There once was a man in the land of Uz named Job. The man was blameless as well as upright. He feared God and kept away from evil.

Then the LORD asked Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one like him on earth. The man is blameless as well as upright. He fears God and keeps away from evil."

The LORD asked Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one like him on earth. The man is blameless as well as upright. He fears God and keeps away from evil. He remains firm in his integrity, even though you have been urging me to overwhelm him without cause."

Let the stars of its evening twilight be dark; let it hope for light but let there be none; let it not see the breaking rays of the dawn.

Why was there a lap to hold me, and why were there breasts to nurse me?

In that place, the wicked stop causing trouble, and there, those whose strength is exhausted are at rest.

The unimportant and the important are both there, and the servant is free from his master.

It remained standing, but I couldn't recognize its appearance. A form appeared before my eyes; At first there was silence, and then this voice:

"Cry out, won't you! Is there anyone who will answer you? To whom will you turn among the holy ones?

Therefore there is hope for those who are poor, and iniquity shuts its mouth.

Tasteless food isn't eaten without salt, is it? Is there any taste in an egg white?

There is no help within me, is there? My resources have been driven away from me, haven't they?

Repent! Let there be no injustice; Change your ways! My vindication is at stake.

"Can papyrus grow where there's no marsh? Can reeds flourish without water?

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

Although you know that I'm not guilty, there's no one to deliver me from you!

It's a gloomy land, like deepest darkness; where there's no order, and where even the brightness is like darkness.'"

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."

You'll be secure, because there is hope; you'll see that you're at rest and safe.

When you sleep, there'll be nothing to fear; and many will court your favor.

"There is hope for the tree, if it is cut down, that it will sprout again, and that its shoots won't stop growing.

Offer, then, some collateral on my behalf. Is there anyone who will be my guarantor?

"There's nothing in his tent that belongs to him; sulfur is scattered all over his dwelling place.

"Although I cried out "Violence!' I received no answer; I cried for help, but there was no justice.

whom I will see for myself. My own eyes will look at him there won't be anyone else for me! He is the culmination of my innermost desire."

Make sure that you remain wary of God's sword, for God's wrath brings with it the sword of punishment, by which you'll know there's a judgment."

Your wickedness is great, isn't it? There's no limit to your iniquity, is there?

"Look! If I go east, he isn't there! If I go to the west, I don't perceive him.

"Then there are those who rebel against the light; they are not acquainted with its ways; and they don't stay on its course.

If this weren't so, who can prove that I'm a liar by showing that there's nothing to what I'm saying?"

Is there any limit to his armies? On whom does his light not shine?

"The ghosts of the dead writhe under the waters along with those who live there with them.

"Surely there are mines for silver and places where gold is refined.

The proud beasts haven't walked there; lions have never passed over it.

God understands how to get there; he knows where they live.

"I used to say: "I will die in my home. I'm going to live as many days as there are grains of sand on the shore.

but when he saw that there had been no response from those three, he got even more angry.

Shall I continue to wait, since they're no longer talking? After all, they're only standing there; they're no longer responding.

"If there's a messenger appointed to mediate for Job one out of a thousand to represent the man's integrity on his behalf,

Because he says, "There's no profit for a man to find joy with God.'"

There's no such thing as darkness to him not even deep darkness that can conceal those who practice evil.

"They cry out there, but he doesn't answer because of the arrogance of those who practice evil.

"Be patient with me a moment longer, and I'll show you that there's more to say on God's behalf.

He dwells on the crags where he makes his home, there on the rocky crag is his stronghold.

From there he searches for prey, and his eyes recognize it from a distance.

His young ones feast on blood; he'll be found wherever there's a carcass."

There is no flaw in his body's armor; it is firmly fixed on him and unbreachable.

"There's nothing like him on earth; he was created without the ability to fear.