And the LORD said unto Satan, "From whence comest thou?" Satan answered the LORD, and said, "I have gone about the land and walked through it."

Then said the LORD unto Satan, "Hast thou not considered my servant Job, and how that he is an innocent and virtuous man: such one as feareth God, and escheweth evil, and that there is none like him in the land?"

Hast thou not preserved him, his house, and all his substance on every side? Hast thou not blessed the work of his hands? Is not his possession increased in the land?

And the LORD said unto Satan, "Lo, all that he hath, be in thy power: only upon himself see that thou lay not thine hand." Then went Satan forth from the LORD.

And the LORD said unto Satan, "From whence comest thou?" Satan answered and said, "I have gone about the land, and walked through it."

Then said the LORD unto Satan, "Hast thou not considered my servant Job, how that he is an innocent and virtuous man such one as feareth God, and escheweth evil, and that there is none like him in the land? But thou movedst me against him, to punish him: yet is it in vain, for he continueth still in his godliness."

Then said the LORD unto Satan, "Lo, there hast thou him in thy power, but spare his life."

Then said his wife unto him, "Dost thou yet continue in thy perfectness? Curse God, and die."

But Job said unto her, "Thou speakest like a foolish woman. Seeing we have received prosperity at the hand of God, wherefore should we not be content with adversity also?" In all these things, did not Job sin with his lips.

"If we begin to commune with thee, peradventure thou wilt be discontent; but who can withhold himself from speaking?

Behold, thou hast been a teacher of many, and hast comforted the weary hands.

Thy words have set up those that were fallen, thou hast refreshed the weak knees.

But now that the plague is come upon thee, thou shrinkest away: now that it hath touched thyself, thou art faint hearted.

Name me one else, if thou can find any: yea, look about thee upon any of the holy men.

"Behold, happy is the man whom God punisheth: therefore, despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty.

He shall keep thee from the perilous tongue so that when trouble cometh, thou shalt not need to fear.

In destruction and dearth thou shalt be merry, and shalt not be afraid for the beasts of the earth:

Yea, thou shalt know that thy dwelling place shall be in rest: thou shalt behold thy substance, and be no more punished for sin.

Thou shalt see also, that thy seed shall increase, and that thy posterity shall be as the grass upon the earth.

Thou shalt come to thy grave in a fair age, like as the corn sheaves are brought in to the barn in due season.

Lo, this we ourselves have proved by experience, and even this it is. Hearken thou to it also, that thou mayest take heed to thyself."

For if thou fasten thine eyes upon me, I come to naught like as a cloud is consumed and vanisheth away. Even so, he that goeth down to hell, cometh no more up,

Am I a sea, or a whalefish, that thou keepest me so in prison?

then troublest thou me with dreams - and makest me so afraid through visions

"What is man, that thou dost magnify him? And that thou settest thy heart upon him?

Thou visitest him early, and every day: and suddenly doest thou try him.

Why goest thou not from me, nor lettest me alone, so long till I swallow down my spittle?

I have offended; what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men? Why hast thou made me to stand in thy way, and am so heavy a burden unto myself?

Why dost thou not forgive my sin? Wherefore takest thou not away my wickedness? Behold, now must I sleep in the dust: And if thou seekest me tomorrow in the morning, I shall be gone."

"How long wilt thou talk of such things? How long shall thy mouth speak so proud words?

If thou wouldest now resort unto God betimes, and make thy humble prayer to the Almighty;

If thou wouldest live a pure and godly life; should he not wake up unto thee immediately, and give thee the beauty of righteousness again?

Insomuch, that wherein soever thou hadst little afore, thou shouldest now have great abundance.

If he be hasty to take anything away, who will make him restore it again? Who will say unto him, 'What doest thou?'

Then am I afraid of all my works, for I know thou wilt not judge me innocent.

yet shouldest thou dip me in the mire, and mine own clothes should defile me.

and will say unto God: O do not condemn me; but show me the cause, wherefore thou contendest so with me.

Thinkest thou it well done, to oppress me, to cast me off - being a work of thine hands - and to maintain the counsel of the ungodly?

Hast thou fleshly eyes then, or doest thou look as a man looketh?

that thou makest such inquisition for my wickedness, and searchest out my sin?

Whereas, notwithstanding, thou knowest that I am no wicked person, and that there is no man able to deliver me out of thine hand.

"Thy hands have made me, and fashioned me altogether round about. Wilt thou then destroy me suddenly?

O remember, I beseech thee, how that thou madest me of the mould of the earth, and shalt bring me into dust again.

Hast thou not turned me, as it were milk: and turned me to cruddes like cheese?

Thou hast covered me with skin and flesh, and joined me together with bones and sinews.

Thou hast granted me life, and done me good: and the diligent heed that thou tookest upon me hath preserved my spirit.

