“Let the day perish on which I was to be born,
And the night which said, ‘A boy is conceived.’

“May that day be darkness;
Let not God above care for it,
Nor light shine on it.

“Let darkness and black gloom claim it;
Let a cloud settle on it;
Let the blackness of the day terrify it.

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

“Behold, let that night be barren;
Let no joyful shout enter it.

“Let those curse it who curse the day,
Who are prepared to rouse Leviathan.

“Let the stars of its twilight be darkened;
Let it wait for light but have none,
And let it not see the breaking dawn;

“Desist now, let there be no injustice;
Even desist, my righteousness is yet in it.

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

“Let Him remove His rod from me,
And let not dread of Him terrify me.

“I will say to God, ‘Do not condemn me;
Let me know why You contend with me.

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

If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away,
And do not let wickedness dwell in your tents;

“But now ask the beasts, and let them teach you;
And the birds of the heavens, and let them tell you.

“Or speak to the earth, and let it teach you;
And let the fish of the sea declare to you.

“Be silent before me so that I may speak;
Then let come on me what may.

“Listen carefully to my speech,
And let my declaration fill your ears.

Remove Your hand from me,
And let not the dread of You terrify me.

“Then call, and I will answer;
Or let me speak, then reply to me.

“Let him not trust in emptiness, deceiving himself;
For emptiness will be his reward.

“O earth, do not cover my blood,
And let there be no resting place for my cry.

Though he desires it and will not let it go,
But holds it in his mouth,

“Listen carefully to my speech,
And let this be your way of consolation.

“You say, ‘God stores away a man’s iniquity for his sons.’
Let God repay him so that he may know it.

“Let his own eyes see his decay,
And let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.

“I hold fast my righteousness and will not let it go.
My heart does not reproach any of my days.

Let Him weigh me with accurate scales,
And let God know my integrity.

Let me sow and another eat,
And let my crops be uprooted.

May my wife grind for another,
And let others kneel down over her.

Let my shoulder fall from the socket,
And my arm be broken off at the elbow.

“Oh that I had one to hear me!
Behold, here is my signature;
Let the Almighty answer me!
And the indictment which my adversary has written,

Let briars grow instead of wheat,
And stinkweed instead of barley.”
The words of Job are ended.

“Let me speak that I may get relief;
Let me open my lips and answer.

“Let me now be partial to no one,
Nor flatter any man.

“Behold, let me tell you, you are not right in this,
For God is greater than man.

Then let him be gracious to him, and say,
‘Deliver him from going down to the pit,
I have found a ransom’;

Let his flesh become fresher than in youth,
Let him return to the days of his youthful vigor;

“Pay attention, O Job, listen to me;
Keep silent, and let me speak.

“Let us choose for ourselves what is right;
Let us know among ourselves what is good.

“Beware that wrath does not entice you to scoffing;
And do not let the greatness of the ransom turn you aside.

“Under the whole heaven He lets it loose,
And His lightning to the ends of the earth.

“Will the faultfinder contend with the Almighty?
Let him who reproves God answer it.”

“He is the first of the ways of God;
Let his maker bring near his sword.