In the land of Uz, there was a man called Job: an innocent and virtuous man, such a one as feared God, and eschewed evil.

Then said the LORD unto Satan, "Hast thou not considered my servant Job, and how that he is an innocent and virtuous man: such one as feareth God, and escheweth evil, and that there is none like him in the land?"

Then said the LORD unto Satan, "Hast thou not considered my servant Job, how that he is an innocent and virtuous man such one as feareth God, and escheweth evil, and that there is none like him in the land? But thou movedst me against him, to punish him: yet is it in vain, for he continueth still in his godliness."

"Alas, why died I not in the birth? Why did not I perish, as soon as I came out of my mother's womb?

like as the kings and lords of the earth, which build themselves special places:

As the princes that have great substance of gold, and their houses full of silver.

O that I utterly had no being, or were as a thing born out of time that is put aside, either as young children, which never saw the light.

There, must the wicked cease from their tyranny, there such as are overlaboured be at rest.

For, as I have proved by experience, they that plow iniquity and sow wretchedness, reap the same.

As for the foolish man, displeasure killeth him; and anger slayeth the ignorant.

but it is man, that is born unto misery, like as the sparks fly up out of the hot coals.

Insomuch that they run into darkness by fair day, and grope about them at the noonday, like as in the night.

Thou shalt see also, that thy seed shall increase, and that thy posterity shall be as the grass upon the earth.

Thou shalt come to thy grave in a fair age, like as the corn sheaves are brought in to the barn in due season.

Doth the wild ass roar when he hath grass? Or crieth the ox, when he hath fodder enough?

like as if one withdrew a good deed from his friend, and forsook the fear of the Almighty God?

Mine own brethren pass over by me, as the water brook that hastily runneth through the valleys.

For like as a bond servant desireth the shadow, and as a hireling would fain have an end of his work:

For if thou fasten thine eyes upon me, I come to naught like as a cloud is consumed and vanisheth away. Even so, he that goeth down to hell, cometh no more up,

Lo, thus is it with him that rejoiceth in his own doings: and as for others, they grow out of the earth.

He commandeth the sun, and it riseth not: he closeth up the stars, as it were under a signet.

He doth great things, such as are unsearchable, yea and wonders without number.

As for the world, he giveth it over into the power of the wicked; and he shall cover the faces of the judges thereof. Is it not so? Where is he - or who is he - that can show the contrary?

They are passed away, as the ships that be good under sail, and as the Eagle that hasteth to the prey.

For he that I must give answer unto, and with whom I go to law, is not a man as I am.

and then shall I answer him without any fear. For as long as I am in such fearfulness, I can make no answer: And why?

Hast thou fleshly eyes then, or doest thou look as a man looketh?

Are thy days as the days of man, and thy years as man's years,

Hast thou not turned me, as it were milk: and turned me to cruddes like cheese?

Thou huntest me out, being in heaviness, as it were a lion, and troublest me out of measure.

If they had carried me to my grave as soon as I was born, then should I be now, as though I had never been.

yea, into a land as dark as darkness itself, and into the shadow of death where is none order; but light there is as darkness."

A vain body exalteth himself, and man, newborn, is like a wild ass's colt.

Then should the residue of thy life be as clear as the noon day, and spring forth as the morning.

As for the eyes of the ungodly, they shall be consumed, and not escape: their hope shall be misery and sorrow of mind."

But I have understanding as well as ye, and am no less than ye. Yea who knoweth not these things?

Ask the cattle, and they shall inform thee; the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee.

He carrieth away the wise men, as it were a spoil, and bringeth the judges out of their wits.

As for you, ye are workmasters of lies, and unprofitable physicians altogether.

Shall that help you, when he calleth you to reckoning? Think ye to beguile him, as a man is beguiled?

Whereas I, notwithstanding, must consume like as a foul carrion, and as a cloth that is moth eaten.

He cometh up and is cut down like a flower. He flyeth as it were a shadow, and never continueth in one state.

Go from him, that he may rest until his day come: which he looketh for, like as a hireling doth.

yet when the stock getteth the scent of water, it will bud, and bring forth bows, like as when it was first planted.

But as for man; when he is dead, perished and consumed away, what becometh of him?

Thou hast sealed up mine offenses, as it were in a bag: but be merciful unto my wickedness.

"Should a wise man's answer be as the science of the wind, and fill his belly with the wind of the east?

As for shame, thou hast set it aside - else wouldest thou not make so many words before God.

With us are old and aged men; yea, such as have lived longer than thy forefathers.

Sorrow and carefulness make him afraid, and compass him round about, like as it where a king with his host ready to the battle.

