If I mocked them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down.

But now they that are younger than I hold me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my flock.

Yea, how might the strength of their hands profit me, in whom vigor has perished?

They abhor me, they flee far from me, and hesitate not to spit in my face.

Because he has loosed my cord, and afflicted me, they have also cast off restraint before me.

Upon my right hand rise the youth; they push away my feet, and they raise up against me the ways of their destruction.

They mar my path, they set forward my calamity, they have no helper.

They came upon me as a wide breaking in of waters: in the desolation they rolled themselves upon me.

Terrors are turned upon me: they pursue my honor as the wind: and my welfare passes away as a cloud.

And now my soul is poured out upon me; the days of affliction have taken hold upon me.

My bones are pierced in me in the night season: and my sinews take no rest.

By the great force of my disease is my garment changed: it binds me about as the collar of my coat.

He has cast me into the mire, and I am become like dust and ashes.

I cry unto you, and you do not hear me: I stand up, and you regard me not.

You have become cruel to me: with your strong hand you oppose yourself against me.

You lift me up to the wind; you cause me to ride upon it, and spoil my substance.

For I know that you will bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all living.

Did I not weep for him that was in trouble? was not my soul grieved for the poor?

When I looked for good, then evil came unto me: and when I waited for light, there came darkness.

My heart is in turmoil, and rests not: the days of affliction confront me.

My skin is black upon me, and my bones are burned with heat.

My harp also is turned to mourning, and my flute into the voice of them that weep.

I made a covenant with my eyes; why then should I think upon a maiden?

Does not he see my ways, and count all my steps?

If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot has hastened to deceit;

Let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know my integrity.

If my step has turned out of the way, and my heart walked after my eyes, and if any spot has cleaved to my hands;

Then let me sow, and let another eat; yea, let my offspring be rooted out.

If my heart has been deceived by a woman, or if I have laid wait at my neighbor's door;

Then let my wife grind for another, and let others bow down upon her.

For it is a fire that consumes to destruction, and would root out all my increase.

If I did despise the cause of my manservant or of my maidservant, when they contended with me;

Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not one fashion us in the womb?

Or have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless has not eaten of it;

(For from my youth he was brought up with me, as with a father, and I have guided him from my mother's womb;)

If his heart has not blessed me, and if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep;

If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, when I saw I had help in the gate:

Then let my arm fall from my shoulder blade, and my arm be broken from its socket.

For destruction from God was a terror to me, and by reason of his majesty I could not endure.

If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, You are my confidence;

If I rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because my hand had gotten much;

And my heart has been secretly enticed, or my mouth has kissed my hand:

If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found him:

Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by wishing a curse to his soul.

If the men of my tent have not, Oh that we had of his meat! we cannot be satisfied.

The stranger did not lodge in the street: but I opened my doors to the traveler.

If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding my iniquity in my bosom:

Did I fear a great multitude, or did the contempt of families terrify me, that I kept silence, and went not out of the door?

Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me, and that my adversary had written a book.

Surely I would take it upon my shoulder, and bind it as a crown to me.

I would declare unto him the number of my steps; as a prince would I go near unto him.

If my land cries against me, and its furrows likewise complain;

And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said, I am young, and you are very old; therefore I was afraid, and dared not show you my opinion.

Therefore I say, Hearken to me; I also will show my opinion.

Now he has not directed his words against me: neither will I answer him with your speeches.

I said, I will answer also my part, I also will show my opinion.

For I am full of words, the spirit within me constrains me.

Behold, my belly is as wine which has no vent; it is ready to burst like new wineskins.

I will speak, that I may be refreshed: I will open my lips and answer.

Let me not, I pray you, accept any man's person, neither let me give flattery unto man.

For I know not how to give flattery; in so doing my maker would soon take me away.

Therefore, Job, I pray you, hear my speeches, and hearken to all my words.

Behold, now I have opened my mouth, my tongue has spoken in my mouth.

My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart: and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly.

The spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty has given me life.

If you can answer me, set your words in order before me, stand up.

Behold, my terror shall not make you afraid, neither shall my hand be heavy upon you.

Surely you have spoken in my hearing, and I have heard the voice of your words, saying,

I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me.

Behold, he finds occasions against me, he counts me for his enemy,

He puts my feet in the stocks, he marks all my paths.

That he may turn man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.

He looks upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not;

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

If you have any thing to say, answer me: speak, for I desire to justify you.

If not, hearken unto me: hold your peace, and I shall teach you wisdom.

Hear my words, O you wise men; and give ear unto me, you that have knowledge.

For Job has said, I am righteous: and God has taken away my justice.

Should I lie concerning my right? my wound is incurable though I am without transgression.

Therefore hearken unto me, you men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.

If now you have understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words.

There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.

That which I see not you teach me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more.

Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken unto me.

My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end because he answers like wicked men.

Think you this to be right, that you said, My righteousness is more than God's?

For you said, What advantage will it be unto you? and, What profit shall I have, if I be cleansed from my sin?

Your wickedness may hurt a man as you are; and your righteousness may profit the son of man.

But none says, Where is God my maker, who gives songs in the night;

Bear with me a little, and I will show you that I have yet to speak on God's behalf.

I will get my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.

For truly my words shall not be false: he that is blameless in knowledge is with you.

Every man may see it; man may behold it afar off.

At this also my heart trembles, and is moved out of its place.

He seals up the hand of every man; that all men may know his work.

And it is turned around by his guidance: that they may do whatsoever he commands them upon the face of the whole earth.

Gird up now your loins like a man; for I will demand of you, and you answer me.

Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover you?

Can you send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto you, Here we are?

And forgets that the foot may crush them, or that a wild beast may break them.