[There] was a man in the land of Uz whose name [was] Job. That man was blameless and upright and God-fearing and turning away from evil.

And his sons used to go and hold a feast {at each other's house} on his day, and they would send, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.

And it happened {one day} {that} the sons of God came to present themselves before Yahweh, and Satan also came into their midst.

So Yahweh said to Satan, "From where have you come?" Then Satan answered Yahweh and said, "From roaming on the earth and from walking about in it."

So Yahweh said to Satan, "Have you {considered} my servant Job? Indeed, there is no one like him on the earth--a blameless man and upright and God-fearing and turning away from evil."

Then Satan answered Yahweh and said, "Does Job fear God for nothing?

Have you not put a fence around him and his household and around {all that belongs to him} {on every side}? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his livestock has increased in the land.

But, on the other hand, stretch out your hand and touch {all that belongs to him} [and see] {whether} he will {curse} you to your face."

So Yahweh said to Satan, "Look, {all that belongs to him} is in your {power}. Only do not stretch out your hand {against} him." So Satan went out from Yahweh's {presence}.

And a messenger came to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing, and the female donkeys were feeding {beside them}.

Then the Sabeans {attacked}, and they took them, and they slew the servants {by the edge of the sword}. But I escaped, [even] I alone, to tell you."

While this one was still speaking, {another} came and said, "The fire of God fell from the heavens, and it blazed up against the sheep and goats and against the servants, and it consumed them. But I escaped, [even] I alone, to tell you."

While this one was still speaking, {another} came and said, "The Chaldeans formed three divisions, and they made a raid on the camels, and they carried them away, and they struck your servants {by the edge of the sword}, but I escaped, [even] I alone, to tell you."

And behold, a great wind came from across the desert, and it struck the four corners of the house {so that} it fell upon the young people, and they died. But I escaped, [even] I alone, to tell you."

Then he said, "Naked I came out from my mother's womb, and naked I will return there. Yahweh gives, and Yahweh takes. Let Yahweh's name be blessed."

{And then} one day the sons of God came to present themselves before Yahweh, and Satan also came into their midst to present himself before Yahweh.

So Yahweh {asked} Satan, "From where have you come?" And Satan answered Yahweh and said, "From roaming on the earth and from walking about in it."

So Yahweh {asked} Satan, "Have you {considered} my servant Job? Indeed, there is no one like him on the earth--a blameless man and upright and God-fearing and turning away from evil. And still he persists in his blamelessness {even though} you incited me against him to destroy him for nothing."

But stretch out your hand and touch his bones and his flesh, [and see] {whether} he will {curse} you to your face."

So Yahweh said to Satan, "{All right}, he [is] in your {power}. Only spare his life."

So Satan went out from {Yahweh's presence}, and he inflicted Job with loathsome skin sores from the sole of his foot up to the crown of his head.

{So} he took for himself a potsherd with which to scrape himself, and he sat in the midst of the ashes.

Then his wife said to him, "Are you still persisting in your blamelessness? {Curse} God and die."

So he said to her, "You speak like one of the foolish women speaks. Indeed, should we receive the good from God, but not receive the evil?" In all this, Job did not sin with his lips.

Then they sat with him on the ground [for] seven days and seven nights, but no one spoke a word to him because they saw that {his} suffering was very great.

"Let [the] day perish on which I was born, and the night that said, 'A man-child is conceived.'

Look, let that night become barren; let a joyful song not enter it.

Let those who curse the day curse it, those who are skilled at rousing Leviathan.

"Why did I not die at birth? [Why] did I [not] come forth from [the] womb and expire?

Why did [the] knees receive me and the breasts, that I could suck?

For now I would lie down, and I would be at peace; I would be asleep; then {I would be at rest}

with kings and counselors of [the] earth, who {rebuild} ruins for themselves,

or with high officials {who have gold}, who fill up their houses [with] silver.

Or [why] was I not hidden like a miscarriage, like infants [who] did not see [the] light?

who wait for death, but {it does not come}, and search [for] it more than [for] treasures,

who rejoice {exceedingly}, [and] they are glad when they find [the] grave?

[Why does he give light] to a man whose way is hidden, and God has fenced him in [all] around?

because the dread that I {feel} has come upon me, and what I feared befalls me.

I am not at ease, and I am not at peace, and I do not have rest, thus turmoil has come."

"[If] someone would test a word with you, would you be offended? But who can refrain from speaking?

Look, you have instructed many, and you have strengthened weak hands.

Your words have raised up [the one who] stumbles, and you have strengthened knees giving way.

But now it has come to you, and you are worn out; it touches you, and you are horrified.

