Then Job stood up, tore his robe, shaved his head, fell to the ground, bowed very low,

However, stretch out your hand and strike his bones and flesh, and he'll curse you to your face, won't he?"

His children are far from deliverance; they'll be maltreated before they leave home, with no one to rescue them.

You'll be protected from the accusing tongue; you need not fear destruction when it heads your way.

You'll laugh at destruction and famine; and you need not fear the beasts of the earth.

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 your home is secure; when you search your possessions, and nothing will be missing.

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

You'll go to your grave at a ripe old age; like a stack of grain that's harvested at just the right time.

"Will the wild donkey bray from hunger if fresh grass is beside him? Will the ox low from distress if it is near its feed?

"Instruct me, and I'll remain silent. Help me understand where I've gone astray.

Now be willing to face me, and I won't lie to your face.

"When I lie down I ask, "When will I wake up?' But the night continues and I keep tossing and turning until dawn.

"In addition, I won't keep my opinion to myself; I'll speak from my distressed spirit; I'll complain with my bitter soul.

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!"

"If your children sin against him, he'll make them a prisoner of their sins.

if you are clean and upright, surely then, he'll act on your behalf and restore your rightful place.

Though I'm in the right, my own mouth will condemn me; though I'm blameless, he'll pronounce me as guilty.

If a calamity causes sudden death, he'll mock at the despair of the innocent.

"If I wash myself with water from snow, and cleanse my hands with lye,

you'll still drop me into the Pit, and my own clothes will despise me.

"I am disgusted with living, so I'm going to talk about my complaint freely. I'll speak out from the bitterness of my soul.

I'll say to God, "Don't condemn me! Let me know why you are fighting me.

""Please remember that you've made me like clay and you'll return me to dust.

You'll forget your suffering; you'll remember it like water that has evaporated.

You'll be secure, because there is hope; you'll see that you're at rest and safe.

When you sleep, there'll be nothing to fear; and many will court your favor.

"Ask the wild animals, and they'll teach you; the birds of the sky will tell you.

Or ask the green plants of the earth and they'll teach you; let the fish in the sea tell you.

When he withholds water, rivers dry up; when he lets them loose, they'll flood the land.

Will things go well for you under his cross-examination? Can you lie to him, as you would to a human being?

Even though he kills me, I'll continue to hope in him. At least I'll be able to argue my case to his face!

Who can oppose me? If they do, I'll be silent and die.

Then call and I'll answer, or let me speak and then you reply to me!"

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

Then you'll certainly count every step I took, but you won't keep an inventory of my sin.

"What is mankind, that he can be blameless? Or does being born of a woman mean he'll be in the right?

"I'll tell you what, listen to me! Let me relate what I've seen,

He won't escape darkness; a flame will wither his shoots; and he'll depart by the breath of God's mouth.

For when only a few years have elapsed, I'll start down a path from which I'll never return."

Make sure that you remain wary of God's sword, for God's wrath brings with it the sword of punishment, by which you'll know there's a judgment."

he'll perish forever, like his own excrement; those who saw him will ask, "Where is he?'

He'll vanish like a dream, and no one will find him; he will be chased away like a night vision."

Though his bones were full of youthful vigor; yet they will lie down with him in the dust.

Bear with me and let me speak! Then, after I've spoken, you'll be free to mock me.

Their own eyes will see their destruction; and they'll drink the wrath of the Almighty.

They both lie down in the dust; and worms cover them."

"Get to know God, and you'll be at peace with him, and then prosperity will come to you.

"If you return to the Almighty you'll be restored, as you remove iniquity from your household.

"Then you'll take delight in the Almighty; and will turn your face toward God.

You'll entreat him and he'll listen to you as you fulfill your vows.

He'll even deliver the guilty, who will be delivered through your innocence."

I would lay out my case before him; and fill my mouth with arguments.

I know how he would answer me; I understand what he'll tell me.

"Would he use his great power to fight me? No, he'll pay attention to me.

In that place, the upright can reason with him; and I'll be acquitted once and for all by my judge."

Because he knows the road on which I travel, when he had tested me, I'll come out like gold.

He'll complete what he has planned for me; he has many things in mind for me!

I'll retain my righteousness and not compromise it; my conscience won't rebuke me at any time.

"I'll teach you about the power of God, that which is with the Almighty I won't conceal.

He'll be swept up by a storm wind and carried away; he'll be whirled away from his place.

It will toss him around without pity. He'll try to break free from its grip,

The deepest ocean says, "It's not within me.' and the sea says, "You'll never find it with me.'

They come like those who breach through a wall; as everything crashes around me they'll roll on and on!

I'll wear it on my shoulder, or tie it on my head for a crown!

I'll give an account for every step I've taken; I'll approach him confidently like a Commander-in-Chief."

Therefore I'm saying, "Listen to me!' Then I'll declare what I know.

"I will contribute my arguments as an answer; I'll declare what I know,

Don't be afraid of me; I'll go easy on 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.

"Be patient with me a moment longer, and I'll show you that there's more to say on God's behalf.

I'll take what I know to its logical conclusion and ascribe righteousness to my Creator,

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

If they listen and serve him, they'll finish their lives in prosperity and their years will be pleasant.

"But if they won't listen, they'll perish by the sword and die in their ignorance.

He'll deliver the afflicted through their afflictions and open their ears when they are oppressed."

"Now I'll conclude with this: my heart is trembling violently; it feels like it's about to leap from my body!

Stand up like a man! I'll ask you some questions, and you give me some answers!"

when they crouch in their dens and lie in ambush in their lairs?

Will you trust him that he'll bring in your grain, and gather it to your threshing floor?"

When the trumpet blasts he'll neigh, "Aha! Aha!' From a distance he can sense war, the war cry of generals, and their shouting."

His young ones feast on blood; he'll be found wherever there's a carcass."

"Stand up like a man! I'll ask you some questions, and you give me some answers!

then I will applaud you myself! I'll admit that you can deliver yourself by your own efforts!"

Lay your hand on him, and you'll remember the struggle. You'll never do that again!

His protective scales are his pride, they lie sealed tightly together.

Listen now, and I will speak for myself; I'll interrogate you and then inform me.

So take seven bulls and seven rams and bring them to my servant Job. And bring a whole burnt offering for yourselves and my servant Job will pray for you. I'll encourage him by not responding as your disgraceful folly deserves, since you didn't speak about me correctly as did my servant Job."