He shall be plucked off as an untimely grape from the vine, and shall let his flower fall, as the olive doth.

For the congregation of hypocrites is unfruitful, and the fire shall consume the houses of such as are greedy to receive gifts.

I could speak as ye do also. But would God, that your soul were in my soul's stead: then should I heap up words against you, and shake my head at you.

I was some time in wealth, but suddenly hath he brought me to naught. He hath taken me by the neck, he hath rent me, and set me, as it were a mark for him to shoot at.

Though a body might plead with God, as one man doth with another,

He hath made me as it were a byword of the common people. I am his jesting stock among them.

"As for you, turn you, and get you hence, I pray you - seeing I cannot see one wise man among you.

Wherefore are we counted as beasts, and reputed so vile in your sight?

He hath destroyed me on every side, and I am undone: My hope hath he taken away from me, as it were a tree plucked up by the root.

His wrath is kindled against me; he taketh me, as though I were his enemy.

He hath put my brethren far away from me, and such as were of mine acquaintance, are become strangers unto me.

The servants and maids of mine own house take me for a stranger, and I am become as an alien in their sight.

All such as were my most familiars, abhor me: And they whom I loved best, are turned against me.

Why do ye persecute me as God, and are not satisfied of my flesh?

He vanisheth as a dream, so that he can no more be found, and passeth away as a vision in the night.

Yea, they shall be even as chaff before the wind, and as dust that the storm carrieth away.

Inasmuch then as God hath the highest power of all, who can teach him any knowledge?

Ask any man that goeth by the way, and - if ye will not regard their tokens and deeds - he shall tell you,

"May a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself?

To such as were weary, hast thou given no water to drink, and thou hast withdrawn bread from the hungry.

Should such one then as useth violence, wrong and oppression, doing all things of partiality, and having respect of persons, dwell in the land?

which were cut down out of time, and whose foundation was as a running water,

But as for my way, he knoweth it: and tryeth me as the gold in the fire.

"It is he, himself, alone. Who will turn him back? He doth as him listeth, and bringeth to pass what he will.

He rewardeth me into my bosom, and many other things more doth he, as he may by his power.

For insomuch as he is God, he maketh my heart soft: and seeing that he is Almighty, he putteth me in fear.

that drive away the ass of the fatherless; that take the widow's ox for a pledge;

Behold, even as the wild asses in the desert go they forth to their work, and rise betimes to spoil: Yea, the very wilderness ministereth food for them and their children. by times, as their manner is, to spoil: Yea the very wilderness ministereth food for their children.

For as soon as the day breaketh, the shadow of death cometh upon them, and they go in horrible darkness.

They pluck down the mighty with their power, and when they themselves are gotten up, they are never without fear, as long as they live.

They are exalted for a little, but shortly are they gone, brought to extreme poverty, and taken out of the way: yea, and utterly plucked off, as the ears of corn.

Is it not so? Who will then reprove me as a liar, and say that my words are nothing worth?"

"As truly as God liveth, which hath taken away my power from me; and the Almighty, that hath vexed my mind;

while my breath is in me, and as long as the wind that God hath given me is in my nostrils.

God forbid, that I should grant your cause to be right! As for me, until mine end come will I never go from my innocence.

"Therefore mine enemy shall be found as the ungodly; and he that taketh part against me, as the unrighteous.

Behold, ye stand in your own conceit, as though ye knew all things. Wherefore then do ye go about with such vain words,

Though he have as much money as the dust of the earth, and raiment as ready as the clay,

His house shall endure as the moth, and as a booth that the watchman maketh.

Destruction taketh hold upon him as a water flood, and the tempest stealeth him away in the night season.

With the river of water parteth he asunder the strange people, that knoweth no good neighborhead; such as are rude, unmannerly and boisterous.

There is nothing so worthy, or so excellent, as once to be named unto her: for perfect wisdom goeth far beyond them all.

"Oh that I were as I was in the months by past, and in the days when God preserved me;

As it stood with me, when I was young, when God prospered my house;

When the young men, as soon as they saw me, hid themselves, and when the aged arose, and stood up unto me;

And why? I put upon me righteousness, which covered me as a garment, and equity was my crown.

"Therefore, I thought verily that I should have died in my nest: and that my days should have been as many as the sands of the sea.

They waited for me, as the earth doth for the rain; and gaped upon me, as the ground doth to receive the latter shower.

When I agreed unto their way, I was the chief, and sat as a king among his servants; and when they were in heaviness, I was their comforter.

The power and strength of their hands might do me no good, and as for their age, it is spent and past away without any profit.