There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and shunned evil.

And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.

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

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.

And the LORD said to Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down upon it.

And the LORD said to Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and shunneth evil?

Hast not thou made a hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.

And the LORD said to Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thy hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.

And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:

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

In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD.

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

And the LORD said to Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and shunneth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.

And the LORD said to Satan, Behold, he is in thy hand; but save his life.

But he said to her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that had come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite; for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him, and to comfort him.

And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they raised their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads towards heaven.

Let the day perish in which I was born, and the night in which it was said, There is a mail child conceived.

Why is light given to him that is in misery, and life to the bitter in soul;

Who rejoice exceedingly, and are glad, when they can find the grave?

Why is light given to a man whose way is hid, and whom God hath hedged in?

I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet; yet trouble came.

In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men.

It stood still, but I could not discern its form: an image was before my eyes, there was silence, and I heard a voice, saying,

Behold, he put no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged with folly:

How much less in them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed before the moth?

Doth not their excellence which is in them depart? they die, even without wisdom.

For wrath killeth the foolish man, and envy slayeth the silly one.

His children are far from safety, and they are crushed in the gate, neither is there any to deliver them.

To set on high those that are low: that those who mourn may be exalted to safety.

He taketh the wise in their own craftiness: and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong.

They meet with darkness in the day-time, and grope in the noon-day as in the night.

He will deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee.

In famine he will redeem thee from death: and in war from the power of the sword.

Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue: neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh.

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

And thou shalt know that thy tabernacle will be in peace; and thou shalt visit thy habitation, and shalt not sin.

Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, as a shock of corn cometh in in its season.

Oh that my grief were thoroughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together!

For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison of which drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of God set themselves in array against me.

Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox over his fodder?

Can that which is unsavory be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the white of an egg?

Then should I yet have comfort; yes, I would harden myself in sorrow: let him not spare; for I have not concealed the words of the Holy One.

Is not my help in me? and is wisdom driven quite from me?

Which are blackish by reason of the ice, and in which the snow is hid:

In the time when they become warm, they vanish: when it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.

Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand in what I have erred.

Do ye imagine to reprove words, and the speeches of one that is desperate, which are as wind?

Return, I pray you, let it not be iniquity; yes, return again, my righteousness is in it.

Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern perverse things?

Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of a hireling?

When I lie down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be gone? and I am full of tossings to and fro to the dawning of the day.

Therefore I will not restrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.

When I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaint;

And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away my iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust; and thou shalt seek me in the morning, but I shall not be.

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

He is green before the sun, and his branch shooteth forth in his garden.

If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.

He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?

Who removeth the mountains, and they know not: who overturneth them in his anger.

Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not.

If I justify myself, my own mouth will condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, that also will prove me perverse.

This is one thing, therefore I said it, he destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.

If I am wicked, why then do I labor in vain?

Yet wilt thou plunge me in the ditch, and my own clothes shall abhor me.

For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment.

My soul is weary of my life; I will leave my complaint upon myself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.

Thy hands have made me and fashioned me in all my parts; yet thou dost destroy me.

And these things hast thou hid in thy heart: I know that this is with thee.

Should thy falsehoods make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?

For thou hast said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thy eyes.

If iniquity is in thy hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles.

And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yes, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.

I am as one mocked by his neighbor, who calleth upon God, and he answereth him: the just upright man is derided.

He that is ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease.

Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this?

In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.

With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding.

He taketh away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth, and causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.

They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.

Is it good that he should search you out? or as one man mocketh another, do ye so mock him?

Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what will.

Why do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand?

Though he shall slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain my own ways before him.

Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, and lookest narrowly to all my paths; thou settest a print upon the heels of my feet.

And dost thou open thy eyes upon such one, and bring me into judgment with thee?

Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.

Though its root shall become old in the earth, and its stock die in the ground;

O that thou wouldst hide me in the grave, that thou wouldst keep me secret, until thy wrath is past, that thou wouldst appoint me a set time, and remember me!

My transgression is sealed up in a bag, and thou sewest up my iniquity.

Thy own mouth condemneth thee, and not I: yes, thy own lips testify against thee.

What knowest thou that we know not? what understandest thou, which is not in us?

Behold, he putteth no trust in his saints; yes, the heavens are not clean in his sight.

A dreadful sound is in his ears: in prosperity the destroyer shall come upon him.

He runneth upon him, even on his neck, upon the thick bosses of his bucklers:

Because he covereth his face with his fatness, and maketh collops of fat on his flanks.

And he dwelleth in desolate cities, and in houses which no man inhabiteth, which are ready to become heaps.

Let not him that is deceived trust in vanity: for vanity shall be his recompense.

Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest?