Then said the LORD unto Satan, "Hast thou not considered my servant Job, and how that he is an innocent and virtuous man: such one as feareth God, and escheweth evil, and that there is none like him in the land?"

Hast thou not preserved him, his house, and all his substance on every side? Hast thou not blessed the work of his hands? Is not his possession increased in the land?

And the LORD said unto Satan, "Lo, all that he hath, be in thy power: only upon himself see that thou lay not thine hand." Then went Satan forth from the LORD.

In all these things did Job not offend, nor murmured foolishly against God.

Then said the LORD unto Satan, "Hast thou not considered my servant Job, how that he is an innocent and virtuous man such one as feareth God, and escheweth evil, and that there is none like him in the land? But thou movedst me against him, to punish him: yet is it in vain, for he continueth still in his godliness."

But Job said unto her, "Thou speakest like a foolish woman. Seeing we have received prosperity at the hand of God, wherefore should we not be content with adversity also?" In all these things, did not Job sin with his lips.

So when they lift up their eyes afar off, they knew him not. Then they cried, and wept: then every one of them rent his clothes, and sprinkled dust upon their heads in the air.

and the night in the which it was said, 'There is a man child conceived.'

The same day be turned to darkness, and not regarded of God from above, neither let the light shine upon it:

Let the dark storm overcome that night; let it not be reckoned among the days of the year, nor counted in the months.

Despised be that night, and discommended: let them that curse the day,

Let the stars of that night be dim through darkness of it. Let it look for light, but let it see none, neither the raising up of the fair morning:

because it shut not up the womb that bare me. For then should these sorrows have been hid from mine eyes.

"Alas, why died I not in the birth? Why did not I perish, as soon as I came out of my mother's womb?

Which long for death, if it come not;

Was I not happy? Had I not quietness? Was I not in rest? And now cometh such misery upon me!"

In the fantasies and thoughts of the visions of the night, when sleep cometh on men:

He stood there, and I knew not his face. An image there was, before mine eyes, and in the stillness heard I a voice.

Is not their dignity taken away with them? They shall die - and not in wisdom.'

"It is not the earth that bringeth forth travail, neither cometh sorrow out of the ground;

Which destroyeth the devices of the subtle, so that they are not able to perform the things that they take in hand;

Insomuch that they run into darkness by fair day, and grope about them at the noonday, like as in the night.

"Behold, happy is the man whom God punisheth: therefore, despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty.

He shall keep thee from the perilous tongue so that when trouble cometh, thou shalt not need to fear.

In destruction and dearth thou shalt be merry, and shalt not be afraid for the beasts of the earth:

The things that sometime I might not away withal, are now my meat for very sorrow.

Then should I have some comfort: yea, I would desire him in my pain, that he should not spare, for I will not be against the words of the holy one.

Am I able to help my self? Is not my strength gone from me,

Wherefore look not only upon me, but upon yourselves: whether I lie, or no.

Is not the life of man upon earth a very battle? Are not his days like the days of a hired servant?

Even so have I laboured whole months long - but in vain - and many a careful night have I told.

When I laid me down to sleep, I said, 'O when shall I rise?' Again, I longed sore for the night. Thus am I full of sorrow, till it be dark.

Therefore I will not spare my mouth, but will speak in the trouble of my spirit; in that bitterness of my mind will I talk.

Why goest thou not from me, nor lettest me alone, so long till I swallow down my spittle?

Why dost thou not forgive my sin? Wherefore takest thou not away my wickedness? Behold, now must I sleep in the dust: And if thou seekest me tomorrow in the morning, I shall be gone."

When thy sons sinned against him, did not he punish them for their wickedness?

If thou wouldest live a pure and godly life; should he not wake up unto thee immediately, and give thee the beauty of righteousness again?

For we are but of yesterday, and consider not that our days upon earth are but a very shadow.

He leaneth him upon his house, but he shall not stand; he holdeth him fast by it, yet shall he not endure.

But if it be taken out of its place, every man denieth it, saying, 'I know thee not.'

"Behold, God will not cast away a virtuous man, neither will he help the ungodly.

If he will argue with him, he shall not be able to answer him unto one among a thousand.

He commandeth the sun, and it riseth not: he closeth up the stars, as it were under a signet.

If he came by me, I might not look upon him: if he went his way, I should not perceive it.

Yea though I be righteous, yet will I not give him one word again, but meekly submit myself to my judge.

If I had called upon him, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had heard my voice!

