There once was a man in the land of Uz named Job. The man was blameless as well as upright. He feared God and kept away from evil.

The LORD asked Satan, "Where have you come from?" In response, Satan answered the LORD, "From wandering all over the earth and walking back and forth throughout it."

Then the LORD asked Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one like him on earth. The man is blameless as well as upright. He fears God and keeps away from evil."

The LORD asked Satan, "Where have you come from?" In response, Satan told the LORD, "From wandering all over the earth and walking back and forth throughout it."

The LORD asked Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one like him on earth. The man is blameless as well as upright. He fears God and keeps away from evil. He remains firm in his integrity, even though you have been urging me to overwhelm him without cause."

So Satan left the LORD's presence and struck Job with terrible boils from the sole of his feet to the top of his head.

Then his wife told him, "Do you remain firm in your integrity? Curse God and die!"

But he replied to her, "You're talking like foolish women do. Are we to accept what is good from God but not tragedy?" Throughout all of this, Job did not sin by what he said.

When Job's three friends heard all these tragedies that happened to him, they each traveled from their home towns to visit him. Eliphaz came from Teman, Bildad came from Shuah, and Zophar came from Naamath. They met together and went to console and comfort him.

Observing him from a distance, at first they didn't even recognize him, so they raised their voices and burst into tears. They each ripped their robes, threw ashes into the air on their heads,

"Because that night refused to shut the doors of my mother's womb; it failed to keep me from seeing this trouble.

The unimportant and the important are both there, and the servant is free from his master.

"As far as I'm concerned, my food comes to me in the form of sighs, and my cries of anguish pour out like water.

In reply, Eliphaz from Teman answered:

"Will you get offended if somebody tries to talk to you? Who can keep from speaking at a time like this?

A word from you has supported those who have stumbled, and has strengthened faltering knees.

Disquieting thoughts from dreams at night; when deep sleep falls on everyone.

It remained standing, but I couldn't recognize its appearance. A form appeared before my eyes; At first there was silence, and then this voice:

how much less confidence does he have in those who dwell in houses of clay; who were formed from a foundation in dust and can perish like a moth?

His children are far from deliverance; they'll be maltreated before they leave home, with no one to rescue them.

Then the hungry will devour his harvest, snatching it even from the midst of thorns, while the thirsty covet their wealth.

For wickedness doesn't crop up from dust, nor does trouble sprout out of the ground;

So he delivers from the sword of their mouth the poor from the power of the mighty.

He will deliver you from death by famine; in war from the power of the sword.

You'll be protected from the accusing tongue; you need not fear destruction when it heads your way.

"Will the wild donkey bray from hunger if fresh grass is beside him? Will the ox low from distress if it is near its feed?

There is no help within me, is there? My resources have been driven away from me, haven't they?

But then the snow melts, and they disappear; when warmed, they evaporate from their stream beds.

Travelers from Tema search intently; caravans from Sheba hope to find them.

When did I ever ask you for anything, say "Offer a bribe for me from your wealth?'

or say "Deliver me from my enemy's control,' or "Redeem me from the domination of ruthless people'?"

"In addition, I won't keep my opinion to myself; I'll speak from my distressed spirit; I'll complain with my bitter soul.

Why won't you look away from me? Why don't you leave me alone so I can swallow my saliva?

Then in response, Bildad from Shuah said:

Won't they instruct you, and tell you, and bring out words from the heart?

If he is uprooted from his place, then it will deny him: "I never saw you.'

"Indeed, this is the benefit of God's way: from the soil other plants will sprout.

He shakes the earth from its orbit, so that its foundations shudder.

"If I wash myself with water from snow, and cleanse my hands with lye,

removing his rod from me, and not letting terror of him overwhelm me.

"I am disgusted with living, so I'm going to talk about my complaint freely. I'll speak out from the bitterness of my soul.

Although you know that I'm not guilty, there's no one to deliver me from you!

So why did you bring me out from the womb? I wish I had died, before anyone had seen me,

as if I had never existed; carried from the womb to the grave.

