And his sons went and made banquets - one day in one house, another day in another - and sent for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.

And it fortuned that when they had passed over the time of their banqueting round about; Job sent for them, and sanctified them, and gat up early, and offered for every one a burnt offering. For Job thought thus: "Peradventure my sons have done some offense, and have been unthankful to God in their hearts." And thus did Job everyday.

And the LORD said unto Satan, "From whence comest thou?" Satan answered the LORD, and said, "I have gone about the land and walked through it."

And while he was yet speaking, there came another, and said, "The fire of God is fallen from heaven, it hath consumed, and burnt up all thy sheep and servants: and I only ran my way, to tell thee."

In the mean season while he was yet speaking, there came another, and said, "The Chaldeans made three armies, and fell upon thy camels, which they have carried away: yea, and slain thy servants with the sword, and I only am gotten away, to tell thee."

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

and suddenly there came a mighty great wind out of the South, and smote the four corners of the house: which fell upon thy children, so that they are dead, and I alone am gotten away, to tell thee."

and said, "Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I turn thither again. The LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; now blessed be the name of the LORD."

It happened also upon a time, that when the servants of God came and stood before the LORD, Satan also came among them, and stood before him.

And the LORD said unto Satan, "From whence comest thou?" Satan answered and said, "I have gone about the land, and walked through it."

Then said the LORD unto Satan, "Hast thou not considered my servant Job, how that he is an innocent and virtuous man such one as feareth God, and escheweth evil, and that there is none like him in the land? But thou movedst me against him, to punish him: yet is it in vain, for he continueth still in his godliness."

Then said his wife unto him, "Dost thou yet continue in thy perfectness? Curse God, and die."

But Job said unto her, "Thou speakest like a foolish woman. Seeing we have received prosperity at the hand of God, wherefore should we not be content with adversity also?" In all these things, did not Job sin with his lips.

and the night in the which it was said, 'There is a man child conceived.'

The same day be turned to darkness, and not regarded of God from above, neither let the light shine upon it:

but let it be stained with darkness, and the shadow of death. Let the dim cloud fall upon it, and let it be lapped in with sorrow.

Let the dark storm overcome that night; let it not be reckoned among the days of the year, nor counted in the months.

give it their curse also, even those that be ready to raise vp Leviathan.

Let the stars of that night be dim through darkness of it. Let it look for light, but let it see none, neither the raising up of the fair morning:

because it shut not up the womb that bare me. For then should these sorrows have been hid from mine eyes.

"Alas, why died I not in the birth? Why did not I perish, as soon as I came out of my mother's womb?

Then should I now have lain still; I should have slept, and been at rest,

O that I utterly had no being, or were as a thing born out of time that is put aside, either as young children, which never saw the light.

There, must the wicked cease from their tyranny, there such as are overlaboured be at rest.

There, are those let out free which have been in prison, so that they hear no more the voice of the oppressor.

Which long for death, if it come not;

and search for it more than for treasure. Which also would be exceedingly glad, and rejoice if they found their grave.

For my sighs come before I eat, and my roarings fall out like flowing water.

But now that the plague is come upon thee, thou shrinkest away: now that it hath touched thyself, thou art faint hearted.

And when the wind passed by before my presence it made the hairs of my flesh stand up.

that his harvest was eaten up of the hungry; that the weaponed man had spoiled it, and that the thirsty had drunk up his riches.

"It is not the earth that bringeth forth travail, neither cometh sorrow out of the ground;

but it is man, that is born unto misery, like as the sparks fly up out of the hot coals.

Insomuch that they run into darkness by fair day, and grope about them at the noonday, like as in the night.

He delivereth thee out of six troubles, so that in the seventh there can no harm touch thee.

In the midst of hunger he saveth thee from death: and when it is war, from the power of the sword.

Lo, this we ourselves have proved by experience, and even this it is. Hearken thou to it also, that thou mayest take heed to thyself."

For then should it be heavier than the sand of the sea.

That which is unsavory, shalt it be eaten without salt, or is there any taste in the white of an egg?

What power have I to endure? Or, what is mine end, that my soul might be patient?

When their time cometh, they shall be destroyed and perish: and when they be set on fire, they shall be removed out of their place,

When I laid me down to sleep, I said, 'O when shall I rise?' Again, I longed sore for the night. Thus am I full of sorrow, till it be dark.

"What is man, that thou dost magnify him? And that thou settest thy heart upon him?

I have offended; what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men? Why hast thou made me to stand in thy way, and am so heavy a burden unto myself?

No: but before it be shot forth, and before it be gathered, it withereth; before any other herb.

Even so goeth it with all them that forget God: and even thus also shall the hypocrite's hope come to naught.

