Thou prevailest over him for ever, and he goeth, He is changing his countenance, And Thou sendest him away.

Only -- his flesh for him is pained, And his soul for him doth mourn.'

For thy mouth teacheth thine iniquity, And thou chooseth the tongue of the subtile.

Too few for thee are the comforts of God? And a gentle word is with thee,

For thou turnest against God thy spirit? And hast brought out words from thy mouth:

'All days of the wicked he is paining himself, And few years have been laid up for the terrible one.

He believeth not to return from darkness, And watched is he for the sword.

He is wandering for bread -- 'Where is it?' He hath known that ready at his hand Is a day of darkness.

Terrify him do adversity and distress, They prevail over him As a king ready for a boaster.

For he stretched out against God his hand, And against the Mighty he maketh himself mighty.

For he hath covered his face with his fat, And maketh vigour over his confidence.

Let him not put credence in vanity, He hath been deceived, For vanity is his recompence.

For the company of the profane is gloomy, And fire hath consumed tents of bribery.

And Thou dost loathe me, For a witness it hath been, And rise up against me doth my failure, In my face it testifieth.

His anger hath torn, and he hateth me, He hath gnashed at me with his teeth, My adversary sharpeneth his eyes for me.

At ease I have been, and he breaketh me, And he hath laid hold on my neck, And he breaketh me in pieces, And he raiseth me to him for a mark.

Not for violence in my hands, And my prayer is pure.

O earth, do not thou cover my blood! And let there not be a place for my cry.

And he reasoneth for a man with God, And a son of man for his friend.

My spirit hath been destroyed, My days extinguished -- graves are for me.

For their heart Thou hast hidden From understanding, Therefore Thou dost not exalt them.

For a portion he sheweth friendship, And the eyes of his sons are consumed.

And he set me up for a proverb of the peoples, And a wonder before them I am.

Night for day they appoint, Light is near because of darkness.

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

Also, the light of the wicked is extinguished. And there doth not shine a spark of his fire.

For he is sent into a net by his own feet, And on a snare he doth walk habitually.

My brethren from me He hath put far off, And mine acquaintances surely Have been estranged from me.

Sojourners of my house and my maids, For a stranger reckon me: An alien I have been in their eyes.

Pity me, pity me, ye my friends, For the hand of God hath stricken against me.

With a pen of iron and lead -- For ever in a rock they may be hewn.

That -- I have known my Redeemer, The Living and the Last, For the dust he doth rise.

Be ye afraid because of the sword, For furious are the punishments of the sword, That ye may know that there is a judgment.

That the singing of the wicked is short, And the joy of the profane for a moment,

As his own dung for ever he doth perish, His beholders say: 'Where is he?'

He is giving back what he laboured for, And doth not consume it; As a bulwark is his exchange, and he exults not.