There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job. That man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God, and turned away from evil.

His possessions also were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the children of the east.

His sons went and held a feast in the house of each one on his birthday; and they sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.

The LORD said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, "From going back and forth in the earth, and from walking up and down in it."

The LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant, Job? For there is none like him in the earth, a blameless and an upright man, one who fears God, and turns away from evil."

Haven't you made a hedge around him, and around his house, and around all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.

But put forth your hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will renounce you to your face."

It fell on a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house,

that there came a messenger to Job, and said, "The oxen were plowing, and the donkeys feeding beside them,

and the Sabeans attacked, and took them away. Yes, they have killed the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you."

While he was still speaking, there also came another, and said, "The fire of God has fallen from the sky, and has burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you."

While he was still speaking, there came also another, and said, "The Chaldeans made three bands, and swept down on the camels, and have taken them away, yes, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you."

and behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young men, and they are dead. I alone have escaped to tell you."

He said, "Naked I came out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD."

The LORD said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Satan answered the LORD, and said, "From going back and forth in the earth, and from walking up and down in it."

The LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? For there is none like him in the earth, a blameless and an upright man, one who fears God, and turns away from evil. He still maintains his integrity, although you incited me against him, to ruin him without cause."

Satan answered the LORD, and said, "Skin for skin. Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life.

But put forth your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will renounce you to your face."

He took for himself a potsherd to scrape himself with, and he sat among the ashes.

Then his wife said to him, "Do you still maintain your integrity? Renounce God, and die."

But he said to her, "You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?" In all this Job did not sin with his lips.

When they lifted up their eyes from a distance, and did not recognize him, they raised their voices, and wept; and they each tore his robe, and sprinkled dust on their heads toward the sky.

So they sat down with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spoke a word to him, for they saw that his grief was very great.

"Let the day perish in which I was born, the night which said, 'There is a boy conceived.'

Let darkness and the shadow of death claim it for their own. Let a cloud dwell on it. Let all that makes black the day terrify it.

Let them curse it who curse the day, who are ready to rouse up leviathan.

"Why did I not die from the womb? Why did I not give up the spirit when my mother bore me?

Why did the knees receive me? Or why the breast, that I should suck?

For now should I have lain down and been quiet. I should have slept, then I would have been at rest,

with kings and counselors of the earth, who built up waste places for themselves;

or with princes who had gold, who filled their houses with silver:

or as a hidden untimely birth I had not been, as infants who never saw light.

"Why is light given to him who is in misery, life to the bitter in soul,

Who long for death, but it doesn't come; and dig for it more than for hidden treasures,

who rejoice exceedingly, and are glad, when they can find the grave?

Why is light given to a man whose way is hid, whom God has hedged in?

For my sighing comes before I eat. My groanings are poured out like water.

For the thing which I fear comes on me, That which I am afraid of comes to me.

I am not at ease, neither am I quiet, neither have I rest; but trouble comes."

"If someone ventures to talk with you, will you be grieved? But who can withhold himself from speaking?

Behold, you have instructed many, you have strengthened the weak hands.

Your words have supported him who was falling, You have made firm the feeble knees.

But now it is come to you, and you faint. It touches you, and you are troubled.

According to what I have seen, those who plow iniquity, and sow trouble, reap the same.

"Now a thing was secretly brought to me. My ear received a whisper of it.

Then a spirit passed before my face. The hair of my flesh stood up.

It stood still, but I couldn't discern its appearance. A form was before my eyes. Silence, then I heard a voice, saying,

'Shall mortal man be more just than God? Shall a man be more pure than his Maker?

How much more, those who dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed before the moth.

"Call now; is there any who will answer you? To which of the holy ones will you turn?

I have seen the foolish taking root, but suddenly I cursed his habitation.

"But as for me, I would seek God. I would commit my cause to God,

who does great things that can't be fathomed, marvelous things without number;

who gives rain on the earth, and sends waters on the fields;

so that he sets up on high those who are low, those who mourn are exalted to safety.

He will deliver you in six troubles; yes, in seven there shall no evil touch you.

In famine he will redeem you from death; in war, from the power of the sword.

You shall be hidden from the scourge of the tongue, neither shall you be afraid of destruction when it comes.

At destruction and famine you shall laugh, neither shall you be afraid of the animals of the earth.

For you shall be in league with the stones of the field. The animals of the field shall be at peace with you.

You shall know that your tent is in peace. You shall visit your fold, and shall miss nothing.

You shall know also that your seed shall be great, Your offspring as the grass of the earth.

You shall come to your grave in a full age, like a shock of grain comes in its season.

Look this, we have searched it, so it is. Hear it, and know it for your good."

"Oh that my anguish were weighed, and all my calamity laid in the balances.

"Oh that I might have my request, that God would grant the thing that I long for,

Be it still my consolation, yes, let me exult in pain that doesn't spare, that I have not denied the words of the Holy One.

What is my strength, that I should wait? What is my end, that I should be patient?

Isn't it that I have no help in me, That wisdom is driven quite from me?

"To him who is ready to faint, kindness should be shown from his friend; even to him who forsakes the fear of Shaddai.

My brothers have dealt deceitfully as a brook, as the channel of brooks that pass away;

For now you are nothing. You see a terror, and are afraid.

Did I say, 'Give to me?' or, 'Offer a present for me from your substance?'

"Teach me, and I will hold my peace. Cause me to understand wherein I have erred.

Do you intend to reprove words, seeing that the speeches of one who is desperate are as wind?

Yes, you would even cast lots for the fatherless, and make merchandise of your friend.

Now therefore be pleased to look at me, for surely I shall not lie to your face.

"Isn't a man forced to labor on earth? Aren't his days like the days of a hired hand?

As a servant who earnestly desires the shadow, as a hireling who looks for his wages,

so am I made to possess months of misery, wearisome nights are appointed to me.

When I lie down, I say, 'When shall I arise, and the night be gone?' I toss and turn until the dawning of the day.

My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope.

Oh remember that my life is a breath. My eye shall no more see good.

The eye of him who sees me shall see me no more. Your eyes shall be on me, but I shall not be.

As the cloud is consumed and vanishes away, so he who goes down to Sheol shall come up no more.

"Therefore I will not keep silent. I will speak in the anguish of my spirit. I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.

Am I a sea, or a sea monster, that you put a guard over me?

When I say, 'My bed shall comfort me. My couch shall ease my complaint;'

then you scare me with dreams, and terrify me through visions:

I loathe my life. I do not want to live forever. Leave me alone, for my days are but a breath.

What is man, that you should magnify him, that you should set your mind on him,

that you should visit him every morning, and test him every moment?

How long will you not look away from me, nor leave me alone until I swallow down my spittle?

If I have sinned, what do I do to you, you watcher of men? Why have you set me as a mark for you, so that I am a burden to myself?

Why do you not pardon my disobedience, and take away my iniquity? For now shall I lie down in the dust. You will seek me diligently, but I shall not be."

"How long will you speak these things? Shall the words of your mouth be a mighty wind?

If you want to seek God diligently, make your supplication to Shaddai.

If you were pure and upright, surely now he would awaken for you, and make the habitation of your righteousness prosperous.

(For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days on earth are a shadow.)

Shall they not teach you, tell you, and utter words out of their heart?