Zophar from Naamath had this to say:

and disclose his wise secrets? After all, there's so much more to understanding. So be aware that God will exact from you less than your sin deserves."

Then your confidence will be flawless, and your security will keep you from terror.

But what the wicked look for will fail; their way of escape will be taken away from them; their only hope is to take their final breath."

He keeps reliable advisors from speaking, and removes discernment from elders.

He uncovers the hidden dimensions from darkness, bringing what is in deep shadow to light.

He withdraws understanding from national leaders of the world, causing them to wander through uncharted wilderness.

Grant me only two things as you deal with me; then I won't hide from you.

Withdraw your hand far from me and keep me from being petrified with terror.

Who can produce a clean thing from an unclean thing? No one!

Look away from him and leave him alone, so he can enjoy his time, like a hired worker."

As water disappears from the sea, or water evaporates from a river,

so also a person lies down and does not get up; they won't awaken until the heavens are no more, nor will they arise from their sleep."

"Mountains fall and crumble; rocks are dislodged from their places.

Water wears away stones; floods wash away topsoil from the land but you destroy the hope of human beings just like that!

Then Eliphaz from Teman responded:

"Should a wise person respond with knowledge based on wind? Should he fill his stomach with a wind storm from the east?

which is what wise men have explained, who didn't withhold anything from their ancestors.

"But if I speak, my pain isn't assuaged; if I refrain from speaking, what do I have to lose?"

My face is red from my tears, and dark shadows encircle my eyelids,

For when only a few years have elapsed, I'll start down a path from which I'll never return."

My eyes have grown weak from grief; and my whole body is as thin as a shadow.

Bildad from Shuah replied, saying:

You're tearing yourself to pieces in your anger. Will the land be abandoned because of you, or the rock be moved from its place?"

"Indeed, the light of the wicked is extinguished; the flame from his fire doesn't shine.

Torn from the security of his home, he is brought before the king of terrors.

He is driven away from light to darkness, made to wander the landscape.

"My brothers are alienated from me; my acquaintances are estranged;

Then Zophar from Naamath replied:

Whenever I hear an insulting rebuke, I respond from my spirit because I understand."

"Haven't you known this from ancient times, since mankind was placed on the earth?

"Though he swallows wealth, he will vomit it; God will dislodge it from his stomach.

"He will restore what he has attained from his work and won't consume it; he won't enjoy the profits from his business transactions,

This is what the wicked person inherits from God; it is the inheritance that God appoints for him."

Their houses are safe from fear, and God's chastisement never visits them.

"They say to God, "Turn away from us! We have no desire to know your ways.

Behold! Their prosperity isn't in their control! The counsel of the wicked will remain far from me."

that the wicked person is spared from times of calamity, that he is rescued on the day of wrath?

The runoff from the streams will seem sweet to him; everyone will follow after him; countless crows march ahead of him.

Then in response, Eliphaz from Teman said:

"After all, you've taken collateral from your relatives for no reason; you stripped the naked of their clothing.

You've neglected to give water to the weary, and you've withheld food from the hungry.

They told God, "Get away from us!' and "What will the Almighty do to them?'

"Though God fills their houses with good things, the counsel of the wicked will remain far from me.

"If you return to the Almighty you'll be restored, as you remove iniquity from your household.

I haven't wandered away from the commands that he has spoken; I've treasured what he has said more than my own meals."

They are wet from mountain rains; without shelter, they cling to a rock.

"The fatherless are torn from the breast; the poor are taken away as security for a loan.

They press oil between the olive groves owned by the wicked; they suffer from thirst, even while treading the winepress.

From the city, dying men groan aloud, and the wounded cries out for help, but God charges no one with wrong.

Bildad from Shuah responded and said:

"The living God has withheld justice from me; the Almighty has made my life bitter.

Far be it from me to admit that you're right! I intend to maintain my integrity even if it kills me!

"This is what a wicked person inherits from God, and what the ruthless will receive from the Almighty:

He'll be swept up by a storm wind and carried away; he'll be whirled away from his place.

It will toss him around without pity. He'll try to break free from its grip,