There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God [with reverence] and abstained from and turned away from evil [because he honored God].

His sons used to go [in turn] and feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send word and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them.

When the days of their feasting were over, Job would send [for them] and consecrate them, rising early in the morning and offering burnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, “It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Job did this at all [such] times.

The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Then Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming around on the earth and from walking around on it.”

The Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered and reflected on My servant Job? For there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God [with reverence] and abstains from and turns away from evil [because he honors God].”

While he was still speaking, another [messenger] also came and said, “The fire of God (lightning) has fallen from the heavens 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, another [messenger] also came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three bands and made a raid on the camels and have taken them away and have killed the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”

While he was still speaking, another [messenger] also came and said, “Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house,

and suddenly, a great wind came from across the desert, and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people and they died, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”

The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Then Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming around on the earth and from walking around on it.”

The Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered and reflected on My servant Job? For there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God [with reverence] and abstains from and turns away from evil [because he honors God]. And still he maintains and holds tightly to his integrity, although you incited Me against him to destroy him without cause.”

But he said to her, “You speak as one of the [spiritually] foolish women speaks [ignorant and oblivious to God’s will]. Shall we indeed accept [only] good from God and not [also] accept adversity and disaster?” In [spite of] all this Job did not sin with [words from] his lips.

“May that day be darkness;
Let God above not care about it,
Nor light shine on it.

“Let darkness and gloom claim it for their own;
Let a cloud settle upon it;
Let all that blackens the day terrify it (the day that I was born).

“As for that night, let darkness seize it;
Let it not rejoice among the days of the year;
Let it not be counted in the number of the months.

“Behold, let that night be barren [and empty];
Let no joyful voice enter it.

“Let those curse it who curse the day,
Who are skilled in rousing up Leviathan.

“Let the stars of its early dawn be dark;
Let the morning wait in vain for the light,
Let it not see the eyelids of morning (the day’s dawning),

Because it did not shut the doors of my mother’s womb,
Nor hide trouble from my eyes.

“For now I would have lain down and been quiet;
I would have slept then, I would have been at rest [in death],

“There [in death] the wicked cease from raging,
And there the weary are at rest.

Who wait for death, but it does not come,
And dig (search) for death more [diligently] than for hidden treasures,

“For my groaning comes at the sight of my food,
And my cries [of despair] are poured out like water.

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

“If we dare to converse with you, will you be impatient [or offended]?
But who can restrain himself from speaking?

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

“Now a word was secretly brought to me,
And my ear received a whisper of it.

“The spirit stood still, but I could not discern its appearance;
A form was before my eyes;
There was silence, and then I heard a voice, saying:

‘Between morning and evening they are broken in pieces and destroyed;
Unobserved and unnoticed, they perish forever.

“The hungry devour his harvest
And take it even [when it grows] among the thorns;
The trap opens for [his] wealth.

“For affliction does not come forth from the dust,
Nor does trouble spring forth from the ground.

“In the daytime they meet in darkness,
And at noon they grope as in the night.

“You will be hidden from the scourge of the tongue,
And you will not be afraid of destruction when it comes.

“You will laugh at violence and famine,
And you will not be afraid of the wild beasts of the earth.

“For you will be in harmony with the stones of the field,
And the beasts of the field will be at peace with you.

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

“For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea;
Therefore my words have been incoherent,

Because the arrows of the Almighty are within me,
My spirit drinks their poison;
The terrors of God are arrayed against me.

“Does the wild donkey bray when he has grass?
Or does the ox low over his fodder?

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

“I wish that it would please God to crush me,
That He would let 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.

“What strength do I have left, that I should wait [and hope]?
And what is ahead of me, that I should be patient and endure?

“Is it that I have no help within myself,
And that success and wisdom have been driven from me?

When it is warm, they are silent and cease to flow;
When it is hot, they vanish from their place.

“How painful are words of honesty.
But what does your argument prove?

“Now please look at me,
And see if I lie to your face [for you know that I would not].

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

“Is there injustice or malice on my tongue?
Can my palate not discern what is destructive?

“My body is clothed with worms and a crust of dust;
My skin is hardened [and broken and loathsome], and [breaks out and] runs.

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

“If I have sinned, what [harm] have I done to You,
O Watcher of mankind?
Why have You set me as a target for You,
So that I am a burden to myself?

“Why then do You not pardon my transgression
And take away my sin and guilt?
For now I will lie down in the dust;
And You will seek me [diligently], but I will not be.”

