But put forth Your hand now and touch (destroy) all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face.”

and the Sabeans attacked and swooped down on them and took away the animals. They also killed the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”

But put forth Your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh [and severely afflict him]; and he will curse You to Your face.”

And Job took a piece of broken pottery with which to scrape himself, and he sat [down] among the ashes (rubbish heaps).

Who wait for death, but it does not come,
And dig (search) for death more [diligently] than for hidden treasures,

“The hungry devour his harvest
And take it even [when it grows] among the thorns;
The trap opens for [his] wealth.

“He will rescue you from six troubles;
Even in seven, evil will not touch you.

“My soul refuses to touch them;
Such things are like loathsome food to me [sickening and repugnant].

“Teach me, and I will be silent;
And show me how I have erred.

“Why then do You not pardon my transgression
And take away my sin and guilt?
For now I will lie down in the dust;
And You will seek me [diligently], but I will not be.”

“Will they (the fathers) not teach you and tell you,
And utter words from their hearts [the deepest part of their nature]?

“Behold, this is the joy of His way;
And from out of the dust others will spring up and grow [to take his place].

“Let Him take His rod away from me,
And let not the dread and fear of Him terrify me.

“Would He not let my few days alone,
Withdraw from me that I may have a little cheer

“Then you would trust [with confidence], because there is hope;
You would look around you and rest securely.

“Now ask the animals, and let them teach you [that God does not deal with His creatures according to their character];
And ask the birds of the air, and let them tell you;

Or speak to the earth [with its many forms of life], and it will teach you;
And let the fish of the sea declare [this truth] to you.

“Why should I take my flesh in my teeth
And put my life in my hands [incurring the wrath of God]?

Withdraw Your hand from me and remove this bodily suffering,
And let not the dread of You terrify me.

“But now You number [each of] my steps;
You do not observe nor take note of my sin.

“But his body [lamenting its decay] grieves in pain over it,
And his soul mourns over [the loss of] himself.”

If I call out to the pit (grave), ‘You are my father’;
And to the worm [that feeds on decay], ‘You are my mother and my sister [because I will soon be closest to you],’

“Even when I remember, I am troubled and afraid;
Horror and trembling take hold of my flesh.

“Can anyone teach God knowledge,
Seeing that He judges those on high?

“But He knows the way that I take [and He pays attention to it].
When He has tried me, I will come forth as [refined] gold [pure and luminous].

“Some remove the landmarks;
They [violently] seize and pasture flocks [appropriating land and flocks openly].

“They drive away the donkeys of the orphans;
They take the widow’s ox for a pledge.

“Others snatch the fatherless [infants] from the breast [to sell or make them slaves],
And against the poor they take a pledge [of clothing].

“In the dark they dig into [the penetrable walls of] houses;
They shut themselves up by day;
They do not know the light [of day].

Job continued his discourse and said,

“Will he take delight in the Almighty?
Will he call on God at all times?

“I will teach you regarding the hand (power) of God;
I will not conceal what is with the Almighty [God’s actual treatment of the wicked].

And Job again took up his discussion and said,

“My bones are pierced [with aching] in the night season,
And the pains that gnaw me take no rest.

“I thought age should speak,
And a multitude of years should teach wisdom.

“For I do not know how to flatter, [in an appropriate way, and I fear that],
My Maker would soon take me away.

“Answer me, if you can;
Set yourselves before me, take your stand.

“If not [and you have nothing to say], listen to me;
Keep silent, and I will teach you wisdom.”

Teach me what I do not see [in regard to how I have sinned];
If I have done wrong (injustice, unrighteousness),
I will not do it again’?

“Your wickedness affects only a man such as you,
And your righteousness affects only a son of man [but it cannot affect God, who is sovereign].

“Take heed and be careful, do not turn to wickedness,
For you have chosen this [the vice of complaining against God] rather than [learning from] affliction.

“Adorn yourself with eminence and dignity [since you question the Almighty],
And array yourself with honor and majesty.

“Can anyone capture him when he is on watch,
Or pierce his nose with barbs [to trap him]?

“Will he make a covenant or an arrangement with you?
Will you take him for your servant forever?

Now therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, and go to My servant Job, and offer up a burnt offering for yourselves, and My servant Job will pray for you. For I will accept him [and his prayer] so that I may not deal with you according to your folly, because you have not spoken of Me the thing that is right, as My servant Job has.”