Satan answered the Lord, “Skin for skin! Yes, a man will give all he has for his life.

“Why did I not die at birth,
Come forth from the womb and expire?

“Why is the light given to him who is in misery,
And life to the bitter in soul,

“Why is the light of day given to a man whose way is hidden,
And whom God has hedged in?

“He gives rain upon the earth
And sends waters upon the fields,

“The earth is given into the hands of the wicked;
He covers the faces of its judges [so that they are blind to justice].
If it is not He, then who is it [that is responsible for all this injustice]?

“Then I would speak [my defense] and not fear Him;
But I am not like that in myself.

“I am disgusted with my life and loathe it!
I will give free expression to my complaint;
I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.

“But the eyes of the wicked will fail,
And they will not escape [the justice of God];
And their hope is to breathe their last [and die].”

“Are the consolations of God [as we have interpreted them to you] too trivial for you,
[Or] were we too gentle toward you [in our first speech] to be effective?

To whom alone the land was given,
And no stranger passed among them [corrupting the truth].

“Give me a pledge (guarantee, promise) with Yourself [acknowledge my innocence before my death];
Who is there that will be my guarantor and give security for me?

“I call to my servant, but he does not answer;
I have to implore him with words.

“Therefore my disquieting thoughts make me answer,
Because of the uneasiness that is within me.

“His sons favor the poor [and pay his obligations],
And his hands give back his [ill-gotten] wealth.

“He gives back what he has labored for and attained
And cannot swallow it [down to enjoy it];
As to the riches of his labor,
He cannot even enjoy them.

“Listen carefully to my speech,
And let this be the consolation.

“You have not given water to the weary to drink,
And you have withheld bread from the hungry.

“Would He contend against me with His great power?
No, surely He would give attention to me.

“God gives them security, and they are supported;
And His eyes are on their ways.

“But there is [a vital force and] a spirit [of intelligence] in man,
And the breath of the Almighty gives them understanding.

“Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me;
I also will give you my opinion [about Job’s situation] and tell you plainly what I think.’

“However, Job, please listen to my words,
And pay attention to everything I say.

“The Spirit of God has made me,
And the breath of the Almighty gives me life [which inspires me].

“Why do you complain against Him?
That He does not answer [you with] all His doings.

“Pay attention, Job, listen to me;
Keep silent, and I will speak.

“Hear my words, you wise men,
And listen to me, you who have [so much] knowledge.

“When He keeps quiet, who then can condemn?
When He hides His face [withdrawing His favor and help], who then can behold Him [and make supplication to Him],
Whether it be a nation or a man by himself?—

“If you are righteous, what do you give God,
Or what does He receive from your hand?

“But no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker,
Who gives songs [of rejoicing] in the night,

“He does not prolong the life of the wicked,
But gives the afflicted their justice.

“For by these [mighty acts] He judges the peoples;
He gives food in abundance.

“Ice is made by the breath of God,
And the expanse of the waters is frozen.

“Out of whose womb has come the ice?
And the frost of heaven, who has given it birth?

“Who has put wisdom in the innermost being [of man, or in the layers of clouds]
Or given understanding to the mind [of man, or to the heavenly display]?

“Have you given the horse his might?
Have you clothed his neck with quivering and a shaking mane?

“Who has first given to Me that I should repay him?
Whatever is under the whole heaven is Mine. [Who can have a claim against Me who made the unmastered beast?]