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 men 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 cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.

Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.

But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.

And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.

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 out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried 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:

In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.

But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.

But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

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: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.

Fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake.

Call now, if there be any that will answer thee; and to which of the saints wilt thou turn?

For he maketh sore, and bindeth up: he woundeth, and his hands make whole.

Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.

Therefore I will not refrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.

Am I a sea, or a whale, that thou settest a watch over me?

I loathe it; I would not live alway: let me alone; for my days are vanity.

So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite's hope shall perish:

Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he help the evil doers:

If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.

Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou?

If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him.

He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness.

If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent.

If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort myself:

I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.

My soul is weary of my life; I will leave my complaint upon myself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.

I will say unto God, Do not condemn me; shew me wherefore thou contendest with me.

If I be wicked, woe unto me; and if I be righteous, yet will I not lift up my head. I am full of confusion; therefore see thou mine affliction;

For he knoweth vain men: he seeth wickedness also; will he not then consider it?

But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yea, who knoweth not such things as these?

Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this?

In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.

Lo, mine eye hath seen all this, mine ear hath heard and understood it.

But ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value.

Will ye speak wickedly for God? and talk deceitfully for him?

Will ye accept his person? will ye contend for God?

He will surely reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons.

Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what will.

Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.

Who is he that will plead with me? for now, if I hold my tongue, I shall give up the ghost.

Only do not two things unto me: then will I not hide myself from thee.

Then call thou, and I will answer: or let me speak, and answer thou me.

Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, and lookest narrowly unto all my paths; thou settest a print upon the heels of my feet.

For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.

Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant.

If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.

Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands.

I will shew thee, hear me; and that which I have seen I will declare;

The wicked man travaileth with pain all his days, and the number of years is hidden to the oppressor.

I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all.

But now he hath made me weary: thou hast made desolate all my company.

Lay down now, put me in a surety with thee; who is he that will strike hands with me?

Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, and all my members are as a shadow.

But as for you all, do ye return, and come now: for I cannot find one wise man among you.

How long will it be ere ye make an end of words? mark, and afterwards we will speak.

How long will ye vex my soul, and break me in pieces with words?

If indeed ye will magnify yourselves against me, and plead against me my reproach:

All my inward friends abhorred me: and they whom I loved are turned against me.

When he is about to fill his belly, God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him, and shall rain it upon him while he is eating.

All darkness shall be hid in his secret places: a fire not blown shall consume him; it shall go ill with him that is left in his tabernacle.

Will he reprove thee for fear of thee? will he enter with thee into judgment?

Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me.

Which make oil within their walls, and tread their winepresses, and suffer thirst.

They are exalted for a little while, but are gone and brought low; they are taken out of the way as all other, and cut off as the tops of the ears of corn.

And if it be not so now, who will make me a liar, and make my speech nothing worth?

All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils;

God forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me.

My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live.

Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him?

Will he delight himself in the Almighty? will he always call upon God?

I will teach you by the hand of God: that which is with the Almighty will I not conceal.

Behold, all ye yourselves have seen it; why then are ye thus altogether vain?

He setteth an end to darkness, and searcheth out all perfection: the stones of darkness, and the shadow of death.

Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the fowls of the air.

For he looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven;

When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil;

My root was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch.

For I know that thou wilt bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all living.

Howbeit he will not stretch out his hand to the grave, though they cry in his destruction.

Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps?

For it is a fire that consumeth to destruction, and would root out all mine increase.

Therefore I said, Hearken to me; I also will shew mine opinion.

Now he hath not directed his words against me: neither will I answer him with your speeches.

I said, I will answer also my part, I also will shew mine opinion.

I will speak, that I may be refreshed: I will open my lips and answer.

Wherefore, Job, I pray thee, hear my speeches, and hearken to all my words.

He putteth my feet in the stocks, he marketh all my paths.

Behold, in this thou art not just: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man.

He shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him: and he shall see his face with joy: for he will render unto man his righteousness.

He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.

Lo, all these things worketh God oftentimes with man,

Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I will speak.

Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.

Who hath given him a charge over the earth? or who hath disposed the whole world?

All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.

How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands.