There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job. He was without sin and upright, fearing God and keeping himself far from evil.

And at the end of their days of feasting, Job sent and made them clean, getting up early in the morning and offering burned offerings for them all. For, Job said, It may be that my sons have done wrong and said evil of God in their hearts. And Job did this whenever the feasts came round.

And the Lord said to the Satan, Have you taken note of my servant Job, for there is no one like him on the earth, a man without sin and upright, fearing God and keeping himself far from evil?

And the Satan said in answer to the Lord, Is it for nothing that Job is a god-fearing man?

And the men of Sheba came against them and took them away, putting the young men to the sword, and I was the only one who got away safe to give you the news.

And this one was still talking when another came, and said, The fire of God came down from heaven, burning up the sheep and the goats and the young men completely, and I was the only one who got away safe to give you the news.

And this one was still talking when another came, and said, The Chaldaeans made themselves into three bands, and came down on the camels and took them away, putting the young men to the sword, and I was the only one who got away safe to give you the news.

When a great wind came rushing from the waste land against the four sides of the house, and it came down on the young men, and they are dead; and I was the only one who got away safe to give you the news.

Then Job got up, and after parting his clothing and cutting off his hair, he went down on his face to the earth, and gave worship, and said,

In all this Job did no sin, and did not say that God's acts were foolish.

And the Lord said to the Satan, Have you taken note of my servant Job, for there is no one like him on the earth, a man without sin and upright, fearing God and keeping himself far from evil? and he still keeps his righteousness, though you have been moving me to send destruction on him without cause.

And his wife said to him, Are you still keeping your righteousness? Say a curse against God, and put an end to yourself.

And he said to her, You are talking like one of the foolish women. If we take the good God sends us, are we not to take the evil when it comes? In all this Job kept his lips from sin.

That day--let it be dark; let not God take note of it from on high, and let not the light be shining on it;

For then I might have gone to my rest in quiet, and in sleep have been in peace,

To a man whose way is veiled, and who is shut in by God?

I have no peace, no quiet, and no rest; nothing but pain comes on me.

Is not your fear of God your support, and your upright way of life your hope?

Have you ever seen destruction come to an upright man? or when were the god-fearing ever cut off?

What I have seen is that those by whom trouble has been ploughed, and evil planted, get the same for themselves.

By the breath of God destruction takes them, and by the wind of his wrath they are cut off.

Something was present before me, but I was not able to see it clearly; there was a form before my eyes: a quiet voice came to my ears, saying:

May a man be upright before God? or a man be clean before his Maker?

But as for me, I would make my prayer to God, and I would put my cause before him:

He takes the wise in their secret designs, and the purposes of the twisted are cut off suddenly.

Truly, that man is happy who has training from the hand of God: so do not let your heart be shut to the teaching of the Ruler of all.

If only I might have an answer to my prayer, and God would give me my desire!

If only he would be pleased to put an end to me; and would let loose his hand, so that I might be cut off!

Under the burning sun they are cut off, and come to nothing because of the heat.

Or, Get me out of the power of my hater? or, Give money so that I may be free from the power of the cruel ones?

Give me teaching and I will be quiet; and make me see my error.

When I go to my bed, I say, When will it be time to get up? but the night is long, and I am turning from side to side till morning light.

O, keep in mind that my life is wind: my eye will never again see good.

When I say, In my bed I will have comfort, there I will get rest from my disease;

Does God give wrong decisions? or is the Ruler of all not upright in his judging?

If you will make search for God with care, and put your request before the Ruler of all;

Will the river-plant come up in its pride without wet earth? will the grass get tall without water?

When it is still green, without being cut down, it becomes dry and dead before any other plant.

So is the end of all who do not keep God in mind; and the hope of the evil-doer comes to nothing:

Whose support is cut off, and whose hope is no stronger than a spider's thread.

Truly, God will not give up him who is without sin, and will not take evil-doers by the hand.

Truly, I see that it is so: and how is it possible for a man to get his right before God?

He is wise in heart and great in strength: who ever made his face hard against him, and any good came of it?

God's wrath may not be turned back; the helpers of Rahab were bent down under him.

Even if my cause was good, I would not be able to give an answer; I would make request for grace from him who was against me.

