And Jehovah saith unto the Adversary, 'Hast thou set thy heart unto My servant Job because there is none like him in the land, a man perfect and upright, fearing God and turning aside from evil? and still he is keeping hold on his integrity, and thou dost move Me against him to swallow him up for nought!'

and they lift up their eyes from afar and have not discerned him, and they lift up their voice and weep, and rend each his robe, and sprinkle dust on their heads -- heavenward.

The stumbling one do thy words raise up, And bowing knees thou dost strengthen.

Also -- the inhabitants of houses of clay, (Whose foundation is in the dust, They bruise them before a moth.)

Pray, call, is there any to answer thee? And unto which of the holy ones dost thou turn?

For sorrow cometh not forth from the dust, Nor from the ground springeth up misery.

Clothed hath been my flesh with worms, And a clod of dust, My skin hath been shrivelled and is loathsome,

What is man that Thou dost magnify him? And that Thou settest unto him Thy heart?

And inspectest him in the mornings, In the evenings dost try him?

How long dost Thou not look from me? Thou dost not desist till I swallow my spittle.

Thou dost not take away my transgression, And cause to pass away mine iniquity, Because now, for dust I lie down: And Thou hast sought me -- and I am not!

Till when dost thou speak these things? And a strong wind -- sayings of thy mouth?

If thou dost seek early unto God, And unto the Mighty makest supplication,

Lo, this is the joy of his way, And from the dust others spring up.'

Lo, He snatches away, who bringeth it back? Who saith unto Him, 'What dost Thou?'

I have been afraid of all my griefs, I have known that Thou dost not acquit me.

Then in corruption Thou dost dip me, And my garments have abominated me.

I say unto God, 'Do not condemn me, Let me know why Thou dost strive with me.

Is it good for Thee that Thou dost oppress? That Thou despisest the labour of Thy hands, And on the counsel of the wicked hast shone?

Remember, I pray Thee, That as clay Thou hast made me, And unto dust Thou dost bring me back.

Dost Thou not as milk pour me out? And as cheese curdle me?

Skin and flesh Thou dost put on me, And with bones and sinews dost fence me.

If I sinned, then Thou hast observed me, And from mine iniquity dost not acquit me,

Thou renewest Thy witnesses against me, And dost multiply Thine anger with me, Changes and warfare are with me.

By searching dost thou find out God? Unto perfection find out the Mighty One?

Heights of the heavens! -- what dost thou? Deeper than Sheol! -- what knowest thou?

If He pass on, and shut up, and assemble, Who then dost reverse it?

For thou dost forget misery, As waters passed away thou rememberest.

For God do ye speak perverseness? And for Him do ye speak deceit?

Why dost Thou hide Thy face? And reckonest me for an enemy to Thee?

A leaf driven away dost Thou terrify? And the dry stubble dost Thou pursue?

Also -- on this Thou hast opened Thine eyes, And dost bring me into judgment with Thee.

If its root becometh old in the earth, And its stem doth die in the dust,

Thou dost call, and I -- I answer Thee; To the work of Thy hands Thou hast desire.

But now, my steps Thou numberest, Thou dost not watch over my sin.

Stones have waters worn away, Their outpourings wash away the dust of earth, And the hope of man Thou hast destroyed.

Yea, thou dost make reverence void, And dost diminish meditation before God.

Of the secret counsel of God dost thou hear? And withdrawest thou unto thee wisdom?

To conceive misery, and to bear iniquity, Even their heart doth prepare deceit.

And Thou dost loathe me, For a witness it hath been, And rise up against me doth my failure, In my face it testifieth.

Sackcloth I have sewed on my skin, And have rolled in the dust my horn.

For their heart Thou hast hidden From understanding, Therefore Thou dost not exalt them.

To the parts of Sheol ye go down, If together on the dust we may rest.

That -- I have known my Redeemer, The Living and the Last, For the dust he doth rise.

His bones have been full of his youth, And with him on the dust it lieth down.

Together -- on the dust they lie down, And the worm doth cover them over.

For thou takest a pledge of thy brother for nought, And the garments of the naked Thou dost strip off.

Or darkness -- thou dost not see, And abundance of waters doth cover thee.

The path of the age dost thou observe, That men of iniquity have trodden?

If thou dost return unto the Mighty Thou art built up, Thou puttest iniquity far from thy tents.

So as to set on the dust a defence, And on a rock of the valleys a covering.

For then on the Mighty thou delightest thyself, And dost lift up unto God thy face,

Thou dost make supplication unto Him, And He doth hear thee, And thy vows thou completest.

My lips do not speak perverseness, And my tongue doth not utter deceit.

If he heap up as dust silver, And as clay prepare clothing,

Iron from the dust is taken, And from the firm stone brass.

A place of the sapphire are its stones, And it hath dust of gold.

Casting me into mire, And I am become like dust and ashes.

I cry unto Thee, And Thou dost not answer me, I have stood, and Thou dost consider me.

Thou dost lift me up, On the wind Thou dost cause me to ride, And Thou meltest -- Thou levellest me.

For I have known To death Thou dost bring me back, And to the house appointed for all living.

If I have walked with vanity, And my foot doth hasten to deceit,

Expire doth all flesh together, And man to dust returneth.

Yea, doth one hating justice govern? Or the Most Just dost thou condemn?

By thee doth He recompense, That thou hast refused -- That thou dost choose, and not I? And what thou hast known, speak.

If thou hast sinned, what dost thou against Him? And thy transgressions have been multiplied, What dost thou to Him?

If thou hast been righteous, What dost thou give to Him? Or what from thy hand doth He receive?

Yea, though thou sayest thou dost not behold Him, Judgment is before Him, and stay for Him.

Dost thou know when God doth place them, And caused to shine the light of His cloud?

Dost thou know the balancings of a cloud? The wonders of the Perfect in knowledge?

Revealed to thee were the gates of death? And the gates of death-shade dost thou see?

That thou dost take it unto its boundary, And that thou dost understand The paths of its house.

Hast thou come in unto the treasure of snow? Yea, the treasures of hail dost thou see?

Dost thou bind sweet influences of Kimah? Or the attractions of Kesil dost thou open?

Dost thou bring out Mazzaroth in its season? And Aysh for her sons dost thou comfort?

Hast thou known the statutes of heaven? Or dost thou appoint Its dominion in the earth?

Dost thou lift up to the cloud thy voice, And abundance of water doth cover thee?

Dost thou send out lightnings, and they go And say unto thee, 'Behold us?'

In the hardening of dust into hardness, And clods cleave together?

Dost thou hunt for a lion prey? And the desire of young lions fulfil?

Hast thou known the time of The bearing of the wild goats of the rock? The bringing forth of hinds thou dost mark!

Thou dost number the months they fulfil? And thou hast known the time of their bringing forth!

Dost thou bind a Reem in a furrow with his thick band? Doth he harrow valleys after thee?

Dost thou trust in him because great is his power? And dost thou leave unto him thy labour?

Dost thou trust in him That he doth bring back thy seed? And to thy threshing-floor doth gather it?

For she leaveth on the earth her eggs, And on the dust she doth warm them,

Dost thou give to the horse might? Dost thou clothe his neck with a mane?

Dost thou cause him to rush as a locust? The majesty of his snorting is terrible.

Dost thou also make void My judgment? Dost thou condemn Me, That thou mayest be righteous?

And an arm like God hast thou? And with a voice like Him dost thou thunder?

Hide them in the dust together, Their faces bind in secret.

Dost thou draw leviathan with an angle? And with a rope thou lettest down -- his tongue?

Dost thou put a reed in his nose? And with a thorn pierce his jaw?

Doth he make a covenant with thee? Dost thou take him for a servant age-during?

Dost thou play with him as a bird? And dost thou bind him for thy damsels?

Dost thou fill with barbed irons his skin? And with fish-spears his head?

Therefore do I loathe it, And I have repented on dust and ashes.