There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job. That man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God, and turned away from evil.

His possessions also were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the children of the east.

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.

Now it happened on the day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, that Satan also came among them.

Haven't you made a hedge around him, and around his house, and around all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.

The LORD said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power. Only on himself do not put forth your hand." So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.

and the Sabeans attacked, and took them away. Yes, they have killed the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you."

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."

While he was still speaking, there came also another, and said, "The Chaldeans made three bands, and swept down on the camels, and have taken them away, yes, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; 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."

He said, "Naked I came out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD."

Again it happened on the day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, that Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD.

So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD, and struck Job with painful sores from the sole of his foot to his head.

Then his wife said to him, "Do you still maintain your integrity? Renounce God, and die."

But he said to her, "You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?" In all this Job did not sin with his lips.

Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that had come on him, they each came from his own place: Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite, and they made an appointment together to come to sympathize with him and to comfort him.

After this Job opened his mouth, and cursed the day of his birth.

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,

because it did not shut up the doors of my mother's womb, nor did it hide trouble from my eyes.

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

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

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

"If someone ventures to talk with you, will you be grieved? But who can withhold himself from speaking?

Isn't your piety your confidence? Isn't the integrity of your ways your hope?

"Remember, now, whoever perished, being innocent? Or where were the upright cut off?

By the breath of God they perish. By the blast of his anger are they consumed.

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

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

"Now a thing was secretly brought to me. My ear received a whisper of it.

In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on men,

Then a spirit passed before my face. The hair of my flesh stood up.

How much more, those who dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed before the moth.

"Call now; is there any who will answer you? To which of the holy ones will you turn?

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;

He frustrates the devices of the crafty, So that their hands can't perform their enterprise.

He takes the wise in their own craftiness; the counsel of the cunning is carried headlong.

But he saves from the sword of their mouth, even the needy from the hand of the mighty.

"Behold, blessed is the man whom God corrects. Therefore do not despise the chastening of Shaddai.

In famine he will redeem you from death; in war, from the power of the sword.

You shall be hidden from the scourge of the tongue, neither shall you be afraid of destruction when it comes.

At destruction and famine you shall laugh, neither shall you be afraid of the animals of the earth.

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

You shall know also that your seed shall be great, Your offspring as the grass of the earth.

You shall come to your grave in a full age, like a shock of grain comes in its season.

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.

Can that which has no flavor be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?

even that it would please God to crush me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off.

Be it still my consolation, yes, let me exult in pain that doesn't spare, that I have not denied the words of the Holy One.

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

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

My brothers have dealt deceitfully as a brook, as the channel of brooks that pass away;

Which are black by reason of the ice, in which the snow hides itself.

In the dry season, they vanish. When it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.

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

or, 'Deliver me from the adversary's hand?' or, 'Redeem me from the hand of the oppressors?'

How forcible are words of uprightness. But your reproof, what does it reprove?

Do you intend to reprove words, seeing that the speeches of one who is desperate are as wind?

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

"Isn't a man forced to labor on earth? Aren't his days like the days of a hired hand?

so am I made to possess months of misery, wearisome nights are appointed to me.

When I lie down, I say, 'When shall I arise, and the night be gone?' I toss and turn until the dawning of the day.

My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust. My skin closes up, and breaks out afresh.

The eye of him who sees me shall see me no more. Your eyes shall be on me, but I shall not be.

"Therefore I will not keep silent. I will speak in the anguish of my spirit. I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.

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?

"How long will you speak these things? Shall the words of your mouth be a mighty wind?

If your children have sinned against him, He has delivered them into the hand of their disobedience.

If you want to seek God diligently, make your supplication to Shaddai.

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

"Please inquire of past generations. Find out about the learning of their fathers.

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

Shall they not teach you, tell you, and utter words out of their heart?

So are the paths of all who forget God. The hope of the godless man shall perish,

His roots are wrapped around the rock pile. He sees the place of stones.

If he is destroyed from his place, then it shall deny him, saying, 'I have not seen you.'

Behold, this is the joy of his way: out of the earth, others shall spring.

Those who hate you shall be clothed with shame. The tent of the wicked shall be no more."

If he is pleased to contend with him, he can't answer him one time in a thousand.

He shakes the earth out of its place. Its pillars tremble.

He alone stretches out the heavens, and treads on the waves of the sea.

He makes the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.

"God will not withdraw his anger. The helpers of Rahab stoop under him.

If I had called, and he had answered me, yet I wouldn't believe that he listened to my voice.

If it is a matter of strength, behold, he is mighty. If of justice, 'Who,' says he, 'will summon me?'

If the scourge kills suddenly, he will mock at the trial of the innocent.

The earth is given into the hand of the wicked. He covers the faces of its judges. If not he, then who is it?

If I say, 'I will forget my complaint, I will put off my sad face, and cheer up;'

I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that you will not hold me innocent.

If I wash myself with snow, and cleanse my hands with lye,

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

Is it good to you that you should oppress, that you should despise the work of your hands, and smile on the counsel of the wicked?

Do you have eyes of flesh? Or do you see as man sees?

Are your days as the days of mortals, or your years as man's years,

Although you know that I am not wicked, there is no one who can deliver out of your hand.

if I sin, then you mark me. You will not acquit me from my iniquity.