But lay thine hand upon him a little, touch once all that he hath, and, I hold, he shall curse thee to thy face."

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.

the Sabeans came in violently, and took them all away: yea, they have slain thy servants with the sword, and I only ran my way, to tell thee."

And while he was yet speaking, there came another, and said, "The fire of God is fallen from heaven, it hath consumed, and burnt up all thy sheep and servants: and I only ran my way, to tell thee."

In the mean season while he was yet speaking, there came another, and said, "The Chaldeans made three armies, and fell upon thy camels, which they have carried away: yea, and slain thy servants with the sword, and I only am gotten away, to tell thee."

While he was speaking, there came yet another, and said, "Thy sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house,

and suddenly there came a mighty great wind out of the South, and smote the four corners of the house: which fell upon thy children, so that they are dead, and I alone am gotten away, to tell thee."

But lay thine hand upon him, touch him once upon the bone and flesh, and, I hold, he shall curse thee to thy face."

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."

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

Where is now thy fear of God, thy steadfastness, thy patience, and the perfectness of thy ways?

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.

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

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?

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

When thy sons sinned against him, did not he punish them for their wickedness?

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

"Enquire, I pray thee, of them that have been before thee; and search diligently among thy forefathers.

Thy mouth shall be full with laughing, and thy lips with gladness.

Are thy days as the days of man, and thy years as man's years,

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

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

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?

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 should the residue of thy life be as clear as the noon day, and spring forth as the morning.

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

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

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

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.

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

With us are old and aged men; yea, such as have lived longer than thy forefathers.

that thy mind is so puffed up against God and lettest such words go out of thy mouth?

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

I have sufficiently heard thy checking and reproof; therefore am I purposed to make answer after mine understanding.

They say unto God, 'Go from us: we desire not the knowledge of thy ways!

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

Is not thy wickedness great, and thine ungracious deeds innumerable?

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

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

Yea, the Almighty his own self shall be thine harvest, and the heap of thy money.

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

Then shalt thou make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee, and thou shalt keep thy promises.

Then, look what thou takest in hand: he shall make it to prosper with thee, and the light shall shine in thy ways.

Thou art become mine enemy, and with thy violent hand thou takest part against me.

"Now hast thou spoken in mine ears, and I have heard the voice of thy words:

But if thou hast anything to say, then answer me, and speak, for thy answer pleaseth me.

If thou hast nothing, then hear me, and hold thy tongue, so shall I teach thee wisdom."

Therefore will I give answer unto thee and thy friends.

If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? Or what receiveth he of thy hands:

"When thou speakest, then, should not he pardon thee, if thou open thyself before him, and put thy trust in him?

Even so shall he keep thee - if thou wilt be content - from the bottomless pit that is beneath: and if thou wilt hold the quiet, he shall fill thy table with plenteousness.

For then shall not thy cause be stilled with cruelty, nor pacified with many gifts.

Prolong not thou the time, till there come a night for thee, to set other people in thy stead.

And how thy clothes are warm, when the land is still through the South wind?

Gird up thy loins like a man, for I will question thee, see thou give me a direct answer.

saying, 'Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further, and here shalt thou lay down thy proud and high waves.'

Moreover, canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that they may pour down a great rain upon thee?

Will the unicorn be so tame as to do the service, or to abide still by thy crib?

Canst thou bind the yoke about him in thy furrows, to make him plow after thee in the valleys?

Mayest thou trust him because he is strong, or commit thy labour unto him?

Mayest thou believe him, that he will bring home thy corn, or to carry anything unto thy barn?

"Cometh it through thy wisdom, that the Goshawk flyeth toward the South?

Doth the Eagle mount up, and make his nest on high, at thy commandment?

Gird up thy loins like a man, and tell me the things that I will ask thee.

Is thine arm then like the arm of God? Maketh thy voice such a sound as his doth?

Then arm thyself with thine own power! Up, deck thee in thy jolly array,

pour out thy indignation of thy wrath; see that thou cast down all the proud,

look well, that thou makest all such as be stubburn, to obey; tread all the ungodly under thy feet,

Then will I confess also, that thy own righthand hath saved thee.

Wilt thou take thy pastime with him as with a bird? Or give him unto thy maidens,

that thy companions may hew him in pieces, to be parted among the merchant men?

Now when the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, he said unto Eliphaz the Temanite, "I am displeased with thee and thy two friends, for ye have not spoken the thing that is right before me, like as my servant Job hath done.