But he replied to her, "You're talking like foolish women do. Are we to accept what is good from God but not tragedy?" Throughout all of this, Job did not sin by what he said.

This is what Job said:

along with kings and counselors of the earth, who used to build for themselves what are now only ruins,

For the dreaded thing that I feared has happened to me, what caused me to worry has engulfed me.

He frustrates the plans of the crafty; so that what they work for never succeeds.

"Look! We have thought all this through, and what we've said is true; So please listen and learn for your own good!"

"Who will grant my wish? I wish God would grant what I'm hoping for:

At least I could still take comfort and rejoice in unceasing anguish, for I didn't conceal what the Holy One has to say.

The truth can be painful, but what has your argument proven?

"What is a human being, that you make so much of him; that you set your affections on him,

So what if I sin? What have I done against you, you observer of humankind? Why have you made me your target? Why burden yourself with me?

Does God pervert justice? Does the Almighty pervert what's right?

"Inquire of the previous generation, won't you please? Consider what their forefathers searched out.

Indeed, if he snatches someone away, who could restrain him? Who can say to him, "What are you doing?'

So how am I to answer him, choosing what I am to say to him?

"Were I to be summoned, and he were to answer me, I wouldn't even believe that he was listening to what I have to say.

Does it delight you to oppress or despise what you have made, while you smile at the plans of the wicked?

"But what if God were to speak? What if he were to talk with you,

These things are higher than the heavens, so what can you do? They are deeper than Sheol, so what can you know?

But what the wicked look for will fail; their way of escape will be taken away from them; their only hope is to take their final breath."

He uncovers the hidden dimensions from darkness, bringing what is in deep shadow to light.

What you know, I know, too; I'm not inferior to you.

Pay attention to what I have to say and listen to my testimony with your own ears."

What do you know that we don't know, or that you understand and that isn't clear to us?

"What is mankind, that he can be blameless? Or does being born of a woman mean he'll be in the right?

"I'll tell you what, listen to me! Let me relate what I've seen,

which is what wise men have explained, who didn't withhold anything from their ancestors.

"I've heard many things like this. What miserable comforters you all are!

Will windy words like yours never end? What is upsetting you that you keep on arguing?

and encourage you with what I have to say; my words of comfort would lessen your pain.

"But if I speak, my pain isn't assuaged; if I refrain from speaking, what do I have to lose?"

"How long do you intend to keep torturing me and trying to break me by what you're saying?

"He will restore what he has attained from his work and won't consume it; he won't enjoy the profits from his business transactions,

This is what the wicked person inherits from God; it is the inheritance that God appoints for him."

What will they care for their household after them, when the number of his months comes to an end?"

Who will expose his conduct to his face? Who will repay him for what he has done

How then, can you console me so worthlessly? What is left of your answers is treachery."

You've asked, "What does God know? Can he sort through pitch black darkness?'

They told God, "Get away from us!' and "What will the Almighty do to them?'

"Our enemies are sure to be destroyed, and fire will burn up what's left of their riches."

Accept what he has to teach you, and treasure his words in your heart.

I know how he would answer me; I understand what he'll tell me.

I haven't wandered away from the commands that he has spoken; I've treasured what he has said more than my own meals."

He'll complete what he has planned for me; he has many things in mind for me!

As drought and heat evaporate melting snow, that's what Sheol does with sinners.

If this weren't so, who can prove that I'm a liar by showing that there's nothing to what I'm saying?"

"What a help you are to the weak! How powerfully you deliver those without strength!

What counsel you provide to the fool! What insight you provide so abundantly!

"This is what a wicked person inherits from God, and what the ruthless will receive from the Almighty:

After I spoke, they had nothing to say, when what I said hit them.

Furthermore, what could I have gained from men whose strength is gone?

What would I have from God above, what heritage from the Almighty on high,

what I've planted, let another eat or let my crops be uprooted."

what will I do when God stands up to act? When he asks the questions, how will I answer him?

For I'm terrified of what calamity God may have in store for me; and I cannot endure his grandeur."

Barachel's son Elihu from Buz responded and said: "I'm younger than you are. Because you're older, I was terrified to tell you what I know.

Therefore I'm saying, "Listen to me!' Then I'll declare what I know.

"I will contribute my arguments as an answer; I'll declare what I know,

"Now please listen to what I have to say, Job. Listen to every word!

I speak from the innocence of my heart; and my lips will utter what I sincerely know.

"You spoke clearly so I could hear; I've heard what you've said:

Why are you arguing with him? He doesn't have to give explanations for what he does to you!

"He'll sing to mankind with these words: "I've sinned. I have twisted what is right. Yet he has not repaid me like I deserve.

"Listen to what I have to say, you wise men! Pay attention to me, you educated people!

let's choose what's right for us. Let's consider among ourselves what is good."

"What man is like Job, who drinks mockery like water,

"Therefore you men of understanding, listen to me! Far be it for God to practice wickedness, or the Almighty to do what is wrong,

If you have understanding, listen to this! Pay attention to what I have to say:

What I don't see, instruct me! If I've done anything evil, I won't repeat it!'

"Should you not be paid back, since you have rejected him? You do the choosing! I won't! Tell us what you know!

Job has been speaking from his own ignorance, and what he has to say lacks insight!

After all, you've asked what your benefit will be: "What will I profit from refraining from sin?'

If you sin, what will that do to harm him? If you add transgression to transgression what will it do to him?

If you are righteous, what will you add to him? What can God receive from your efforts?

I'll take what I know to its logical conclusion and ascribe righteousness to my Creator,

because what I have to say isn't deceptive, and the one who has perfect knowledge is with you."

"God is truly awesome, beyond what we know; the number of his years is unknowable.

His thunder declares his presence; and tells the animals what is coming."

"He puts a limit to the skill of every person; to delineate all people from what they do.

Tell us! What are we to say to him? Can we prepare our case to face him when our faces are in darkness?

"Who is this who keeps darkening my counsel without knowing what he's talking about?

On what were its bases set? Who laid its corner stone

What you see as a raging river doesn't alarm him; he is confident when the Jordan overflows.

You asked, "Who is this that darkens counsel without knowledge?' Well now, I have talked about what I don't understand awesome things beyond me that I don't know.