In the land of Uz, there was a man called Job: an innocent and virtuous man, such a one as feared God, and eschewed evil.

His substance was seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred she-asses, and a very great household: so that he was one of the most principal men among all them of the east country.

And his sons went and made banquets - one day in one house, another day in another - and sent for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.

And it fortuned that when they had passed over the time of their banqueting round about; Job sent for them, and sanctified them, and gat up early, and offered for every one a burnt offering. For Job thought thus: "Peradventure my sons have done some offense, and have been unthankful to God in their hearts." And thus did Job everyday.

Now upon a time, when the servants of God came and stood before the LORD, Satan came also among them.

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.

Now upon a certain day when his sons and daughters were eating, and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house,

there came a messenger unto Job, and said, "While the oxen were a plowing, and the asses going in the pasture beside them,

the Sabeans came in violently, and took them all away: yea, they have slain thy servants with the sword, and I only ran my way, to tell thee."

In the mean season while he was yet speaking, there came another, and said, "The Chaldeans made three armies, and fell upon thy camels, which they have carried away: yea, and slain thy servants with the sword, and I only am gotten away, to tell thee."

While he was speaking, there came yet another, and said, "Thy sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house,

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

It happened also upon a time, that when the servants of God came and stood before the LORD, Satan also came among them, and stood before him.

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."

Then said the LORD unto Satan, "Lo, there hast thou him in thy power, but spare his life."

so that he sat upon the ground in the ashes, and scraped off the filth of his sores with a potsherd.

Then said his wife unto him, "Dost thou yet continue in thy perfectness? Curse God, and die."

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.

Now when Job's friends heard of all the trouble that happened to him, there came three of them, every one from his own place: namely, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. For they were agreed together to come, to shew their compassion on him, and to comfort him.

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.

They sat them down by him also upon the ground seven days and seven nights. Neither was there any of them that spake one word unto him, for they saw that his pain was very great.

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

but let it be stained with darkness, and the shadow of death. Let the dim cloud fall upon it, and let it be lapped in with sorrow.

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

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

There, are those let out free which have been in prison, so that they hear no more the voice of the oppressor.

"Wherefore is the light given to him that is in misery? And life unto them that have heavy hearts?

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

"Consider, I pray thee: who ever perished being an innocent? Or, when were the godly destroyed?

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

And when the wind passed by before my presence it made the hairs of my flesh stand up.

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

Behold, he hath found unfaithfulness among his own servants, and proud disobedience among his angels.

How much more then shall they that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is but earth: which shall be consumed by the moth?

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

Name me one else, if thou can find any: yea, look about thee upon any of the holy men.

I have seen myself, when the foolish was deep rooted, that his beauty was suddenly destroyed,

that his children were without prosperity or health; that they were slain in the door, and no man to deliver them;

which setteth up them of low degree, and sendeth prosperity to those that are in heaviness;

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

which compasseth the wise in their own craftiness, and overthroweth the counsel of the wicked.

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

He delivereth thee out of six troubles, so that in the seventh there can no harm touch thee.

In the midst of hunger he saveth thee from death: and when it is war, from the power of the sword.

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:

But the castles in the land shall be confederate with thee, and the beasts of the field shall give thee peace.

Yea, thou shalt know that thy dwelling place shall be in rest: thou shalt behold thy substance, and be no more punished for sin.

Thou shalt come to thy grave in a fair age, like as the corn sheaves are brought in to the barn in due season.

Job answered, and said, "Oh that my misery were weighed, and my punishment laid in the balances:

For the arrows of the almighty are in me, whose indignation hath drunk up my spirit, and the terrible fears of God fight against me.

Doth the wild ass roar when he hath grass? Or crieth the ox, when he hath fodder enough?

That which is unsavory, shalt it be eaten without salt, or is there any taste in the white of an egg?

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.

like as if one withdrew a good deed from his friend, and forsook the fear of the Almighty God?

Mine own brethren pass over by me, as the water brook that hastily runneth through the valleys.

When their time cometh, they shall be destroyed and perish: and when they be set on fire, they shall be removed out of their place,

for the paths that they go in are crooked: they haste after vain things, and shall perish.

Confounded are they that put any confidence in them: For when they came to obtain the things that they looked for, they were brought to confusion.

Do ye take deliberacy to check men's sayings, and judge a poor word spoken in vain?

Ye fall upon the fatherless, and go about to overthrow your own friend.

Turn into your own selves, I pray you: be indifferent judges, and consider my guiltlessness:

whether there be any unrighteousness in my tongue, or vain words in my mouth.

For like as a bond servant desireth the shadow, and as a hireling would fain have an end of his work:

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.

Am I a sea, or a whalefish, that thou keepest me so in prison?

When I think, 'My bed shall comfort me; I shall have some refreshing by talking to myself upon my couch,'

I have offended; what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men? Why hast thou made me to stand in thy way, and am so heavy a burden unto myself?

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?

His confidence shall be destroyed, for he trusteth in a spider's web.

"Oftentimes, a thing doth flourish, and men think that it may abide the sunshine. It shooteth forth the branches in its garden,

Lo, thus is it with him that rejoiceth in his own doings: and as for others, they grow out of the earth.

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

He is wise of heart, and mighty in strength. Who ever prospered that took part against him?

He translateth the mountains, before they be aware, and overthroweth them in his wrath.

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

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

If I will justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me; if I will put forth my self for a perfect man, he shall prove me a wicked doer.

For though I be an innocent, and my conscience clear, yea am I weary of my life.

"This one thing will I say: He destroyeth both the righteous and ungodly.

When I am purposed to forget my complainings, to change my countenance, and to comfort myself;

If I be then a wicked doer, why have I laboured in vain?

yet shouldest thou dip me in the mire, and mine own clothes should defile me.

and then shall I answer him without any fear. For as long as I am in such fearfulness, I can make no answer: And why?

Though thou hidest these things in thine heart, yet am I sure that thou rememberest them all.

"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.

Thou huntest me out, being in heaviness, as it were a lion, and troublest me out of measure.

Thou bringest fresh witnesses against me, and thy wrath increasest thou upon me; very many are the plagues that I am in.

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

Wilt thou say unto God, 'The thing that I take in hand is perfect, and I am clean in thy sight'?

Though he turn all things upside down, close them in, or thrust them together, who dare check him therefore?

if thou wouldst put away the wickedness which thou hast in hand, so that no ungodliness dwelt in thy house;

Then mightest thou have comfort, in the hope that thou hast; and sleep quietly, when thou art buried.

Then shouldest thou take thy rest, and no man to make thee afraid, yea many one should set much by thee.