There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil.

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

The Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.”

He said,
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
And naked I shall return there.
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away.
Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

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

The Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man fearing God and turning away from evil. And he still holds fast his integrity, although you incited Me against him to ruin him without cause.”

“There the wicked cease from raging,
And there the weary are at rest.

“The small and the great are there,
And the slave is free from his master.

Who long for death, but there is none,
And dig for it more than for hidden treasures,

“It stood still, but I could not discern its appearance;
A form was before my eyes;
There was silence, then I heard a voice:

“Call now, is there anyone who will answer you?
And to which of the holy ones will you turn?

“His sons are far from safety,
They are even oppressed in the gate,
And there is no deliverer.

“Can something tasteless be eaten without salt,
Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?

“For the despairing man there should be kindness from his friend;
So that he does not forsake the fear of the Almighty.

“They were disappointed for they had trusted,
They came there and were confounded.

“Desist now, let there be no injustice;
Even desist, my righteousness is yet in it.

“Is there injustice on my tongue?
Cannot my palate discern calamities?

“There is no umpire between us,
Who may lay his hand upon us both.

‘According to Your knowledge I am indeed not guilty,
Yet there is no deliverance from Your hand.

“Then you would trust, because there is hope;
And you would look around and rest securely.

“But the eyes of the wicked will fail,
And there will be no escape for them;
And their hope is to breathe their last.”

“Behold, He tears down, and it cannot be rebuilt;
He imprisons a man, and there can be no release.

“For there is hope for a tree,
When it is cut down, that it will sprout again,
And its shoots will not fail.

“Is there no limit to windy words?
Or what plagues you that you answer?

Although there is no violence in my hands,
And my prayer is pure.

“O earth, do not cover my blood,
And let there be no resting place for my cry.

“Lay down, now, a pledge for me with Yourself;
Who is there that will be my guarantor?

“There dwells in his tent nothing of his;
Brimstone is scattered on his habitation.

“Behold, I cry, ‘Violence!’ but I get no answer;
I shout for help, but there is no justice.

“Then be afraid of the sword for yourselves,
For wrath brings the punishment of the sword,
So that you may know there is judgment.”

“Is there any pleasure to the Almighty if you are righteous,
Or profit if you make your ways perfect?

“There the upright would reason with Him;
And I would be delivered forever from my Judge.

“Behold, I go forward but He is not there,
And backward, but I cannot perceive Him;

“Is there any number to His troops?
And upon whom does His light not rise?

“Surely there is a mine for silver
And a place where they refine gold.

And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of the three men his anger burned.

“I even paid close attention to you;
Indeed, there was no one who refuted Job,
Not one of you who answered his words.

‘I am pure, without transgression;
I am innocent and there is no guilt in me.

“If there is an angel as mediator for him,
One out of a thousand,
To remind a man what is right for him,

“There is no darkness or deep shadow
Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.

“There they cry out, but He does not answer
Because of the pride of evil men.

“Wait for me a little, and I will show you
That there is yet more to be said in God’s behalf.

“From there he spies out food;
His eyes see it from afar.

“His young ones also suck up blood;
And where the slain are, there is he.”

“Surely the mountains bring him food,
And all the beasts of the field play there.

“Who can open the doors of his face?
Around his teeth there is terror.