Because it did not shut the opening of my mother’s womb,
Or hide trouble from my eyes.

Why didn't I die while I was still in the womb, or die while I was being born?

Why did the knees prevent me? or why the breasts that I should suck?

along with kings and counselors of the earth, who used to build for themselves what are now only ruins,

Or with princes that had gold, who filled their houses with silver:

Or as an hidden untimely birth I had not been; as infants which never saw light.

There the wicked cease from troubling; And there the weary are at rest.

There the prisoners are at ease together; They hear not the voice of the taskmaster.

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

Wherefore give, to the wretched, light? Or, life, to the embittered in soul? -

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

Which rejoice exceedingly, and are glad, when they can find the grave?

For my sighing cometh before I eat, and my roarings are poured out like the waters.

“I am not at ease, nor am I quiet,
And I am not at rest, and yet trouble still comes [upon me].”

If a word were essayed to thee, wouldest thou be grieved? But who can refrain from speaking?

“Your words have helped the one who was stumbling to stand,
And you have strengthened feeble knees.

“But now adversity comes upon you, and you are impatient and intolerant;
It touches you, and you are horrified.

“Is not your fear of God your confidence,
And [is not] the integrity and uprightness of your ways your hope?

Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off?

By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed.

The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions, are broken.

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

Now a thing was secretly brought to me, and mine ear received a little thereof.

When there were thoughts, from visions of the night, - When deep sleep falleth upon men,

Fear came on me and shaking, and my bones were full of trouble;

Then a breath of air passes by my face; it makes the hair of my flesh stand up.

‘Can [mortal] man be just before God or be more righteous than He?
Can a man be pure before his Maker or be more cleansed than He?

‘God puts no trust or confidence, even in His [heavenly] servants,
And He charges His angels with error.

How much less in them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, which are crushed before the moth?

They are destroyed from morning to evening: they perish for ever without any regarding it.

Are their tent cords not pulled up?
They die without wisdom.

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Give now a cry for help; is there anyone who will give you an answer? and to which of the holy ones will you make your prayer?

"I myself saw a fool becoming established, but I suddenly cursed where he lived.

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

For evil does not come out of the dust, or trouble out of the earth;

Though, man, to trouble, were born, as, sparks, on high, do soar,

However, if I were you, I would appeal to God
and would present my case to Him.

Who does great things outside our knowledge, wonders without number:

So that he setteth up on high those that are low, And those that mourn are exalted to safety.

“He frustrates the devices and schemes of the crafty,
So that their hands cannot attain success or achieve anything of [lasting] worth.

[He] is capturing [the] wise in their craftiness, and the schemes of the wily are rushed.

They encounter darkness by day,
and they grope at noon
as if it were night.

Therefore there is hope for those who are poor, and iniquity shuts its mouth.

“Behold, how happy and fortunate is the man whom God reproves,
So do not despise or reject the discipline of the Almighty [subjecting you to trial and suffering].

In famine he shall redeem thee from death: and in war from the power of the sword.

You'll be protected from the accusing tongue; you need not fear destruction when it heads your way.

For your covenant [will be] with the stones of the field, and the wild animals of the field will be at peace with you.

“You will know also that your tent is secure and at peace,
And you will visit your dwelling and fear no loss [nor find anything amiss].

“You will know also that your descendants will be many,
And your offspring as the grass of the earth.

“You will come to your grave in old age,
Like the stacking of grain [on the threshing floor] in its season.

“Behold this; we have investigated it, and it is true.
Hear and heed it, and know for yourself [for your own good].”

Job answered, and said, "Oh that my misery were weighed, and my punishment laid in the balances:

Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together!

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 whereof drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of God do set themselves in array against me.

Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox over his fodder?

Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the white of an egg?

The things that my soul refused to touch are as my sorrowful meat.

“Would that God were willing to crush me,
That He would loose His hand and cut me off!

“Then I would still have consolation,
And I would jump for joy amid unsparing pain,
That I have not denied or hidden the words of the Holy One.

Have I strength to go on waiting, or have I any end to be looking forward to?

Is my strength the strength of stones? or is my flesh of brass?

For him that is fainting kindness is meet from his friend; or he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.

My companions are treacherous like a torrent-bed; like a streambed of wadis they flow away,

Which are blackish by reason of the ice, and wherein the snow is hid:

What time they wax warm, they vanish: when it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.

The paths of their way are turned aside; they go to nothing, and perish.

The camel-trains of Tema were searching with care, the bands of Sheba were waiting for them:

They were confounded because they had hoped; they came thither, and were ashamed.

For now ye are nothing; ye see my casting down, and are afraid.

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

Or, Deliver me from the enemy's hand? or, Redeem me from the hand of the mighty?

"Instruct me, and I'll remain silent. Help me understand where I've gone astray.

How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing reprove?

Do ye imagine to reprove words, and the speeches of one that is desperate, which are as wind?

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

Now therefore be pleased to look upon me; For surely I shall not lie to your face.

“Turn away [from your suspicion], let there be no injustice;
Turn away, my righteousness and vindication is still in it.

Is there injustice on my tongue? Or can my palate not discern calamity?

Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling?

So am I made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me.

My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope.

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

Am I a sea, or a whale, that thou settest a watch over me?

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

“What is man that You [should] magnify him [and think him important]?
And that You are concerned about him?

And that your hand is on him every morning, and that you are testing him every minute?

“Will You never turn Your gaze away from me [it plagues me],
Nor let me alone until I swallow my spittle?

If I have sinned, what have I done to You,
Watcher of mankind?
Why have You made me Your target,
so that I have become a burden to You?

“How long will you say these things?
And will the words of your mouth be a mighty wind?

Doth God pervert judgment? or doth the Almighty pervert justice?

“If your children have sinned against Him,
Then He has handed them over to the power of their transgression and punished them.

“If you would [diligently] seek God
And implore the compassion and favor of the Almighty,

Then, if you are pure and upright,
Surely now He will awaken for you
And restore your righteous place.

“Though your beginning was insignificant,
Yet your end will greatly increase.

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

“Can the papyrus grow up without a marsh?
Can the rushes or reed grass grow without water?

While they are still green and not yet ready to be harvested, they wither before any plant.

So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite's hope shall perish:

His roots are wrapped about the heap, and seeth the place of stones.