Now his sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one in turn, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.

The Lord said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" And Satan answered the Lord, "From roving about on the earth, and from walking back and forth across it."

Then Satan answered the Lord, "Is it for nothing that Job fears God?

So the Lord said to Satan, "All right then, everything he has is in your power. Only do not extend your hand against the man himself!" So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.

While this one was still speaking, another messenger arrived and said, "The fire of God has fallen from heaven and has burned up the sheep and the servants -- it has consumed them! And I -- only I alone -- escaped to tell you!"

and suddenly a great wind swept across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they died! And I -- only I alone -- escaped to tell you!"

And the Lord said to Satan, "Where do you come from?" Satan answered the Lord, "From roving about on the earth, and from walking back and forth across it."

So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord, and he afflicted Job with a malignant ulcer from the sole of his feet to the top of his head.

But he replied, "You're talking like one of the godless women would do! Should we receive what is good from God, and not also receive what is evil?" In all this Job did not sin by what he said.

Then they sat down with him on the ground for seven days and seven nights, yet no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his pain was very great.

That day -- let it be darkness; let not God on high regard it, nor let light shine on it!

Let darkness and the deepest shadow claim it; let a cloud settle on it; let whatever blackens the day terrify it!

That night -- let darkness seize it; let it not be included among the days of the year; let it not enter among the number of the months!

Indeed, let that night be barren; let no shout of joy penetrate it!

Let those who curse the day curse it -- those who are prepared to rouse Leviathan.

Let its morning stars be darkened; let it wait for daylight but find none, nor let it see the first rays of dawn,

because it did not shut the doors of my mother's womb on me, nor did it hide trouble from my eyes!

"Why did I not die at birth, and why did I not expire as I came out of the womb?

Why did the knees welcome me, and why were there two breasts that I might nurse at them?

For now I would be lying down and would be quiet, I would be asleep and then at peace

There the wicked cease from turmoil, and there the weary are at rest.

to those who wait for death that does not come, and search for it more than for hidden treasures,

For the very thing I dreaded has happened to me, and what I feared has come upon me.

But now the same thing comes to you, and you are discouraged; it strikes you, and you are terrified.

"Now a word was secretly brought to me, and my ear caught a whisper of it.

Then a breath of air passes by my face; it makes the hair of my flesh stand up.

It stands still, but I cannot recognize its appearance; an image is before my eyes, and I hear a murmuring voice:

They are destroyed between morning and evening; they perish forever without anyone regarding it.

Is not their excess wealth taken away from them? They die, yet without attaining wisdom.

His children are far from safety, and they are crushed at the place where judgment is rendered, nor is there anyone to deliver them.

The hungry eat up his harvest, and take it even from behind the thorns, and the thirsty swallow up their fortune.

He frustrates the plans of the crafty so that their hands cannot accomplish what they had planned!

They meet with darkness in the daytime, and grope about in the noontime as if it were night.

You will be protected from malicious gossip, and will not be afraid of the destruction when it comes.

You will laugh at destruction and famine and need not be afraid of the beasts of the earth.

For you will have a pact with the stones of the field, and the wild animals will be at peace with you.

Look, we have investigated this, so it is true. Hear it, and apply it for your own good."

But because it is heavier than the sand of the sea, that is why my words have been wild.

"Does the wild donkey bray when it is near grass? Or does the ox low near its fodder?

Can food that is tasteless be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?

"Oh that my request would be realized, and that God would grant me what I long for!

Then I would yet have my comfort, then I would rejoice, in spite of pitiless pain, for I have not concealed the words of the Holy One.

What is my strength, that I should wait? and what is my end, that I should prolong my life?

When they are scorched, they dry up, when it is hot, they vanish from their place.

How painful are honest words! But what does your reproof prove?

"Now then, be good enough to look at me; and I will not lie to your face!

I loathe it; I do not want to live forever; leave me alone, for my days are a vapor!

"What is mankind that you make so much of them, and that you pay attention to them?

If I have sinned -- what have I done to you, O watcher of men? Why have you set me as your target? Have I become a burden to you?

Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert what is right?

He leans against his house but it does not hold up, he takes hold of it but it does not stand.

It wraps its roots around a heap of stones and it looks for a place among stones.

Indeed, this is the joy of his way, and out of the earth others spring up.

He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with gladness.

he who shakes the earth out of its place so that its pillars tremble;

he who commands the sun and it does not shine and seals up the stars;

he alone spreads out the heavens, and treads on the waves of the sea;

If he snatches away, who can turn him back? Who dares to say to him, 'What are you doing?'

If it is a matter of strength, most certainly he is the strong one! And if it is a matter of justice, he will say, 'Who will summon me?'

Although I am innocent, my mouth would condemn me; although I am blameless, it would declare me perverse.

"It is all one! That is why I say, 'He destroys the blameless and the guilty.'

If a scourge brings sudden death, he mocks at the despair of the innocent.

If a land has been given into the hand of a wicked man, he covers the faces of its judges; if it is not he, then who is it?

Then would I speak and not fear him, but it is not so with me.

Is it good for you to oppress, to despise the work of your hands, while you smile on the schemes of the wicked?

that you must search out my iniquity, and inquire about my sin,

although you know that I am not guilty, and that there is no one who can deliver out of your hand?

Did you not pour me out like milk, and curdle me like cheese?

"Why then did you bring me out from the womb? I should have died and no eye would have seen me!

"Can you discover the essence of God? Can you find out the perfection of the Almighty?

It is higher than the heavens -- what can you do? It is deeper than Sheol -- what can you know?

For he knows deceitful men; when he sees evil, will he not consider it?

"As for you, if you prove faithful, and if you stretch out your hands toward him,

if iniquity is in your hand -- put it far away, and do not let evil reside in your tents.

For you will forget your trouble; you will remember it like water that has flowed away.

And life will be brighter than the noonday; though there be darkness, it will be like the morning.

Or speak to the earth and it will teach you, or let the fish of the sea declare to you.

If he tears down, it cannot be rebuilt; if he imprisons a person, there is no escape.

"Indeed, my eyes have seen all this, my ears have heard and understood it.

What you know, I know also; I am not inferior to you!

Would it turn out well if he would examine you? Or as one deceives a man would you deceive him?

"Refrain from talking with me so that I may speak; then let come to me what may.

Since man's days are determined, the number of his months is under your control; you have set his limit and he cannot pass it.

"But there is hope for a tree: If it is cut down, it will sprout again, and its new shoots will not fail.

at the scent of water it will flourish and put forth shoots like a new plant.

If a man dies, will he live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait until my release comes.

If his sons are honored, he does not know it; if they are brought low, he does not see it.

What do you know that we don't know? What do you understand that we don't understand?

What is man that he should be pure, or one born of woman, that he should be righteous?

"I will explain to you; listen to me, and what I have seen, I will declare,

what wise men declare, hiding nothing, from the tradition of their ancestors,

he wanders about -- food for vultures; he knows that the day of darkness is at hand.

for he stretches out his hand against God, and vaunts himself against the Almighty,

Let him not trust in what is worthless, deceiving himself; for worthlessness will be his reward.

"I have heard many things like these before. What miserable comforters are you all!

Will there be an end to your windy words? Or what provokes you that you answer?

I also could speak like you, if you were in my place; I could pile up words against you and I could shake my head at you.

"But if I speak, my pain is not relieved, and if I refrain from speaking -- how much of it goes away?

Surely now he has worn me out, you have devastated my entire household.

You have seized me, and it has become a witness; my leanness has risen up against me and testifies against me.