While he was still speaking, another [messenger] also came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three bands and made a raid on the camels and have taken them away and have killed the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”

“Remember now, who, being innocent, ever perished?
Or where [and in what circumstances] were those upright and in right standing with God destroyed?

‘Can [mortal] man be just before God or be more righteous than He?
Can a man be pure before his Maker or be more cleansed than He?

“I have seen the foolish taking root [and outwardly prospering],
But I cursed his dwelling immediately [for his destruction was certain].

“Can the papyrus grow up without a marsh?
Can the rushes or reed grass grow without water?

“Yes, I know it is true.
But how can a mortal man be right before God?

For though I were righteous, I could not answer.
I must appeal for mercy to my Opponent and Judge.

“Though I am innocent and in the right, my own mouth would pronounce me guilty;
Though I am blameless, He would denounce me as guilty.

“Let Him take His rod away from me,
And let not the dread and fear of Him terrify me.

“For You write bitter things against me [in Your indictment]
And make me inherit and suffer for the iniquities of my youth.

“What is man, that he should be pure and clean,
Or he who is born of a woman, that he should be righteous and just?

“My face is red and swollen with weeping,
And on my eyelids is the shadow of death [my eyes are dimmed],

“Oh, that a man would mediate and plead with God [for me]
Just as a man [mediates and pleads] with his neighbor and friend.

“Nevertheless the righteous will hold to his ways,
And he who has clean hands will grow stronger and stronger.

“If you say, ‘How shall we [continue to] persecute him?’
And ‘What pretext for a case against him can we find [since we claim the root of these afflictions is found in him]?’

“Their houses are safe from fear;
And the rod of God is not on them.

“Is it any pleasure or joy to the Almighty that you are righteous?
Or is it of benefit to Him that you make your ways perfect?

“There the righteous and upright could reason with Him;
So I would be acquitted forever by my Judge.

To the left (north) He turns, but I cannot behold Him;
He turns to the right hand (south), but I cannot see Him.

“They crowd the needy off the road;
The poor of the land all hide themselves.

“As God lives, who has taken away my right and denied me justice,
And the Almighty, who has caused bitterness and grief for my soul,

“Far be it from me that I should admit you are right [in your accusations against me];
Until I die, I will not remove my integrity from me.

“I hold fast my uprightness and my right standing with God and I will not let them go;
My heart does not reproach me for any of my days.

‘My root is spread out and open to the waters,
And the dew lies all night upon my branch.

“On my right the [rabble] brood rises;
They push my feet away, and they build up their ways of destruction against me [like an advancing army].

“You lift me up on the wind and cause me to ride [upon it];
And You toss me about in the tempest and dissolve me in the storm.

“For it is a fire which consumes to Abaddon (destruction, ruin, final torment);
And [illicit passion] would burn and rage and uproot all my [life’s] increase [destroying everything].

“Oh, that I had one to listen to me!
Look, here is my signature (mark);
Let the Almighty answer me!
Let my adversary write out His indictment [and put His vague accusations in tangible form].

“For if my land has cried out against me,
And its furrows weep together;

So these three men ceased answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes [and could not be persuaded otherwise by them].

“If there is an angel as a mediator for him,
One out of a thousand,
To explain to a man what is right for him [that is, how to be in right standing with God],

“He will pray to God, and He shall be favorable to him,
So that he looks at His face with joy;
For God restores to man His righteousness [that is, his right standing with God—with its joys].

“He sings out to other men,
‘I have sinned and perverted that which was right,
And it was not proper for me!

“Let us choose for ourselves that which is right;
Let us know among ourselves what is good.

“For Job has said, ‘I am righteous [and innocent],
But God has taken away my right;

Although I am right, I am accounted a liar.
My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’

“Shall one who hates justice [and is an enemy of right] govern?
And will you condemn Him who is just and mighty?

“Do you think this is according to [your] justice?
Do you say, ‘My righteousness is more than God’s’?

“He does not prolong the life of the wicked,
But gives the afflicted their justice.

“He does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous [those in right standing with Him];
But with kings upon the throne
He has seated them forever, and they are exalted.

“The Almighty—we cannot find Him;
He is exalted in power
And He will not do violence to [nor disregard] justice and abundant righteousness.

“[If you can do all this, Job, proving your divine power] then I [God] will also praise you and acknowledge
That your own right hand can save you.

It came about that after the Lord had spoken these words to Job, that the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My wrath is kindled against you and against your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.

Now therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, and go to My servant Job, and offer up a burnt offering for yourselves, and My servant Job will pray for you. For I will accept him [and his prayer] so that I may not deal with you according to your folly, because you have not spoken of Me the thing that is right, as My servant Job has.”