when my steps were washed with butter, and the rock poured out streams of oil for me,

when I went forth to the city gate, when I prepared my seat in the street.

The princes refrained from talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.

For when the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it commended me:

the blessing of him who was ready to perish came on me, and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.

I put on righteousness, and it clothed me. My justice was as a robe and a diadem.

Then I said, 'I shall die in my own house, I shall number my days as the sand.

My root is spread out to the waters. The dew lies all night on my branch.

My glory is fresh in me. My bow is renewed in my hand.'

After my words they did not speak again. My speech fell on them.

I smiled on them when they had no confidence. They did not reject the light of my face.

I chose out their way, and sat as chief. I lived as a king in the army, as one who comforts the mourners.

"But now those who are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to put with my sheep dogs.

Of what use is the strength of their hands to me, men in whom ripe age has perished?

They are gaunt from lack and famine. They gnaw the dry ground, in the gloom of waste and desolation.

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

They abhor me, they keep their distance from me, and do not hesitate to spit in my face.

On my right hand rise the rabble. They thrust aside my feet, They cast up against me their ways of destruction.

As through a wide breach they come, in the midst of the ruin they roll themselves in.

Terrors have turned on me. They chase my honor as the wind. My welfare has passed away as a cloud.

"Now my soul is poured out within me. Days of affliction have taken hold on me.

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

You lift me up to the wind, and drive me with it. You dissolve me in the storm.

"However doesn't one stretch out a hand in his fall? Or in his calamity therefore cry for help?

Did I not weep for him who was in trouble? Wasn't my soul grieved for the needy?

When I looked for good, then evil came; When I waited for light, there came darkness.

My heart is troubled, and doesn't rest. Days of affliction have come on me.

I go mourning without the sun. I stand up in the assembly, and cry for help.

For what is the portion from God above, and the heritage from Shaddai on high?

(let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know my integrity);

"If my heart has been enticed to a woman, and I have lain in wait at my neighbor's door,

For that would be a heinous crime. Yes, it would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges:

"If I have despised the cause of my male servant or of my female servant, when they contended with me;

What then shall I do when God rises up? When he visits, what shall I answer him?

Did not he who made me in the womb make him? Did not the same one fashion us in the womb?

if I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, because I saw my help in the gate,

if I have seen the sun when it shined, or the moon moving in splendor,

this also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges; for I should have denied the God who is above.

"If I have rejoiced at the destruction of him who hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found him;

if the men of my tent have not said, 'Who can find one who has not been filled with his meat?'

(the foreigner has not lodged in the street, but I have opened my doors to the traveler);

if like Adam I have covered my transgressions, by hiding my iniquity in my heart,

oh that I had one to hear me. (behold, here is my signature, let Shaddai answer me); let the accuser write my indictment.

Surely I would carry it on my shoulder; and I would bind it to me as a crown.

So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.

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

But there is a spirit in man, and the breath of Shaddai gives them understanding.

Yes, I gave you my full attention, but there was no one who convinced Job, or who answered his words, among you.

Behold, my breast is as wine which has no vent; like new wineskins it is ready to burst.

See now, I have opened my mouth. My tongue has spoken in my mouth.

If you can, answer me. Set your words in order before me, and stand forth.

Behold, my terror shall not make you afraid, neither shall my pressure be heavy on you.

"Surely you have spoken in my hearing, I have heard the voice of your words, saying,

'I am clean, without disobedience. I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me.

He puts my feet in the stocks. He marks all my paths.'

"Behold, I will answer you. In this you are not just, for God is greater than man.

In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, in slumbering on the bed;

He is chastened also with pain on his bed, with continual strife in his bones;

"If there is beside him an angel, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show to man what is right for him;

Who goes in company with the workers of iniquity, and walks with wicked men?

Who put him in charge of the earth? or who has appointed him over the whole world?

If he set his heart on himself, If he gathered to himself his spirit and his breath,

Shall even one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty??

In a moment they die, even at midnight. The people are shaken and pass away. The mighty are taken away without a hand.

"For his eyes are on the ways of a man. He sees all his goings.

For he doesn't need to consider a man further, that he should go before God in judgment.

He breaks in pieces mighty men in ways past finding out, and sets others in their place.

Therefore he takes knowledge of their works. He overturns them in the night, so that they are destroyed.

He strikes them as wicked men in the open sight of others;

When he gives quietness, who then can condemn? When he hides his face, who then can see him? Alike whether to a nation, or to a man,

that the godless man may not reign, that there be no one to ensnare the people.

But none says, 'Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night,

Surely God will not hear an empty cry, neither will Shaddai regard it.

How much less when you say you do not see him. The cause is before him, and you wait for him.

But now, because he has not visited in his anger, neither does he greatly regard arrogance.

"Bear with me a little, and I will show you; for I still have something to say on God's behalf.

For truly my words are not false. One who is perfect in knowledge is with you.

"Behold, God is mighty, and doesn't despise anyone. He is mighty in strength of understanding.

He doesn't withdraw his eyes from the righteous, but with kings on the throne, he sets them forever, and they are exalted.

If they are bound in fetters, and are taken in the cords of afflictions,

If they listen and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.

"But those who are godless in heart lay up anger. They do not cry for help when he binds them.

They die in youth. Their life perishes among the unclean.

He delivers the afflicted by their affliction, and opens their ear in oppression.

Yes, he would have allured you out of distress, into a broad place, where there is no restriction. That which is set on your table would be full of fatness.

Would your wealth sustain you in distress, or all the might of your strength?

Do not desire the night, when people are cut off in their place.

Behold, God is exalted in his power. Who is a teacher like him?

For he draws up the drops of water, which distill in rain from his vapor,

Which the skies pour down and which drop on man abundantly.

For by these he judges the people. He gives food in abundance.

After it a voice roars. He thunders with the voice of his majesty. He doesn't hold back anything when his voice is heard.

For he says to the snow, 'Fall on the earth;' likewise to the shower of rain, and to the showers of his mighty rain.

Then the animals take cover, and remain in their dens.

It is turned around by his guidance, that they may do whatever he commands them on the surface of the habitable world,

Do you know the workings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge?

You whose clothing is warm, when the earth is still by reason of the south wind?

Now men do not see the light which is bright in the skies, but the wind passes, and clears them.

We can't reach Shaddai. He is exalted in power. In justice and great righteousness, he will not oppress.

"Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if you have understanding.