If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom,

Would I not take it upon my shoulder? I would bind it on to me as a crown;

I would declare unto him the number of my steps; as a prince would I come near to him.

But there is a spirit which is in man; and the breath of the Almighty giveth them understanding.

It is not the great that are wise; neither do the aged understand judgment.

Behold, my belly is as wine which hath no vent; like new flasks, it is ready to burst.

Behold, before God I am as thou; I also am formed out of the clay.

I am clean without transgression; I am pure, and there is no iniquity in me;

Behold, I will answer thee in this, thou art not right; for +God is greater than man.

He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and with constant strife in his bones;

His flesh is consumed away from view, and his bones that were not seen stick out;

Hear my words, ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.

For the ear trieth words, as the palate tasteth food.

Let us choose for ourselves what is right; let us know among ourselves what is good!

Should I lie against my right? My wound is incurable without transgression.

What man is like Job? he drinketh up scorning like water,

There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.

He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others,

Men of understanding will say to me, and a wise man who heareth me:

For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God.

Thinkest thou this to be right, that thou saidst, My righteousness is more than God's?

For thou hast asked of what profit it is unto thee: what do I gain more than if I had sinned?

Thy wickedness may affect a man as thou art, and thy righteousness a son of man.

But none saith, Where is +God my Maker, who giveth songs in the night,

Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and maketh us wiser than the fowl of the heavens?

Although thou sayest thou dost not see him, judgment is before him, therefore wait for him.

For truly my words shall be no falsehood: one perfect in knowledge is with thee.

Lo, God is mighty, but despiseth not any; mighty in strength of understanding:

Their soul dieth in youth, and their life is among the unclean.

Even so would he have allured thee out of the jaws of distress into a broad place, where there is no straitness; and the supply of thy table would be full of fatness.

Because there is wrath, beware lest it take thee away through chastisement: then a great ransom could not avail thee.

Lo, God is exalted in his power: who teacheth as he?

Lo, God is great, and we comprehend him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out.

His hands he covereth with lightning, and commandeth it where it is to strike.

After it a voice roareth: he thundereth with the voice of his excellency, and holdeth not back the flashes when his voice is heard.

By the breath of God ice is given; and the breadth of the waters is straitened.

Whether he cause it to come as a rod, or for his land, or in mercy.

Dost thou know about the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him that is perfect in knowledge?

Teach us what we shall say unto him! We cannot order our words by reason of darkness.

And now men see not the light as it gleameth, it is hidden in the skies. But the wind passeth by and cleareth them.

From the north cometh gold; with +God is terrible majesty.

Men do therefore fear him: he respecteth not any that are wise of heart.

Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?

It is changed like the signet-clay; and all things stand forth as in a garment:

And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the uplifted arm is broken.

Hast thou entered as far as the springs of the sea? and hast thou walked in the recesses of the deep?

Where is the way to where light dwelleth? and the darkness, where is its place,

Thou knowest, for thou wast then born, and the number of thy days is great!

By what way is the light parted, and the east wind scattered upon the earth?

To cause it to rain on the earth, where no one is; on the wilderness wherein there is not a man;

Out of whose womb cometh the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who bringeth it forth?

When the waters lie hidden as in stone, and the face of the deep holdeth fast together.

When the dust runneth as into a molten mass, and the clods cleave fast together?

Who hath sent out the wild ass free? and who hath loosed the bands of the onager,

Whose house I made the wilderness, and the salt plain his dwellings?

The range of the mountains is his pasture, and he searcheth after every green thing.

Wilt thou put confidence in him, because his strength is great? and wilt thou leave thy labour to him?

The wing of the ostrich beats joyously But is it the stork's pinion and plumage?

She is hardened against her young ones, as though they were not hers; her labour is in vain, without her concern.

Dost thou make him to leap as a locust? His majestic snorting is terrible.

He laugheth at fear, and is not affrighted; neither turneth he back from before the sword.

And his young ones suck up blood; and where the slain are, there is he.

Cast abroad the ragings of thine anger, and look on every one that is proud, and abase him:

Look on every one that is proud, bring him low, and tread down the wicked in their place:

See now the behemoth, which I made with thee: he eateth grass as an ox.

Behold now, his strength is in his loins, and his force is in the muscles of his belly.

He is the chief of God's ways: he that made him gave him his sword.

Lo, the river overfloweth he startleth not: he is confident though a Jordan break forth against his mouth.

Will he make a covenant with thee? wilt thou take him as a bondman for ever?

Wilt thou play with him as with a bird, and wilt thou bind him for thy maidens?

Lo, hope as to him is belied: is not one cast down even at the sight of him?

None is so bold as to stir him up; and who is he that will stand before me?

Who hath first given to me, that I should repay him? Whatsoever is under the whole heaven is mine.

I will not be silent as to his parts, the story of his power, and the beauty of his structure.

Who can open the doors of his face? Round about his teeth is terror.

The rows of his shields are a pride, shut up together as with a close seal.

One is so near to another that no air can come between them;

Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a boiling pot and cauldron.

His heart is firm as a stone, yea, firm as the nether millstone.

He esteemeth iron as straw, bronze as rotten wood.

Clubs are counted as stubble; he laugheth at the shaking of a javelin.

Upon earth there is not his like, who is made without fear.

He beholdeth all high things; he is king over all the proud beasts.

Who is he that obscureth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered what I did not understand; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.

And it came to pass after Jehovah had spoken these words to Job, that Jehovah said to Eliphaz the Temanite, Mine anger is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends; for ye have not spoken rightly of me, like my servant Job.

Then Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite, went and did according as Jehovah had said unto them; and Jehovah accepted Job.

And Jehovah turned the captivity of Job, when he had prayed for his friends; and Jehovah gave Job twice as much as he had before.

And in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job; and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren.

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the wicked, and standeth not in the way of sinners, and sitteth not in the seat of scorners;

But his delight is in Jehovah's law, and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

And he is as a tree planted by brooks of water, which giveth its fruit in its season, and whose leaf fadeth not; and all that he doeth prospereth.

The wicked are not so; but are as the chaff which the wind driveth away.

Let us break their bonds asunder, and cast away their cords from us!

Thou shalt break them with a sceptre of iron, as a potter's vessel thou shalt dash them in pieces.

And now, O kings, be ye wise, be admonished, ye judges of the earth.

Many say of my soul, There is no salvation for him in God. Selah.

Salvation is of Jehovah; thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah.

Ye sons of men, till when is my glory to be put to shame? How long will ye love vanity, will ye seek after a lie? Selah.

Many say, Who shall cause us to see good? Lift up upon us the light of thy countenance, O Jehovah.

But as for me, in the greatness of thy loving-kindness will I enter thy house; I will bow down toward the temple of thy holiness in thy fear.