There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and turned away from evil.

His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she-asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the children of the east.

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 renounced God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.

Now it came to pass on the day when the sons of God came to present themselves before Jehovah, that Satan also came among them.

And Jehovah said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job? for there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and turneth away from evil.

Hast not thou made a 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.

But put forth thy hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will renounce thee to thy face.

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

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

Again it came to pass on the day when the sons of God came to present themselves before Jehovah, that Satan came also among them to present himself before Jehovah.

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

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

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, and they made an appointment together to come to bemoan 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.

Let that day be darkness; Let not God from above seek for it, Neither let the light shine upon it.

Let darkness and the shadow of death claim it for their own; Let a cloud dwell upon it; Let all that maketh black the day terrify it.

As for that night, let thick darkness seize upon it: Let it not rejoice among the days of the year; Let it not come into the number of the months.

Lo, let that night be barren; Let no joyful voice come therein.

Let them curse it that curse the day, Who are ready to rouse up leviathan.

Why did the knees receive me? Or why the breast, that I should suck?

Or with princes that had gold, Who filled their houses with silver:

Or as a hidden untimely birth I had not been, As infants that never saw light.

Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, And life unto the bitter in soul;

For the thing which I fear cometh upon me, And that which I am afraid of cometh unto me.

Thy words have upholden him that was falling, And thou hast made firm the feeble knees.

According as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, And sow trouble, reap the same.

How much more them that dwell in houses of clay, Whose foundation is in the dust, Who are crushed before the moth!

Is not their tent-cord plucked up within them? They die, and that without wisdom.

Call now; is there any that will answer thee? And to which of the holy ones wilt thou turn?

So that he setteth up on high those that are low, And those that mourn are exalted to safety.

He frustrateth the devices of the crafty, So that their hands cannot perform their enterprise.

And thou shalt know that thy tent is in peace; And thou shalt visit thy fold, and shalt miss nothing.

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

Oh that my vexation were but weighed, And all my calamity laid in the balances!

Can that which hath no savor be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?

Oh that I might have my request; And that God would grant me the thing that I long for!

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

And be it still my consolation, Yea, let me exult in pain that spareth not, That I have not denied the words of the Holy One.

What is my strength, that I should wait? And what is mine end, that I should be patient?

Is it not that I have no help in me, And that wisdom is driven quite from me?

To him that is ready to faint kindness'should be showed from his friend; Even to him that forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.

My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, As the channel of brooks that pass away;

The caravans that travel by the way of them turn aside; They go up into the waste, and perish.

Do ye think to reprove words, Seeing that the speeches of one that is desperate are as wind?

As a servant that earnestly desireth the shadow, And as a hireling that looketh for his wages:

Oh remember that my life is a breath: Mine eye shall no more see good.

The eye of him that seeth me shall behold me no more; Thine eyes shall be upon me, but I shall not be.

As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away, So he that goeth down to Sheol shall come up no more.

Am I a sea, or a sea-monster, That thou settest a watch over me?

So that my soul chooseth strangling, And death rather than these my bones.

What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him, And that thou shouldest set thy mind upon him,

And that thou shouldest visit him every morning, And try him every moment?

If I have sinned, what do I unto thee, O thou watcher of men? Why hast thou set me as a mark for thee, So that I am a burden to myself?

For inquire, I pray thee, of the former age, And apply thyself to that which their fathers have searched out:

So are the paths of all that forget God; And the hope of the godless man shall perish:

They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame; And the tent of the wicked shall be no more.

Of a truth I know that it is so: But how can man be just with God?

Him that removeth the mountains, and they know it not, When he overturneth them in his anger;

That shaketh the earth out of its place, And the pillars thereof tremble;

That commandeth the sun, and it riseth not, And sealeth up the stars;

That alone stretcheth out the heavens, And treadeth upon the waves of the sea;

That maketh the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, And the chambers of the south;

That doeth great things past finding out, Yea, marvellous things without number.

If I had called, and he had answered me, Yet would I not believe that he hearkened unto my voice.

They are passed away as the swift ships; As the eagle that swoopeth on the prey.

I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.

For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, That we should come together in judgment.

There is no umpire betwixt us, That might lay his hand upon us both.

Is it good unto thee that thou shouldest oppress, That thou shouldest despise the work of thy hands, And shine upon the counsel of the wicked?

That thou inquirest after mine iniquity, And searchest after my sin,

Although thou knowest that I am not wicked, And there is none that can deliver out of thy hand?

Remember, I beseech thee, that thou hast fashioned me as clay; And wilt thou bring me into dust again?

Yet these things thou didst hide in thy heart; I know that this is with thee:

Are not my days few? cease then, And let me alone, that I may take comfort a little,

But oh that God would speak, And open his lips against thee,

And that he would show thee the secrets of wisdom! For he is manifold in understanding. Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.

For thou shalt forget thy misery; Thou shalt remember it as waters that are passed away,

I am as one that is a laughing-stock to his neighbor, I who called upon God, and he answered: The just, the perfect man is a laughing-stock.

In the thought of him that is at ease there is contempt for misfortune; It is ready for them whose foot slippeth.

The tents of robbers prosper, And they that provoke God are secure; Into whose hand God bringeth abundantly .

Who knoweth not in all these, That the hand of Jehovah hath wrought this,

Oh that ye would altogether hold your peace! And it would be your wisdom.

Is it good that he should search you out? Or as one deceiveth a man, will ye deceive him?

Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak; And let come on me what will.

This also shall be my salvation, That a godless man shall not come before him.

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

Who is he that will contend with me? For then would I hold my peace and give up the ghost.

Though I am like a rotten thing that consumeth, Like a garment that is moth-eaten.

Man, that is born of a woman, Is of few days, and full of trouble.

Seeing his days are determined, The number of his months is with thee, And thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass;

Look away from him, that he may rest, Till he shall accomplish, as a hireling, his day.

For there is hope of a tree, If it be cut down, that it will sprout again, And that the tender branch thereof will not cease.

Oh that thou wouldest hide me in Sheol, That thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, That thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me!

Art thou the first man that was born? Or wast thou brought forth before the hills?

What knowest thou, that we know not? What understandest thou, which is not in us?

Are the consolations of God too small for thee, Even the word that is gentle toward thee?

That against God thou turnest thy spirit, And lettest words go out of thy mouth?

What is man, that he should be clean? And he that is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?

How much less one that is abominable and corrupt, A man that drinketh iniquity like water!

I will show thee, hear thou me; And that which I have seen I will declare: