Seven sons and three daughters were born to him.

His possessions also were 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and very many servants; and that man was the greatest of all the men of the east.

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

But put forth Your hand now and touch all that he has; he will surely curse You to Your face.”

Then the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power, only do not put forth your hand on him.” So Satan departed from the presence of the Lord.

Now on the day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house,

a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them,

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

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

However, put forth Your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh; he will curse You to Your face.”

So the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your power, only spare his life.”

Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die!”

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

“Let those curse it who curse the day,
Who are prepared to rouse Leviathan.

Because it did not shut the opening of my mother’s womb,
Or hide trouble from my eyes.

Or with princes who had gold,
Who were filling their houses with silver.

“Or like a miscarriage which is discarded, I would not be,
As infants that never saw light.

“There the wicked cease from raging,
And there the weary are at rest.

“The prisoners are at ease together;
They do not hear the voice of the taskmaster.

“The small and the great are there,
And the slave is free from his master.

“Your words have helped the tottering to stand,
And you have strengthened feeble knees.

“But now it has come to you, and you are impatient;
It touches you, and you are dismayed.

“Is not your fear of God your confidence,
And the integrity of your ways your hope?

“Remember now, who ever perished being innocent?
Or where were the upright destroyed?

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

“The lion perishes for lack of prey,
And the whelps of the lioness are scattered.

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

‘How much more those who dwell in houses of clay,
Whose foundation is in the dust,
Who are crushed before the moth!

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

“His sons are far from safety,
They are even oppressed in the gate,
And there is no deliverer.

So that He sets on high those who are lowly,
And those who mourn are lifted to safety.

“In famine He will redeem you from death,
And in war from the power of the sword.

“You will know that your tent is secure,
For you will visit your abode and fear no loss.

“You will know also that your descendants will be many,
And your offspring as the grass of the earth.

“Oh that my grief were actually weighed
And laid in the balances together with my calamity!

“For the arrows of the Almighty are within me,
Their poison my spirit drinks;
The terrors of God are arrayed against me.

“Does the wild donkey bray over his grass,
Or does the ox low over his fodder?

“Can something tasteless be eaten without salt,
Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?

“My soul refuses to touch them;
They are like loathsome food to me.

“Would that God were willing to crush me,
That He would loose His hand and cut me off!

“Is my strength the strength of stones,
Or is my flesh bronze?

Which are turbid because of ice
And into which the snow melts.

“When they become waterless, they are silent,
When it is hot, they vanish from their place.

“They were disappointed for they had trusted,
They came there and were confounded.

“Indeed, you have now become such,
You see a terror and are afraid.

“Have I said, ‘Give me something,’
Or, ‘Offer a bribe for me from your wealth,’

Or, ‘Deliver me from the hand of the adversary,’
Or, ‘Redeem me from the hand of the tyrants’?

“How painful are honest words!
But what does your argument prove?

“You would even cast lots for the orphans
And barter over your friend.

“Now please look at me,
And see if I lie to your face.

“Is not man forced to labor on earth,
And are not his days like the days of a hired man?

So am I allotted months of vanity,
And nights of trouble are appointed me.

“My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle,
And come to an end without hope.

“The eye of him who sees me will behold me no longer;
Your eyes will be on me, but I will not be.

“Am I the sea, or the sea monster,
That You set a guard over me?

“I waste away; I will not live forever.
Leave me alone, for my days are but a breath.

“What is man that You magnify him,
And that You are concerned about him,

“Will You never turn Your gaze away from me,
Nor let me alone until I swallow my spittle?

“Have I sinned? What have I done to You,
O watcher of men?
Why have You set me as Your target,
So that I am a burden to myself?

“How long will you say these things,
And the words of your mouth be a mighty wind?

“Does God pervert justice?
Or does the Almighty pervert what is right?

“If your sons sinned against Him,
Then He delivered them into the power of their transgression.

If you are pure and upright,
Surely now He would rouse Himself for you
And restore your righteous estate.

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

“For we are only of yesterday and know nothing,
Because our days on earth are as a shadow.

“So are the paths of all who forget God;
And the hope of the godless will perish,

“He will yet fill your mouth with laughter
And your lips with shouting.

“Were He to pass by me, I would not see Him;
Were He to move past me, I would not perceive Him.

“Were He to snatch away, who could restrain Him?
Who could say to Him, ‘What are You doing?’

“For though I were right, I could not answer;
I would have to implore the mercy of my judge.

“Now my days are swifter than a runner;
They flee away, they see no good.

‘Is it right for You indeed to oppress,
To reject the labor of Your hands,
And to look favorably on the schemes of the wicked?

‘Have You eyes of flesh?
Or do You see as a man sees?

‘Are Your days as the days of a mortal,
Or Your years as man’s years,

‘According to Your knowledge I am indeed not guilty,
Yet there is no deliverance from Your hand.

‘Your hands fashioned and made me altogether,
And would You destroy me?

‘You have granted me life and lovingkindness;
And Your care has preserved my spirit.

‘Yet these things You have concealed in Your heart;
I know that this is within You:

‘Should my head be lifted up, You would hunt me like a lion;
And again You would show Your power against me.

‘You renew Your witnesses against me
And increase Your anger toward me;
Hardship after hardship is with me.

“Shall your boasts silence men?
And shall you scoff and none rebuke?

“For you have said, ‘My teaching is pure,
And I am innocent in your eyes.’

And show you the secrets of wisdom!
For sound wisdom has two sides.
Know then that God forgets a part of your iniquity.

“They are high as the heavens, what can you do?
Deeper than Sheol, what can you know?

“If He passes by or shuts up,
Or calls an assembly, who can restrain Him?

“If you would direct your heart right
And spread out your hand to Him,

If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away,
And do not let wickedness dwell in your tents;

“Then, indeed, you could lift up your face without moral defect,
And you would be steadfast and not fear.

“For you would forget your trouble,
As waters that have passed by, you would remember it.

“Your life would be brighter than noonday;
Darkness would be like the morning.

“You would lie down and none would disturb you,
And many would entreat your favor.

“Truly then you are the people,
And with you wisdom will die!

“The tents of the destroyers prosper,
And those who provoke God are secure,
Whom God brings into their power.

“Or speak to the earth, and let it teach you;
And let the fish of the sea declare to you.

“Does not the ear test words,
As the palate tastes its food?

“With Him are wisdom and might;
To Him belong counsel and understanding.

“With Him are strength and sound wisdom,
The misled and the misleader belong to Him.

“Behold, my eye has seen all this,
My ear has heard and understood it.

“But you smear with lies;
You are all worthless physicians.

“O that you would be completely silent,
And that it would become your wisdom!