My days go quicker than a post-runner: they go in flight, they see no good.

I will say to God, Do not put me down as a sinner; make clear to me what you have against me.

Are your words of pride to make men keep quiet? and are you to make sport, with no one to put you to shame?

But if only God would take up the word, opening his lips in argument with you;

Are you able to take God's measure, to make discovery of the limits of the Ruler of all?

And so a hollow-minded man will get wisdom, when a young ass of the field gets teaching.

And you will be safe because there is hope; after looking round, you will take your rest in quiet;

It seems that I am to be as one who is a cause of laughing to his neighbour, one who makes his prayer to God and is answered! the upright man who has done no wrong is to be made sport of!

There is wealth in the tents of those who make destruction, and those by whom God is moved to wrath are safe; even those whose god is their strength.

But put now a question to the beasts, and get teaching from them; or to the birds of the heaven, and they will make it clear to you;

He makes the words of responsible persons without effect, and takes away the good sense of the old;

But I would have talk with the Ruler of all, and my desire is to have an argument with God.

If only you would keep quiet, it would be a sign of wisdom!

Will you say in God's name what is not right, and put false words into his mouth?

Will you have respect for God's person in this cause, and put yourselves forward as his supporters?

Will it be good for you to be searched out by him, or have you the thought that he may be guided into error like a man?

Keep quiet, and let me say what is in my mind, whatever may come to me.

Is any one able to take up the argument against me? If so, I would keep quiet and give up my breath.

He comes out like a flower, and is cut down: he goes in flight like a shade, and is never seen again.

For there is hope of a tree; if it is cut down, it will come to life again, and its branches will not come to an end.

Though its root may be old in the earth, and its cut-off end may be dead in the dust;

Truly, you make the fear of God without effect, so that the time of quiet worship before God is made less by your outcry.

Were you present at the secret meeting of God? and have you taken all wisdom for yourself?

Are the comforts of God not enough for you, and the gentle word which was said to you?

So that you are turning your spirit against God, and letting such words go out of your mouth?

(The things which wise men have got from their fathers, and have not kept secret from us;

Because his hand is stretched out against God, and his heart is lifted up against the Ruler of all,

He does not get wealth for himself, and is unable to keep what he has got; the heads of his grain are not bent down to the earth.

Let him not put his hope in what is false, falling into error: for he will get deceit as his reward.

His branch is cut off before its time, and his leaf is no longer green.

If I say what is in my mind, my pain becomes no less: and if I keep quiet, how much of it goes from me?

God gives me over to the power of sinners, sending me violently into the hands of evil-doers.

My friends make sport of me; to God my eyes are weeping,

So that he may give decision for a man in his cause with God, and between a son of man and his neighbour.

As for him who is false to his friend for a reward, light will be cut off from the eyes of his children.

How long will it be before you have done talking? Get wisdom, and then we will say what is in our minds.

Under the earth his roots are dry, and over it his branch is cut off.

Truly, these are the houses of the sinner, and this is the place of him who has no knowledge of God.

Be certain that it is God who has done me wrong, and has taken me in his net.

Even young children have no respect for me; when I get up their backs are turned on me.

My bones are joined to my skin, and I have got away with my flesh in my teeth.

Have pity on me, have pity on me, O my friends! for the hand of God is on me.

Why are you cruel to me, like God, for ever saying evil against me?

And with an iron pen and lead be cut into the rock for ever!

And ... without my flesh I will see God;

He takes down wealth as food, and sends it up again; it is forced out of his stomach by God.

God gives him his desire, and sends the heat of his wrath on him, making it come down on him like rain.

This is the reward of the evil man, and the heritage given to him by God.

Their houses are free from fear, and the rod of God does not come on them.

Though they said to God, Go away from us, for we have no desire for the knowledge of your ways.

You say, God keeps punishment stored up for his children. Let him send it on the man himself, so that he may have the punishment of it!

Is anyone able to give teaching to God? for he is the judge of those who are on high.

One comes to his end in complete well-being, full of peace and quiet:

And another comes to his end with a bitter soul, without ever tasting good.

Is it possible for a man to be of profit to God? No, for a man's wisdom is only of profit to himself.