There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and turned away from evil.

His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she-asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the children of the east.

And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt-offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and renounced God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.

While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have taken them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

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

Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place: Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite, and they made an appointment together to come to bemoan him and to comfort him.

So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great.

Let the day perish wherein I was born, And the night which said, There is a man-child conceived.

Thy words have upholden him that was falling, And thou hast made firm the feeble knees.

Now a thing was secretly brought to me, And mine ear received a whisper thereof.

It stood still, but I could not discern the appearance thereof; A form was before mine eyes: There was'silence, and I heard a voice,'saying ,

And though thy beginning was small, Yet thy latter end would greatly increase.

If I wash myself with snow water, And make my hands never so clean;

The waters wear the stones; The overflowings thereof wash away the dust of the earth: So thou destroyest the hope of man.

Art thou the first man that was born? Or wast thou brought forth before the hills?

Unto whom alone the land was given, And no stranger passed among them):

I was at ease, and he brake me asunder; Yea, he hath taken me by the neck, and dashed me to pieces: He hath also set me up for his mark.

Knowest thou not this of old time, Since man was placed upon earth,

There was nothing left that he devoured not; Therefore his prosperity shall not endure.

Who were snatched away before their time, Whose foundation was poured out as a stream,

Because I was not cut off before the darkness, Neither did he cover the thick darkness from my face.

As I was in the ripeness of my days, When the friendship of God was upon my tent;

When the Almighty was yet with me, And my children were about me;

The voice of the nobles was hushed, And their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.

The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me; And I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.

I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: My justice was as a robe and a diadem.

I was eyes to the blind, And feet was I to the lame.

I was a father to the needy: And the cause of him that I knew not I searched out.

Did not I weep for him that was in trouble? Was not my soul grieved for the needy?

If I have rejoiced because my wealth was great, And because my hand had gotten much;

So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.

Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram: against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God.

Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.

And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, his wrath was kindled.

Yea, I attended unto you, And, behold, there was none that convinced Job, Or that answered his words, among you.

He singeth before men, and saith, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, And it profited me not:

Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if thou hast understanding.

Doubtless , thou knowest, for thou wast then born, And the number of thy days is great!

And it was so, that, after Jehovah had spoken these words unto Job, Jehovah said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends; for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath.