Then Satan answered Yahweh and said, "Does Job fear God for nothing?

While this one was still speaking, {another} came and said, "The fire of God fell from the heavens, and it blazed up against the sheep and goats and against the servants, and it consumed them. But I escaped, [even] I alone, to tell you."

And behold, a great wind came from across the desert, and it struck the four corners of the house {so that} it fell upon the young people, and they died. But I escaped, [even] I alone, to tell you."

So Yahweh {asked} Satan, "Have you {considered} my servant Job? Indeed, there is no one like him on the earth--a blameless man and upright and God-fearing and turning away from evil. And still he persists in his blamelessness {even though} you incited me against him to destroy him for nothing."

Then Satan answered him and said, "Skin for skin! All that {that} man has he will give for his life.

{So} he took for himself a potsherd with which to scrape himself, and he sat in the midst of the ashes.

Then they sat with him on the ground [for] seven days and seven nights, but no one spoke a word to him because they saw that {his} suffering was very great.

Let the stars of its dawn be dark; let it hope for light but there be none, and let it not see [the] eyelids of dawn

For now I would lie down, and I would be at peace; I would be asleep; then {I would be at rest}

with kings and counselors of [the] earth, who {rebuild} ruins for themselves,

[The] small and [the] great [are] there, and [the] slave [is] free from his masters.

who wait for death, but {it does not come}, and search [for] it more than [for] treasures,

For my sighing comes {before} my bread, and my groanings gush forth like water

[Is] not your fear [in God] your confidence? [Is not] your hope even the integrity of your ways?

For vexation will slay the fool, and jealousy will kill [the] simple.

His children are far from deliverance, and they are crushed in the gate, and there is no deliverer--

So there is hope for the powerless, and wickedness shuts its mouth.

for he himself wounds, but he binds up; he strikes, but his hands heal.

At destruction and famine you shall laugh, and you shall not fear the wild animals of the earth.

For your covenant [will be] with the stones of the field, and the wild animals of the field will be at peace with you.

for then it would be heavier than the sand of the seas; therefore my words have been rash,

for the arrows of Shaddai [are] in me; my spirit drinks their poison; the terrors of God are arrayed against me.

But it will still be my consolation, and I would recoil in {unrelenting} pain, for I have not denied [the] words of [the] Holy One.

"Loyal love [should come] for the afflicted [from] his friend, even if he forsakes the fear of Shaddai.

The caravans of Tema looked; the traveling merchants of Sheba hope for them.

"For now you have become {such}; you see terrors, and you fear.

Is it because I have said, 'Give to me,' or, 'Offer a bribe for me from your wealth'?

Like a slave he longs for [the] shadow, and like a laborer he waits for his wages.

I loathe [my life]; I would not live forever; depart from me, for my days [are] a breath.

[If] I have sinned, what have I done to you, watcher of humanity? Why have you made me as a target for yourself, so that I have become a burden to myself?

And why do you not pardon my transgression and take away my guilt? For now I shall lie in the dust, and you will seek me, but {I will be no more}."

If you yourself would seek God, then you would plead to Shaddai for grace.

If you [are] pure and upright, indeed, now he will rouse himself for you, and he will restore your righteous abode.

for we [are of] yesterday, and we do not know, for our days on earth [are] a shadow.

"For [he is] not a mortal like me [that] I can answer him, [that] {we can come to trial together}.

[then] I would speak and not fear him, for {in myself I am not fearful}.

Is it good for you that you oppress, that you despise the labor of your hands, and you smile over the schemes of [the] wicked?

that you seek out my iniquity, and you search for my sin

For you say, 'My teaching [is] pure, and I am clean in your sight.'

and [that] he would tell you [the] secrets of wisdom, for {insight has many sides}. And know that God {on your behalf} has forgotten {some of} your guilt.

For he knows {those who are worthless}; {when he sees} iniquity, {he will not consider it}.

if iniquity [is] in your hand, put it far away, and you must not let wickedness reside in your tents--

surely then you will lift up your face without blemish, and you will be firmly established and will not fear.

For you yourself will forget your misery; you will remember [it] as water [that] has flowed past.

{Those at ease have contempt} for [the] thought of {disaster}, [but it is] ready for those unstable of foot.

[The] tents of [the] destroyers are at peace, and [there is] security for those who provoke God, [for those] whom God brings into his hand.

Does not [the] ear test words and [the] palate taste food for itself?

