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.

Then said the LORD unto Satan, "Lo, there hast thou him in thy power, but spare his life."

because it shut not up the womb that bare me. For then should these sorrows have been hid from mine eyes.

"Consider, I pray thee: who ever perished being an innocent? Or, when were the godly destroyed?

The lion perisheth, for lack of prey, and the lion's whelps are scattered abroad.

And so he delivereth the poor from the sword, from the threatenings of the ungodly, and from the hand of the cruel;

that the poor may have hope, and that the mouth of the oppressor may be stopped.

In the midst of hunger he saveth thee from death: and when it is war, from the power of the sword.

What power have I to endure? Or, what is mine end, that my soul might be patient?

To deliver me from the enemy's hand, or to save me from the power of the mighty?

Do ye take deliberacy to check men's sayings, and judge a poor word spoken in vain?

Turn into your own selves, I pray you: be indifferent judges, and consider my guiltlessness:

If thou wouldest live a pure and godly life; should he not wake up unto thee immediately, and give thee the beauty of righteousness again?

"Enquire, I pray thee, of them that have been before thee; and search diligently among thy forefathers.

As for the world, he giveth it over into the power of the wicked; and he shall cover the faces of the judges thereof. Is it not so? Where is he - or who is he - that can show the contrary?

They are passed away, as the ships that be good under sail, and as the Eagle that hasteth to the prey.

Wherefore do I bear my flesh in my teeth, and put my soul in my hands?

"As for you, turn you, and get you hence, I pray you - seeing I cannot see one wise man among you.

When I call upon my servant, he giveth me no answer: no though I pray him with my mouth.

"His children shall be fain to agree with the poor, and his hands shall restore their goods.

And why? He hath oppressed the poor, and not helped them: houses hath he spoiled, and not builded them.

Though he had plenteousness of everything, yet was he poor, and therefore he is but a wretch on every side.

They bear with them tabrets and harps, and have instruments of music at their pleasure.

Inasmuch then as God hath the highest power of all, who can teach him any knowledge?

Thou hast sent widows away empty and oppressed the poor fatherless.

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

He rewardeth me into my bosom, and many other things more doth he, as he may by his power.

that thrust the poor out of the way, and oppress the simple of the world together.

They are the cause that so many men are naked and bare, having no clothes to cover them and keep them from cold;

They spoil the sucking fatherless children, and put the poor in prison,

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

Timely in the morning do they arise, to murder the simple and poor, and in the night they go a stealing.

For they maintain the barren, and make them that they cannot bear, and unto widows they do no good.

They pluck down the mighty with their power, and when they themselves are gotten up, they are never without fear, as long as they live.

"Power and fear is with him above, that maketh peace, sitting in his highness,

He filleth the sea with his power, and through his wisdom smiteth he the strength thereof.

This is now a short sum of his doings. But who is able sufficiently to rehearse his works? Who can perceive and understand the thunder of his power?"

"As truly as God liveth, which hath taken away my power from me; and the Almighty, that hath vexed my mind;

It rusheth in upon him, and spareth him not, he may not escape from the power thereof.

"For I delivered the poor when he cried, and the fatherless that wanted help.

I was a father unto the poor, and when I knew not their cause, I sought it out diligently.

The power and strength of their hands might do me no good, and as for their age, it is spent and past away without any profit.

With all their power have they changed my garment, and girded me therewith, as it were with a coat.

Did not I weep in the time of trouble? Had not my soul compassion upon the poor?

"When the poor desireth anything of me, have I denied it them? Have I caused the widow stand waiting for me in vain?

Have I seen any man perish through nakedness and want of clothing? Or any poor man for lack of raiment,

For I have ever feared the vengeance and punishment of God, and knew very well that I was not able to bear his burden.

My heart shall order my words aright, and my lips shall talk of pure wisdom.

'Ungodly men are ye.' He hath none respect unto the persons of the lordly, and regardeth not the rich more than the poor. For they be all the work of his hands.

Insomuch that they have caused the voice of the poor to come unto him, and now he heareth the complaint of such as are in necessity.

"Behold, God casteth not away the mighty, for he himself is mighty in power and wisdom.

As for the ungodly, he preserveth them not, but helpeth the poor to their right.

"The poor delivereth he out of his affliction, and comforteth such as be in necessity and trouble.

Behold, God is of a mighty high power: Where is there such a guide and lawgiver as he?

together for to rain, so that they pour down and drop upon men.

The clouds do their labour in getting moistness, the clouds pour down the rain.

It is not we that can find out the Almighty: for in power, equity, and righteousness, he is higher than can be expressed.

Moreover, canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that they may pour down a great rain upon thee?

Huntest thou the prey from the lion, or feedest thou his whelps

From thence may he behold his pray, and look far about with his eyes.

Then arm thyself with thine own power! Up, deck thee in thy jolly array,

pour out thy indignation of thy wrath; see that thou cast down all the proud,

lo, how strong he is in his loins, and what power he hath in the navel of his body.

Canst thou put a ring in the nose of him, or bore his jaw through with an awl?

I will not keep secret his great strength, his power, nor his comely proportion.

Upon earth is there no power like unto his, for he is so made that he feareth not.

"I know that thou hast power over all things, and that there is no thought hid unto thee.

Therefore take seven oxen and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, offer up also for yourselves a burnt offering: and let my servant Job pray for you. Him will I accept, and not deal with you after your foolishness: in that ye have not spoken the thing which is right, like as my servant Job hath done."