"{Think} now, who has perished [who is] innocent? Or where [are] the upright destroyed?

[Just] as I have seen, plowers of mischief and sowers of trouble will reap it.

[The] roar of [the] lion and [the] voice of a lion in its prime, and [the] teeth of [the] young lions are broken.

"And a word came stealing to me, and my ear received [the] whisper from it.

And a spirit glided before my face; the hair of my flesh bristled.

It stood still, but I could not recognize its appearance; a form [was] {before} my eyes; [there was] a hush, and I heard a voice:

'Can a human being be more righteous than God, or can a man be more pure than his Maker?

How much more dwellers in clay houses, whose foundation [is] in the dust? They are crushed like a moth.

"Call now, is there [anyone] answering you? And to which of [the] holy ones will you turn?

I have seen a fool taking root, but suddenly I cursed his dwelling.

But a human being is born to trouble, and {they soar aloft} [like] {sparks}.

"But I myself will seek God, and to God I would commit my cause.

the one who is giving rain on [the] {surface of} [the] earth and is sending water on [the] {surface of} [the] fields,

"Look, happy [is the] human being whom God reproves; and you must not despise the discipline of Shaddai,

{From} six troubles he will deliver you, and in seven evil shall not touch you.

In famine he will redeem you from death, and in war from [the] {power of} [the] sword.

From [the] scourge of [the] tongue you shall be hidden, and you shall not be afraid of destruction when it comes.

At destruction and famine you shall laugh, and you shall not fear the wild animals of the earth.

For your covenant [will be] with the stones of the field, and the wild animals of the field will be at peace with you.

And you shall know that your tent [is] safe, and you will inspect your fold, and you shall not be missing [anything].

And you shall know that your offspring [are] many, and your descendants like the vegetation of the earth.

You shall come in maturity to [the] grave, as the raising up of a stack of sheaves in its season.

"Look, we have searched this out--it [is] true; hear it and know [it] {yourself}."

Can tasteless [food] be eaten without salt, or is there taste in the white of a marshmallow plant?

{I refused} to touch [them]; they [are] like {food that will make me ill}.

"{O that} my request may come, and [that] God may grant my hope,

But it will still be my consolation, and I would recoil in {unrelenting} pain, for I have not denied [the] words of [the] Holy One.

What [is] my strength, that I should wait? And what [is] my end, that {I should hold out}?

My companions are treacherous like a torrent-bed; like a streambed of wadis they flow away,

The paths of their way wind [around]; they go up into the wasteland, and they perish.

"For now you have become {such}; you see terrors, and you fear.

Is it because I have said, 'Give to me,' or, 'Offer a bribe for me from your wealth'?

Teach me, and I myself will be silent; and make me understand how I have gone astray.

Do you intend to reprove [my] words and [consider the] words of a desperate [man] as wind?

Even over [the] orphan you would cast the lot, and you would bargain over your friend.

"{Therefore} be prepared, turn to me, and I surely will not lie to your face.

"Does not {a human being have hard service} on earth? And [are not] his days like the days of a laborer?

Like a slave he longs for [the] shadow, and like a laborer he waits for his wages.

So {I had to inherit} months of worthlessness, and nights of misery are apportioned to me.

When I lie down, I say, 'When shall I rise?' But [the] night is long, and I have my fill of tossing until dawn.

My body is clothed [with] maggots and clods of dust; my skin hardens, then it gives way [again].

"My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and they come to an end {without hope}.

Remember that my life [is] a breath; my eye will not return to see good.

The eye of [the one] seeing me will not see me; your eyes [are] upon me, but {I will be gone}.

A cloud vanishes, and it goes away, so [he who] goes down to Sheol will not come up.

"Even I will not restrain my mouth; I will speak in my spirit's anguish; I will complain in my inner self's bitterness.

Am I [the] sea, or a sea monster, that you set a guard over me?

When I say, 'My bed will comfort me, and my couch will ease my complaint,'

then you terrify me with dreams, and with visions you terrify me.

I loathe [my life]; I would not live forever; depart from me, for my days [are] a breath.

"What [is] a human being that you make him great and that {you fix your mind on him},

so that you visit him {every morning}, you test him {every moment}?

{How long} will you not turn away from me? [Or] not leave me alone until I swallow my spit?

[If] I have sinned, what have I done to you, watcher of humanity? Why have you made me as a target for yourself, so that I have become a burden to myself?

And why do you not pardon my transgression and take away my guilt? For now I shall lie in the dust, and you will seek me, but {I will be no more}."

"{How long} will you say these [things], and the words of your mouth [be] a mighty wind?

If you yourself would seek God, then you would plead to Shaddai for grace.