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."

Haven't you surrounded him with a fence on all sides, around his house, and around all that he owns? You have blessed everything he puts his hands on and you have increased his livestock in the land.

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."

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

Now please think: Who has ever perished when they're innocent? Where have the upright been destroyed?

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?

For you'll have a pact with the stones in the field; and the beasts of the field will be at peace with you.

You'll know that you'll have many children; and that your offspring will be like the grass of the earth.

"Look! We have thought all this through, and what we've said is true; So please listen and learn for your own good!"

"The arrows of the Almighty have pierced me; my spirit absorbs their poison; God's terrors have been arranged just for me!

"Do I have the strength to wait? And why should I be patient?

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

But my brothers have acted treacherously like a cascading river, like torrential rivers that overflow.

For all their expectations, they are doomed to disappointment; even though they have come and searched this far.

Have I said anything that's unjust? I can discern evil, can't I?"

"Men have harsh servitude on earth, do they not? His days are like those of a hired laborer, are they not?

Truly I've been allotted months of emptiness; nights of trouble have been appointed for me.

So what if I sin? What have I done against you, you observer of humankind? Why have you made me your target? Why burden yourself with me?

Why haven't you pardoned my transgression and taken away my iniquity? Now I'm about to lie down in the dust. You will seek me diligently, but I won't be around!"

"Were I to be summoned, and he were to answer me, I wouldn't even believe that he was listening to what I have to say.

Does it delight you to oppress or despise what you have made, while you smile at the plans of the wicked?

Do you have eyes made of flesh? Can you look at things as humans do?

Your hands formed and fashioned me, but then you have destroyed me all at once on all sides.

""You have brought new witnesses against me, you're even more angry with me you've brought fresh troops to attack me!

If you have any iniquity, throw it far away. Don't let evil live in your residence.

Like you, I also have understanding. I'm not inferior to you; who doesn't know things like this?"

"I'm a laughingstock to my friends, someone who called on God. But then he answered this upright and blameless man, and I have become a laughingstock.

The carefree are thinking, "I have contempt for misfortune,' Those who are about to stumble deserve it.

I have this as my salvation: the godless person won't be appearing before him.

Pay attention to what I have to say and listen to my testimony with your own ears."

"How many of my iniquities and sins have you counted? Show me my transgression and sin.

Indeed, have you opened your eyes on one like this to bring me into a legal fight with you?

Since his days have been determined, the number of his months is known to you. You've set his limit and he cannot exceed it.

Even if its roots have grown ancient in the earth, and its stump begins to rot in the ground,

You'll call and I'll answer you; you'll long for your creatures that your hands have made.

Because your sin dictates your speech, you have chosen the language of the crafty.

Have you listened in on God's secret council? Have you limited wisdom only to yourself?

"We have both the gray-haired and the aged with us, and they are far older than your father.

Why have your emotions carried you away? And why do your eyes flash

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

and encourage you with what I have to say; my words of comfort would lessen your pain.

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

Even now, behold! I have a witness in heaven, my Advocate is on high.

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.

My days are passed; my plans have been shattered; along with my heart's desires.

They have transformed night into day "The light,' they say, "is about to become dark.'

my relatives have failed me; and my friends have abandoned me.

My closest friends detest me; even the ones I love have turned against me.

I'm a pile of skin and bones; I have barely escaped by the skin of my teeth."

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

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

"How often do the wicked have their lights put out? Does calamity ever fall on them? Will God in his anger ever apportion their destruction?

Haven't you asked travelers on the highway? Don't you accept their word

"Will you keep walking on the traditional path that sinners have tread,

My feet stay where his footsteps lead; I kept on his pathway and haven't turned aside.

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

Nevertheless, I haven't been silenced because of the darkness, even when thick darkness obscures my vision."

He clears the skies with his wind; his hands have pierced the fleeing serpent.

Look! All of you have been watching, so why have you become so completely worthless?

If he has many children, their destiny is to die by the sword, and his descendants won't have enough food.

a place where birds of prey never fly, and the eyes of the falcon have never seen.

The proud beasts haven't walked there; lions have never passed over it.

My roots have spread out and have found water, and dew settles at night on my branches.

"But now they mock me; men who are far younger than I, whose fathers I would have hated to entrust with my own sheep dogs.

Furthermore, what could I have gained from men whose strength is gone?

Sons of fools and of uncertain reputation, they have been driven from the land by scourging."

My greatest fears have overcome me; my honor is assaulted as though by a wind storm; my prosperity evaporates like a morning cloud."

Haven't I wept for the one who is going through hard times? Haven't I grieved for the needy?

I have hoped for good, but evil came instead; I have hoped for light, but darkness came.

What would I have from God above, what heritage from the Almighty on high,

If I have stepped away from the way, or if my heart covets whatever my eyes see, or if some other blemish clings to my hands,

if I've observed someone who is about to die for lack of clothes or if I have no clothing to give to the poor,

For I'm terrified of what calamity God may have in store for me; and I cannot endure his grandeur."

this is also a sin that deserves to be judged, since I would have tried to deceive God above."

"Have I rejoiced in the destruction of those who hate me, or have I been happy that evil caught up with him?

No, I haven't allowed my mouth to sin by asking for his life with a curse.

People in my household have said, "We cannot find anyone who has not been satisfied with his meat,' haven't they?

"Have I covered my transgression like other people, to conceal iniquity within myself?

Have I feared large crowds? Has my family's contempt ever terrified me so that I remained silent and wouldn't go outside?"

Elihu waited to have a word with Job, since the others were older than he,

"Look! I have waited to hear your speech, so I listened to your insights while you searched for the right words to say.

"So that you cannot claim, "We have found wisdom!' let God do the rebuking, not man;

"Now please listen to what I have to say, Job. Listen to every word!

Look! As far as God is concerned, I'm just like you are I, too, have been pinched off from a piece of clay.

Why are you arguing with him? He doesn't have to give explanations for what he does to you!

"He'll sing to mankind with these words: "I've sinned. I have twisted what is right. Yet he has not repaid me like I deserve.

If you have anything to say, answer me; speak up, because I'd be happy to vindicate you.

But if you have nothing to say, then at least listen to me! Be quiet and learn some wisdom from me."

"Listen to what I have to say, you wise men! Pay attention to me, you educated people!

Have I lied concerning the justice that I deserve? My wound is incurable, though transgression cannot be attributed to me.'

If you have understanding, listen to this! Pay attention to what I have to say:

As a result, the cries of the poor have reached him and he has heard the cry of the afflicted.

"Should you not be paid back, since you have rejected him? You do the choosing! I won't! Tell us what you know!

"They cry out because they have many oppressors; they cry for help because the powerful are abusing them.

because what I have to say isn't deceptive, and the one who has perfect knowledge is with you."

he'll reveal their actions to them, when their transgressions have become excessive.

"Have you ever commanded the morning at any time during your life? Do you know where the dawn lives,