And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters.

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.

And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:

And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them:

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:

And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

As for that night, let darkness seize upon it; let it not be joined unto the days of the year, let it not come into the number of the months.

Let them curse it that curse the day, who are ready to raise up their mourning.

Why did the knees prevent me? or why the breasts that I should suck?

Or with princes that had gold, who filled their houses with silver:

Or as an hidden untimely birth I had not been; as infants which never saw light.

The small and great are there; and the servant is free from his master.

Which rejoice exceedingly, and are glad, when they can find the grave?

For my sighing cometh before I eat, and my roarings are poured out like the waters.

Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off?

By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed.

The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions, are broken.

The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, and the stout lion's whelps are scattered abroad.

Now a thing was secretly brought to me, and mine ear received a little thereof.

How much less in them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, which are crushed before the moth?

They are destroyed from morning to evening: they perish for ever without any regarding it.

His children are far from safety, and they are crushed in the gate, neither is there any to deliver them.

In famine he shall redeem thee from death: and in war from the power of the sword.

Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together!

For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my words are swallowed up.

For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of God do set themselves in array against me.

Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox over his fodder?

Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the white of an egg?

The things that my soul refused to touch are as my sorrowful meat.

Is my strength the strength of stones? or is my flesh of brass?

Which are blackish by reason of the ice, and wherein the snow is hid:

What time they wax warm, they vanish: when it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.

The paths of their way are turned aside; they go to nothing, and perish.

They were confounded because they had hoped; they came thither, and were ashamed.

For now ye are nothing; ye see my casting down, and are afraid.

Did I say, Bring unto me? or, Give a reward for me of your substance?

Or, Deliver me from the enemy's hand? or, Redeem me from the hand of the mighty?

How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing reprove?

Do ye imagine to reprove words, and the speeches of one that is desperate, which are as wind?

Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and ye dig a pit for your friend.

Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling?

So am I made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me.

My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope.

The eye of him that hath seen me shall see me no more: thine eyes are upon me, and I am not.

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.

Doth God pervert judgment? or doth the Almighty pervert justice?

(For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow:)

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

His roots are wrapped about the heap, and seeth the place of stones.

Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.

Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.

The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereth the faces of the judges thereof; if not, where, and who is he?

Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good.

They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hasteth to the prey.

Hast thou eyes of flesh? or seest thou as man seeth?

Are thy days as the days of man? are thy years as man's days,

Thou renewest thy witnesses against me, and increasest thine indignation upon me; changes and war are against me.

Are not my days few? cease then, and let me alone, that I may take comfort a little,

A land of darkness, as darkness itself; and of the shadow of death, without any order, and where the light is as darkness.

And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.

If he cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then who can hinder him?

No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.

The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly.

But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:

Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.

Doth not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat?

With him is strength and wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver are his.

He taketh away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth, and causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.

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.

O that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom.

Is it good that he should search you out? or as one man mocketh another, do ye so mock him?

Your remembrances are like unto ashes, your bodies to bodies of clay.

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

Hear diligently my speech, and my declaration with your ears.

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

How many are mine iniquities and sins? make me to know my transgression and my sin.

Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass;

But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?

The waters wear the stones: thou washest away the things which grow out of the dust of the earth; and thou destroyest the hope of man.

His sons come to honour, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them.

Should he reason with unprofitable talk? or with speeches wherewith he can do no good?

Art thou the first man that was born? or wast thou made before the hills?

With us are both the grayheaded and very aged men, much elder than thy father.

Are the consolations of God small with thee? is there any secret thing with thee?

Behold, he putteth no trust in his saints; yea, the heavens are not clean in his sight.

He wandereth abroad for bread, saying, Where is it? he knoweth that the day of darkness is ready at his hand.

And he dwelleth in desolate cities, and in houses which no man inhabiteth, which are ready to become heaps.

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

Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest?

I also could speak as ye do: if your soul were in my soul's stead, I could heap up words against you, and shake mine head at you.

But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage your grief.

When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return.

My breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves are ready for me.

Are there not mockers with me? and doth not mine eye continue in their provocation?

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

My days are past, my purposes are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart.

And where is now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it?

They shall go down to the bars of the pit, when our rest together is in the dust.