There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and turned away from evil.

And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt-offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and renounced God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.

Now it came to pass on the day when the sons of God came to present themselves before Jehovah, that Satan also came among them.

And Jehovah said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job? for there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and turneth away from evil.

Then Satan answered Jehovah, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?

While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

Again it came to pass on the day when the sons of God came to present themselves before Jehovah, that Satan came also among them to present himself before Jehovah.

And Jehovah said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job? for there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and turneth away from evil: and he still holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.

Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still hold fast thine integrity? renounce God, and die.

But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

Let that day be darkness; Let not God from above seek for it, Neither let the light shine upon it.

For now should I have lain down and been quiet; I should have slept; then had I been at rest,

Why is light given to a man whose way is hid, And whom God hath hedged in?

I am not at ease, neither am I quiet, neither have I rest; But trouble cometh.

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

Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? Or where were the upright cut off?

By the breath of God they perish, And by the blast of his anger are they consumed.

Shall mortal man be more just than God? Shall a man be more pure than his Maker?

His children are far from safety, And they are crushed in the gate, Neither is there any to deliver them:

But as for me, I would seek unto God, And unto God would I commit my cause;

Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: Therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty.

Lo this, we have searched it, so it is; Hear it, and know thou it for thy good.

For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, The poison whereof my spirit drinketh up: The terrors of God do set themselves in array against me.

Oh that I might have my request; And that God would grant me the thing that I long for!

Even that it would please God to crush me; That he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!

Oh remember that my life is a breath: Mine eye shall no more see good.

Doth God pervert justice? Or doth the Almighty pervert righteousness?

If thou wouldest seek diligently unto God, And make thy supplication to the Almighty;

Whilst it is yet in its greenness, and not cut down, It withereth before any other herb.

So are the paths of all that forget God; And the hope of the godless man shall perish:

Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, Neither will he uphold the evil-doers.

Of a truth I know that it is so: But how can man be just with God?

God will not withdraw his anger; The helpers of Rahab do stoop under him.

Now my days are swifter than a post: They flee away, they see no good,

If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will put off my'sad countenance, and be of good cheer;

I will say unto God, Do not condemn me; Show me wherefore thou contendest with me.

Is it good unto thee that thou shouldest oppress, That thou shouldest despise the work of thy hands, And shine upon the counsel of the wicked?

But oh that God would speak, And open his lips against thee,

And that he would show thee the secrets of wisdom! For he is manifold in understanding. Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.

Canst thou by searching find out God? Canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?

I am as one that is a laughing-stock to his neighbor, I who called upon God, and he answered: The just, the perfect man is a laughing-stock.

The tents of robbers prosper, And they that provoke God are secure; Into whose hand God bringeth abundantly .

With God is wisdom and might; He hath counsel and understanding.

Surely I would speak to the Almighty, And I desire to reason with God.

Will ye speak unrighteously for God, And talk deceitfully for him?

Will ye show partiality to him? Will ye contend for God?

Is it good that he should search you out? Or as one deceiveth a man, will ye deceive him?

He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: He fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.

For there is hope of a tree, If it be cut down, that it will sprout again, And that the tender branch thereof will not cease.

Should he reason with unprofitable talk, Or with speeches wherewith he can do no good?

Yea, thou doest away with fear, And hinderest devotion before God.

Hast thou heard the secret counsel of God? And dost thou limit wisdom to thyself?

Are the consolations of God too small for thee, Even the word that is gentle toward thee?

That against God thou turnest thy spirit, And lettest words go out of thy mouth?

Because he hath stretched out his hand against God, And behaveth himself proudly against the Almighty;

He shall not depart out of darkness; The flame shall dry up his branches, And by the breath of God's mouth shall he go away.

God delivereth me to the ungodly, And casteth me into the hands of the wicked.

My friends scoff at me: But mine eye poureth out tears unto God,

That he would maintain the right of a man with God, And of a son of man with his neighbor!

His roots shall be dried up beneath, And above shall his branch be cut off.

Surely such are the dwellings of the unrighteous, And this is the place of him that knoweth not God.

Know now that God hath subverted me in my cause , And hath compassed me with his net.

Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O ye my friends; For the hand of God hath touched me.

Why do ye persecute me as God, And are not satisfied with my flesh?

And after my skin, even this body , is destroyed, Then without my flesh shall I see God;

He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again; God will cast them out of his belly.

When he is about to fill his belly, God will cast the fierceness of his wrath upon him, And will rain it upon him while he is eating.

This is the portion of a wicked man from God, And the heritage appointed unto him by God.

Their houses are safe from fear, Neither is the rod of God upon them.

And they say unto God, Depart from us; For we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.

How oft is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out? That their calamity cometh upon them? That God distributeth sorrows in his anger?

Ye say , God layeth up his iniquity for his children. Let him recompense it unto himself, that he may know it:

For what careth he for his house after him, When the number of his months is cut off?

Shall any teach God knowledge, Seeing he judgeth those that are high?

One dieth in his full strength, Being wholly at ease and quiet:

And another dieth in bitterness of soul, And never tasteth of good.

Can a man be profitable unto God? Surely he that is wise is profitable unto himself.

Is not God in the height of heaven? And behold the height of the stars, how high they are!

And thou sayest, What doth God know? Can he judge through the thick darkness?

Who said unto God, Depart from us; And, What can the Almighty do for us?

Yet he filled their houses with good things: But the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

Saying , Surely they that did rise up against us are cut off, And the remnant of them the fire hath consumed.

Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: Thereby good shall come unto thee.

For then shalt thou delight thyself in the Almighty, And shalt lift up thy face unto God.

For God hath made my heart faint, And the Almighty hath terrified me;

Because I was not cut off before the darkness, Neither did he cover the thick darkness from my face.

They cut their provender in the field; And they glean the vintage of the wicked.

From out of the populous city men groan, And the soul of the wounded crieth out: Yet God regardeth not the folly.

He devoureth the barren that beareth not, And doeth not good to the widow.

Yet God preserveth the mighty by his power: He riseth up that hath no assurance of life.

God giveth them to be in security, and they rest thereon; And his eyes are upon their ways.

They are exalted; yet a little while, and they are gone; Yea, they are brought low, they are taken out of the way as all others, And are cut off as the tops of the ears of grain.

How then can man be just with God? Or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?

Sheol is naked before God , And Abaddon hath no covering.

As God liveth, who hath taken away my right, And the Almighty, who hath vexed my soul:

(For my life is yet whole in me, And the spirit of God is in my nostrils);

For what is the hope of the godless, though he get him gain, When God taketh away his soul?

Will God hear his cry, When trouble cometh upon him?

Will he delight himself in the Almighty, And call upon God at all times?