It was so, when the days of their feasting had run their course, 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 renounced God in their hearts." Job did so continually.

Yahweh said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant, Job? For there is none like him in the earth, a blameless and an upright man, one who fears God, and turns away from evil."

He said, "Naked I came out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return there. Yahweh gave, and Yahweh has taken away. Blessed be the name of Yahweh."

Yahweh said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? For there is none like him in the earth, a blameless and an upright man, one who fears God, and turns away from evil. He still maintains his integrity, although you incited me against him, to ruin him without cause."

because it didn't shut up the doors of my mother's womb, nor did it hide trouble from my eyes.

"Why didn't I die from the womb? Why didn't I give up the spirit when my mother bore me?

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

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

For the thing which I fear comes on me, That which I am afraid of comes to me.

"Now a thing was secretly brought to me. My ear received a whisper of it.

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

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

It stood still, but I couldn't discern its appearance. A form was before my eyes. Silence, then I heard a voice, saying,

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

"Oh that my anguish were weighed, and all my calamity laid in the balances!

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

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

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

"Oh that I might have my request, that God would grant 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!

Be it still my consolation, yes, let me exult in pain that doesn't spare, that I have not denied the words of the Holy One.

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

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

Isn't it that I have no help in me, 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 hold my peace. Cause me to understand wherein I have erred.

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

Please return. Let there be no injustice. Yes, return again. My cause is righteous.

Is there injustice on my tongue? Can't my taste discern mischievous things?

so am I made to possess months of misery, 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.

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

The eye of him who sees me shall see me no more. Your eyes shall be on me, but I shall not be.

"Therefore I will not keep silent. 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 put a guard 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, death rather than my bones.

I loathe my life. I don't want to live forever. Leave me alone, for my days are but a breath.

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

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

Why do you not pardon my disobedience, and take away my iniquity? For now shall I lie down in the dust. You will seek me diligently, but I shall not be."

Behold, he goes by me, and I don't see him. He passes on also, but I don't perceive him.

How much less shall I answer him, And choose my words to argue with him?

Though I were righteous, yet I wouldn't answer him. I would make supplication to my judge.

If I had called, and he had answered me, yet I wouldn't believe that he listened to my voice.

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

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

If it is a matter of strength, behold, he is mighty! If of justice, 'Who,' says he, 'will summon me?'

Though I am righteous, my own mouth shall condemn me. Though I am blameless, it shall prove me perverse.

I am blameless. I don't respect 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 face, and cheer up;'

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

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

yet you will plunge me in the ditch. My own clothes shall abhor me.

Let him take his rod away from me. Let his terror not make me afraid;

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

I will tell 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 framed me and fashioned me altogether, yet you destroy me.

Remember, I beg you, that you have fashioned me as clay. Will you bring me into dust again?

Haven't you poured me out like milk, and curdled me like cheese?

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

You have granted me life and loving kindness. Your visitation has preserved my spirit.

if I sin, then you mark me. You will not acquit me from my iniquity.

If I am wicked, woe to me. If I am righteous, I still shall not lift up my head, being filled with disgrace, and conscious of my affliction.

If my head is held high, you hunt me like a lion. Again you show yourself powerful to me.

You renew your witnesses against me, and increase your indignation on me. Changes and warfare are with me.

"'Why, then, have you brought me forth out of the womb? I wish I had given up the spirit, and no eye had seen me.

Aren't my days few? Cease then. Leave me alone, that I may find a little comfort,

For you say, 'My doctrine is pure. I am clean in your eyes.'

"Behold, my eye has seen all this. My ear has heard and understood it.

Hear now my reasoning. Listen to the pleadings of my lips.

"Be silent, leave me alone, that I may speak. 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 godless man shall not come before him.

Hear diligently my speech. Let my declaration be in your ears.

See now, I have set my cause in order. I know that I am righteous.

Who is he who will contend with me? For then would I hold my peace and give up the spirit.

"Only don't do two things to me; then I will not hide myself from your face:

withdraw your hand far from me; and don't let your terror 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 disobedience and my sin.

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

For you write bitter things against me, and make me inherit the iniquities of my youth:

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

Do you open your eyes on such a one, and bring me into judgment with you?

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

"Oh that you would hide me in Sheol, that you would keep me secret, 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 warfare would I wait, until my release should come.

But now you number my steps. Don't you watch over my sin?

My disobedience is sealed up in a bag. You fasten up my iniquity.

"I will show you, listen to me; 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 join words together against you, and shake my head at you,

but I would strengthen you with my mouth. The solace of my lips would relieve you.