There once was a man in the land of Uz named Job. The man was blameless as well as upright. He feared God and kept away from evil.

Then the LORD asked Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one like him on earth. The man is blameless as well as upright. He fears God and keeps away from evil."

Then the LORD told Satan, "Very well then, everything he owns is under your control, only you may not extend your hand against him." So Satan left the LORD's presence.

The LORD asked Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one like him on earth. The man is blameless as well as upright. He fears God and keeps away from evil. He remains firm in his integrity, even though you have been urging me to overwhelm him without cause."

Then the LORD told Satan, "Very well then, he is under your control. Just preserve his life."

But he replied to her, "You're talking like foolish women do. Are we to accept what is good from God but not tragedy?" Throughout all of this, Job did not sin by what he said.

This is what Job said:

In that place, the wicked stop causing trouble, and there, those whose strength is exhausted are at rest.

The unimportant and the important are both there, and the servant is free from his master.

"As far as I'm concerned, my food comes to me in the form of sighs, and my cries of anguish pour out like water.

"But now it's your turn, and you're the one who is worn out! Now it's striking you, and you're dismayed!

They perish by the breath of God; they are consumed by the storm that is his anger.

"Cry out, won't you! Is there anyone who will answer you? To whom will you turn among the holy ones?

But mankind is born headed for trouble, just as sparks soar skyward."

"Now as for me, I would seek God if I were you; I would commit my case to God.

He is always doing great things that cannot be explained, countless awesome deeds.

He captures the wise in their own craftiness, bringing a quick end to their cunning advice.

They meet with darkness in broad daylight; at noonday they grope around as if it were night.

Therefore there is hope for those who are poor, and iniquity shuts its mouth.

"Indeed, how blessed is the person whom God reproves! So never disrespect the discipline of the Almighty,

You'll know that your home is secure; when you search your possessions, and nothing will be missing.

"Look! We have thought all this through, and what we've said is true; So please listen and learn for your own good!"

"Will the wild donkey bray from hunger if fresh grass is beside him? Will the ox low from distress if it is near its feed?

Tasteless food isn't eaten without salt, is it? Is there any taste in an egg white?

Am I as strong as a rock? Am I some kind of iron man?

There is no help within me, is there? My resources have been driven away from me, haven't they?

Filled with waters made cold by ice, they are where the snow goes to hide.

Did you intend your words to reprove, even though the speech of a desperate person is just wind?

Repent! Let there be no injustice; Change your ways! My vindication is at stake.

I'm like a servant who longs for the shade, like a hired laborer who is looking for his wages.

My skin is covered with worms and clods of dirt; my skin becomes rough and then breaks out afresh.

My days pass as swiftly as a hand-loom; they come to their conclusion without hope.

Remember that my life is a breath; my eyes won't go back to seeing good things.

As a cloud fades away and vanishes, the one who descends to the afterlife doesn't return.

"What is a human being, that you make so much of him; that you set your affections on him,

Because we are of yesterday and we know nothing, for our time on earth is only a shadow.

his confidence is shattered; his trust is in a spider's web.

He is a fresh sapling planted in the sunlight, spreading out its branches over its garden.

If he is uprooted from his place, then it will deny him: "I never saw you.'

"Indeed, this is the benefit of God's way: from the soil other plants will sprout.

"Indeed, I'm fully aware that this is so, but how can a person become right with God?

He is wise in heart and strong in will who can be stubborn against him and succeed?

"Is this a contest of strength? He is obviously stronger! Is this a matter of justice? Who can sue him?

Though I'm in the right, my own mouth will condemn me; though I'm blameless, he'll pronounce me as guilty.

A land is given into the hands of a wicked person; he covers the faces of its judges. If it is not God, then who is it?"

There is not yet a mediator between us, who would set his hand on the two of us,

Do you have eyes made of flesh? Can you look at things as humans do?

Can you live only as long as a human being? Or live the years of a mortal man?

as if I had never existed; carried from the womb to the grave.

It's a gloomy land, like deepest darkness; where there's no order, and where even the brightness is like darkness.'"

You've said, "My teaching is flawless; I'm clean in God's sight.'

and disclose his wise secrets? After all, there's so much more to understanding. So be aware that God will exact from you less than your sin deserves."

An empty-headed person will gain understanding when a wild donkey is born a human being!"

You'll be secure, because there is hope; you'll see that you're at rest and safe.

But what the wicked look for will fail; their way of escape will be taken away from them; their only hope is to take their final breath."

The tents of robbers are at rest, and those who provoke God are secure, that is, those who carry their god in their pocket.

The ear scrutinizes speech just as the palate tastes food."

With God is wisdom and strength; counsel and understanding belongs to him.

He uncovers the hidden dimensions from darkness, bringing what is in deep shadow to light.

"But as for you, you whitewash with lies; all of you are worthless quacks.

I wish you'd all just shut up. Then at least you would appear to be wise.

Will things go well for you under his cross-examination? Can you lie to him, as you would to a human being?

I have this as my salvation: the godless person won't be appearing before him.

Grant me only two things as you deal with me; then I won't hide from you.

Why do you hide your face and regard me as your enemy?

Since his days have been determined, the number of his months is known to you. You've set his limit and he cannot exceed it.

"There is hope for the tree, if it is cut down, that it will sprout again, and that its shoots won't stop growing.

As water disappears from the sea, or water evaporates from a river,

"Should a wise person respond with knowledge based on wind? Should he fill his stomach with a wind storm from the east?

Your own mouth is condemning you, not I; your own lips will testify against you."

What do you know that we don't know, or that you understand and that isn't clear to us?

"We have both the gray-haired and the aged with us, and they are far older than your father.

"What is mankind, that he can be blameless? Or does being born of a woman mean he'll be in the right?

Look, if God doesn't trust his holy ones, if even the heavens aren't pure as he looks at them,

then how much less is one who is abhorred and corrupted, such as a man who drinks injustice like water?"

which is what wise men have explained, who didn't withhold anything from their ancestors.

He does not believe he will escape darkness; he is destined for the sword.

He wanders around for food where is it? He knows that a time of darkness is near.

Though he covered his face with fat, and is grossly overweight at the waist,

"He is like a vine that drops its unripe grapes; like an olive tree that loses its blossoms.

For the company of the godless is desolation, and fire consumes the tents of those who bribe.

For they conceive mischief and give birth to iniquity; their womb is pregnant with deception."

Will windy words like yours never end? What is upsetting you that you keep on arguing?

Attack follows attack as he breaks through my defenses! He runs over me like a mighty warrior.

My face is red from my tears, and dark shadows encircle my eyelids,

even though violence is not my intention, and my prayer is pure."

Even now, behold! I have a witness in heaven, my Advocate is on high.

crying for him to arbitrate between this man and God; as a human being does with his fellow neighbor.

"My spirit is crushed, my days are over; it's the grave for me!

Offer, then, some collateral on my behalf. Is there anyone who will be my guarantor?

Now as for the one who testifies against his friends to take their property, even the eyes of his children will fail.

My eyes have grown weak from grief; and my whole body is as thin as a shadow.

The upright are appalled over this, and the innocent person is troubled by the godless.

"Come here now, all of you, and I won't find a wise person among you.

They have transformed night into day "The light,' they say, "is about to become dark.'

"If my hope were that my house is the afterlife itself, if I were to make my bed in darkness,

"Indeed, the light of the wicked is extinguished; the flame from his fire doesn't shine.

Light in his tent is dark, and his lamp goes out above him.

A rope lies hidden in the dirt; a trap lies waiting for him where he is walking."

"He is petrified by terror that surrounds him on all sides; they chase at his heels.