When their time of feasting had concluded, Job would rise early in the morning to send for them and consecrate them to God. He would offer a burnt offering for each one, because Job thought, "Perhaps my children sinned by cursing God in their hearts." Job did this time and again.

Then the LORD asked Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one like him on earth. The man is blameless as well as upright. He fears God and keeps away from evil."

Then the LORD told Satan, "Very well then, everything he owns is under your control, only you may not extend your hand against him." So Satan left the LORD's presence.

and exclaimed: "I left my mother's womb naked, and I will return to God naked. The LORD has given, and the LORD has taken. May the name of the LORD be blessed."

The LORD asked Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one like him on earth. The man is blameless as well as upright. He fears God and keeps away from evil. He remains firm in his integrity, even though you have been urging me to overwhelm him without cause."

"Because that night refused to shut the doors of my mother's womb; it failed to keep me from seeing this trouble.

Why was there a lap to hold me, and why were there breasts to nurse me?

"As far as I'm concerned, my food comes to me in the form of sighs, and my cries of anguish pour out like water.

For the dreaded thing that I feared has happened to me, what caused me to worry has engulfed me.

It's been my experience that those who plow the soil of iniquity and those who sow the seed of trouble will reap their harvest!

"The lioness may roar, and the lion cub may growl; but even the ivory teeth of the full grown lion are broken.

"A message was confided to me; my ear caught a whisper of it.

A fear fell upon me, along with trembling that caused all my bones to shake in terror.

A spirit glided past me and made the hair on my skin to bristle.

It remained standing, but I couldn't recognize its appearance. A form appeared before my eyes; At first there was silence, and then this voice:

"Now as for me, I would seek God if I were you; I would commit my case to God.

"If only my grief could be weighed; or my calamity piled together on a balance scale!

"The arrows of the Almighty have pierced me; my spirit absorbs their poison; God's terrors have been arranged just for me!

I cannot bring myself to touch them; food like this makes me sick."

"Who will grant my wish? I wish God would grant what I'm hoping for:

that God would just be willing to crush me; that he would let loose and eliminate me!

There is no help within me, is there? My resources have been driven away from me, haven't they?

But my brothers have acted treacherously like a cascading river, like torrential rivers that overflow.

"And now you're all just like them, aren't you? You see my terror and are terrified.

When did I ever ask you for anything, say "Offer a bribe for me from your wealth?'

or say "Deliver me from my enemy's control,' or "Redeem me from the domination of ruthless people'?"

"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.

Repent! Let there be no injustice; Change your ways! My vindication is at stake.

I'm like a servant who longs for the shade, like a hired laborer who is looking for his wages.

Truly I've been allotted months of emptiness; nights of trouble have been appointed for me.

My skin is covered with worms and clods of dirt; my skin becomes rough and then breaks out afresh.

My days pass as swiftly as a hand-loom; they come to their conclusion without hope.

Remember that my life is a breath; my eyes won't go back to seeing good things.

The eyes of the one who sees me won't see me anymore; your eyes will look for me but I won't be around!

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

Am I the sea, or a sea monster, that you keep watching me?

For I've said, "My bed will comfort me; my couch will ease my burdens while I complain.'

But then you scared me with dreams; you terrified me with visions.

I hate the thought of living forever! Leave me alone, because my days are pointless."

Why won't you look away from me? Why don't you leave me alone so I can swallow my saliva?

So what if I sin? What have I done against you, you observer of humankind? Why have you made me your target? Why burden yourself with me?

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!"

Your beginning may be small, but later years will be very great.

"Indeed, I'm fully aware that this is so, but how can a person become right with God?

"If he were to pass near me, I wouldn't notice; if he moves by, I wouldn't perceive him.

Even if I'm in the right, I cannot answer him. I can only appeal for mercy.

"Were I to be summoned, and he were to answer me, I wouldn't even believe that he was listening to what I have to say.

For he crushes me with a storm, and keeps on wounding me for no reason.

He won't let me catch my breath; instead, he fills me with bitterness.

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

"I'm blameless; I don't know myself; I despise my life.

"My days pass faster than a runner; but they pass quickly without seeing anything good.

If I were to say, "Let me forget my complaint,' change the expression on my face, and look cheerful,

then I still dread all of my suffering; I know you still won't acquit me.

"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.

He's not a man like me, so that I can answer him, or that we can enter into litigation with one another.

removing his rod from me, and not letting terror of him overwhelm me.

Otherwise, I would speak without being terrified of him, because I'm not like that inside myself."

"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.

""For you seek out my iniquity and search for my sin.

Although you know that I'm not guilty, there's no one to deliver me from you!

Your hands formed and fashioned me, but then you have destroyed me all at once on all sides.

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

Didn't you pour me out like milk and let me congeal like cheese?

You covered me with skin and flesh, weaving me together with bones and sinews.

You gave life and gracious love to me; your providential care has preserved my spirit.

If I sin, you watch me and won't acquit me for my iniquity.

""Woe to me if I'm guilty! If I'm innocent, I cannot lift my head, because I am filled with disgrace. Look at my affliction!

But if I do lift up my head, you will hunt me like a lion! You will perform miracles in order to fight against me.

""You have brought new witnesses against me, you're even more angry with me you've brought fresh troops to attack me!

So why did you bring me out from the womb? I wish I had died, before anyone had seen me,

My days are so few, aren't they? So leave me alone, then, so I can smile a little

You've said, "My teaching is flawless; I'm clean in God's sight.'

Like you, I also have understanding. I'm not inferior to you; who doesn't know things like this?"

"I'm a laughingstock to my friends, someone who called on God. But then he answered this upright and blameless man, and I have become a laughingstock.

"Wisdom may be found in the company of the aged. Understanding comes with longevity.

What you know, I know, too; I'm not inferior to you.

But I want to talk to the Almighty; and I'm determined to argue my case before God."

"Now listen to my dispute! Pay attention to my arguments.

"Don't talk to me! It's my turn to speak; then whatever happens, happens.

Why shouldn't I bite my flesh or take my life in my hands?

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!

I have this as my salvation: the godless person won't be appearing before him.

Pay attention to what I have to say and listen to my testimony with your own ears."

"Look, now! I've prepared my case for court. I know that I'm going to win.

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

Grant me only two things as you deal with me; then I won't hide from you.

Withdraw your hand far from me and keep me from being petrified with terror.

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

"How many of my iniquities and sins have you counted? Show me my transgression and sin.

Why do you hide your face and regard me as your enemy?

You've accused me of bitter things; you've caused me to reap the sins of my youth.

You've locked my feet in stocks; you watch all my steps; You've limited where I can walk.

So I'm a man who wears out like something rotten, like a garment that has become moth-eaten."

Indeed, have you opened your eyes on one like this to bring me into a legal fight with you?

"Won't you keep me safe in the afterlife? Conceal me until your anger subsides. Set an appointment for me, then remember me.

If a human being dies, will he live again? I will endure the entire time of my assigned service, until I am changed.