But he replied to her, "You're talking like foolish women do. Are we to accept what is good from God but not tragedy?" Throughout all of this, Job did not sin by what he said.

Filled with waters made cold by ice, they are where the snow goes to hide.

But then the snow melts, and they disappear; when warmed, they evaporate from their stream beds.

So what if I sin? What have I done against you, you observer of humankind? Why have you made me your target? Why burden yourself with me?

"If your children sin against him, he'll make them a prisoner of their sins.

He will soon fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips will shout with joy.

He commands the sun so that it doesn't shine and seals up the stars.

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

""For you seek out my iniquity and search for my sin.

If I sin, you watch me and won't acquit me for my iniquity.

So why did you bring me out from the womb? I wish I had died, before anyone had seen me,

and disclose his wise secrets? After all, there's so much more to understanding. So be aware that God will exact from you less than your sin deserves."

"Look, I've seen everything; I've listened carefully and I understand.

"How many of my iniquities and sins have you counted? Show me my transgression and sin.

Then you'll certainly count every step I took, but you won't keep an inventory of my sin.

Because your sin dictates your speech, you have chosen the language of the crafty.

"I'll tell you what, listen to me! Let me relate what I've seen,

"I've even sewn sackcloth directly to my skin; I've buried my strength in the dust.

As drought and heat evaporate melting snow, that's what Sheol does with sinners.

a place where birds of prey never fly, and the eyes of the falcon have never seen.

if I look at the sun when it shines or the moon as it rises in steady splendor,

this is also a sin that deserves to be judged, since I would have tried to deceive God above."

No, I haven't allowed my mouth to sin by asking for his life with a curse.

But then Barachel's son Elihu from Buz, one of Ram's descendants, got really angry. He was furious with Job because he had been declaring himself righteous instead of vindicating God.

Barachel's son Elihu from Buz responded and said: "I'm younger than you are. Because you're older, I was terrified to tell you what I know.

"I'm pure. I'm without sin; I'm innocent. I'm harboring no iniquity inside of me.

His flesh wastes away; his bones, which once couldn't be seen, are visible.

"He strikes the wicked among them in a place where they can be seen

because he has been adding rebellion to his sin; he claps his hands among us, and keeps on ranting against God."

After all, you've asked what your benefit will be: "What will I profit from refraining from sin?'

If you sin, what will that do to harm him? If you add transgression to transgression what will it do to him?

For he says to the snow, "Fall to the earth.' He tells the rain, "Pour down,' then it rains profusely.

"So then, the sun is too bright to gaze at, is it not? The sky is swept clean by the wind that blows, is it not?

Have the gates of death been revealed to you? Have you seen the gates of the deepest darkness?

"Have you entered the storehouses of the snow or seen where the hail is stored,

I've heard you with my ears; and now I've seen you with my eyes.