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

“Inquire, please, of past generations,
And consider and apply yourself to the things searched out by their fathers.

“Will they (the fathers) not teach you and tell you,
And utter words from their hearts [the deepest part of their nature]?

“While it is still green (in flower) and not cut down,
Yet it withers before any other plant [when without water].

“He trusts in his house, but it does not stand;
He holds tightly to it, but it does not endure.

“If he is snatched from his place [in the garden],
Then his place will forget him, saying, ‘I have never seen you.’

“He will yet fill your mouth with laughter
And your lips with joyful shouting [if you are found blameless].

“Yes, I know it is true.
But how can a mortal man be right before God?

“It is God who removes the mountains, and they do not know it,
When He overturns them in His anger;

Who shakes the earth out of its place,
And its pillars tremble;

Who commands the sun, and it does not shine;
Who seals up the stars [from view];

Who alone stretches out the heavens
And tramples down the waves of the sea;

Who does great things, [beyond understanding,] unfathomable,
Yes, marvelous and wondrous things without number.

“Behold, He snatches away; who can restrain or turn Him back?
Who will say to Him, ‘What are You doing?’

“How can I answer Him [and plead my case],
Choosing my words [to reason] with Him?

For though I were righteous, I could not answer.
I must appeal for mercy to my Opponent and Judge.

“If I called and He answered me,
I could not believe that He was listening to my voice.

“It is all one; therefore I say,
‘He destroys [both] the blameless and the wicked.’

“When [His] scourge kills suddenly,
He mocks at the despair of the innocent.

“The earth is given into the hands of the wicked;
He covers the faces of its judges [so that they are blind to justice].
If it is not He, then who is it [that is responsible for all this injustice]?

I am afraid of all my pains and worries [yet to come];
I know that You will not acquit me and leave me unpunished.

You would still plunge me into the pit,
And my own clothes would hate me [and refuse to cover my foul body].

“I am disgusted with my life and loathe it!
I will give free expression to my complaint;
I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.

‘Does it indeed seem right to You to oppress,
To despise and reject the work of Your hands,
And to look with favor on the schemes of the wicked?

‘Although You know that I am not guilty or wicked,
Yet there is no one who can rescue me from Your hand.

‘Remember now, that You have made me as clay;
So will You turn me into dust again?

‘Have You not poured me out like milk
And curdled me like cheese?

‘Yet these [present evils] You have hidden in Your heart [since my creation]:
I know that this was within You [in Your purpose and thought].

‘If I am wicked, woe to me [for judgment comes]!
And if I am righteous, I dare not lift up my head.
For I am sated and filled with disgrace and the sight of my misery.

‘Why then did You bring me out of the womb?
Would that I had perished and no eye had seen me!

“Can you discover the depths of God?
Can you [by searching] discover the limits of the Almighty [ascend to His heights, extend to His widths, and comprehend His infinite perfection]?

“His wisdom is as high as the heights of heaven. What can you do?
It is deeper than Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead). What can you know?

“It is longer in measure [and scope] than the earth,
And broader than the sea.

“If God passes by or arrests,
Or calls an assembly [of judgment], who can restrain Him?
[If He is against a man, who can call Him to account for it?]

“For He recognizes and knows false and worthless men,
And He sees wickedness, will He not consider it?

“If you direct your heart [on the right path]
And stretch out your hands to Him,

If sin is in your hand, put it far away [from you],
And do not let wrongdoing dwell in your tents;

“For you would forget your trouble;
You would remember it as waters that have passed by.

“And your life would be brighter than the noonday;
Darkness [then] would be like the morning.

“He who is at ease has contempt for misfortune,
But misfortune is ready [and anxiously waiting] for those whose feet slip.

Or speak to the earth [with its many forms of life], and it will teach you;
And let the fish of the sea declare [this truth] to you.

“Who among all these does not recognize [in all these things that good and evil are randomly scattered throughout nature and human life]
That the hand of the Lord has done this,

“Does the ear not put words to the test,
Just as the palate tastes its food [distinguishing between the desirable and the undesirable]?

“Behold, He tears down, and it cannot be rebuilt;
He imprisons a man, and there can be no release.

“Behold, He restrains the waters, and they dry up;
Again, He sends the waters out, and they overwhelm and devastate the earth.

“He uncovers mysteries [that are difficult to grasp and understand] out of the darkness
And brings black gloom and the shadow of death into light.

[Job continued:] “Behold, my eye has seen all this,
My ear has heard and understood it.