And it was so, when the days of their feasting were finished, 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 sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.

And the LORD said unto Satan, Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a blameless and an upright man, one that fears God, and turns away from evil?

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

And the LORD said unto Satan, Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a blameless and an upright man, one that fears God, and turns away from evil? and still he holds fast his integrity, although you moved me against him, to destroy him without cause.

Because it shut not up the doors of my mother's womb, nor hid sorrow from my eyes.

Why did the knees receive me? or why the breasts that I should nurse?

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

For the thing which I greatly feared has come upon me, and that which I was afraid of has come unto 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 its form: an image was before my eyes, there was silence, and I heard a voice, saying,

I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause:

To set up on high those that are low; that those who mourn may be lifted to safety.

Oh that my grief were thoroughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together!

For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my words are swallowed up.

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

The things that my soul refused to touch are as loathsome food to me.

Oh 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 destroy me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!

What is my strength, that I should hope? and what is my end, that I should prolong my life?

Is my strength the strength of stones? or is my flesh of bronze?

Is not my help within me? and is wisdom driven quite from me?

My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, and as the stream of brooks that pass away;

For now you are nothing; you see my terror, and are afraid.

Did I say, Bring unto me? or, Give a reward for me of your substance?

Or, Deliver me from the enemy's hand? or, Redeem me from the hand of the mighty?

Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand how I have erred.

Now therefore be content, look upon me; for it is evident unto you if I lie.

Return, I pray you, let it not be injustice; yea, return again, my righteousness is in it.

Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern perverse things?

So am I made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me.

My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken, and become loathsome.

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 that has seen me shall see me no more: your eyes are upon me, and I am not.

Therefore I will not restrain 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 you set a watch over me?

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

Then you scare me with dreams, and terrify me through visions:

So that my soul chooses strangling, and death rather than my life.

I loathe it; I would not live always: let me alone; for my days are vanity.

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

I have sinned; what shall I do unto you, O you preserver of men? why have you set me as a mark against you, so that I am a burden to myself?

And why do you not pardon my transgression, and take away my iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust; and you shall seek me in the morning, but I shall not be.

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

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

For, though I were righteous, yet could I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.

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

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

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

If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of justice, who shall set me a time to plead?

If I justify myself, my own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am blameless, it shall also prove me perverse.

Though I were blameless, yet would I not know my soul: I would 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 leave off my heaviness, and comfort myself:

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

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

Yet shall you plunge me in the ditch, and my own clothes shall abhor me.

Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me:

Then would I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.

My soul is weary of my life; I will leave my complaint upon myself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.

I will say unto God, Do not condemn me; show me why you contend with me.

That you inquire after my iniquity, and search after my sin?

Your hands have made me and fashioned me together totally; yet you do destroy me.

Remember, I beseech you, that you have made me as the clay; and will you bring me into dust again?

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

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

You have granted me life and favor, and your care has preserved my spirit.

If I sin, then you mark me, and you will not acquit me from my iniquity.

If I am wicked, woe unto me; and if I am righteous, yet can I not lift up my head. I am full of disgrace; therefore see my affliction;

For it increases. You hunt me as a fierce lion: and again you show yourself awesome against me.

You renew your witnesses against me, and increase your indignation upon me; changes and war are ever with me.

Why then have you brought me forth out of the womb? Oh that I had died, 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 you have said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in your 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.

Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what will.

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

Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will defend my own ways before him.

He also shall be my salvation: for a hypocrite shall not come before him.

Hear diligently my speech, and my declaration with your ears.

Behold now, I have prepared my case; I know that I shall be justified.

Who is he that will contend with me? for now, if I hold my tongue, I shall die.

Only do not two things unto me: then will I not hide myself from you.

Withdraw your hand far from me: and let not your dread make me afraid.

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

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

Why hide you your face, and hold me for your enemy?

For you write bitter things against me, and make me possess the iniquities of my youth.

You put my feet also in the stocks, and watch closely all my paths; you set a bound to the soles of my feet.

And do you open your eyes upon such a one, and bring me into judgment with you?

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

O that you would hide me in the grave, that you would conceal me, until your wrath is past, that you would appoint me a set time, and remember me!

If a man dies, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change comes.

For now you number my steps: do not watch over my sin.

My transgression is sealed up in a bag, and you sew up my iniquity.

I will show you, hear me; and that which I have seen I will declare;

I also could speak as you do: if your soul were in my soul's place, I could heap up words against you, and shake my head at you.