And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.

And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?

Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?

Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.

And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.

And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them:

While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

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

Then Job got up, and after parting his clothing and cutting off his hair, he went down on his face to the earth, and gave worship, and said,

And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.

And the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.

And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.

And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.

And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes.

Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.

But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

Thus Job's three friends heard of this calamity that had come upon him. So each set out from his [own] place: Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite. And they met together to come to console him and to comfort him.

So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great.

And Job spake, and said,

Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said, There is a man child conceived.

Why set they me upon their knees? Why gave they me suck with their breasts?

Both small and great are there,
and the slave is set free from his master.

“For my groaning comes at the sight of my food,
And my cries pour out like water.

Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,

Thy words have set up those that were fallen, thou hast refreshed the weak knees.

It's been my experience that those who plow the soil of iniquity and those who sow the seed of trouble will reap their harvest!

Behold, in his servants he will not trust, and upon his messengers he will set folly:

Yet indeed, I, would seek unto El, and, unto Elohim, would I set forth any cause: -

To set up on high those that be low; that those which mourn may be exalted to safety.

Thou shalt know also that thy seed shall be great, and thine offspring as the grass of the earth.

"Look! We have thought all this through, and what we've said is true; So please listen and learn for your own good!"

But Job answered and said,

For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of God do set themselves in array against me.

That it would please GOD to crush me, That he would set free his hand, and cut me off!

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,

So have you now become to me; you see my sad condition and are in fear.

Is it because I said, Give to me? And, By your power bribe for me?

Have I said anything that's unjust? I can discern evil, can't I?"

If I lay down then I said, 'When do I rise!' And evening hath been measured, And I have been full of tossings till dawn.

“Am I the sea, or the sea monster,
That You set a guard over me?

When I said, 'My bed doth comfort me,' He taketh away in my talking my couch.

What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him?

I have sinned; what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men? why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, so that I am a burden to myself?

Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,

Then Job answered and said,

Yes, I know what you’ve said is true,
but how can a person be justified before God?

If I summoned Him and He answered me,
I do not believe He would pay attention to what I said.

If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?

This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.

If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will put off my'sad countenance, and be of good cheer;

There is not yet a mediator between us, who would set his hand on the two of us,

My soul is tired of life; I will let my sad thoughts go free in words; my soul will make a bitter outcry.

‘If I am wicked, woe to me [for judgment comes]!
And if I am righteous, I dare not lift up my head.
For I am sated and filled with disgrace and the sight of my misery.

Are not my days, few? - then forbear, and set me aside, that I may brighten up for a little;

Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,

For thou hast said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes.

And he shall announce to thee hidden things of wisdom, for they are the double for understanding. And know thou that God will set to thee from thine iniquity.

If thou set thy heart aright, And stretch out thy hands toward him;

Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; yea, many shall make suit unto thee.

But the sight of the wicked will fail.
Their way of escape will be cut off,
and their only hope is their last breath.

And Job answered and said,

Godliness is a light despised in the hearts of the rich, and is set for them to stumble upon.

If he break down a thing, who can set it up again? If he shut a thing, who will open it?

Lo, though he slay me, yet will I put my trust in him. But if I shew and reprove mine own ways in his sight,

Even he, will be on my side - unto salvation, For, not before his face, shall any impious person come.

Behold now, I have set my cause in order; I know that I am righteous.

“You also put my feet in the stocks [as punishment]
And [critically] observe all my paths;
You set a circle and limit around the soles of my feet [which I must not overstep],

Since man’s days are determined
and the number of his months depends on You,
and since You have set limits he cannot pass,

O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me!

Only his flesh still has pain, and his soul is sad.

Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said,

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

The gray-haired and the aged are on our side, men far older than your father.

Are the comforts of God not enough for you, and the gentle word which was said to you?

Behold, he putteth no trust in his saints; yea, the heavens are not clean in his sight.

Then Job answered and said,

They have gaped on me with their mouth, In reproach they have smitten my cheeks, Together against me they set themselves.

I was at ease, but he hath broken me asunder: he hath also taken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces, and set me up for his mark.

Appoint it, I pray thee - be thou surety for me with thyself, Who is there that, on my side, can pledge himself?

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

And he set me up for a proverb of the peoples, And a wonder before them I am.

They set night for day; the light is near in the face of darkness.

I have said to corruption, Thou art my father: to the worm, Thou art my mother, and my sister.

Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,

When do ye set an end to words? Consider ye, and afterwards do we speak.

Wherefore are we counted as beasts, and reputed vile in your sight?

Terrors shall make him afraid on every side, and shall drive him to his feet.

His strength shall be hungerbitten, and destruction shall be ready at his side.

Let him have neither scion nor seed among his people, neither any survivor in his place of sojourn:

Then Job answered and said,

Know now, that God turned me upside down, And His net against me hath set round,

He hath fenced up my way that I cannot pass, and he hath set darkness in my paths.

He hath destroyed me on every side, and I am gone: and mine hope hath he removed like a tree.

They that dwell in mine house, and my maids, count me for a stranger: I am an alien in their sight.

Whom I, even I, shall see, on my side, And mine eyes shall behold, and not as a stranger. My heart is consumed within me.

Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,

Thou knewest this from everlasting when man was set upon the earth: