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

And his sons went and held a feast in the house of each one upon his day, and they sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.

And it was so, when the days of their feasting were completed, 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 so

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

And LORD said to Satan, From where do thou come? Then Satan answered LORD, and said, From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.

And LORD said to Satan, Have thou considered my servant Job? For there is none like him on the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one who fears God, and turns away from evil.

Have thou not made a hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he has, on every side? Thou have blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.

And LORD said to Satan, Behold, all that he has is in thy power, only upon himself do not put forth thy hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of LORD.

And it fell on a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house,

While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house.

In all this Job did not sin, nor foolishly accuse God.

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

And LORD said to Satan, From where did thou come? And Satan answered LORD, and said, From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.

And LORD said to Satan, Have thou considered my servant Job? For there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one who fears God, and turns away from evil. And he still holds fast his integrity, although thou m

And LORD said to Satan, Behold, he is in thy hand, only spare his life.

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

Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that came upon him, they came each one from his own place--Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite--and they made an appointment together to come t

And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and did not recognize him, they lifted up their voice, and wept. And each one tore his robe, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven.

Let the day perish in which I was born, and the night which said, There is a man-child conceived.

Let darkness and the shadow of death claim it for their own. Let a cloud dwell upon it. Let blackness come upon it.

Lo, let that night be barren. Let no joyful voice come in it.

Why did I not die from the womb? Why did I not give up the spirit when my mother bore me?

Why is light given to him who is in misery, and life to the bitter in soul,

who rejoice exceedingly, and are glad when they can find the grave?

[Why is light given] to a man whose way is hid, and whom God has hedged in?

In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on men,

Behold, he puts no trust in his servants, and he charges his [heavenly] agents with folly.

How much more those who dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed before the moth!

For vexation kills the foolish man, and jealousy slays the silly one.

His sons are far from safety, and they are crushed in the gate. Neither is there any to deliver them,

so that he sets up on high those who are low, and those who mourn are exalted to safety.

He takes the wise in their own craftiness, and the counsel of the cunning is carried headlong.

They meet with darkness in the daytime, and grope at noonday as in the night.

He will deliver thee in six troubles. Yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee.

In famine he will redeem thee from death, and in war from the power of the sword.

Thou shall be hid from the scourge of the tongue. Neither shall thou be afraid of destruction when it comes.

For thou shall be in league with the stones of the field, and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee.

And thou shall know that thy tent is in peace, and thou shall visit thy fold, and shall miss nothing.

Thou shall come to thy grave in a full age, like a shock of grain comes in its season.

O that my grief were but weighed, and all my calamity laid in the balances!

For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison of which my spirit drinks up. The terrors of God set themselves in array against me.

Does the wild donkey bray when he has grass? Or the ox moo over his fodder?

Can that which has no savor be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?

And be it still my consolation, yea, let me exult (in pain that does not spare), that I have not denied the words of the Holy One.

Is it not that I have no help in me, and that wisdom is driven quite from me?

which are black because of the ice, in which the snow hides itself.

What time they grow warm, they vanish. When it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.

Is there injustice on my tongue? Cannot my taste discern mischievous things?

When I lie down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be gone? And I am full of tossing to and fro to the dawning of the day.

Therefore I will not refrain my mouth. I will speak in the anguish of my spirit. I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.

When I say, My bed shall comfort me. My couch shall ease my complaint.

And why do thou not pardon my transgression, and take away my iniquity? For now I shall lay down in the dust, and thou will seek me diligently, but I shall not be.

While it is yet in its greenness, [and] not cut down, it withers before any [other] herb.

If he is pleased to contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.

[He is] wise in heart, and mighty in strength. Who has hardened himself against him, and prospered?

[He] who removes the mountains, and they do not know it when he overturns them in his anger,

Lo, he goes by me, and I do not see him. He also passes on, but I do not perceive him.

Though I be righteous, my own mouth shall condemn me. Though I be perfect, it shall prove me perverse.

It is all one thing. Therefore I say, He destroys the perfect and the wicked.

They are passed away as the swift ships, as the eagle that swoops on the prey.

I shall be condemned. Why then do I labor in vain?

yet thou will plunge me in the ditch, and my own clothes shall abhor me.

For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, that we should come together in judgment.

Then I would speak, and not be afraid of him, for I am not so in myself.

My soul is weary of my life. I will give free reign to my complaint. I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.

Yet these things thou hid in thy heart. I know that this is with thee.

Should thy boastings make men hold their peace? And when thou mock, shall no man make thee ashamed?

For thou say, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes.

and that he would show thee the secrets of wisdom! For he is manifold in understanding. Know therefore that God exacts of thee less than thine iniquity deserves.

if iniquity is in thy hand, put it far away, and let not unrighteousness dwell in thy tents.

And thou shall be secure, because there is hope. Yea, thou shall search [about thee], and shall take thy rest in safety.

In the thought of him who is at ease there is contempt for misfortune. It is ready for those whose foot slips.

Who does not know in all these, that the hand of LORD has wrought this,

in whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind?

With aged men is wisdom, and in length of days understanding.

He takes away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth, and causes them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.

They grope in the dark without light, and he makes them to stagger like a drunken man.

Be quiet. Let me alone that I may speak, and let come on me what will.

Why should I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand?

Hear diligently my speech, and let my declaration be in your ears.

Behold now, I have set my case in order. I know that I am righteous.

Thou also put my feet in the stocks, and mark all my paths. Thou set a bound to the soles of my feet.

And do thou open thine eyes upon such a one, and bring me into judgment with thee?

Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? Not one.

Though the root of it grows old in the earth, and the trunk of it dies in the ground,

O that thou would hide me in Sheol, that thou would keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou would appoint for me a set time, and remember me!

My transgression is sealed up in a bag, and thou fasten up my iniquity.

Thine own mouth condemns thee, and not I. Yes, thine own lips testify against thee.

What do thou know, that we do not know? What do thou understand, which is not in us?

Behold, he puts no trust in his holy ones. Yea, the heavens are not clean in his sight:

How much less one who is abominable and corrupt, a man who drinks iniquity like water!

A sound of terrors is in his ears. In prosperity the destroyer shall come upon him.

And he has dwelt in desolate cities, in houses which no man inhabited, which were ready to become heaps.

He shall not be rich, neither shall his substance continue, neither shall their possessions be extended on the earth.

Let him not trust in vanity, deceiving himself. For vanity shall be his recompense.

Shall vain words have an end? Or what provokes thee that thou answer?

I also could speak as ye do, if your soul were in my soul's stead. I could join words together against you, and shake my head at you.

And thou have laid fast hold on me, [which] is a witness [against me]. And my leanness rises up against me; it testifies to my face.

He has torn me in his wrath, and persecuted me. He has gnashed upon me with his teeth. My adversary sharpens his eyes upon me.

I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and have laid my horn in the dust.