He leaneth him upon his house, but he shall not stand; he holdeth him fast by it, yet shall he not endure.

"Oftentimes, a thing doth flourish, and men think that it may abide the sunshine. It shooteth forth the branches in its garden,

and it taketh many roots: insomuch that it is like a house of stone.

But if it be taken out of its place, every man denieth it, saying, 'I know thee not.'

Lo, thus is it with him that rejoiceth in his own doings: and as for others, they grow out of the earth.

"I know it is so of a truth: for how may a man, compared unto God, be justified?

He removeth the earth out of her place, that her pillars shake withal.

He commandeth the sun, and it riseth not: he closeth up the stars, as it were under a signet.

He, himself, alone, spreadeth out the heavens, and goeth upon the waves of the sea.

If he came by me, I might not look upon him: if he went his way, I should not perceive it.

If he be hasty to take anything away, who will make him restore it again? Who will say unto him, 'What doest thou?'

How should I then answer him? Or what words should I find out against him?

Yea though I be righteous, yet will I not give him one word again, but meekly submit myself to my judge.

If I had called upon him, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had heard my voice!

He troubleth me so with the tempest, and woundeth me out of measure without a cause.

And though he slay suddenly with the scourge, yet will he laugh at the punishment of the innocent.

As for the world, he giveth it over into the power of the wicked; and he shall cover the faces of the judges thereof. Is it not so? Where is he - or who is he - that can show the contrary?

yet shouldest thou dip me in the mire, and mine own clothes should defile me.

It grieveth my soul to live. Nevertheless, now will I put forth my words: I will speak out of the very heaviness of my soul,

Thinkest thou it well done, to oppress me, to cast me off - being a work of thine hands - and to maintain the counsel of the ungodly?

that thou makest such inquisition for my wickedness, and searchest out my sin?

Whereas, notwithstanding, thou knowest that I am no wicked person, and that there is no man able to deliver me out of thine hand.

Hast thou not turned me, as it were milk: and turned me to cruddes like cheese?

Though thou hidest these things in thine heart, yet am I sure that thou rememberest them all.

If I have done wickedly, woe is me therefore. If I have done righteously, yet dare I not lift up my head; so full am I of confusion, and see mine own misery.

Thou huntest me out, being in heaviness, as it were a lion, and troublest me out of measure.

Wherefore hast thou brought me out of my mother's womb? O that I had perished, and that no eye had seen me.

that he might show thee out of his secret wisdom how manifold his law is! Then shouldest thou know that God had forgotten thee, because of thy sins.

"Wilt thou find out God with thy seeking? Wilt thou attain to the perfectness of the Almighty?

He is higher than heaven; what wilt thou do? Deeper than hell; how wilt thou then know him?

For it is he that knoweth the vanity of men. He seeth their wickedness also; should he not then consider it?

Then shouldest thou forget thy misery, and think no more upon it, than upon the waters that run by.

Speak to the earth, and it shall show thee; or to the fishes of the sea, and they shall certify thee.

What is he, but he knoweth that the hand of the LORD made all these?

Have not the ears pleasure in hearing, and the mouth in tasting the thing that it eateth?

Yea, with God is wisdom and strength - it is he that hath counsel and foreknowledge.

If he break down a thing, who can set it up again? If he shut a thing, who will open it?

He carrieth away the wise men, as it were a spoil, and bringeth the judges out of their wits.

He taketh the verity from out of the mouth, and disappointeth the aged of their wisdom.

He poureth out confusion upon princes, and comforteth them that have been oppressed.

"Look: what lieth hid in darkness, he declareth it openly! And the very shadow of death bringeth he to light!

He changeth the heart of the princes and kings of the earth, and disapointeth them; so that they go wandering out of the way,

Lo, all this have I seen with mine eye, heard with mine ear, and understand it.

Look what ye know, that same do I know also, neither am I inferior unto you.

Lo, though he slay me, yet will I put my trust in him. But if I shew and reprove mine own ways in his sight,

What is he that will go to law with me? For if I hold my tongue, I shall die.

He cometh up and is cut down like a flower. He flyeth as it were a shadow, and never continueth in one state.

Who can make it clean, that cometh from an unclean thing? Nobody.

"If a tree be cut down, there is some hope yet, that it will sprout and shoot forth the branches again;

yet when the stock getteth the scent of water, it will bud, and bring forth bows, like as when it was first planted.

But as for man; when he is dead, perished and consumed away, what becometh of him?

but when man sleepeth, he riseth not again, until the heaven perish: he shall not wake up nor rise out of his sleep.

"For thou hast numbered all my goings, yet be not thou too extreme upon my sins.

Thou hast sealed up mine offenses, as it were in a bag: but be merciful unto my wickedness.