When their time of feasting had concluded, Job would rise early in the morning to send for them and consecrate them to God. He would offer a burnt offering for each one, because Job thought, "Perhaps my children sinned by cursing God in their hearts." Job did this time and again.

and exclaimed: "I left my mother's womb naked, and I will return to God naked. The LORD has given, and the LORD has taken. May the name of the LORD be blessed."

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.

"Let the day when I was born be annihilated, along with the night when it was announced, "It's a boy!'

Let that day be dark; let God above not care about it; let no light shine over it.

Let darkness carry that night away; let it not take its place joyfully among the days of the year; let it not be entered into the calendar.

"Yes, let that night be barren; let it not appear with its joyful shout.

Let the stars of its evening twilight be dark; let it hope for light but let there be none; let it not see the breaking rays of the dawn.

"If I had died, I would be lying down by now, undisturbed, asleep, and at rest,

In that place, those who once were prisoners will be at ease together; they won't hear the voice of oppressors.

I will not be at ease; I will not be quiet; I will not rest; because trouble has arrived."

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

"Can a mortal person be more righteous than God? Or can the purity of the valiant exceed that of his maker?'

His children are far from deliverance; they'll be maltreated before they leave home, with no one to rescue them.

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

He will deliver you from death by famine; in war from the power of the sword.

You'll be protected from the accusing tongue; you need not fear destruction when it heads your way.

For you'll have a pact with the stones in the field; and the beasts of the field will be at peace with you.

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

You'll know that you'll have many children; and that your offspring will be like the grass of the earth.

"If only my grief could be weighed; or my calamity piled together on a balance scale!

that God would just be willing to crush me; that he would let loose and eliminate me!

"Do I have the strength to wait? And why should I be patient?

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

The truth can be painful, but what has your argument proven?

Indeed, you would gamble to buy an orphan; and barter to buy your friend!

Now be willing to face me, and I won't lie to your face.

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

The eyes of the one who sees me won't see me anymore; your eyes will look for me but I won't be around!

I would rather die by strangulation than continue living.

Why haven't you pardoned my transgression and taken away my iniquity? Now I'm about to lie down in the dust. You will seek me diligently, but I won't be around!"

Your beginning may be small, but later years will be very great.

While they are still green and not yet ready to be harvested, they wither before any plant.

Such are the paths of everyone who forgets God the hope of the godless will be destroyed:

Those who hate you will be clothed with shame, and the tent of the wicked will no longer exist.

If one were to seek to argue with him, he won't be able to answer him even once in a thousand times.

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

He does great things that cannot be explained, and awesome deeds that cannot be counted.

"If he were to pass near me, I wouldn't notice; if he moves by, I wouldn't perceive him.

"Were I to be summoned, and he were to answer me, I wouldn't even believe that he was listening to what I have to say.

They pass by like a ship made of reeds, like an eagle swooping down on its prey.

I will be condemned, so why should I wear myself out with this futility?

"Shouldn't a multitude of words be answered, or a person who talks too much be vindicated?

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."

Then your confidence will be flawless, and your security will keep you from terror.

Your life will be brighter than noonday. Even its darkness will be like dawn.

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

When you sleep, there'll be nothing to fear; and many will court your favor.

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."

"Wisdom may be found in the company of the aged. Understanding comes with longevity.

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

"Now listen to my dispute! Pay attention to my arguments.

"He will be sure to rebuke you, if you show partiality in secret.

Even though he kills me, I'll continue to hope in him. At least I'll be able to argue my case to his face!

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

Pay attention to what I have to say and listen to my testimony with your own ears."

Who can oppose me? If they do, I'll be silent and die.

Human beings born by women are short-lived and full of trouble.

"But when a person dies and wastes away, when a person breathes his last, where will he be?

My transgressions would be sealed up in a bag; you would cover over my sins.

"Were you the first personto be born? Were you brought forth before the hills were made?

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

He won't escape darkness; a flame will wither his shoots; and he'll depart by the breath of God's mouth.

Let him not trust in a worthless speech. He leads only himself astray, for emptiness will be his reward.

This will be accomplished before his time; his branches won't grow luxuriant.

"He tore me apart when I was at ease; grabbing me by my neck, he shook me to pieces then he really made me his target.

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

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

where would my hope be? "And speaking of my hope, who would notice it?

You're tearing yourself to pieces in your anger. Will the land be abandoned because of you, or the rock be moved from its place?"

The trap seizes him by the heel; a snare tightens its hold on him.

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

"How long do you intend to keep torturing me and trying to break me by what you're saying?

I'm a pile of skin and bones; I have barely escaped by the skin of my teeth."

"Be gracious to me, be gracious to me, my friends, because God's hand has struck me.

using an iron stylus with lead for ink! Then they'd be engraved in rock forever.

whom I will see for myself. My own eyes will look at him there won't be anyone else for me! He is the culmination of my innermost desire."

Make sure that you remain wary of God's sword, for God's wrath brings with it the sword of punishment, by which you'll know there's a judgment."

He'll vanish like a dream, and no one will find him; he will be chased away like a night vision."

It will impale him and come out through his back; the point will glisten as it protrudes through his gall bladder, and he will be terrified.

"Total darkness has been reserved for his treasures; a fire that has no need to be kindled will devour him and consume whatever remains in his possession.

Bear with me and let me speak! Then, after I've spoken, you'll be free to mock me.

After all, isn't my complaint against a human being? If so, why shouldn't I be impatient?

Look at me, be appalled, and then shut up!

May they become like a straw, blown away before the wind; like a chaff that's swept off by a storm.

God stores up their iniquity to repay their children; making them repay so that they may be aware.

"Can a human being be useful to God, since he, who is wise, is sufficient to himself?

who were snatched away before their time; when their foundation was swept away by a river?

"Our enemies are sure to be destroyed, and fire will burn up what's left of their riches."

"Get to know God, and you'll be at peace with him, and then prosperity will come to you.

"If you return to the Almighty you'll be restored, as you remove iniquity from your household.

and then the Almighty will be your gold and your refined silver.

When you make a decision on something, it will be established for you, and light will brighten your way.

He'll even deliver the guilty, who will be delivered through your innocence."

"Would he use his great power to fight me? No, he'll pay attention to me.

In that place, the upright can reason with him; and I'll be acquitted once and for all by my judge."

They press oil between the olive groves owned by the wicked; they suffer from thirst, even while treading the winepress.

"They remain only a short time on the water's surface; their inheritance will be cursed in the land; no one will work in their vineyards.

The womb will forget them. Maggots will find them to be a delicacy! They won't be remembered anymore, their iniquity will be cut to pieces like firewood.

God prolongs the life of the strong by his power, but they get up in the morning without purpose in life.