And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one on his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.

And it was so, when the days of their feasting were finished, 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.

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.

And the LORD said unto Satan, From where come you? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.

But put forth your hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.

And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:

And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone am escaped to tell you.

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

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 alone am escaped to tell you.

And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I alone am escaped to tell you.

Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD.

And the LORD said unto Satan, From where come you? And Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.

And the LORD said unto Satan, Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a blameless and an upright man, one that fears God, and turns away from evil? and still he holds fast his integrity, although you moved me against him, to destroy him without cause.

But put forth your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse you to your face.

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

Then said his wife unto him, Do you still retain your integrity? curse God, and die.

Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.

After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day.

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

Let that day be darkness; let not God regard it from above, neither let the light shine upon it.

Let darkness and the shadow of death stain it; let a cloud dwell upon it; let the blackness of the day terrify it.

Let them curse it that curse the day, who are ready to arouse leviathan.

Let the stars of its twilight be dark; let it look for light, but have none; neither let it see the dawning of the day:

Therefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter in soul;

Why is light given to a man whose way is hid, and whom God has hedged in?

If we venture to converse with you, will you be grieved? but who can withhold himself from speaking?

Now a thing was secretly brought to me, and my ear received a whisper of it.

Fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake.

They are destroyed from morning to evening: they perish forever without any regarding it.

Does not their excellence which is in them go away? they die, even without wisdom.

Call now, if there be any that will answer you; and to which of the holy ones will you turn?

His children are far from safety, and they are crushed in the gate, neither is there any to deliver them.

To set up on high those that are low; that those who mourn may be lifted to safety.

You shall come to your grave in a full age, like a shock of grain comes in in its season.

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

The things that my soul refused to touch are as loathsome food to me.

Even that it would please God to destroy me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!

To him that is afflicted pity should be shown from his friend; even though he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.

Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand how I have erred.

Do you intend to reprove words, and the speeches of one that is desperate, which are as wind?

Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of a hireling?

So am I made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me.

When I lie down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be gone? and I am full of tossings to and fro unto the dawning of the day.

As the cloud is consumed and vanishes away: so he that goes down to the grave shall come up no more.

He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him any more.

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

And why do you not pardon my transgression, and take away my iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust; and you shall seek me in the morning, but I shall not be.

If you would seek unto God early, and make your supplication to the Almighty;

For inquire, I pray you, of the former age, and prepare yourself to the findings of their fathers:

They that hate you shall be clothed with shame; and the dwelling place of the wicked will come to nothing.

Behold, he takes away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What do you?

If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do bow before him.

How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him?

For, though I were righteous, yet could I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.

He will not permit me to take my breath, but fills me with bitterness.

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

They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hastens to the prey.

I will say unto God, Do not condemn me; show me why you contend with me.

Your hands have made me and fashioned me together totally; yet you do destroy me.

I would have been as though I had not been; I would have been carried from the womb to the grave.

Before I go where I shall not return, even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death;

And that he would show you the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacts of you less than your iniquity deserves.

It is as high as heaven; what can you do? deeper than Sheol; what can you know?

No doubt you are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.

But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yea, who knows not such things as these?

I am as one mocked of his neighbor, who calls upon God, and he answers him: the just upright man is laughed to scorn.

He that is ready to slip with his feet is like a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease.

Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach you: and the fish of the sea shall declare unto you.

He uncovers deep things out of darkness, and brings out to light the shadow of death.

He takes away the heart of the chiefs of the people of the earth, and causes them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.

They grope in the dark without light, and he makes them to stagger like a drunken man.

What you know, the same do I know also: I am not inferior unto you.

Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.

Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips.

Is it good that he should search you out? or as one man mocks another, do you so mock him?

He will surely reprove you, if you do secretly show partiality.

Why do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand?

Who is he that will contend with me? for now, if I hold my tongue, I shall die.

Only do not two things unto me: then will I not hide myself from you.

Will you break a leaf driven to and fro? and will you pursue the dry stubble?

You put my feet also in the stocks, and watch closely all my paths; you set a bound to the soles of my feet.

And do you open your eyes upon such a one, and bring me into judgment with you?

Turn from him, that he may rest, till he shall accomplish, as a hireling, his day.

You shall call, and I will answer you: you will have a desire to the work of your hands.

For now you number my steps: do not watch over my sin.

And surely the mountain falling, comes to nothing, and the rock is removed out of its place.

His sons come to honor, and he knows it not; and they are brought low, but he perceives it not of them.

Should he reason with unprofitable talk? or with speeches with which he can do no good?

Have you heard the council of God? and do you limit wisdom to yourself?

Are the consolations of God too small for you? on the word that deals gently with you?

Why does your heart carry you away? and what do your eyes wink at,

He wanders abroad for bread, saying, Where is it? he knows that the day of darkness is ready at his hand.

And he dwells in desolate cities, and in houses which no man inhabits, which are ready to become heaps.

I also could speak as you do: if your soul were in my soul's place, I could heap up words against you, and shake my head at you.

And you have filled me with wrinkles, which is a witness against me: and my leanness rising up in me bears witness to my face.

God has delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked.

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

He that speaks flattery to his friends, even the eyes of his children shall fail.

The righteous also shall hold to his way, and he that has clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.

But as for you all, do you return, and come now: for I cannot find one wise man among you.