What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?

They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away.

Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high.

Have ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know their tokens,

That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.

Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself?

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

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

Thick clouds are a covering to him, that he seeth not; and he walketh in the circuit of heaven.

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

On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him:

But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.

For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him.

Why, seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty, do they that know him not see his days?

They cause the naked to lodge without clothing, that they have no covering in the cold.

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

He evil entreateth the barren that beareth not: and doeth not good to the widow.

How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?

How much less man, that is a worm? and the son of man, which is a worm?

How hast thou helped him that is without power? how savest thou the arm that hath no strength?

How hast thou counselled him that hath no wisdom? and how hast thou plentifully declared the thing as it is?

God forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me.

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

I will teach you by the hand of God: that which is with the Almighty will I not conceal.

Those that remain of him shall be buried in death: and his widows shall not weep.

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

He bindeth the floods from overflowing; and the thing that is hid bringeth he forth to light.

And unto man he said, Behold, 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;

Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him.

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

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

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

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

Did not I weep for him that was in trouble? was not my soul grieved for the poor?

My harp also is turned to mourning, and my organ into the voice of them that weep.

Let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know mine integrity.

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?

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

If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found him:

If the men of my tabernacle said not, Oh that we had of his flesh! we cannot be satisfied.

Did I fear a great multitude, or did the contempt of families terrify me, that I kept silence, and went not out of the door?

Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me, and that mine adversary had written a book.

If my land cry against me, or that the furrows likewise thereof complain;

When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, then his wrath was kindled.

Yea, I attended unto you, and, behold, there was none of you that convinced Job, or that answered his words:

I will speak, that I may be refreshed: I will open my lips and answer.

Behold, in this thou art not just: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man.

That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.

So that his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty meat.

His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones that were not seen stick out.

He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not;

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

For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.

Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.

Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just?

How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands.

For he will not lay upon man more than right; that he should enter into judgment with God.

Therefore he knoweth their works, and he overturneth them in the night, so that they are destroyed.

So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted.

That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.

That which I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more.

My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end because of his answers for wicked men.

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

Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee that I have yet to speak on God's behalf.

For truly my words shall not be false: he that is perfect in knowledge is with thee.

Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded.

He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity.

Even so would he have removed thee out of the strait into a broad place, where there is no straitness; and that which should be set on thy table should be full of fatness.

Remember that thou magnify his work, which men behold.

With clouds he covereth the light; and commandeth it not to shine by the cloud that cometh betwixt.

Hear attentively the noise of his voice, and the sound that goeth out of his mouth.

He sealeth up the hand of every man; that all men may know his work.

And it is turned round about by his counsels: that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the world in the earth.

Shall it be told him that I speak? if a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up.

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

Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?

That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?

That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof?

Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee?

Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are?

Canst thou number the months that they fulfil? or knowest thou the time when they bring forth?

Wilt thou believe him, that he will bring home thy seed, and gather it into thy barn?

And forgetteth that the foot may crush them, or that the wild beast may break them.

He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage: neither believeth he that it is the sound of the trumpet.

Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.

Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?

Cast abroad the rage of thy wrath: and behold every one that is proud, and abase him.

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

Then will I also confess unto thee that thine own right hand can save thee.

He is the chief of the ways of God: he that made him can make his sword to approach unto him.

Behold, he drinketh up a river, and hasteth not: he trusteth that he can draw up Jordan into his mouth.

None is so fierce that dare stir him up: who then is able to stand before me?

Who hath prevented me, that I should repay him? whatsoever is under the whole heaven is mine.

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

They are joined one to another, they stick together, that they cannot be sundered.

The sword of him that layeth at him cannot hold: the spear, the dart, nor the habergeon.

I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.