And Esther commanded to establish these acts of this Purim, and to write them in a book.

There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and this man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God and abstained from evil.

This man had seven sons, and three daughters.

His possessions also were seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred female donkeys, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.

{Then when} the days of the feast had run their course, {Job would send}, and he would sanctify them. Thus he would arise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings [according to] the number of all of them, because Job thought, "Perhaps my children have sinned and {cursed} God in their heart." This is what Job used to do {all the time}.

And the Lord said to the Satan, Where do you come from? And the Satan said in answer, From wandering this way and that on the earth, and walking about on it.

While this one was still speaking, {another} came and said, "The fire of God fell from the heavens, and it blazed up against the sheep and goats and against the servants, and it consumed them. But I escaped, [even] I alone, to tell you."

While this one was still speaking, {another} came and said, "The Chaldeans formed three divisions, and they made a raid on the camels, and they carried them away, and they struck your servants {by the edge of the sword}, but I escaped, [even] I alone, to tell you."

At the time this one was speaking, {another} came and said, "Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their firstborn brother's house.

saying:

Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
and naked I will leave this life.
The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away.
Praise the name of Yahweh.

In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God with wrong.

And the Lord said to the Satan, Where do you come from? And the Satan said in answer, From wandering this way and that on the earth, and walking about on it.

But he said unto her, You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.

After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day.

This is what Job said:

"Because that night refused to shut the doors of my mother's womb; it failed to keep me from seeing this trouble.

"Will you get offended if somebody tries to talk to you? Who can keep from speaking at a time like this?

But now that this has happened to you,
you have become exhausted.
It strikes you, and you are dismayed.

Is not this your fear, your confidence, your hope, and the uprightness of your ways?

It remained standing, but I couldn't recognize its appearance. A form appeared before my eyes; At first there was silence, and then this voice:

Lo this, we have searched it out, so it is; hear it, and know you it for your good.

For, now, beyond the sand of the seas, would it be heavy, On this account, my words, have wandered.

I cannot bring myself to touch them; food like this makes me sick."

For all their expectations, they are doomed to disappointment; even though they have come and searched this far.

So this is what you have now become to me.
When you see something dreadful, you are afraid.

Turn back, please let there be no sin; yea, return again, my righteousness is in this matter.

so that I prefer strangling—
death rather than life in this body.

"How long will you keep talking like this? How long will you keep talking like a wind storm?

Behold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the earth shall others grow.

This was Job's response:

"Truly, I know that this is so. But how can a human be just before God?

"Is this a contest of strength? He is obviously stronger! Is this a matter of justice? Who can sue him?

This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroys the blameless and the wicked.

“The earth is given into the hands of the wicked;
He covers the faces of its judges [so that they are blind to justice].
If it is not He, then who is it [that is responsible for all this injustice]?

I will be condemned, so why should I wear myself out with this futility?

And these things have you hid in your heart: I know that this is with you.

Zophar from Naamath had this to say:

Should this stream of words go unanswered
and such a talker be acquitted?

Like you, I also have understanding. I'm not inferior to you; who doesn't know things like this?"

"I'm a laughingstock to my friends, someone who called on God. But then he answered this upright and blameless man, and I have become a laughingstock.

The tents of robbers are safe,
and those who provoke God are secure;
God’s power provides this.

Or speak to the earth [with its many forms of life], and it will teach you;
And let the fish of the sea declare [this truth] to you.

Who knows not among all these that the hand of the LORD has done this?

Lo, my eye has seen all this, my ear has heard and understood it.

Will you have respect for God's person in this cause, and put yourselves forward as his supporters?

Moreover, this [is] salvation to me, that [the] godless would not come {before him}.

Withdraw Your hand from me and remove this bodily suffering,
And let not the dread of You terrify me.

Do You really take notice of one like this?
Will You bring me into judgment against You?

May a dead man live again? All the days of this my pilgrimage am I looking, till my changing shall come.

that you turn your anger against God and speak words like this?

I will tell thee - hear me, Since this I have seen, I must needs declare it.

This will be accomplished before his time; his branches won't grow luxuriant.

"I've heard many things like this. What miserable comforters you all are!

“Is there no end to [your futile] words of wind?
Or what plagues you [so much] that you [so boldly] answer [me like this]?

You have shriveled me up. This is a witness against me. My leanness rises up against me. It testifies to my face.

crying for him to arbitrate between this man and God; as a human being does with his fellow neighbor.

For, their heart, hast thou kept back from understanding, On this account, thou wilt not exalt them.

Upright men shall be astonished at this, and the innocent shall stir up himself against the hypocrite.

At this day westerns have been astonished And easterns have taken fright.

Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked, and this is the place of him that knows not God.

And this, ten times you have blamed me; you are not ashamed that you have wronged me.

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

All the men of my counsel detest me, even this one I loved has turned against me.

And if after my skin this shall be destroyed, yet from out of my flesh shall I see +God;

Therefore do my thoughts cause me to answer, and for this I make haste.

Know you not this of old, since man was placed upon the earth,

Nothing escaped his devouring greed, - For this cause, shall his prosperity not continue:

This is the portion of a wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed unto him by God.

Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolation.

Is it with a man, that I make this disputation? Which if it were so, should not my spirit be then in sore trouble?

For, when I think about this, I am terrified and my body feels a shudder.

This [one] dies {in full prosperity}, {completely} at ease and secure.

Whereas, this other man, dieth, in bitterness of soul, and hath never tasted good fortune:

“Have you not asked those who travel this way,
And do you not recognize their witness?

For this cause, round about thee, are snares, and a dread startleth thee suddenly;

The righteous see this and rejoice;
the innocent mock them, saying,

"Please reconcile yourself with him, and be at peace; {in this way}, good will come to you.

"My saying is yet this day in bitterness, and my hand heavy among my groanings.

Therefore I am terrified in His presence;
when I consider this, I am afraid of Him.

From the city, men groan;
the mortally wounded cry for help,
yet God pays no attention to this crime.

If this is not true, then who can prove me a liar
and show that my speech is worthless?

Who helped you say all of this? Who inspired you?"

This is now a short sum of his doings. But who is able sufficiently to rehearse his works? Who can perceive and understand the thunder of his power?"

“For what is the hope of the godless, even though he has gained [in this world],
When God takes his life?

All of you have seen this for yourselves,
why do you keep up this empty talk?

This is the portion of wicked man with God, And the inheritance of terrible ones From the Mighty they receive.

And the wisdom -- whence is it found? And where is this, the place of understanding?

And the wisdom -- whence doth it come? And where is this, the place of understanding?

When I laughed, they knew well it was not earnest; and this testimony of my countenance pleased them nothing at all.

They tear up my pathways; they profit from my destruction, and they need no help to do this!

For this is a heinous crime; yea, it is an iniquity to be punished by the judges.

This also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have denied the God that is above.

O that I had one which would hear me. Lo, this is my cause: Let the almighty give me answer, and let him that is my contrary party, sue me with libel.

may thorns spring up instead of wheat, and obnoxious weeds instead of barley." With this, Job's discourse with his friends is completed.

So then Elihu, son of Barachel, the Buzite, responded and said: - Young, am I, whereas, ye, are aged, For this cause, I faltered, and feared - to shew my knowledge unto you:

For this, I said, Hear to me; I also will show my knowledge.

Lo, in this thou hast not been righteous, I answer thee, that greater is God than man.

Hear this, Job, listen to me; be silent and I will speak.

Now this is Job's claim: "Even though I'm innocent, God has stopped treating me righteously.