That they are as stubble before the wind, And as chaff that the storm carrieth away?

Ye say , God layeth up his iniquity for his children. Let him recompense it unto himself, that he may know it:

Shall any teach God knowledge, Seeing he judgeth those that are high?

That the evil man is reserved to the day of calamity? That they are led forth to the day of wrath?

Can a man be profitable unto God? Surely he that is wise is 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?

Is it for thy fear of him that he reproveth thee, That he entereth with thee into judgment?

Or darkness, so that thou canst not see, And abundance of waters cover thee.

Thick clouds are a covering to him, so that he seeth not; And he walketh on the vault of heaven.

Saying , Surely they that did rise up against us are cut off, And the remnant of them the fire hath consumed.

He will deliver even him that is not innocent: Yea, he shall be delivered through the cleanness of thy hands.

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

On the left hand, when 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 that which is appointed for me: And many such things are with him.

Why are times not laid up by the Almighty? And why do not they that know him see his days?

There are that remove the landmarks; They violently take away flocks, and feed them.

There are that pluck the fatherless from the breast, And take a pledge of the poor;

So that they go about naked without clothing, And being hungry they carry the sheaves.

These are of them that rebel against the light; They know not the ways thereof, Nor abide in the paths thereof.

Drought and heat consume the snow waters:'so doth'sheol those that have sinned.

He devoureth the barren that beareth not, And doeth not good to the widow.

Yet God preserveth the mighty by his power: He riseth up that hath no assurance of life.

How then can man be just 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, that is a worm!

How hast thou helped him that is without power! How hast thou saved the arm that hath no strength!

How hast thou counselled him that hath no wisdom, And plentifully declared sound knowledge!

They that are deceased tremble Beneath the waters and the inhabitants thereof.

Far be it from me that I should justify you: Till I die I will not put away mine integrity from me.

Let mine enemy be as the wicked, And let him that riseth up against me be as the unrighteous.

I will teach you concerning 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 make no lamentation.

That path no bird of prey knoweth, Neither hath the falcon's eye seen it:

He bindeth the streams that they trickle not; 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 the months of old, As in the days when God watched over me;

Because I delivered the poor that cried, The fatherless also, 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 was a father to the needy: And the cause of him that I knew not I searched out.

I chose out their way, and sat as 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 disdained to set with the dogs of my flock.

So that they dwell in frightful valleys, In holes of the earth and of the rocks.

They mar my path, They set forward my calamity, Even men that have no helper.

In the night season my bones are pierced in me, And the pains that gnaw me take no rest.

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 needy?

Therefore is my harp turned to mourning, And my pipe into the voice of them that weep.

(Let me be weighed in an even balance, That God may know mine integrity);

For that were a heinous crime; Yea, it were an iniquity to be punished by the judges:

For it is a fire that consumeth unto 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?

If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, Or that the needy had no covering;

This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judges; For I should have denied the God that is above.

If I have rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, Or lifted up myself when evil found him;

If the men of my tent have not said, Who can find one that hath not been filled 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! (Lo, here is my signature, let the Almighty answer me); And that I had the indictment which mine adversary hath written!

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

It is not the great that are wise, Nor the aged that understand justice.

Yea, I attended unto you, And, behold, there was none that convinced Job, Or that answered his words, among you.

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

My words'shall utter the uprightness of my heart; And that which my lips know they shall speak sincerely.

Why dost thou strive against him, For that he giveth not account of any of his matters?

That he may withdraw man from his purpose, And hide pride from man;

So that his life abhorreth bread, And his soul dainty food.

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

He prayeth unto God, and he is favorable unto him, So that he seeth his face with joy: And he restoreth unto man his righteousness.

He singeth before men, and saith, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, And it profited me not:

To bring back his soul from the pit, That he may be enlightened with the light of the living.

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

Let us choose for us that which is right: Let us know among ourselves what is good.

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 one that hateth justice govern? And wilt thou condemn him that is righteous and mighty?-

Him that saith to a king, Thou art vile, Or to nobles, Ye are wicked;

That respecteth not the persons of princes, Nor regardeth the rich more than the poor; For they all are the work of his hands.

For he needeth not further to consider a man, That he should go before God in judgment.

Therefore he taketh knowledge of their works; And he overturneth them in the night, so that they are destroyed.

So that they caused the cry of the poor to come unto him, And he heard the cry of the afflicted.

That the godless man reign not, That there be none to ensnare the people.

That which I see not teach thou me: If I have done iniquity, I will do it no more?

Shall his recompense be as thou wilt, that thou refusest it? For thou must choose, and not I: Therefore speak what thou knowest.

Men of understanding will say unto me, Yea, every wise man that heareth me:

Would that Job were tried unto the end, Because of his answering like wicked men.

That thou sayest, What advantage will it be unto thee? And , What profit shall I have, more than if I had sinned?

For truly my words are not false: One that is perfect in knowledge is with thee.

Then he showeth them their work, And their transgressions, that they have behaved themselves proudly.

He openeth also their ear to instruction, And commandeth that they return from iniquity.

But they that are godless in heart lay up anger: They cry not for help when he bindeth them.

Yea, he would have allured thee out of distress Into a broad place, where there is no straitness; And that which is set on thy table would be full of fatness.

Will thy cry avail, that thou be not in distress, Or all the forces of thy'strength?

Remember that thou magnify his work, Whereof men have sung.

He covereth his hands with the lightning, And giveth it a charge that it strike the mark.

The noise thereof telleth concerning him, The cattle also concerning the storm that cometh up.

Hear, oh, hear 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 whom he hath made may know it .

And it is turned round about by his guidance, That they may do whatsoever he commandeth them Upon the face of the habitable world,

Whether it be for correction, or for his land, Or for lovingkindness, that he cause it to come.

Shall it be told him that I would speak? Or should a man wish that he were swallowed up?