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.

And it fortuned that when they had passed over the time of their banqueting round about; Job sent for them, and sanctified them, and gat up early, and offered for every one a burnt offering. For Job thought thus: "Peradventure my sons have done some offense, and have been unthankful to God in their hearts." And thus did Job everyday.

Now upon a time, when the servants of God came and stood before the LORD, Satan came also among them.

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?"

Satan answered, and said unto the LORD, "Doth Job fear God for naught?

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."

In all these things did Job not offend, nor murmured foolishly against God.

It happened also upon a time, that when the servants of God came and stood before the LORD, Satan also came among them, and stood before him.

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."

Then said his wife unto him, "Dost thou yet continue in thy perfectness? Curse God, and die."

But Job said unto her, "Thou speakest like a foolish woman. Seeing we have received prosperity at the hand of God, wherefore should we not be content with adversity also?" In all these things, did not Job sin with his lips.

The same day be turned to darkness, and not regarded of God from above, neither let the light shine upon it:

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

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

With the blast of God they perish, and with the breath of his anger are they consumed away.

'Shall man be more just than God? Or shall man be purer than his maker?

But now will I speak of the LORD, and talk of God:

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

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.

"O that I might have my desire! O that God would grant me the thing, that I long for!

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

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

If thou wouldest now resort unto God betimes, and make thy humble prayer to the Almighty;

Even so goeth it with all them that forget God: and even thus also shall the hypocrite's hope come to naught.

"Behold, God will not cast away a virtuous man, neither will he help the ungodly.

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

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

"My days are more swift than a runner: they are gone, and have seen no good thing.

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

and will say unto God: O do not condemn me; but show me the cause, wherefore thou contendest so with me.

Thou hast granted me life, and done me good: and the diligent heed that thou tookest upon me hath preserved my spirit.

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

O that God would speak, and open his lips against thee,

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.

"Wilt thou find out God with thy seeking? Wilt thou attain to the perfectness of the Almighty?

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

"The houses of robbers are in wealth and prosperity; and they that maliciously meddle against God, dwell without care: yea, God giveth all things richly with his hand.

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

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

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

Will ye make an answer for God with lies, and maintain him with deceit?

Will ye accept the person of God, or will ye contend with him?

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

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

Thou reprovest with words, that are worth nothing; and speakest the things which can do no good!

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

Hast thou heard the secret counsel of God, that all wisdom is too little for thee?

Thinkest thou it a small thing of the consolations of God? With thee is a lying word.

that thy mind is so puffed up against God and lettest such words go out of thy mouth?

When he goeth forth to get his living, he thinketh plainly, that the day of darkness is at hand.

For he hath stretched out his hand against God, and armed himself against the Almighty.

He shall never come out of darkness, the flame shall dry up his branches, with the blast of the mouth of God shall he be taken away.

I could speak as ye do also. But would God, that your soul were in my soul's stead: then should I heap up words against you, and shake my head at you.

But now that God hath sent me adversity, thou hast troubled all my congregation.

God hath given me over to the ungodly, and delivered me into the hands of the wicked.

My friends laugh me to scorn, but mine eye poureth out tears unto God.

Though a body might plead with God, as one man doth with another,

He promiseth his friends part of his good, but his own children spend it.

"As for you, turn you, and get you hence, I pray you - seeing I cannot see one wise man among you.

"Fearfulness shall make him afraid on every side, that he shall not know where to get out.

His roots shall be dried up beneath, and above shall his harvest be cut down.

Such are now the dwellings of the wicked, and this is the place of him that knoweth not God."

know this then: that it is God which hath handled me so violently, and hath compassed me about with his net.

"He hath hedged up my way, that I cannot pass; he hath set darkness in my gate.

Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O ye my friends! For the hand of God hath touched me.

Why do ye persecute me as God, and are not satisfied of my flesh?

would God they were graven with an iron pen in lead or in stone.

that I shall be clothed again with this skin, and see God in my flesh.

The riches that he devoured, shall he vomit out again; for God shall draw them out of his belly.

"For though the wicked have never so much to fill his belly, yet God shall send his wrath upon him, and cause his indignation to rain over him:

This is the portion that the wicked shall have of God, and the heritage that he may look for of the LORD."

Their houses are safe from all fear, for the rod of God doth not smite them.

They say unto God, 'Go from us: we desire not the knowledge of thy ways!

"How oft shall the candle of the wicked be put out? How oft cometh their destruction upon them? Oh what sorrow shall God give them for their part in his wrath!

And though God save their children from such sorrow, yet will he so reward themselves, that they shall know it.

For what careth he, what become of his household after his death, when the number of his months is cut short?

Inasmuch then as God hath the highest power of all, who can teach him any knowledge?

Another dieth in sorrow and heaviness, and never had good days.

"May a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself?

Now because that God is higher than the heavens, and because thou seest the stars are so high,

wilt thou therefore say, 'Tush, how should God know? Doth his dominion reach beyond the clouds?

which were cut down out of time, and whose foundation was as a running water,

which said unto God, 'Go from us.' And what did the Almighty do with them?

He filled their houses with good things. But the council of the ungodly is far from me.

"Therefore reconcile thee unto God, and be content, so shall all things prosper with thee right well.

Then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and lift up thy face unto God.

"For though I go before, I find him not; If I come behind, I can get no knowledge of him;

For insomuch as he is God, he maketh my heart soft: and seeing that he is Almighty, he putteth me in fear.

Thus can I not get out of darkness, the cloud hath so covered my face.

"The whole city crieth unto the LORD with sighing, the souls of the slain make their complaint: But God destroyeth them not for all this,

For they maintain the barren, and make them that they cannot bear, and unto widows they do no good.

But how may a man compared unto God be justified? Or, how can he be clean, that is born of a woman?

"As truly as God liveth, which hath taken away my power from me; and the Almighty, that hath vexed my mind;

while my breath is in me, and as long as the wind that God hath given me is in my nostrils.

God forbid, that I should grant your cause to be right! As for me, until mine end come will I never go from my innocence.

What hope hath the hypocrite, though he have great good, and though God give him riches after his heart's desire?

Doth God hear him the sooner, when he crieth unto him in his necessity?

Hath he such pleasure and delight in the Almighty, that he dare always call upon God?

"I will teach you in the name of God: and the thing that I have of the Almighty, will I not keep from you.

saying, 'This is that portion that the wicked shall have of God, and the heritage that Tyrants shall receive of the Almighty'?