There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job. That man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God, and turned away from evil.

His sons went and held a feast in the house of each one on his birthday; and they sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.

It was so, when the days of their feasting had run their course, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up 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 renounced God in their hearts." Job did so continually.

Now it happened on the day when God's sons came to present themselves before Yahweh, that Satan also came among them.

Yahweh said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Then Satan answered Yahweh, and said, "From going back and forth in the earth, and from walking up and down in it."

Yahweh said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant, Job? For there is none like him in the earth, a blameless and an upright man, one who fears God, and turns away from evil."

Haven't you made a hedge around him, and around his house, and around all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.

Yahweh said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power. Only on himself don't put forth your hand." So Satan went forth from the presence of Yahweh.

It fell on a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house,

While he was still speaking, there came also another, and said, "The Chaldeans made three bands, and swept down on the camels, and have taken them away, yes, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you."

While he was still speaking, there came also another, and said, "Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house,

and behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young men, and they are dead. I alone have escaped to tell you."

Then Job arose, and tore his robe, and shaved his head, and fell down on the ground, and worshiped.

In all this, Job did not sin, nor charge God with wrongdoing.

Again it happened on the day when the God's sons came to present themselves before Yahweh, that Satan came also among them to present himself before Yahweh.

Yahweh said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Satan answered Yahweh, and said, "From going back and forth in the earth, and from walking up and down in it."

Yahweh said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? For there is none like him in the earth, a blameless and an upright man, one who fears God, and turns away from evil. He still maintains his integrity, although you incited me against him, to ruin him without cause."

Yahweh said to Satan, "Behold, he is in your hand. Only spare his life."

But he said to her, "You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?" In all this Job didn't sin with his lips.

Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that had come on him, they each came from his own place: Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite, and they made an appointment together to come to sympathize with him and to comfort him.

When they lifted up their eyes from a distance, and didn't recognize him, they raised their voices, and wept; and they each tore his robe, and sprinkled dust on their heads toward the sky.

So they sat down with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spoke a word to him, for they saw that his grief was very great.

"Let the day perish in which I was born, the night which said, 'There is a boy conceived.'

Let that day be darkness. Don't let God from above seek for it, neither let the light shine on it.

Let darkness and the shadow of death claim it for their own. Let a cloud dwell on it. Let all that makes black the day terrify it.

As for that night, let thick darkness seize on it. Let it not rejoice among the days of the year. Let it not come into the number of the months.

"Why didn't I die from the womb? Why didn't I give up the spirit when my mother bore me?

"Why is light given to him who is in misery, 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 hidden, whom God has hedged in?

For the thing which I fear comes on me, That which I am afraid of comes to me.

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

fear came on me, and trembling, which made all my bones shake.

Behold, he puts no trust in his servants. He charges his angels with error.

How much more, those who dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed before the moth!

His children are far from safety. They are crushed in the gate. Neither is there any to deliver them,

who gives rain on the earth, and sends waters on the fields;

so that he sets up on high those who are low, those who mourn are exalted to safety.

He takes the wise in their own craftiness; the counsel of the cunning is carried headlong.

They meet with darkness in the day time, and grope at noonday as in the night.

He will deliver you in six troubles; yes, in seven no evil shall touch you.

In famine he will redeem you from death; in war, from the power of the sword.

You shall be hidden from the scourge of the tongue, neither shall you be afraid of destruction when it comes.

You shall know that your tent is in peace. You shall visit your fold, and shall miss nothing.

You shall come to your grave in a full age, like a shock of grain comes in its season.

"Oh that my anguish were weighed, and all my calamity laid in the balances!

For the arrows of the Almighty are within me. My spirit drinks up their poison. The terrors of God set themselves in array against me.

Does the wild donkey bray when he has grass? Or does the ox low over his fodder?

Can that which has no flavor be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?

Be it still my consolation, yes, let me exult in pain that doesn't spare, that I have not denied the words of the Holy One.

Isn't it that I have no help in me, That wisdom is driven quite from me?

Which are black by reason of the ice, in which the snow hides itself.

In the dry season, they vanish. When it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.

Do you intend to reprove words, since the speeches of one who is desperate are as wind?

Is there injustice on my tongue? Can't my taste discern mischievous things?

"Isn't a man forced to labor on earth? Aren't his days like the days of a hired hand?

When I lie down, I say, 'When shall I arise, and the night be gone?' I toss and turn until the dawning of the day.

The eye of him who sees me shall see me no more. Your eyes shall be on me, but I shall not be.

"Therefore I will not keep silent. 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;'

What is man, that you should magnify him, that you should set your mind on him,

Why do you not pardon my disobedience, and take away my iniquity? For now shall I lie down in the dust. You will seek me diligently, but I shall not be."

(For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days on earth are a shadow.)

While it is yet in its greenness, not cut down, it withers before any other reed.

He shall lean on his house, but it shall not stand. He shall cling to it, but it shall not endure.

If he is pleased to contend with him, he can't answer him one time in a thousand.

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

He removes the mountains, and they don't know it, when he overturns them in his anger.

He alone stretches out the heavens, and treads on the waves of the sea.

Behold, he goes by me, and I don't see him. He passes on also, but I don't perceive him.

Though I am righteous, my own mouth shall condemn me. Though I am blameless, it shall prove me perverse.

They have passed away as the swift ships, as the eagle that swoops on the prey.

I shall be condemned. Why then do I labor in vain?

yet you will plunge me in the ditch. My own clothes shall abhor me.

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

There is no umpire between us, that might lay his hand on us both.

then I would speak, and not fear him, for I am not so in myself.

"My soul is weary of my life. I will give free course to my complaint. I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.

Is it good to you that you should oppress, that you should despise the work of your hands, and smile on the counsel of the wicked?

Although you know that I am not wicked, there is no one who can deliver out of your hand.

Yet you hid these things in your heart. I know that this is with you:

You renew your witnesses against me, and increase your indignation on me. Changes and warfare are with me.

Should your boastings make men hold their peace? When you mock, shall no man make you ashamed?

For you say, 'My doctrine is pure. I am clean in your eyes.'

An empty-headed man becomes wise when a man is born as a wild donkey's colt.

If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away. Don't let unrighteousness dwell in your tents.

You shall be secure, because there is hope. Yes, you shall search, and shall take your rest in safety.

I am like one who is a joke to his neighbor, I, who called on God, and he answered. The just, the blameless man is a joke.

In the thought of him who is at ease there is contempt for misfortune. It is ready for them whose foot slips.

The tents of robbers prosper. Those who provoke God are secure, who carry their God in their hands.

Who doesn't know that in all these, the hand of Yahweh has done this,

in whose hand is the life of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind?

With aged men is wisdom, in length of days understanding.

He pours contempt on princes, and loosens the belt of the strong.

He takes away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth, and causes them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.

They grope in the dark without light. He makes them stagger like a drunken man.

Is it good that he should search you out? Or as one deceives a man, will you deceive him?

Shall not his majesty make you afraid, And his dread fall on you?

"Be silent, leave me alone, that I may speak. Let come on me what will.

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