Though thou hidest these things in thine heart, yet am I sure that thou rememberest them all.

"If I did sin, thou haddest an eye unto me, and shalt not declare me innocent because of mine offense.

Thou huntest me out, being in heaviness, as it were a lion, and troublest me out of measure.

Thou bringest fresh witnesses against me, and thy wrath increasest thou upon me; very many are the plagues that I am in.

Wherefore hast thou brought me out of my mother's womb? O that I had perished, and that no eye had seen me.

Should men give ear unto thee only? Thou wilt laugh other men to scorn; and shall nobody mock thee again?

Wilt thou say unto God, 'The thing that I take in hand is perfect, and I am clean in thy sight'?

that he might show thee out of his secret wisdom how manifold his law is! Then shouldest thou know that God had forgotten thee, because of thy sins.

"Wilt thou find out God with thy seeking? Wilt thou attain to the perfectness of the Almighty?

He is higher than heaven; what wilt thou do? Deeper than hell; how wilt thou then know him?

"If thou hadst now a right heart, and liftest up thine hands toward him;

if thou wouldst put away the wickedness which thou hast in hand, so that no ungodliness dwelt in thy house;

Then mightest thou lift up thy face without shame! Then shouldest thou be sure, and have no need to fear.

Then shouldest thou forget thy misery, and think no more upon it, than upon the waters that run by.

Then mightest thou have comfort, in the hope that thou hast; and sleep quietly, when thou art buried.

Then shouldest thou take thy rest, and no man to make thee afraid, yea many one should set much by thee.

And then send for me to the law, that I may answer for myself: or else, let me speak, and give thou the answer.

Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and holdest me for thine enemy?

Wilt thou be so cruel and extreme unto a flying leaf, and follow upon dry stubble?

For thou layest sharply to my charge, and punisheth me, for the sins of my youth.

Thou hast put my foot in the stocks: thou lookest narrowly unto all my paths, and markest the steps of my feet.

Doest thou open thine eyes upon such one, and bringest me in thy judgment?

The days of man are short, the number of his months are known only to thee. Thou hast appointed him his bounds; he cannot go beyond them.

O that thou wouldest keep me, and hide me in the hell, until thy wrath were stilled: and to appoint me a time, wherein thou mightest remember me.

If thou wouldest but call me, I should obey thee: only despise not the work of thine own hands.

"For thou hast numbered all my goings, yet be not thou too extreme upon my sins.

Thou hast sealed up mine offenses, as it were in a bag: but be merciful unto my wickedness.

the waters pierce through the very stones by little and little, the floods wash away the gravel and the earth. Even so destroyest thou the hope of man in like manner.

Thou prevailest against him, so that he passeth away; thou changes his estate, and puttest him from thee.

Thou reprovest with words, that are worth nothing; and speakest the things which can do no good!

As for shame, thou hast set it aside - else wouldest thou not make so many words before God.

But thy wickedness teacheth thy mouth, and so thou hast chosen thee a crafty tongue.

Art thou the first man that ever was born? Or, wast thou made before the hills?

Hast thou heard the secret counsel of God, that all wisdom is too little for thee?

What knowest thou, that we know not? What understandest thou, but we can the same?

Thinkest thou it a small thing of the consolations of God? With thee is a lying word.

Why doth thine heart make thee so proud? Why standest thou so greatly in thine own conceit? Where unto look thine eyes,

Shall not thy vain words come yet to an end? Or, hast thou yet any more to say?

But now that God hath sent me adversity, thou hast troubled all my congregation.

And that thou hast filled me with wrinkles, my flesh is witness; and my leanness riseth up against me and beareth witness thereof in my face.

Thou hast withholden their hearts from understanding, therefore shall they not be set up on high.

Why destroyest thou thyself with anger? Shall the earth be forsaken, or the stones removed out of their place because of thee?

Knowest thou not this, namely: that from the beginning - ever since the creation of man upon earth -

Is it any advantage to the Almighty that thou art righteous? Or what doth it profit him, that thy ways are perfect?

Thou hast taken the pledge from thy brethren for naught, and robbed the naked of their clothing;

To such as were weary, hast thou given no water to drink, and thou hast withdrawn bread from the hungry.

Thou hast sent widows away empty and oppressed the poor fatherless.

Therefore art thou compassed about with snares on every side, and suddenly vexed with fear.

Shouldest thou then see no darkness? Should not the water flood run over thee?

Now because that God is higher than the heavens, and because thou seest the stars are so high,

wilt thou therefore say, 'Tush, how should God know? Doth his dominion reach beyond the clouds?

"Well, thou wilt keep the old way, that all wicked men have gone:

For if thou wilt turn to the Almighty, thou shalt stand fast, and all unrighteousness shall be far from thy dwelling:

Then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and lift up thy face unto God.