{O that} you would keep completely silent, and [that] it would become wisdom for you.

"Will you speak falsely for God? And will you speak deceitfully for him?

{Will you show partiality for him}? Or do you want to plead God's case?

Who [is] he who will contend with me? For {then} I would be silent, and I would pass away.

"Indeed, there is hope for a tree: if it is cut down, then it will sprout again, and its new shoots will not cease;

"{O that} you would conceal me in Sheol, [that] you would hide me {until your wrath is past}, [that] you would appoint a set time for me and remember me.

You would call, and I myself would answer you; you would long for the work of your hand.

For then you would count my steps, [but] you would not keep watch over my sin.

He feels only the pain of his own body, and his inner self mourns for him."

"{What is worse}, you yourself are doing away with fear, and you are lessening meditation {before} God.

For your iniquity teaches your mouth, and you choose [the] tongue of [the] crafty.

"Are the consolations of God too small for you, a word [spoken] gently with you?

"All of the wicked [one's] days he is writhing, even [through] the number of years that are laid up for the tyrant.

{He cannot trust that he will return} from darkness, and he himself is destined for [the] sword.

"He is wandering for bread, [saying], 'Where [is it]?' He knows that a day of darkness [is] ready {at hand}.

Anguish and distress terrify him; they overpower him like a king ready for the battle.

{he will dwell} [in] desolate cities, in houses that they should not inhabit, which are destined for rubble.

Let him not trust in emptiness--he will be deceiving himself-- for worthlessness will be his recompense.

for [the] company of [the] godless [is] barren, and fire consumes the tents of those who accept bribes.

"I was at ease, then he broke me in two, and he seized [me] by my neck; then he shattered me and set me up as a target for him.

"O earth, you should not cover my blood, and let there be no place for my cry for help.

So now look, my witness [is] in the heavens, and he [who] vouches for me [is] in the heights.

and it argues for a mortal with God, and [as] {a human} for his friend.

"My spirit is pulled down; my days are extinguished; [the] graveyard [is] for me.

Please lay down a pledge for me with yourself; who [is] he [who] will give security for my hand?

He denounces friends for reward, so his children's eyes will fail.

"And he has made me a proverb for [the] peoples, {and I am one before whom people spit}.

If I hope [for] Sheol [as] my house, [if] I spread my couch in the darkness,

"{How long} {will you hunt for words}? Consider, and afterward we shall speak.

Furthermore, the light of [the] wicked is put out, and the flame of his fire will not shine.

for he is thrust into a net by his feet, and he walks into a pitfall.

His wealth will become hunger, and disaster is ready for his stumbling.

"{Nothing} remains for him in his tent; sulfur is scattered upon his dwelling place.

His remembrance perishes from [the] earth, and [there is] not a name for him on [the] street.

[There is] no offspring for him nor a descendant among his people, and there is not a survivor in his abode.

"Pity me, pity me, you my friends, for God's hand has touched me.

whom {I will see for myself}, and [whom] my eyes will see and not a stranger. {My heart faints within me}.

be afraid for yourselves {because of the sword}, for wrath [brings] punishment by [the] sword, so that you may know that [there is] judgment."

"Therefore my disquieting thoughts bring me back {for the sake of} my inward excitement.

for he has oppressed; he has abandoned [the] poor; he has seized a house but did not build it.

{Total darkness} is hidden for his treasures; {an unfanned fire} will devour him; [the] remnant {will be consumed} in his tent.

[As for] me, [is] my complaint for human beings? And if [so], why cannot I be impatient?

Their houses [are] safe without fear, and the rod of God [is] not upon them.

And they say to God, 'Turn away from us, for we do not desire to know your ways.

'God stores up his iniquity for his children'? [Then] let him repay [it] to him that he may know.

for what {does he care for} his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off?

For you say, 'Where is the nobleman's house, and where [are] {the tents in which the wicked dwell}?'

Who denounces his way to his face? And who repays him [for what] he has done?

"Indeed, you have required a pledge from your family for nothing, and you have stripped off [the] clothes of [the] naked.

You have given no water [for the] weary to drink, and you withheld food from [the] hungry.

Thick clouds [are] a covering for him, so that he does not see; and he walks about on [the] dome of heaven.'

{Surely} our foe perishes, and fire has consumed their remainder.

And you will decide on a matter, and it will be established for you, and light will shine on your ways.