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.

And his substance was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she-asses, and very many servants; and this man was greater than all the children of the east.

And at the end of their days of feasting, Job sent and made them clean, getting up early in the morning and offering burned offerings for them all. For, Job said, It may be that my sons have done wrong and said evil of God in their hearts. And Job did this whenever the feasts came round.

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.

Yet was this one speaking, when, another, came in and said, - A fire of God, fell out of the heavens, and burned up the sheep and the young men, and consumed them; and escaped am, only I alone, to tell thee.

Yet was this one speaking, when, another, came in and said, The Chaldeans, appointed three chiefs, and spread out against the camels, and took them, and, the young men, smote they with the edge of the sword; and escaped am, only I alone, to tell thee.

Yet was this one speaking, when, another, came in and said, - Thy sons and thy daughters, were eating, and drinking wine, in the house of their eldest brother;

He said,

“Naked (without possessions) I came [into this world] from my mother’s womb,
And naked I will return there.
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;
Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God.

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 to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.

Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this adversity that had come upon him, they came each one from his own place, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite; and they made an appointment together to come to sympathize with him and comfort him.

After this, Job opened 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 thy fear, thy confidence, thy hope, and the uprightness of thy 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:

“Behold this; we have investigated it, and so it is.
Hear it, and know for yourself.”

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 dust others will spring.

This was Job's response:

“In truth I know that this is so;
But how can a man be in the right 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 destroyeth the perfect 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]?

Shall I do evil, wherefore this shall I labor in vain?

And these Thou hast laid up in Thy heart, I have known that this is with Thee.

Zophar from Naamath had this to say:

"Should not this abundance of words be answered, or should this talkative man be vindicated?

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 hath not known in all these, That the hand of Jehovah hath done this?

“Behold, 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?

“This also will be my salvation,
For a godless man may not come before His presence.

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

Also -- on this Thou hast opened Thine eyes, And dost bring me into judgment with Thee.

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 shew thee -- hearken to me -- And this I have seen and declare:

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.

Astonished are the upright at this, And the innocent against the profane Stirreth himself up.

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

Only these are tabernacles of the perverse, And this the place God hath not known.

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 after my skin hath compassed this body, Then from my flesh I see God:

Therefore do my thoughts give me an answer, and for this is my haste within me.

This hast thou known from antiquity? Since the placing of man on 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 an inheritance appointed him by God.

Hear ye diligently my word, And this is 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 dieth in his perfect strength, Wholly at ease and quiet.

And this one dieth with a bitter soul, And have not eaten with gladness.

“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,

"Reconcile yourself with God, and be at peace with him; in this way your prosperity will be good.

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

For this cause, from his presence, am I driven in fear, I diligently consider and am kept back from him in dread:

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

"If this is not so, who can prove me a liar and reduce my words to nothing?"

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?

Lo, ye -- all of you -- have seen, And why is this -- ye are altogether vain?

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 an infamy; yea, it is an iniquity to be judged by the judges:

this is also a sin that deserves to be judged, since I would have tried to deceive God 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.