He will not let my spirit be in rest, but filleth me with bitterness.

As for the world, he giveth it over into the power of the wicked; and he shall cover the faces of the judges thereof. Is it not so? Where is he - or who is he - that can show the contrary?

Then am I afraid of all my works, for I know thou wilt not judge me innocent.

For he that I must give answer unto, and with whom I go to law, is not a man as I am.

and will say unto God: O do not condemn me; but show me the cause, wherefore thou contendest so with me.

Hast thou not turned me, as it were milk: and turned me to cruddes like cheese?

"If I did sin, thou haddest an eye unto me, and shalt not declare me innocent because of mine offense.

If I have done wickedly, woe is me therefore. If I have done righteously, yet dare I not lift up my head; so full am I of confusion, and see mine own misery.

Shall not my short life come so soon to an end? O hold thee from me, let me alone, that I may ease myself a little

before I go thither, from whence I shall not turn again. Namely, to that land of darkness and shadow of death:

"Should not he that maketh many words, be answered? Should he that babbleth much, be commended therein?

For it is he that knoweth the vanity of men. He seeth their wickedness also; should he not then consider it?

Then mightest thou lift up thy face without shame! Then shouldest thou be sure, and have no need to fear.

As for the eyes of the ungodly, they shall be consumed, and not escape: their hope shall be misery and sorrow of mind."

But I have understanding as well as ye, and am no less than ye. Yea who knoweth not these things?

Have not the ears pleasure in hearing, and the mouth in tasting the thing that it eateth?

Shall he not make you afraid, when he showeth himself? Shall not his terrible face fall upon you?

Nevertheless, grant me two things, and then will I not hide myself from thee.

Withdraw thine hand from me, and let not the fearful dread of thee make me afraid.

but when man sleepeth, he riseth not again, until the heaven perish: he shall not wake up nor rise out of his sleep.

If thou wouldest but call me, I should obey thee: only despise not the work of thine own hands.

"For thou hast numbered all my goings, yet be not thou too extreme upon my sins.

Whether his children come to worship or no, he cannot tell: And if they be men of low degree, he knoweth not.

As for shame, thou hast set it aside - else wouldest thou not make so many words before God.

Thine own mouth condemneth thee, and not I: yea thine own lips shape the answer.

What knowest thou, that we know not? What understandest thou, but we can the same?

Behold, he doth not trust his saints; yea, the very heavens are not clean in his sight.

which wise men have told, and hath not been hid from their fathers:

He shall not be rich, neither shall his substance continue, nor increase upon earth.

He shall perish, before his time be worn out, and his hand shall not be green.

Shall not thy vain words come yet to an end? Or, hast thou yet any more to say?

"But what shall I do? For all my words, my sorrow will not cease: and though I hold my tongue, yet will it not depart from me.

His archers compass me round about; he hath wounded my loins, and not spared. My bowels hath he poured upon the ground.

O earth, cover not my blood, and let my crying find no room.

yet the number of my years are come - and I must go the way from whence I shall not turn again.

Thou hast withholden their hearts from understanding, therefore shall they not be set up on high.

changing the night into day, and the light into darkness.

Shall not the light of the ungodly be put out? Yea, the flame of his fire shall not burn.

For his feet shall be taken in the net, and he is at his wits end.

"Fearfulness shall make him afraid on every side, that he shall not know where to get out.

His remembrance shall perish from the earth, and his name shall not be praised in the streets:

Such are now the dwellings of the wicked, and this is the place of him that knoweth not God."

Lo, ten times have ye reproved me: are ye not ashamed, for to laugh me to scorn?

know this then: that it is God which hath handled me so violently, and hath compassed me about with his net.

Mine own wife may not abide my breath, I was fain to speak fair for the children of mine own body.

Why do ye persecute me as God, and are not satisfied of my flesh?

Yea, I myself shall behold him - not with other, but with these same eyes, though my reins are consumed within me.

Did not ye say, "Why doth he suffer persecution?" Is there found an occasion against me?

Knowest thou not this, namely: that from the beginning - ever since the creation of man upon earth -

He vanisheth as a dream, so that he can no more be found, and passeth away as a vision in the night.

That he favoured, that would he not forsake; but kept it close in his throat.

But he shall labour, and yet have nothing to eat. Great travail shall he make for riches, but he shall not enjoy them.

And why? He hath oppressed the poor, and not helped them: houses hath he spoiled, and not builded them.

He devoured so greedily that he left nothing behind; therefore his goods shall not prosper.