And his sons went and made a feast in the house of each one on his day; and they sent and invited their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.

And it was so, when the days of the feasting were gone about, that Job sent and hallowed them; and he rose up early in the morning, and offered up burnt-offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.

And Jehovah said to Satan, Whence comest thou? And Satan answered Jehovah and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped, alone, to tell thee.

While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, The Chaldeans made three bands, and fell upon the camels and took them, and the servants have they smitten with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped, alone, to tell thee.

While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their brother, the firstborn;

and behold, there came a great wind from over the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they died; and I only am escaped, alone, to tell thee.

and he said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: Jehovah gave, and Jehovah hath taken away; blessed be the name of Jehovah!

And Jehovah said to Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered Jehovah and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

That day let it be darkness, let not +God care for it from above, neither let light shine upon it:

Let darkness and the shadow of death claim it; let clouds dwell upon it; let darkeners of the day terrify it.

That night let gloom seize upon it; let it not rejoice among the days of the year; let it not come into the number of the months.

Let them curse it that curse the day, who are ready to rouse Leviathan;

Let the stars of its twilight be dark; let it wait for light, and have none, neither let it see the eyelids of the dawn:

Because it shut not up the doors of the womb that bore me, and hid not trouble from mine eyes.

For now should I have lain down and been quiet; I should have slept: then had I been at rest,

There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the wearied are at rest.

The prisoners together are at ease; they hear not the voice of the taskmaster.

Who long for death, and it cometh not, and dig for it more than for hidden treasures;

For my sighing cometh before my bread, and my groanings are poured out like the waters.

For I feared a fear, and it hath come upon me, and that which I dreaded hath come to me.

I was not in safety, neither had I quietness, neither was I at rest, and trouble came.

But now it is come upon thee, and thou grievest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.

It stood still; I could not discern the appearance thereof: a form was before mine eyes; I heard a slight murmur and a voice:

From morning to evening are they smitten: without any heeding it, they perish for ever.

Whose harvest the hungry eateth up, and taketh even out of the thorns; and the snare gapeth for his substance.

For evil cometh not forth from the dust, neither doth trouble spring out of the ground;

He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, and their hands carry not out the enterprise.

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

So the poor hath what he hopeth for, and unrighteousness stoppeth her mouth.

Thou shalt be hidden from the scourge of the tongue; and thou shalt not be afraid of destruction when it cometh.

At destruction and famine thou shalt laugh, and of the beasts of the earth thou shalt not be afraid.

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

Behold this, we have searched it out, so it is; hear it, and know thou it for thyself.

For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas; therefore my words are vehement.

Shall that which is insipid be eaten without salt? Is there any taste in the white of an egg?

What my soul refuseth to touch, that is as my loathsome food.

And that it would please +God to crush me, that he would let loose his hand and cut me off!

Then should I yet have comfort; and in the pain which spareth not I would rejoice that I have not denied the words of the Holy One.

What is my strength, that I should hope? and what is mine end, that I should have patience?

Is it not that there is no help in me, and soundness is driven away from me?

At the time they diminish, they are dried up; when heat affecteth them, they vanish from their place:

They are ashamed at their hope; they come thither, and are confounded.

How forcible are right words! but what doth your upbraiding reprove?

Now therefore if ye will, look upon me; and it shall be to your face if I lie.

Return, I pray you, let there be no wrong; yea, return again, my righteousness shall be in it.

I loathe it; I shall not live always: let me alone, for my days are a breath.

What is man, that thou makest much of him? and that thou settest thy heart upon him?

Have I sinned, what do I unto thee, thou Observer of men? Why hast thou set me as an object of assault for thee, so that I am become a burden to myself?

And though thy beginning was small, yet thine end shall be very great.

Shall not they teach thee, and tell thee, and utter words out of their heart?

Whilst it is yet in its greenness and not cut down, it withereth before any other grass.

He shall lean upon his house, and it shall not stand; he shall lay hold on it, but it shall not endure.

If he destroy him from his place, then it shall deny him: I have not seen thee!

Behold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the dust shall others grow.

Of a truth I know it is so; but how can man be just with God?

Who removeth mountains, and they know it not, when he overturneth them in his anger;

Who shaketh the earth out of its place, and the pillars thereof tremble;

Who commandeth the sun, and it riseth not, and he sealeth up the stars;

Who alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the high waves of the sea;

Who doeth great things past finding out, and wonders without number.

Behold, he taketh away: who will hinder him? Who will say unto him, What doest thou?

How much less shall I answer him, choose out my words to strive with him?

Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer; I would make supplication to my judge.

Be it a question of strength, lo, he is strong; and be it of judgment, who will set me a time?

Were I perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.

It is all one; therefore I said, he destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.

If the scourge kill suddenly, he mocketh at the trial of the innocent.

The earth is given over into the hand of the wicked man; he covereth the faces of its judges. If not, who then is it?

Be it that I am wicked, why then do I labour in vain?

Then I will speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.

Doth it please thee to oppress, that thou shouldest despise the work of thy hands, and shine upon the counsel of the wicked?

Since thou knowest that I am not wicked, and that there is none that delivereth out of thy hand?

Thy hands have bound me together and made me as one, round about; yet dost thou swallow me up!

Hast thou not poured me out as milk, and curdled me like cheese?

And it increaseth: thou huntest me as a fierce lion; and ever again thou shewest thy marvellous power upon me.

And wherefore didst thou bring me forth out of the womb? I had expired, and no eye had seen me.

And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, how that they are the double of what is realised; and know that +God passeth by much of thine iniquity!

Canst thou by searching find out +God? canst thou find out the Almighty to perfection?

It is as the heights of heaven; what wilt thou do? deeper than Sheol; what canst thou know?

For he knoweth vain men, and seeth wickedness when man doth not consider it;

Yet a senseless man will make bold, though man be born like the foal of a wild ass.

If thou prepare thy heart and stretch out thy hands toward him,

For thou shalt forget misery; as waters that are passed away shalt thou remember it;

But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and all refuge shall vanish from them, and their hope shall be the breathing out of life.

He that is ready to stumble with the foot is a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease.

Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee; and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.

Behold, he breaketh down, and it is not built again; he shutteth up a man, and there is no opening.

Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up; and he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.

He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out into light the shadow of death;

He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them; he spreadeth out the nations, and bringeth them in;

Lo, mine eye hath seen all this, mine ear hath heard and understood it.

What ye know, I know also: I am not inferior to you.

Oh that ye would be altogether silent! and it would be your wisdom.

Will it be well if he should search you out? or as one mocketh at a man, will ye mock at him?

Hold your peace from me, and I will speak, and let come on me what will!

Behold, if he slay me, yet would I trust in him; but I will defend mine own ways before him.

Yet dost thou open thine eyes upon such a one, and bringest me into judgment with thee?

Who can bring a clean man out of the unclean? Not one!

For there is hope for a tree: if it be cut down, it will sprout again, and its tender branch will not cease;