So that my soul chooseth strangling, death, rather than my bones.

What is man, that thou makest much of him? and that thou settest thy heart upon him?

And that thou visitest him every morning, triest him every moment?

Have I sinned, what do I unto thee, thou Observer of men? Why hast thou set me as an object of assault for thee, so that I am become a burden to myself?

So are the paths of all that forget God; and the profane man's hope shall perish,

They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame, and the tent of the wicked be no more.

If I had called, and he had answered me, I would not believe that he hearkened to my voice, --

They pass by like skiffs of reed; as an eagle that swoops upon the prey.

I am afraid of all my sorrows; I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.

Be it that I am wicked, why then do I labour in vain?

For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him; that we should come together in judgment.

Doth it please thee to oppress, that thou shouldest despise the work of thy hands, and shine upon the counsel of the wicked?

That thou searchest after mine iniquity, and inquirest into my sin;

Since thou knowest that I am not wicked, and that there is none that delivereth out of thy hand?

Remember, I beseech thee, that thou hast made me as clay, and wilt bring me into dust again.

And these things didst thou hide in thy heart; I know that this was with thee.

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

But oh that +God would speak, and open his lips against thee;

And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, how that they are the double of what is realised; and know that +God passeth by much of thine iniquity!

For thou shalt forget misery; as waters that are passed away shalt thou remember it;

I am to be one that is a derision to his friend, I who call upon +God, and whom he will answer: a derision is the just upright man.

He that is ready to stumble with the foot is a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease.

The tents of desolators are in peace, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand +God bringeth.

Who knoweth not in all these, that the hand of Jehovah hath wrought this?

Oh that ye would be altogether silent! and it would be your wisdom.

This also shall be my salvation, that a profane man shall not come before his face.

Behold now, I have ordered the cause; I know that I shall be justified.

Who is he that contendeth with me? For if I were silent now, I should expire.

One who, as a rotten thing consumeth, as a garment that the moth eateth.

Oh that thou wouldest hide me in Sheol, that thou wouldest keep me secret until thine anger be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me, --

Art thou the first man that was born? and wast thou brought forth before the hills?

What knowest thou that we know not? what understandest thou which is not in us?

That thou turnest thy spirit against God, and lettest words go out of thy mouth?

What is man, that he should be pure? and he that is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?

How much less the abominable and corrupt, man, that drinketh unrighteousness like water!

He believeth not that he shall return out of darkness, and he is singled out for the sword.

He wandereth abroad for bread, where may it be? He knoweth that the day of darkness is ready at his hand.

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

Shall words of wind have an end? or what provoketh thee that thou answerest?

Even now, behold, my Witness is in the heavens, and he that voucheth for me is in the heights.

Oh that there were arbitration for a man with +God, as a son of man for his friend!

Lay down now a pledge, be thou surety for me with thyself: who is he that striketh hands with me?

He that betrayeth friends for a prey even the eyes of his children shall fail.

But the righteous shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall increase in strength.

Thou that tearest thyself in thine anger, shall the earth be forsaken for thee? and shall the rock be removed out of its place?

They that come after shall be astonished at his day, as they that went before them were affrighted.

Surely, such are the dwellings of the unrighteous man, and such the place of him that knoweth not God.

And be it that I have erred, mine error remaineth with myself.

Know now that +God hath overthrown me, and hath surrounded me with his net.

He hath hedged up my way that I cannot pass, and he hath set darkness in my paths.

Oh would that my words were written! oh that they were inscribed in a book!

That with an iron style and lead they were graven in the rock for ever!

And as for me, I know that my Redeemer liveth, and the Last, he shall stand upon the earth;

Be ye yourselves afraid of the sword! for the sword is fury against misdeeds, that ye may know there is a judgment.

Knowest thou not this, that of old, since man was placed upon earth,

That which he laboured for shall he restore, and not swallow down; its restitution shall be according to the value, and he shall not rejoice therein.

For he hath oppressed, hath forsaken the poor; he hath violently taken away a house that he did not build.

It shall be that, to fill his belly, he will cast his fierce anger upon him, and will rain it upon him into his flesh.

What is the Almighty that we should serve him? and what are we profited if we pray unto him?

Do they become as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away?

Can any teach God knowledge? And he it is that judgeth those that are high.

That the wicked is reserved for the day of calamity? They are led forth to the day of wrath.

Can a man be profitable to God? surely it is unto himself that the wise man is profitable.

Is it any pleasure to the Almighty if thou art righteous? And is it gain to him that thou makest thy ways perfect?

Or darkness, that thou canst not see, and floods of waters cover thee.

Thick clouds are a covering to him, that he seeth not; and he walketh on the vault of the heavens.

When they are made low, then thou shalt say, Rise up! and he shall save him that is of downcast eyes.

Even him that is not innocent shall he deliver; yea, he shall be delivered by the pureness of thy hands.

Oh that I knew where I might find him, that I might come to his seat!

But he knoweth the way that I take; he trieth me, I shall come forth as gold.

But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? And what his soul desireth, that will he do.

Why are not times treasured up with the Almighty? why do not they that know him see his days?

There are those that rebel against the light; they know not the ways thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof.

Drought and heat consume snow waters; so doth Sheol those that have sinned.

He that despoileth the barren that beareth not, and doeth not good to the widow:

And how should man be just with God? Or how should he be clean that is born of a woman?

How hast thou helped the powerless; how saved the arm that is without strength!

How hast thou counselled him that hath no wisdom, and abundantly declared the thing as it is!

Be it far from me that I should justify you; till I die I will not remove my blamelessness from me.

Let mine enemy be as the wicked, and he that riseth up against me as the unrighteous.

Those that remain of him shall be buried by death, and his widows shall not weep.

He buildeth his house as the moth, and as a booth that a keeper maketh.

He bindeth the streams that they drip not, and what is hidden he bringeth forth to light.

And unto man he said, Lo, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.

Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when +God preserved me;

For I delivered the afflicted that cried, and the fatherless who had no helper.

The blessing of him that was perishing came upon me, and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.

I chose their way, and sat as chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth mourners.

But now they that are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to set with the dogs of my flock.

For I know that thou wilt bring me to death, and into the house of assemblage for all living.

If my heart have been enticed unto a woman, so that I laid wait at my neighbour's door,

For it is a fire that consumeth to destruction, and would root out all mine increase.

Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not One fashion us in the womb?

Or have eaten my morsel alone, so that the fatherless ate not thereof,

And my heart have been secretly enticed, so that my mouth kissed my hand:

If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, and exulted when evil befell him;

If the men of my tent said not, Who shall find one that hath not been satisfied with his meat? --

Because I feared the great multitude, and the contempt of families terrified me, so that I kept silence, and went not out of the door, ...

Oh that I had one to hear me! Behold my signature: let the Almighty answer me! And let mine opponent write an accusation!

And Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of the three men, and his anger was kindled.