Seven sons and three daughters were born to him.

When the days of their feasting were over, Job would send [for them] and consecrate them, rising early in the morning and offering 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.” Job did this at all [such] times.

The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Then Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming around on the earth and from walking around on it.”

But put forth Your hand now and touch (destroy) all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face.”

Then the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that Job has is in your power, only do not put your hand on the man himself.” So Satan departed from the presence of the Lord.

Now there was a day when Job’s sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house,

and a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were feeding beside them,

While he was still speaking, another [messenger] also came and said, “Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house,

and suddenly, a great wind came from across the desert, and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people and they died, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”

The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Then Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming around on the earth and from walking around on it.”

But put forth Your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh [and severely afflict him]; and he will curse You to Your face.”

So the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your hand, only spare his life.”

Then his wife said to him, “Do you still cling to your integrity [and your faith and trust in God, without blaming Him]? Curse God and die!”

So they sat down on the ground with Job for seven days and seven nights and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his pain was very great.

“As for that night, let darkness seize it;
Let it not rejoice among the days of the year;
Let it not be counted in the number of the months.

“Let those curse it who curse the day,
Who are skilled in rousing up Leviathan.

“Why did the knees receive me?
And why the breasts, that I would nurse?

Or with princes who had gold,
Who filled their houses with silver.

“Or like a miscarriage which is hidden and put away, I would not exist,
Like infants who never saw light.

“There [in death] the wicked cease from raging,
And there the weary are at rest.

“The small and the great are there,
And the servant is free from his master.

Who rejoice exceedingly,
And rejoice when they find the grave?

“For my groaning comes at the sight of my food,
And my cries [of despair] are poured out like water.

“I am not at ease, nor am I quiet,
And I am not at rest, and yet trouble still comes [upon me].”

“Your words have helped the one who was stumbling to stand,
And you have strengthened feeble knees.

“But now adversity comes upon you, and you are impatient and intolerant;
It touches you, and you are horrified.

“Is not your fear of God your confidence,
And [is not] the integrity and uprightness of your ways your hope?

“Remember now, who, being innocent, ever perished?
Or where [and in what circumstances] were those upright and in right standing with God destroyed?

“By the breath of God they perish,
And by the blast of His anger they are consumed.

“The roaring of the lion and the voice of the fierce lion,
And the teeth of the young lions are broken.

“The lion perishes for lack of prey,
And the cubs of the lioness are scattered.

“Now a word was secretly brought to me,
And my ear received a whisper of it.

‘Can [mortal] man be just before God or be more righteous than He?
Can a man be pure before his Maker or be more cleansed than He?

‘God puts no trust or confidence, even in His [heavenly] servants,
And He charges His angels with error.

‘How much more [will He blame and charge] those who dwell in houses (bodies) of clay,
Whose foundations are in the dust,
Who are crushed like a moth.

‘Between morning and evening they are broken in pieces and destroyed;
Unobserved and unnoticed, they perish forever.

“His children are far from safety [and included in their father’s ruin],
They are oppressed and crushed in the [court of justice in the city’s] gate,
And there is no one to rescue them.

So that He sets on high those who are lowly,
And He lifts to safety those who mourn.

“He frustrates the devices and schemes of the crafty,
So that their hands cannot attain success or achieve anything of [lasting] worth.

“Behold, how happy and fortunate is the man whom God reproves,
So do not despise or reject the discipline of the Almighty [subjecting you to trial and suffering].

“In famine He will redeem you from death,
And in war from the power of the sword.

“You will know also that your tent is secure and at peace,
And you will visit your dwelling and fear no loss [nor find anything amiss].

“You will know also that your descendants will be many,
And your offspring as the grass of the earth.

“You will come to your grave in old age,
Like the stacking of grain [on the threshing floor] in its season.

“Behold this; we have investigated it, and it is true.
Hear and heed it, and know for yourself [for your own good].”

Because the arrows of the Almighty are within me,
My spirit drinks their poison;
The terrors of God are arrayed against me.

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

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

“My soul refuses to touch them;
Such things are like loathsome food to me [sickening and repugnant].

“Then I would still have consolation,
And I would jump for joy amid unsparing pain,
That I have not denied or hidden the words of the Holy One.

“Is my strength and endurance that of stones,
Or is my flesh made of bronze?

Which are dull and dirty because of ice,
And into which the snow melts and hides itself;

“They were put to shame and disappointed because they had trusted [that they would find water];
They came there and were ashamed.

“Indeed, you have now become like a dried-up stream,
You see a terror [believing me to be a victim of the wrath of God] and are afraid [to be compassionate].

“Did I ever say, ‘Give me something,’
Or, ‘Pay a bribe for me from your wealth,’

Or, ‘Rescue me from the adversary’s hand,’
Or, ‘Redeem me from the hand of the tyrants’?

“How painful are words of honesty.
But what does your argument prove?

“Do you intend to reprove my words [with a convincing argument],
When the words of one in despair belong to the wind [and go ignored]?

“You would cast lots (gamble) over the fatherless
And bargain away your friend.

“Now please look at me,
And see if I lie to your face [for you know that I would not].

“Turn away [from your suspicion], let there be no injustice;
Turn away, my righteousness and vindication is still in it.

“Is not man forced to labor on earth?
And are not his days like the days of a hired man?

So am I allotted months of futility and suffering,
And [long] nights of trouble and misery are appointed to me.

“My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle,
And are spent without hope.

“The eye of him who sees me [now] will see me no more;
Your eyes will be upon me, but I will not be.

“Am I the sea, or the sea monster,
That You set a guard over me?

“I waste away and loathe my life; I will not live forever.
Let me alone, for my days are but a breath [futile and without substance].

“What is man that You [should] magnify him [and think him important]?
And that You are concerned about him?

“Will You never turn Your gaze away from me [it plagues me],
Nor let me alone until I swallow my spittle?

“How long will you say these things?
And will the words of your mouth be a mighty wind?

“Does God pervert justice?
Or does the Almighty pervert righteousness?

“If your children have sinned against Him,
Then He has handed them over to the power of their transgression and punished them.

“If you would [diligently] seek God
And implore the compassion and favor of the Almighty,

Then, if you are pure and upright,
Surely now He will awaken for you
And restore your righteous place.

“Though your beginning was insignificant,
Yet your end will greatly increase.

“For we are only of yesterday and know nothing,
Because our days on earth are [like] a shadow [just a breath or a vapor].

“Can the papyrus grow up without a marsh?
Can the rushes or reed grass grow without water?

“So are the paths of all who forget God;
And the hope of the godless will perish,

“His [godless] roots are wrapped around a pile of rocks,
And he gazes at a house of stones.

“He will yet fill your mouth with laughter
And your lips with joyful shouting [if you are found blameless].

“God is wise in heart and mighty in strength;
Who has [ever] defied or challenged Him and remained unharmed?

“Behold, He snatches away; who can restrain or turn Him back?
Who will say to Him, ‘What are You doing?’

For though I were righteous, I could not answer.
I must appeal for mercy to my Opponent and Judge.

“The earth is given into the hands of the wicked;
He covers the faces of its judges [so that they are blind to justice].
If it is not He, then who is it [that is responsible for all this injustice]?

“Now my days are swifter than a runner;
They vanish, they see no good.

“They pass by like the [swift] boats made of reeds,
Like an eagle that swoops down on its prey.

“There is no arbitrator between us,
Who could lay his hand upon us both [would that there were].

“Then I would speak [my defense] and not fear Him;
But I am not like that in myself.

‘Does it indeed seem right to You to oppress,
To despise and reject the work of Your hands,
And to look with favor on the schemes of the wicked?

‘Are Your days as the days of a mortal,
Are Your years as man’s years,

‘Although You know that I am not guilty or wicked,
Yet there is no one who can rescue me from Your hand.

‘Your hands have formed and made me altogether.
Would You [turn around and] destroy me?

‘You have granted me life and lovingkindness;
And Your providence (divine care, supervision) has preserved my spirit.

‘Yet these [present evils] You have hidden in Your heart [since my creation]:
I know that this was within You [in Your purpose and thought].

‘You renew Your witnesses against me
And increase Your indignation and anger toward me;
Hardship after hardship is with me [attacking me time after time].

“Would He not let my few days alone,
Withdraw from me that I may have a little cheer

The [sunless] land of utter gloom as darkness itself,
[The land] of the shadow of death, without order,
And [where] it shines as [thick] darkness.”

“Shall a multitude of words not be answered?
And should a talkative man [making such a long-winded defense] be acquitted?

“Should your boasts and babble silence men?
And shall you scoff and no one put you to shame?

And [that He would] show you the secrets of wisdom!
For sound wisdom has two sides.
Know therefore that God forgets a part of your wickedness and guilt.