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

“For affliction does not come from the dust,
Nor does trouble sprout from the ground,

Who does great and unsearchable things,
Wonders without number.

“Does the wild donkey bray over his grass,
Or does the ox low over his fodder?

“For the despairing man there should be kindness from his friend;
So that he does not forsake the fear of the Almighty.

“How painful are honest words!
But what does your argument prove?

“When a cloud vanishes, it is gone,
So he who goes down to Sheol does not come up.

“Does God pervert justice?
Or does the Almighty pervert what is right?

“He trusts in his house, but it does not stand;
He holds fast to it, but it does not endure.

Who does great things, unfathomable,
And wondrous works without number.

“But I have intelligence as well as you;
I am not inferior to you.
And who does not know such things as these?

“Who among all these does not know
That the hand of the Lord has done this,

“Does not the ear test words,
As the palate tastes its food?

“Like a flower he comes forth and withers.
He also flees like a shadow and does not remain.

So man lies down and does not rise.
Until the heavens are no longer,
He will not awake nor be aroused out of his sleep.

“His sons achieve honor, but he does not know it;
Or they become insignificant, but he does not perceive it.

“Why does your heart carry you away?
And why do your eyes flash,

“He does not believe that he will return from darkness,
And he is destined for the sword.

“Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked,
And this is the place of him who does not know God.”

“I call to my servant, but he does not answer;
I have to implore him with my mouth.

“Why do you persecute me as God does,
And are not satisfied with my flesh?

“He does not look at the streams,
The rivers flowing with honey and curds.

“Because he knew no quiet within him,
He does not retain anything he desires.

“Nothing remains for him to devour,
Therefore his prosperity does not endure.

“His ox mates without fail;
His cow calves and does not abort.

“How often is the lamp of the wicked put out,
Or does their calamity fall on them?
Does God apportion destruction in His anger?

“For what does he care for his household after him,
When the number of his months is cut off?

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

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

“From the city men groan,
And the souls of the wounded cry out;
Yet God does not pay attention to folly.

“Drought and heat consume the snow waters,
So does Sheol those who have sinned.

“He wrongs the barren woman
And does no good for the widow.

“Is there any number to His troops?
And upon whom does His light not rise?

“He wraps up the waters in His clouds,
And the cloud does not burst under them.

“I hold fast my righteousness and will not let it go.
My heart does not reproach any of my days.

“Man does not know its value,
Nor is it found in the land of the living.

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

“Yet does not one in a heap of ruins stretch out his hand,
Or in his disaster therefore cry out for help?

“Does He not see my ways
And number all my steps?

“Why do you complain against Him
That He does not give an account of all His doings?

“Behold, God does all these oftentimes with men,

“For He does not need to consider a man further,
That he should go before God in judgment.

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

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

“Behold, God is mighty but does not despise any;
He is mighty in strength of understanding.

“He does not keep the wicked alive,
But gives justice to the afflicted.

“He does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous;
But with kings on the throne
He has seated them forever, and they are exalted.

“Beware that wrath does not entice you to scoffing;
And do not let the greatness of the ransom turn you aside.

“After it, a voice roars;
He thunders with His majestic voice,
And He does not restrain the lightnings when His voice is heard.

“Therefore men fear Him;
He does not regard any who are wise of heart.”

“He scorns the tumult of the city,
The shoutings of the driver he does not hear.

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

“With shaking and rage he races over the ground,
And he does not stand still at the voice of the trumpet.