In the land of Uz, there was a man called Job: an innocent and virtuous man, such a one as feared God, and eschewed evil.

Then said the LORD unto Satan, "Hast thou not considered my servant Job, and how that he is an innocent and virtuous man: such one as feareth God, and escheweth evil, and that there is none like him in the land?"

Hast thou not preserved him, his house, and all his substance on every side? Hast thou not blessed the work of his hands? Is not his possession increased in the land?

And while he was yet speaking, there came another, and said, "The fire of God is fallen from heaven, it hath consumed, and burnt up all thy sheep and servants: and I only ran my way, to tell thee."

Then said the LORD unto Satan, "Hast thou not considered my servant Job, how that he is an innocent and virtuous man such one as feareth God, and escheweth evil, and that there is none like him in the land? But thou movedst me against him, to punish him: yet is it in vain, for he continueth still in his godliness."

and the night in the which it was said, 'There is a man child conceived.'

"Alas, why died I not in the birth? Why did not I perish, as soon as I came out of my mother's womb?

like as the kings and lords of the earth, which build themselves special places:

As the princes that have great substance of gold, and their houses full of silver.

O that I utterly had no being, or were as a thing born out of time that is put aside, either as young children, which never saw the light.

There, must the wicked cease from their tyranny, there such as are overlaboured be at rest.

There, are small and great; the bondman, and he that is free from his master.

"Wherefore is the light given to him that is in misery? And life unto them that have heavy hearts?

That should be joy to the man whose way is hid, which God keepeth back from him.

For the thing that I feared is come upon me: and the thing that I was afraid of, is happened unto me.

But now that the plague is come upon thee, thou shrinkest away: now that it hath touched thyself, thou art faint hearted.

Where is now thy fear of God, thy steadfastness, thy patience, and the perfectness of thy ways?

For, as I have proved by experience, they that plow iniquity and sow wretchedness, reap the same.

How much more then shall they that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is but earth: which shall be consumed by the moth?

Is not their dignity taken away with them? They shall die - and not in wisdom.'

As for the foolish man, displeasure killeth him; and anger slayeth the ignorant.

"It is not the earth that bringeth forth travail, neither cometh sorrow out of the ground;

but it is man, that is born unto misery, like as the sparks fly up out of the hot coals.

which compasseth the wise in their own craftiness, and overthroweth the counsel of the wicked.

Insomuch that they run into darkness by fair day, and grope about them at the noonday, like as in the night.

"Behold, happy is the man whom God punisheth: therefore, despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty.

In the midst of hunger he saveth thee from death: and when it is war, from the power of the sword.

Thou shalt see also, that thy seed shall increase, and that thy posterity shall be as the grass upon the earth.

Thou shalt come to thy grave in a fair age, like as the corn sheaves are brought in to the barn in due season.

Lo, this we ourselves have proved by experience, and even this it is. Hearken thou to it also, that thou mayest take heed to thyself."

This is the cause, that my words are so sorrowful.

For the arrows of the almighty are in me, whose indignation hath drunk up my spirit, and the terrible fears of God fight against me.

Doth the wild ass roar when he hath grass? Or crieth the ox, when he hath fodder enough?

That which is unsavory, shalt it be eaten without salt, or is there any taste in the white of an egg?

What power have I to endure? Or, what is mine end, that my soul might be patient?

Is my strength the strength of stones? Or is my flesh made of brass?

Am I able to help my self? Is not my strength gone from me,

like as if one withdrew a good deed from his friend, and forsook the fear of the Almighty God?

Mine own brethren pass over by me, as the water brook that hastily runneth through the valleys.

Is not the life of man upon earth a very battle? Are not his days like the days of a hired servant?

For like as a bond servant desireth the shadow, and as a hireling would fain have an end of his work:

My flesh is clothed with worms, filthiness and dust; my skin is withered, and crumpled together;

"O remember that my life is but a wind, and that mine eye shall no more see the pleasures thereof;

For if thou fasten thine eyes upon me, I come to naught like as a cloud is consumed and vanisheth away. Even so, he that goeth down to hell, cometh no more up,

"What is man, that thou dost magnify him? And that thou settest thy heart upon him?

Doth God pervert the thing that is lawful? Or, doth the Almighty destroy the thing that is right?

and it taketh many roots: insomuch that it is like a house of stone.

Lo, thus is it with him that rejoiceth in his own doings: and as for others, they grow out of the earth.

