His substance was seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred she-asses, and a very great household: so that he was one of the most principal men among all them of the east country.

Hast thou not preserved him, his house, and all his substance on every side? Hast thou not blessed the work of his hands? Is not his possession increased in the land?

But lay thine hand upon him a little, touch once all that he hath, and, I hold, he shall curse thee to thy face."

And the LORD said unto Satan, "Lo, all that he hath, be in thy power: only upon himself see that thou lay not thine hand." Then went Satan forth from the LORD.

there came a messenger unto Job, and said, "While the oxen were a plowing, and the asses going in the pasture beside them,

the Sabeans came in violently, and took them all away: yea, they have slain thy servants with the sword, and I only ran my way, to tell thee."

And while he was yet speaking, there came another, and said, "The fire of God is fallen from heaven, it hath consumed, and burnt up all thy sheep and servants: and I only ran my way, to tell thee."

In the mean season while he was yet speaking, there came another, and said, "The Chaldeans made three armies, and fell upon thy camels, which they have carried away: yea, and slain thy servants with the sword, and I only am gotten away, to tell thee."

While he was speaking, there came yet another, and said, "Thy sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house,

In all these things did Job not offend, nor murmured foolishly against God.

Satan answered the LORD, and said, "Skin for skin? Yea, a man will give all that ever he hath, for his life.

But Job said unto her, "Thou speakest like a foolish woman. Seeing we have received prosperity at the hand of God, wherefore should we not be content with adversity also?" In all these things, did not Job sin with his lips.

Now when Job's friends heard of all the trouble that happened to him, there came three of them, every one from his own place: namely, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. For they were agreed together to come, to shew their compassion on him, and to comfort him.

Fear came upon me, and dread, and made all my bones to shake.

But now will I speak of the LORD, and talk of God:

Which giveth rain upon the earth, and poureth water upon all things;

For though he make a wound, he giveth a medicine again: though he smite, his hand maketh whole again.

Then should I have some comfort: yea, I would desire him in my pain, that he should not spare, for I will not be against the words of the holy one.

Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and wherein I have erred, cause me to understand.

Even so have I laboured whole months long - but in vain - and many a careful night have I told.

Therefore I will not spare my mouth, but will speak in the trouble of my spirit; in that bitterness of my mind will I talk.

They shall show thee, they shall tell thee, yea they will gladly confess the same.

Even so goeth it with all them that forget God: and even thus also shall the hypocrite's hope come to naught.

"Behold, God will not cast away a virtuous man, neither will he help the ungodly.

If he will argue with him, he shall not be able to answer him unto one among a thousand.

If he be hasty to take anything away, who will make him restore it again? Who will say unto him, 'What doest thou?'

He is God, whose wrath no man may withstand: but the proudest of all must stoop under him.

Yea though I be righteous, yet will I not give him one word again, but meekly submit myself to my judge.

He will not let my spirit be in rest, but filleth me with bitterness.

If men will speak of strength, he is the strongest of all; if men will speak of righteousness, who dare be my record?

If I will justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me; if I will put forth my self for a perfect man, he shall prove me a wicked doer.

"This one thing will I say: He destroyeth both the righteous and ungodly.

And though he slay suddenly with the scourge, yet will he laugh at the punishment of the innocent.

Then am I afraid of all my works, for I know thou wilt not judge me innocent.

It grieveth my soul to live. Nevertheless, now will I put forth my words: I will speak out of the very heaviness of my soul,

and will say unto God: O do not condemn me; but show me the cause, wherefore thou contendest so with me.

Thinkest thou it well done, to oppress me, to cast me off - being a work of thine hands - and to maintain the counsel of the ungodly?

Though thou hidest these things in thine heart, yet am I sure that thou rememberest them all.

Though he turn all things upside down, close them in, or thrust them together, who dare check him therefore?

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

"The houses of robbers are in wealth and prosperity; and they that maliciously meddle against God, dwell without care: yea, God giveth all things richly with his hand.

What is he, but he knoweth that the hand of the LORD made all these?

In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all men.

If he break down a thing, who can set it up again? If he shut a thing, who will open it?

Lo, all this have I seen with mine eye, heard with mine ear, and understand it.

Will ye make an answer for God with lies, and maintain him with deceit?

Will ye accept the person of God, or will ye contend with him?

Lo, though he slay me, yet will I put my trust in him. But if I shew and reprove mine own ways in his sight,

he shall make me whole: And why? There may no hypocrite come before him.

What is he that will go to law with me? For if I hold my tongue, I shall die.

Nevertheless, grant me two things, and then will I not hide myself from thee.

Thou hast put my foot in the stocks: thou lookest narrowly unto all my paths, and markest the steps of my feet.

"If a tree be cut down, there is some hope yet, that it will sprout and shoot forth the branches again;

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

May a dead man live again? All the days of this my pilgrimage am I looking, till my changing shall come.

"For thou hast numbered all my goings, yet be not thou too extreme upon my sins.

While he liveth, his flesh must have travail: And while the soul is in him, he must be in sorrow."

Hast thou heard the secret counsel of God, that all wisdom is too little for thee?

"I will tell thee; hear me. I will show thee a thing, that I know;

The ungodly despaireth all the days of his life, and the number of a tyrant's years is unknown.

whereas he covereth his face with fatness, and maketh his body well liking.

He will never apply himself to faithfulness and truth, so sore is he deceived with vanity.

"I have oft times heard such things. Miserable givers of comfort are ye, all the sort of you.

"But what shall I do? For all my words, my sorrow will not cease: and though I hold my tongue, yet will it not depart from me.

But now that God hath sent me adversity, thou hast troubled all my congregation.

Mine eye is dim for very heaviness, and all my strength is become like a shadow.

Virtuous men therefore shall well consider this, and the innocent shall take part against the hypocrite.

The righteous also will keep his way, and he that hath clean hands, will ever be stronger and stronger.

What helpeth then my long tarrying? Or, who will fulfill the thing that I look for?

All that I have, shall go down into the pit, and lie with me in the dust."

"When will ye make an end of your words? Mark well, and consider, we will speak also.

All his comfort and hope shall be rooted out of his dwelling, and shall bring him unto the king of fear.

"How long will ye vex my mind, and trouble me with words?

But if ye will enhance yourselves against me, and accuse me to be a wicked person because of the shame that is come upon me;

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

But beware of the sword, for the sword will be avenged of wickedness. And be sure, that there is a judgment."

Suffer me a little, that I may speak also, and then laugh my words to scorn, if ye will.

Mark me well, and be abashed, and lay your hand upon your mouth.

Their houses are safe from all fear, for the rod of God doth not smite them.

Lo, there is utterly no goodness in them, therefore will not I have to do with the counsel of the ungodly.

And though God save their children from such sorrow, yet will he so reward themselves, that they shall know it.

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,

Then shall he be fain to be buried among the stones by the brookside. All men must follow him, and there are innumerable gone before him.

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

"Well, thou wilt keep the old way, that all wicked men have gone:

"Therefore reconcile thee unto God, and be content, so shall all things prosper with thee right well.

For if thou wilt turn to the Almighty, thou shalt stand fast, and all unrighteousness shall be far from thy dwelling:

Will he plead against me with his great power and strength? No, but he will make me the stronger.

My foot doth keep his path; his highway have I holden, and will not go out of it.

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

Considering then that there is no time hid from the Almighty, how happeneth it, that they which know him, will not regard his days?

So that when the showers in the mountains have rained upon them, and they be all wet, they have none other succour, but to embrace the rock for want of a covering.

The poor are fain to labour in their oil mills, yea and to tread in their wine presses, and yet to suffer thirst.

"The whole city crieth unto the LORD with sighing, the souls of the slain make their complaint: But God destroyeth them not for all this,

In the night season they search the houses, and hide themselves in the daytime, but will not know the light.

O that all compassion upon them were forgotten: that their dainties were worms, that they were clean put out of remembrance, and utterly hewn down like an unfruitful tree.

And though they might be safe, yet they will not receive it, for their eyes look upon their own ways.

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

whose men of war are innumerable, and whose light ariseth over all.