and the Sabeans attacked and took them. They also slew the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”

While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three bands and made a raid on the camels and took them and slew the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”

Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head.

“Why is light given to him who suffers,
And life to the bitter of soul,

“My soul refuses to touch them;
They are like loathsome food to me.

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

So that my soul would choose suffocation,
Death rather than my pains.

“Will You never turn Your gaze away from me,
Nor let me alone until I swallow my spittle?

Who commands the sun not to shine,
And sets a seal upon the stars;

“I loathe my own life;
I will give full vent to my complaint;
I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.

“Though He slay me,
I will hope in Him.
Nevertheless I will argue my ways before Him.

“Though its roots grow old in the ground
And its stump dies in the dry soil,

“He returns what he has attained
And cannot swallow it;
As to the riches of his trading,
He cannot even enjoy them.

While another dies with a bitter soul,
Never even tasting anything good.

“But He is unique and who can turn Him?
And what His soul desires, that He does.

“As God lives, who has taken away my right,
And the Almighty, who has embittered my soul,

“And now my soul is poured out within me;
Days of affliction have seized me.

“Have I not wept for the one whose life is hard?
Was not my soul grieved for the needy?

He keeps back his soul from the pit,
And his life from passing over into Sheol.

So that his life loathes bread,
And his soul favorite food.

“Then his soul draws near to the pit,
And his life to those who bring death.

‘He has redeemed my soul from going to the pit,
And my life shall see the light.’

To bring back his soul from the pit,
That he may be enlightened with the light of life.

“It is changed like clay under the seal;
And they stand forth like a garment.

“His strong scales are his pride,
Shut up as with a tight seal.