Then Satan answered the Lord, “Does Job fear God for nothing?

“For affliction does not come forth from the dust,
Nor does trouble spring forth from the ground.

Who does great and unsearchable things,
Marvelous things without number.

“Does the wild donkey bray when he has grass?
Or does the ox low over his fodder?

“How painful are words of honesty.
But what does your argument prove?

“Does God pervert justice?
Or does the Almighty pervert righteousness?

Who does great things, [beyond understanding,] unfathomable,
Yes, marvelous and wondrous things without number.

“It is all one; therefore I say,
‘He destroys [both] the blameless and the wicked.’

‘Does it indeed seem right to You to oppress,
To despise and reject the work of Your hands,
And to look with favor on the schemes of the wicked?

“But I have intelligence and understanding as well as you;
I am not inferior to you.
Who does not know such things as these [of God’s wisdom and might]?

“Now ask the animals, and let them teach you [that God does not deal with His creatures according to their character];
And ask the birds of the air, and let them tell you;

“Who among all these does not recognize [in all these things that good and evil are randomly scattered throughout nature and human life]
That the hand of the Lord has done this,

“[O God] turn your gaze from him so that he may rest,
Until he fulfills his day [on earth] like a hired man.

So man lies down and does not rise [again].
Until the heavens are no longer,
The dead will not awake nor be raised from their sleep.

“Why does your heart carry you away [allowing you to be controlled by emotion]?
And why do your eyes flash [in anger or contempt],

“His arrows surround me.
He pierces my kidneys (vital organs) without mercy;
He pours out my gall on the ground.

“You say, ‘What does God know [about me]?
Can He judge through the thick darkness?

‘Thick clouds are a hiding place for Him, so that He cannot see,
And He walks on the vault (circle) of the heavens.’

“But He is unique and unchangeable, and who can turn Him?
And what His soul desires, that He does.

“Why does the Almighty not set seasons for judgment?
Why do those who know Him not see His days [for punishment of the wicked]?

“Drought and heat consume the snow waters;
So does Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead) [consume] those who have sinned.

“He preys on the barren (childless) woman
And does no good for the widow.

“Is there any number to His [vast celestial] armies?
And upon whom does His light not rise?

“I hold fast my uprightness and my right standing with God and I will not let them go;
My heart does not reproach me for any of my days.

“He lies down rich, but never will again;
He opens his eyes, and it is gone.

“From where then does wisdom come?
And where is the place of understanding?

“However, does not one falling in a heap of ruins stretch out his hand?
Or in his disaster [will he not] therefore cry out for help?

“I am seething within and my heart is troubled and cannot rest;
Days of affliction come to meet me.

“Does not tragedy fall [justly] on the unjust
And disaster to those who work wickedness?

“Does not God see my ways
And count all my steps?

“Why do you complain against Him?
That He does not answer [you with] all His doings.

“For God speaks once,
And even twice, yet no one notices it [including you, Job].

[Elihu comments,] “Behold, God does all these things twice, yes, three times, with a man,

“Who is not partial to princes,
Nor does He regard the rich above the poor,
For they all are the work of His hands.

“If you have sinned, what do you accomplish against Him?
And if your transgressions are multiplied, what have you done to Him?

“If you are righteous, what do you give God,
Or what does He receive from your hand?

“The people cry out, but He does not answer
Because of the pride of evil men.

“He does not prolong the life of the wicked,
But gives the afflicted their justice.

“Behold, God is exalted in His power;
Who is a ruler or a teacher like Him?

“God thunders marvelously with His voice;
He does great things which we cannot comprehend.

“The Almighty—we cannot find Him;
He is exalted in power
And He will not do violence to [nor disregard] justice and abundant righteousness.

“He laughs at fear and is not dismayed;
And [in battle] he does not turn back from the sword.

“Is it at your command that the eagle mounts up
And makes his nest on high [in an inaccessible place]?

“If a river rages and overflows, he does not tremble;
He is confident, though the Jordan [River] swells and rushes against his mouth.

“The sword that reaches him cannot avail,
Nor [does] the spear, the dart, or the javelin.