Then am I afraid of all my works, for I know thou wilt not judge me innocent.

It grieveth my soul to live. Nevertheless, now will I put forth my words: I will speak out of the very heaviness of my soul,

and will say unto God: O do not condemn me; but show me the cause, wherefore thou contendest so with me.

Thinkest thou it well done, to oppress me, to cast me off - being a work of thine hands - and to maintain the counsel of the ungodly?

Though thou hidest these things in thine heart, yet am I sure that thou rememberest them all.

Though he turn all things upside down, close them in, or thrust them together, who dare check him therefore?

But I have understanding as well as ye, and am no less than ye. Yea who knoweth not these things?

"The houses of robbers are in wealth and prosperity; and they that maliciously meddle against God, dwell without care: yea, God giveth all things richly with his hand.

What is he, but he knoweth that the hand of the LORD made all these?

In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all men.

If he break down a thing, who can set it up again? If he shut a thing, who will open it?

Lo, all this have I seen with mine eye, heard with mine ear, and understand it.

Will ye make an answer for God with lies, and maintain him with deceit?

Will ye accept the person of God, or will ye contend with him?

Lo, though he slay me, yet will I put my trust in him. But if I shew and reprove mine own ways in his sight,

he shall make me whole: And why? There may no hypocrite come before him.

What is he that will go to law with me? For if I hold my tongue, I shall die.

Nevertheless, grant me two things, and then will I not hide myself from thee.

Thou hast put my foot in the stocks: thou lookest narrowly unto all my paths, and markest the steps of my feet.

"If a tree be cut down, there is some hope yet, that it will sprout and shoot forth the branches again;

yet when the stock getteth the scent of water, it will bud, and bring forth bows, like as when it was first planted.

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

"For thou hast numbered all my goings, yet be not thou too extreme upon my sins.

While he liveth, his flesh must have travail: And while the soul is in him, he must be in sorrow."

Hast thou heard the secret counsel of God, that all wisdom is too little for thee?

"I will tell thee; hear me. I will show thee a thing, that I know;

The ungodly despaireth all the days of his life, and the number of a tyrant's years is unknown.

whereas he covereth his face with fatness, and maketh his body well liking.

He will never apply himself to faithfulness and truth, so sore is he deceived with vanity.

"I have oft times heard such things. Miserable givers of comfort are ye, all the sort of you.

"But what shall I do? For all my words, my sorrow will not cease: and though I hold my tongue, yet will it not depart from me.

But now that God hath sent me adversity, thou hast troubled all my congregation.

Mine eye is dim for very heaviness, and all my strength is become like a shadow.

Virtuous men therefore shall well consider this, and the innocent shall take part against the hypocrite.

The righteous also will keep his way, and he that hath clean hands, will ever be stronger and stronger.

What helpeth then my long tarrying? Or, who will fulfill the thing that I look for?

All that I have, shall go down into the pit, and lie with me in the dust."

"When will ye make an end of your words? Mark well, and consider, we will speak also.

All his comfort and hope shall be rooted out of his dwelling, and shall bring him unto the king of fear.

"How long will ye vex my mind, and trouble me with words?

But if ye will enhance yourselves against me, and accuse me to be a wicked person because of the shame that is come upon me;

All such as were my most familiars, abhor me: And they whom I loved best, are turned against me.

But beware of the sword, for the sword will be avenged of wickedness. And be sure, that there is a judgment."

Suffer me a little, that I may speak also, and then laugh my words to scorn, if ye will.

Mark me well, and be abashed, and lay your hand upon your mouth.

Their houses are safe from all fear, for the rod of God doth not smite them.

Lo, there is utterly no goodness in them, therefore will not I have to do with the counsel of the ungodly.

And though God save their children from such sorrow, yet will he so reward themselves, that they shall know it.

Inasmuch then as God hath the highest power of all, who can teach him any knowledge?

Ask any man that goeth by the way, and - if ye will not regard their tokens and deeds - he shall tell you,

Then shall he be fain to be buried among the stones by the brookside. All men must follow him, and there are innumerable gone before him.

Should such one then as useth violence, wrong and oppression, doing all things of partiality, and having respect of persons, dwell in the land?

"Well, thou wilt keep the old way, that all wicked men have gone:

"Therefore reconcile thee unto God, and be content, so shall all things prosper with thee right well.

For if thou wilt turn to the Almighty, thou shalt stand fast, and all unrighteousness shall be far from thy dwelling:

Will he plead against me with his great power and strength? No, but he will make me the stronger.

My foot doth keep his path; his highway have I holden, and will not go out of it.

"It is he, himself, alone. Who will turn him back? He doth as him listeth, and bringeth to pass what he will.

Considering then that there is no time hid from the Almighty, how happeneth it, that they which know him, will not regard his days?

So that when the showers in the mountains have rained upon them, and they be all wet, they have none other succour, but to embrace the rock for want of a covering.

The poor are fain to labour in their oil mills, yea and to tread in their wine presses, and yet to suffer thirst.

"The whole city crieth unto the LORD with sighing, the souls of the slain make their complaint: But God destroyeth them not for all this,

In the night season they search the houses, and hide themselves in the daytime, but will not know the light.

O that all compassion upon them were forgotten: that their dainties were worms, that they were clean put out of remembrance, and utterly hewn down like an unfruitful tree.

And though they might be safe, yet they will not receive it, for their eyes look upon their own ways.

Is it not so? Who will then reprove me as a liar, and say that my words are nothing worth?"

whose men of war are innumerable, and whose light ariseth over all.

yea, and all they which dwell beneath in the hell are not hid from him, and the very destruction itself cannot be kept out of his sight.

while my breath is in me, and as long as the wind that God hath given me is in my nostrils.

God forbid, that I should grant your cause to be right! As for me, until mine end come will I never go from my innocence.

My righteous dealing will I keep fast, and not forsake it; for my conscience reproveth me not in all my conversation.

"I will teach you in the name of God: and the thing that I have of the Almighty, will I not keep from you.

Behold, ye stand in your own conceit, as though ye knew all things. Wherefore then do ye go about with such vain words,

he may well prepare it: but the godly shall put it upon him, and the innocent shall deal out the money.

The darkness shall once come to an end: he can seek out the ground of all things; the stones, the dark, and the shadow of death.

There is nothing so worthy, or so excellent, as once to be named unto her: for perfect wisdom goeth far beyond them all.

She is hid from the eyes of all men; yea, and from the fouls of the air.

For he holdeth the ends of the world and looketh upon all that is under the heaven.

When my ways ran over with butter, and when the stony rocks gave me rivers of oil;

When all they that heard me, called me happy, and when all they that saw me, wished me good.

If I had spoken, they would have it none other ways, my words were so well taken among them.

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

With all their power have they changed my garment, and girded me therewith, as it were with a coat.

Sure I am, that thou wilt deliver me unto death: whereas a lodging is prepared for all men living.

Doth not he see my ways, and tell all my goings?

yea, a fire that utterly should consume, and root out all my substance.

But seeing that God will sit in judgment, what shall I do? And for so much as he will needs visit me, what answer shall I give him?

whose sides thanked me not, because he was warmed with the wool of my sheep?

For I have ever feared the vengeance and punishment of God, and knew very well that I was not able to bear his burden.

"Have I put my trust in gold? Or, have I said to the finest gold of all, 'Thou art my confidence?'

Therefore will I speak also, insofar as I may be heard, and will show you mine opinion.

Nevertheless, seeing he hath not spoken unto me, therefore will not I answer him as ye have done."

"But insomuch as ye will not speak, standing still like dumb men, and making no answer:

Therefore will I speak, that I may have vent: I will open my lips, and make answer.

I will regard no manner of person, no man will I spare.

Therefore hear my words, O Job, and hearken unto all that I will say:

Behold, I will open my mouth, and my tongue shall speak out of my jaws.

He hath put my foot in the stocks, and looketh narrowly unto all my paths.'

"Behold, unto these unreasonable words of thine will I make answer. Should God be reproved of man?

Why dost thou then strive against him? Because he giveth thee no accounts of all his doings?