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 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.

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 while he was yet speaking, there came another, and said, "The fire of God is fallen from heaven, it hath consumed, and burnt up all thy sheep and servants: and I only ran my way, to tell thee."

and suddenly there came a mighty great wind out of the South, and smote the four corners of the house: which fell upon thy children, so that they are dead, and I alone am gotten away, to tell thee."

and said, "Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I turn thither again. The LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; now blessed be the name of the LORD."

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.

So went Satan forth from the LORD, and smote Job with marvelous sore boils, from the sole of the foot unto his crown;

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.

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

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.

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:

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

like as the kings and lords of the earth, which build themselves special places:

As the princes that have great substance of gold, and their houses full of silver.

O that I utterly had no being, or were as a thing born out of time that is put aside, either as young children, which never saw the light.

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

Which long for death, if it come not;

and search for it more than for treasure. Which also would be exceedingly glad, and rejoice if they found their grave.

For the thing that I feared is come upon me: and the thing that I was afraid of, is happened unto me.

"If we begin to commune with thee, peradventure thou wilt be discontent; but who can withhold himself from speaking?

Behold, thou hast been a teacher of many, and hast comforted the weary hands.

Where is now thy fear of God, thy steadfastness, thy patience, and the perfectness of thy ways?

With the blast of God they perish, and with the breath of his anger are they consumed away.

The roaring of the lion, the voice of the lioness, and the teeth of the lion's whelps are broken.

The lion perisheth, for lack of prey, and the lion's whelps are scattered abroad.

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.

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

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

that his harvest was eaten up of the hungry; that the weaponed man had spoiled it, and that the thirsty had drunk up his riches.

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

but it is man, that is born unto misery, like as the sparks fly up out of the hot coals.

But now will I speak of the LORD, and talk of God:

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.

And so he delivereth the poor from the sword, from the threatenings of the ungodly, and from the hand of the cruel;

that the poor may have hope, and that the mouth of the oppressor may be stopped.

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

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.

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.

For then should it be heavier than the sand of the sea.

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.

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.

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

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

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,

Consider the paths of Tema, and the ways of Sheba, wherein they have put their trust.

"Did I desire you to come hither? Or to give me any of your substance?

To deliver me from the enemy's hand, or to save me from the power of the mighty?

How steadfast are the words of truth! And which of you can rebuke or reprove them?

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

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

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.

For if thou fasten thine eyes upon me, I come to naught like as a cloud is consumed and vanisheth away. Even so, he that goeth down to hell, cometh no more up,

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.

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."

"How long wilt thou talk of such things? How long shall thy mouth speak so proud words?

If thou wouldest now resort unto God betimes, and make thy humble prayer to the Almighty;

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?

"Enquire, I pray thee, of them that have been before thee; and search diligently among thy forefathers.

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

and it taketh many roots: insomuch that it is like a house of stone.

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

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

They that hate thee, shall be confounded, and the dwellings of the ungodly shall come to naught."

"I know it is so of a truth: for how may a man, compared unto God, be justified?

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 removeth the earth out of her place, that her pillars shake withal.

He, himself, alone, spreadeth out the heavens, and goeth upon the waves of the sea.

"He maketh the wains of heaven; the Orion, the seven stars, and the secret places of the south.

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

If he be hasty to take anything away, who will make him restore it again? Who will say unto him, 'What doest thou?'

He is God, whose wrath no man may withstand: but the proudest of all must stoop under him.

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

He troubleth me so with the tempest, and woundeth me out of measure without a cause.

If men will speak of strength, he is the strongest of all; if men will speak of righteousness, who dare be my record?

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.

And though he slay suddenly with the scourge, yet will he laugh at the punishment of the innocent.

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.

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

Let him take his rod away from me; yea, let him make me no more afraid of him,

It grieveth my soul to live. Nevertheless, now will I put forth my words: I will speak out of the very heaviness of my soul,

Thinkest thou it well done, to oppress me, to cast me off - being a work of thine hands - and to maintain the counsel of the ungodly?