A man there hath been in the land of Uz -- Job his name -- and that man hath been perfect and upright -- both fearing God, and turning aside from evil.

and his substance is seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred pairs of oxen, and five hundred she-asses, and a service very abundant; and that man is greater than any of the sons of the east.

And the day is, that sons of God come in to station themselves by Jehovah, and there doth come also the Adversary in their midst.

And Jehovah saith unto the Adversary, 'Hast thou set thy heart against 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 the Adversary answereth Jehovah and saith, 'For nought is Job fearing God?

And Jehovah saith unto the Adversary, 'Lo, all that he hath is in thy hand, only unto him put not forth thy hand.' And the Adversary goeth out from the presence of Jehovah.

And the day is, that his sons and his daughters are eating, and drinking wine, in the house of their brother, the first-born.

While this one is speaking another also hath come and saith, 'Fire of God hath fallen from the heavens, and burneth among the flock, and among the young men, and consumeth them, and I am escaped -- only I alone -- to declare it to thee.'

While this one is speaking another also hath come and saith, 'Chaldeans made three heads, and rush on the camels, and take them, and the young men they have smitten by the mouth of the sword, and I am escaped -- only I alone -- to declare it to thee.'

While this one is speaking another also hath come and saith, 'Thy sons and thy daughters are eating, and drinking wine, in the house of their brother, the first-born.

And the day is, that sons of God come in to station themselves by Jehovah, and there doth come also the Adversary in their midst to station himself by Jehovah.

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 Jehovah saith unto the Adversary, 'Lo, he is in thy hand; only his life take care of.'

And he taketh to him a potsherd to scrape himself with it, and he is sitting in the midst of the ashes.

And he saith unto her, 'As one of the foolish women speaketh, thou speakest; yea, the good we receive from God, and the evil we do not receive.' In all this Job hath not sinned with his lips.

And they sit with him on the earth seven days and seven nights, and there is none speaking unto him a word when they have seen that the pain hath been very great.

Let darkness and death-shade redeem it, Let a cloud tabernacle upon it, Let them terrify it as the most bitter of days.

Let the stars of its twilight be dark, Let it wait for light, and there is none, And let it not look on the eyelids of the dawn.

For now, I have lain down, and am quiet, I have slept -- then there is rest to me,

(Or as a hidden abortion I am not, As infants -- they have not seen light.)

Small and great are there the same. And a servant is free from his lord.

Who are waiting for death, and it is not, And they seek it above hid treasures.

To a man whose way hath been hidden, And whom God doth shut up?

For before my food, my sighing cometh, And poured out as waters are my roarings.

Hath one tried a word with thee? -- Thou art weary! And to keep in words who is able?

Is not thy reverence thy confidence? Thy hope -- the perfection of thy ways?

As I have seen -- ploughers of iniquity, And sowers of misery, reap it!

An old lion is perishing without prey, And the whelps of the lioness do separate.

And unto me a thing is secretly brought, And receive doth mine ear a little of it.

It standeth, and I discern not its aspect, A similitude is over-against mine eyes, Silence! and a voice I hear:

'Is mortal man than God more righteous? Than his Maker is a man cleaner?

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?

Far are his sons from safety, And they are bruised in the gate, And there is no deliverer.

Whose harvest the hungry doth eat, And even from the thorns taketh it, And the designing swallowed their wealth.

For man to misery is born, And the sparks go high to fly.

Doing great things, and there is no searching. Wonderful, till there is no numbering.

Who is giving rain on the face of the land, And is sending waters on the out-places.

Capturing the wise in their subtilty, And the counsel of wrestling ones was hastened,

By day they meet darkness, And as night -- they grope at noon.

And there is hope to the poor, And perverseness hath shut her mouth.

(For with sons of the field is thy covenant, And the beast of the field Hath been at peace with thee.)

And thou hast known that thy tent is peace, And inspected thy habitation, and errest not,

And hast known that numerous is Thy seed, And thine offspring as the herb of the earth;

Thou comest in full age unto the grave, As the going up of a stalk in its season.

Lo, this -- we searched it out -- it is right, hearken; And thou, know for thyself!

For now, than the sands of the sea it is heavier, Therefore my words have been rash.

For arrows of the Mighty are with me, Whose poison is drinking up my spirit. Terrors of God array themselves for me!

Brayeth a wild ass over tender grass? Loweth an ox over his provender?

Eaten is an insipid thing without salt? Is there sense in the drivel of dreams?

My soul is refusing to touch! They are as my sickening food.

And yet it is my comfort, (And I exult in pain -- He doth not spare,) That I have not hidden The sayings of the Holy One.

What is my power that I should hope? And what mine end That I should prolong my life?

Is my strength the strength of stones? Is my flesh brazen?

Is not my help with me, And substance driven from me?

To a despiser of his friends is shame, And the fear of the Mighty he forsaketh.

My brethren have deceived as a brook, As a stream of brooks they pass away.

That are black because of ice, By them doth snow hide itself.

Is it because I said, Give to me? And, By your power bribe for me?

Turn back, I pray you, let it not be perverseness, Yea, turn back again -- my righteousness is in it.

Is there in my tongue perverseness? Discerneth not my palate desirable things?

Is there not a warfare to man on earth? And as the days of an hireling his days?

As a servant desireth the shadow, And as a hireling expecteth his wage,

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

Remember Thou that my life is a breath, Mine eye turneth not back to see good.

Consumed hath been a cloud, and it goeth, So he who is going down to Sheol cometh not up.

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

And thy beginning hath been small, And thy latter end is very great.

'Doth a rush wise without mire? A reed increase without water?

While it is in its budding -- uncropped, Even before any herb it withereth.

Whose confidence is loathsome, And the house of a spider his trust.

Green he is before the sun, And over his garden his branch goeth out.

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

Those hating thee do put on shame, And the tent of the wicked is not!

Truly I have known that it is so, And what -- is man righteous with God?

Wise in heart and strong in power -- Who hath hardened toward Him and is at peace?

Who is removing mountains, And they have not known, Who hath overturned them in His anger.

Who is shaking earth from its place, And its pillars move themselves.

Who is speaking to the sun, and it riseth not, And the stars He sealeth up.

Doing great things till there is no searching, And wonderful, till there is no numbering.

It is the same thing, therefore I said, 'The perfect and the wicked He is consuming.'

Earth hath been given Into the hand of the wicked one. The face of its judges he covereth, If not -- where, who is he?

They have passed on with ships of reed, As an eagle darteth on food.

I -- I am become wicked; why is this? In vain I labour.

If there were between us an umpire, He doth place his hand on us both.

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?

Eyes of flesh hast Thou? As man seeth -- seest Thou?

As the days of man are Thy days? Thy years as the days of a man?

For Thou knowest that I am not wicked, And there is no deliverer from Thy hand.

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?

And these Thou hast laid up in Thy heart, I have known that this is with Thee.

And it riseth -- as a lion Thou huntest me. And Thou turnest back -- Thou shewest Thyself wonderful in me.

As I had not been, I am, From the belly to the grave I am brought,

A land of obscurity as thick darkness, Death-shade -- and no order, And the shining is as thick darkness.'

Is a multitude of words not answered? And is a man of lips justified?

Thy devices make men keep silent, Thou scornest, and none is causing blushing!

And thou sayest, 'Pure is my discourse, And clean I have been in Thine eyes.'

Longer than earth is its measure, And broader than the sea.

And empty man is bold, And the colt of a wild ass man is born.