"I know it is so of a truth: for how may a man, compared unto God, be justified?

He is wise of heart, and mighty in strength. Who ever prospered that took part against him?

He commandeth the sun, and it riseth not: he closeth up the stars, as it were under a signet.

He doth great things, such as are unsearchable, yea and wonders without number.

He is God, whose wrath no man may withstand: but the proudest of all must stoop under him.

If men will speak of strength, he is the strongest of all; if men will speak of righteousness, who dare be my record?

As for the world, he giveth it over into the power of the wicked; and he shall cover the faces of the judges thereof. Is it not so? Where is he - or who is he - that can show the contrary?

They are passed away, as the ships that be good under sail, and as the Eagle that hasteth to the prey.

For he that I must give answer unto, and with whom I go to law, is not a man as I am.

Neither is there any daysman to lay his hand between us.

and then shall I answer him without any fear. For as long as I am in such fearfulness, I can make no answer: And why?

Hast thou fleshly eyes then, or doest thou look as a man looketh?

Are thy days as the days of man, and thy years as man's years,

Whereas, notwithstanding, thou knowest that I am no wicked person, and that there is no man able to deliver me out of thine hand.

Hast thou not turned me, as it were milk: and turned me to cruddes like cheese?

If I have done wickedly, woe is me therefore. If I have done righteously, yet dare I not lift up my head; so full am I of confusion, and see mine own misery.

Thou huntest me out, being in heaviness, as it were a lion, and troublest me out of measure.

If they had carried me to my grave as soon as I was born, then should I be now, as though I had never been.

yea, into a land as dark as darkness itself, and into the shadow of death where is none order; but light there is as darkness."

Wilt thou say unto God, 'The thing that I take in hand is perfect, and I am clean in thy sight'?

that he might show thee out of his secret wisdom how manifold his law is! Then shouldest thou know that God had forgotten thee, because of thy sins.

He is higher than heaven; what wilt thou do? Deeper than hell; how wilt thou then know him?

For it is he that knoweth the vanity of men. He seeth their wickedness also; should he not then consider it?

A vain body exalteth himself, and man, newborn, is like a wild ass's colt.

Then should the residue of thy life be as clear as the noon day, and spring forth as the morning.

As for the eyes of the ungodly, they shall be consumed, and not escape: their hope shall be misery and sorrow of mind."

But I have understanding as well as ye, and am no less than ye. Yea who knoweth not these things?

Thus, he that calleth upon God, and whom God heareth, is mocked of his neighbour; the godly and innocent man is laughed to scorn.

Godliness is a light despised in the hearts of the rich, and is set for them to stumble upon.

What is he, but he knoweth that the hand of the LORD made all these?

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

"Among old persons there is wisdom, and among the aged is understanding.

Yea, with God is wisdom and strength - it is he that hath counsel and foreknowledge.

With him is strength and wisdom: he knoweth both the deceiver and him that is deceived.

He carrieth away the wise men, as it were a spoil, and bringeth the judges out of their wits.

Nevertheless I am purposed to talk with the almighty, and my desire is to commune with God.

As for you, ye are workmasters of lies, and unprofitable physicians altogether.

Would God ye kept your tongue, that ye might be taken for wise men!

Shall that help you, when he calleth you to reckoning? Think ye to beguile him, as a man is beguiled?

"Hold your tongues now, and let me speak, for there is something come into my mind.

What is he that will go to law with me? For if I hold my tongue, I shall die.

Whereas I, notwithstanding, must consume like as a foul carrion, and as a cloth that is moth eaten.

Man that is born of a woman hath but a short time to live, and is full of divers miseries.

He cometh up and is cut down like a flower. He flyeth as it were a shadow, and never continueth in one state.

Go from him, that he may rest until his day come: which he looketh for, like as a hireling doth.

"If a tree be cut down, there is some hope yet, that it will sprout and shoot forth the branches again;

yet when the stock getteth the scent of water, it will bud, and bring forth bows, like as when it was first planted.

But as for man; when he is dead, perished and consumed away, what becometh of him?

Thou hast sealed up mine offenses, as it were in a bag: but be merciful unto my wickedness.

While he liveth, his flesh must have travail: And while the soul is in him, he must be in sorrow."

"Should a wise man's answer be as the science of the wind, and fill his belly with the wind of the east?

As for shame, thou hast set it aside - else wouldest thou not make so many words before God.