A man, there was - in the land of Uz, Job, his name, - and that man was blameless and upright, and one who revered God, and avoided evil.

And his substance was - seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she-asses, and a body of servants exceeding large, - thus was that man the greatest of all the sons of the East.

And so it was, when the days of the banquet came round, that Job sent and hallowed them, and rising early in the morning offered ascending-sacrifices according to the number of them all; for Job said, Peradventure my sons have sinned, and have cursed God in their hearts. Thus and thus, was Job wont to do all the days.

And Yahweh said unto the accuser, Hast thou applied thy heart unto my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a man blameless and upright, one revering God and avoiding evil?

And the accuser answered Yahweh, and said, Is it, for nought, that Job revereth God?

Hast not, thou thyself, made a hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath, on every side? The work of his hands, thou hast blessed, and, his substance, hath broken forth in the land.

But, in very deed, put forth, I pray thee, thy hand, and smite all that he hath, - verily, unto thy face, will he curse thee.

And Yahweh said unto the accuser, Lo! all that he hath, is in thy hand, only, against himself, do not put forth thy hand. So the accuser went forth from the presence of Yahweh.

And Yahweh said unto the accuser, Hast thou applied thy heart unto my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a man blameless and upright, one who revereth God, and avoideth evil; and still he is holding fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to swallow him up without cause.

Then the accuser answered Yahweh, and said, Skin for skin, and so, all that a man hath, will he give for his life.

And they sat with him upon the ground, seven days and seven nights, - and none was speaking unto him a word, for they saw that, exceeding great, was the stinging pain.

That day, be it darkness, - Let not God enquire after it from above, May there shine upon it no clear beam:

That night, darkness take it, - May it not rejoice among the days of the year, Into the number of months, let it not enter.

Lo! that night, be it barren, Let no joyous shouting enter therein:

For what reason, were there prepared for me - knees? and why - breasts, that I might suck?

Or that, like an untimely birth hidden away, I had not come into being, like infants that never saw light:

For, a dread, I dreaded, and it hath come upon me, and, that from which I shrank, hath overtaken me.

Him that was stumbling, have thy words raised up, and, sinking knees, hast thou strengthened.

Who doth frustrate the schemes of the crafty, that their hands cannot achieve abiding success;

For, he, woundeth that he may bind up, He smiteth through, that, his own hands, may heal.

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

And thou shalt know, that numerous is thy seed, and, thine offspring, like the young shoots of the field.

Oh that, weighed, were my vexation, and, my engulfing ruin - into the balances, they would lift up all at once!

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

Oh that my request would come! and, my hope, oh that GOD would grant!

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

So might it still be my comfort, And I might exult in the anguish he would not spare, - That I had not concealed the sayings of the Holy One.

What is my strength, that I should hope? Or what mine end, that I should prolong my desire?

They are ashamed that they had trusted, They have come up to one of them, and are confounded.

Is it that I said, Make me a gift, or, out of your abundance, offer a bribe on my behalf;

How pleasant are the sayings that are right! But what can a decision from you, decide?

But, now, be pleased to turn to me, that it may be, to your faces, if I speak falsehood,

Remember thou, that, a wind, is my life, not again shall mine eye see blessing:

Nor shall see me - the eye that used to behold me, Thine eyes, are upon me, and I am not.

A cloud faileth, and is gone, So, he that descendeth to hades, shall not come up:

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

So that my soul chooseth strangling, Death, rather than these my bones!

What is a mortal, that thou shouldst nurture him? Or that thou shouldst fix upon him thy mind?

That thou shouldst inspect him morning by morning, moment by moment, shouldst test him?

Lo! that, is the joy of his way, - and, out of the dust, shall others spring up.

Of a truth, I know that so it is, But how can a mortal be just with GOD?

How much less that, I, should answer him, should choose my words with him?

Though I had called, and he had answered me, I could not believe, that he would lend an ear to my voice.

I am afraid of all my pains, I know, that thou wilt not pronounce me innocent.

Is it seemly in thee, that thou shouldst oppress? that thou shouldst despise the labour of thine own hand, when, upon the counsel of the lawless, thou hast shone?

That thou shouldst seek for mine iniquity, and, for my sin, shouldst make search:

Though it is, within thine own knowledge, that I would not be lawless, and, none, out of thy hand, can deliver?

Remember, I pray thee, that, as clay, thou didst make me, and, unto dust, thou wilt cause me to return.

Yet, these things, thou didst hide in thy heart, I know that, this, hath been with thee!

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

But, in very deed, oh that GOD would speak, that he would open his lips with thee:

That he would declare to thee the secrets of wisdom, for they are double to that which actually is, - -Know then that GOD could bring into forgetfulness for thee, a portion of thine iniquity.

For, he, knoweth men of falsity, and seeth iniquity, and him that doth not diligently consider.

And thou shalt he confident, that there is hope, and, when thou hast searched, securely shalt thou lie down;

At peace are the tents that belong to the spoilers, and there is security to them who provoke GOD, To him who bringeth a god in his hand.

Who knoweth not, among all these, that, the hand of Yahweh, hath done this?

With Him, is strength and effective wisdom, to Him, belong he that erreth, and he that causeth to err.

Oh that ye would, altogether held your peace, and it should serve you for wisdom!

Quietly let me alone, that, I, may speak out, then let come on me, what may.

Lo! I pray you, I have set forth in order a plea, I know that, I, shall be found right.

Who is it that shall contend with me? For, now, if I should hold my peace, why! I should breathe my last!

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

Look sway from him, that he may rest, Till he shall pay off, as a hireling, his day.

Though there is - for a tree - hope, - if it should be cut down, that, again, it will grow, and, the tender branch thereof, will not cease;

Oh that, in hades, thou wouldst hide me! that thou wouldst keep me secret, until the turn of thine anger, that thou wouldst set for me a fixed time, and remember me:

Disputing with discourse that doth no good, or with speech, wherein is no profit?

What knowest thou, that we know not? What understandest thou, and the same, is not with us?

What is a mortal, that he should be pure? or that righteous should be one born of a woman?

Which, wise men, tell, and deny not that which is from their fathers.

A wanderer, he, for bread, saying Where is it ? He knoweth that, prepared by his own hand, is the day of darkness;

And had inhabited demolished cities, houses, wherein men would not dwell, that were destined to become heaps.

Let no one trust in him that - by vanity - is deceived, for, vanity, shall be his recompense;

Is there to be an end to windy words? Or what so strongly exciteth thee, that thou must respond?

GOD doth abandon me to him that is perverse, and, into the hands of the lawless, he throweth me headlong.

And, he that voucheth for me is on high. My friends are, they who scorn me, Unto GOD, hath mine eye shed tears: -

That one might plead, for a man, with GOD, - Even a son of man, for his friend!

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

He that, for a share, denounceth friends, even, the eyes of his children, shall be dim.

That the righteous may hold on his way, and, the clean of hands, increase in strength.

Surely, these, are the dwellings of him that is perverse, and, this, is the place of him that knoweth not GOD.

Know, then, that, God, hath overthrown me, and, within his net, enclosed me.

My way, hath he walled up, that I cannot pass, and, upon my paths, hath he made darkness rest;

Oh, then, that my words, could be written, Oh that, in a record, they could be inscribed:

That, with a stylus of iron and with lead, for all time - in the rock, they could be graven!

But, I, know that, my redeemer, liveth, and, as the Last over my dust, will he arise;

That, the joy-shout of the lawless, is short, and, the rejoicing of the impious, for a moment?

The eye that hath scanned him, shall not do it again, neither, any more, shall his place behold him:

It shall be that, to fill his belly, he will thrust at him the glow of his anger, and rain it upon him for his punishment.

Suffer me, that, I, may speak, and, after I have spoken, thou canst mock!

What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? Or what shall we profit, that we should urge him?

Shall, GOD, reserve, for his children, his sorrow? Let him recompense him so that he may know it;

Is it, to GOD, one can teach knowledge, seeing that, he, shall judge, them who are on high?

That, to the day of calamity, is the wicked reserved, to the day of indignant visitation, are they led.

Is it a pleasure to the Almighty, that thou shouldst be righteous? or any profit, that thou shouldst be blameless in thy ways?

Is it, for thy reverence, that he will accuse thee? will enter with thee into judgment?

Is not, GOD, in the height of the heavens? Behold, then, the head of the stars, that they are high.

When men cast themselves down, then thou shalt say: Up! And, him that is of downcast eyes, shall he save;

Oh that I knew where I might find him! I would come even unto his dwelling-place;

On the north, where he worketh, but I get no vision, He hideth himself on the south that I cannot see him.

But, he, knoweth the way that I choose, Having tried me, as gold, I shall come forth.