And it was so, when the days of their feasting were completed, 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 so

And LORD said to Satan, Have thou considered my servant Job? For there is none like him on the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one who fears God, and turns away from evil.

And he said, Naked I came out of my mother's womb, and naked I shall return there. LORD gave, and LORD has taken away, blessed be the name of LORD.

And LORD said to Satan, Have thou considered my servant Job? For there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one who fears God, and turns away from evil. And he still holds fast his integrity, although thou m

Because it did not shut up the doors of my [mother's] womb, nor hide trouble from my eyes.

Why did I not die from the womb? Why did I not give up the spirit when my mother bore me?

Why did the knees receive me? Or why the breast, that I should suck?

For my sighing comes before I eat, and my groanings are poured out like water.

For the thing which I fear comes upon me, and that which I am afraid of comes to me.

Now a thing was secretly brought to me, and my ear received a whisper of it.

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

Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh stood up.

It stood still, but I could not discern the appearance of it. A form was before my eyes. [There was] silence, and I heard a voice, [saying],

But as for me, I would seek to God. And to God I would commit my cause,

O that my grief were but weighed, and all my calamity laid in the balances!

For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas. Therefore my words have been rash.

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

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

My soul refuses to touch [them]. They are as loathsome food to me.

O that I might have my request, and that God would grant [me] the thing that I long for!

Even that it would please God to crush me, that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!

And be it still my consolation, yea, let me exult (in pain that does not spare), that I have not denied the words of the Holy One.

What is my strength that I should wait? And what is my end that I should be patient?

Is my strength the strength of stones? Or is my flesh of brass?

Is it not that I have no help in me, and that wisdom is driven quite from me?

My brothers have dealt deceitfully as a brook, as the channel of brooks that pass away,

Did I say, Give to me? Or, Offer a present for me from your substance?

Or, Deliver me from the adversary's hand? Or, Redeem me from the hand of the oppressors?

Teach me, and I will be quiet. And cause me to understand how I have erred.

Now therefore be pleased to look upon me, for truly I shall not lie to your face.

Return, I pray you, let there be no injustice. Yea, return again, my cause is righteous.

Is there injustice on my tongue? Cannot my taste discern mischievous things?

so I am made to possess months of misery, and wearisome nights are appointed to me.

My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust. My skin closes up, and breaks out afresh.

My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope.

O remember that my life is a breath. My eye shall no more see good.

The eye of him who sees me shall behold me no more. Thine eyes shall be upon me, but I shall not be.

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

Am I a sea, or a sea-monster, that thou set a watch over me?

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

Then thou scare me with dreams, and terrify me through visions,

so that my soul chooses strangling and death rather than [these] my bones.

I loathe [my life]. I would not live always. Let me alone, for my days are vanity.

How long will thou not look away from me, nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle?

If I have sinned, what do I do to thee, O thou watcher of men? Why have thou set me as a mark for thee, so that I am a burden to myself?

And why do thou not pardon my transgression, and take away my iniquity? For now I shall lay down in the dust, and thou will seek me diligently, but I shall not be.

Lo, he goes by me, and I do not see him. He also passes on, but I do not perceive him.

How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words [to reason] with him?

Whom, though I were righteous, yet I would not answer. I would make supplication to my judge.

If I had called, and he had answered me, yet I would not believe that he hearkened to my voice.

For he breaks me with a tempest, and multiplies my wounds without cause.

He will not allow me to take my breath, but fills me with bitterness.

If of strength, lo, [he is] mighty! And if of justice, who will summon me?

Though I be righteous, my own mouth shall condemn me. Though I be perfect, it shall prove me perverse.

Though I were perfect, I do not regard myself. I despise my life.

Now my days are swifter than a runner. They flee away. They see no good,

If I say, I will forget my complaint. I will put off my [sad] countenance, and be of good cheer,

I am afraid of all my sorrows. I know that thou will not hold me innocent.

If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands ever so clean,

yet thou will plunge me in the ditch, and my own clothes shall abhor me.

Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his terror make me afraid.

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

I will say to God, Do not condemn me. Show me why thou contend with me.

that thou inquire after my iniquity, and search after my sin,

Thy hands have made me and fashioned me together round about, yet thou destroy me.

Remember, I beseech thee, that thou have fashioned me as clay. And will thou bring me into dust again?

Have thou not poured me out as milk, and curdled me like cheese?

Thou have clothed me with skin and flesh, and knit me together with bones and sinews.

Thou have granted me life and loving kindness, and thy visitation has preserved my spirit.

If I sin, then thou mark me. And thou will not acquit me from my iniquity.

If I be wicked, woe to me. And if I be righteous, yet I shall not lift up my head, being filled with shame, and looking upon my affliction.

And if [my head] exalts itself, thou hunt me as a lion. And again thou show thyself marvelous upon me.

Thou renew thy witnesses against me, and increase thine indignation upon me. Changes and warfare are with me.

Why then have thou brought me forth out of the womb? I would have given up the spirit, and no eye had seen me.

Are not my days few? Cease then, and let me alone, that I may take comfort a little

For thou say, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes.

Lo, my eye has seen all [this]. My ear has heard and understood it.

Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips.

Be quiet. Let me alone that I may speak, and let come on me what will.

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

Behold, he will kill me; I have no hope. Nevertheless I will maintain my ways before him.

This also shall be my salvation, that a profane man shall not come before him.

Hear diligently my speech, and let my declaration be in your ears.

Behold now, I have set my case in order. I know that I am righteous.

Who is he who will contend with me? For then I would keep silent and give up the spirit.

Only do not do two things to me, then I will not hide myself from thy face:

Withdraw thy hand far from me, and do not let thy dread make me afraid.

Then call thou, and I will answer, or let me speak, and answer thou me.

How many are my iniquities and sins? Make me to know my transgression and my sin.

Why do thou hide thy face, and reckon me for thine enemy?

For thou write bitter things against me, and make me to inherit the iniquities of my youth.

Thou also put my feet in the stocks, and mark all my paths. Thou set a bound to the soles of my feet.

And do thou open thine eyes upon such a one, and bring me into judgment with thee?

look away from him, that he may rest, till he shall accomplish, as a hireling, his day.

O that thou would hide me in Sheol, that thou would keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou would appoint for me a set time, and remember me!

If a man dies, shall he live [again]? All the days of my warfare I would wait till my release should come.

But now thou number my steps. Do thou not watch over my sin?

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

I will show thee. Hear thou me, and that which I have seen I will declare,

I also could speak as ye do, if your soul were in my soul's stead. I could join words together against you, and shake my head at you.