It was so, when the days of their feasting had run their course, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, "It may be that my sons have sinned, and renounced God in their hearts." Job did so continually.

The LORD said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, "From going back and forth in the earth, and from walking up and down in it."

The LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant, Job? For there is none like him in the earth, a blameless and an upright man, one who fears God, and turns away from evil."

Haven't you made a hedge around him, and around his house, and around all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.

and the Sabeans attacked, and took them away. Yes, they have killed the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you."

While he was still speaking, there also came another, and said, "The fire of God has fallen from the sky, and has burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you."

While he was still speaking, there came also another, and said, "The Chaldeans made three bands, and swept down on the camels, and have taken them away, yes, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you."

and behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young men, and they are dead. I alone have escaped to tell you."

The LORD said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Satan answered the LORD, and said, "From going back and forth in the earth, and from walking up and down in it."

The LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? For there is none like him in the earth, a blameless and an upright man, one who fears God, and turns away from evil. He still maintains his integrity, although you incited me against him, to ruin him without cause."

Let the stars of its twilight be dark. Let it look for light, but have none, neither let it see the eyelids of the morning,

For now should I have lain down and been quiet. I should have slept, then I would have been at rest,

I am not at ease, neither am I quiet, neither have I rest; but trouble comes."

Behold, you have instructed many, you have strengthened the weak hands.

Your words have supported him who was falling, You have made firm the feeble knees.

According to what I have seen, those who plow iniquity, and sow trouble, reap the same.

I have seen the foolish taking root, but suddenly I cursed his habitation.

Look this, we have searched it, so it is. Hear it, and know it for your good."

For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas, therefore have my words been rash.

"Oh that I might have my request, that God would grant the thing that I long for,

Be it still my consolation, yes, let me exult in pain that doesn't spare, that I have not denied the words of the Holy One.

Isn't it that I have no help in me, That wisdom is driven quite from me?

My brothers have dealt deceitfully as a brook, as the channel of brooks that pass away;

"Teach me, and I will hold my peace. Cause me to understand wherein I have erred.

If I have sinned, what do I do to you, you watcher of men? Why have you set me as a mark for you, so that I am a burden to myself?

If your children have sinned against him, He has delivered them into the hand of their disobedience.

If he is destroyed from his place, then it shall deny him, saying, 'I have not seen you.'

They have passed away as the swift ships, as the eagle that swoops on the prey.

Do you have eyes of flesh? Or do you see as man sees?

"'Your hands have framed me and fashioned me altogether, yet you destroy me.

Remember, I beg you, that you have fashioned me as clay. Will you bring me into dust again?

Haven't you poured me out like milk, and curdled me like cheese?

You have clothed me with skin and flesh, and knit me together with bones and sinews.

You have granted me life and loving kindness. Your visitation has preserved my spirit.

"'Why, then, have you brought me forth out of the womb? I wish I had given up the spirit, and no eye had seen me.

I should have been as though I had not been. I should have been carried from the womb to the grave.

But the eyes of the wicked shall fail. They shall have no way to flee. Their hope shall be the giving up of the spirit."

But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Yes, who doesn't know such things as these?

Behold, he will kill me. I have no hope. Nevertheless, I will maintain my ways before him.

See now, I have set my cause in order. I know that I am righteous.

Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months is with you, and you have appointed his bounds that he can't pass;

You would call, and I would answer you. You would have a desire to the work of your hands.

Have you heard the secret counsel of God? Do you limit wisdom to yourself?

"I will show you, listen to me; that which I have seen I will declare:

(Which wise men have told by their fathers, and have not hidden it;

"I have heard many such things. You are all miserable comforters.

Shall vain words have an end? Or what provokes you that you answer?

But now, God, you have surely worn me out. You have made desolate all my company.

You have shriveled me up. This is a witness against me. My leanness rises up against me. It testifies to my face.

They have gaped on me with their mouth. They have struck me on the cheek reproachfully. They gather themselves together against me.

I have sewed sackcloth on my skin, and have thrust my horn in the dust.

"Earth, do not cover my blood. Let my cry have no place to rest.

For you have hidden their heart from understanding, Therefore you shall not exalt them.

If I look for Sheol as my house, if I have spread my couch in the darkness,

If I have said to corruption, 'You are my father;' to the worm, 'My mother,' and 'my sister;'

Why are we counted as animals, which have become unclean in your sight?

His memory shall perish from the earth. He shall have no name in the street.

He shall have neither son nor grandson among his people, nor any remaining where he sojourned.

You have reproached me ten times. You aren't ashamed that you attack me.

If it is true that I have erred, my error remains with myself.

My relatives have gone away. My familiar friends have forgotten me.

All my familiar friends abhor me. They whom I loved have turned against me.

My bones stick to my skin and to my flesh. I have escaped by the skin of my teeth.

"Have pity on me, have pity on me, you my friends; for the hand of God has touched me.

I have heard the reproof which puts me to shame. The spirit of my understanding answers me.

yet he shall perish forever like his own dung. Those who have seen him shall say, 'Where is he?'

Allow me, and I also will speak; After I have spoken, mock on.

What is Shaddai, that we should serve him? What profit should we have, if we pray to him?'

Haven't you asked wayfaring men? Do you not know their evidences,

For you have taken pledges from your brother for nothing, and stripped the naked of their clothing.

You haven't given water to the weary to drink, and you have withheld bread from the hungry.

You have sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.

Will you keep the old way, which wicked men have trodden,

My foot has held fast to his steps. I have kept his way, and not turned aside.

I haven't gone back from the commandment of his lips. I have treasured up the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

They lie all night naked without clothing, and have no covering in the cold.

Drought and heat consume the snow waters, so does Sheol those who have sinned.

"How have you helped him who is without power. How have you saved the arm that has no strength.

How have you counseled him who has no wisdom, and plentifully declared sound knowledge.

To whom have you uttered words? Whose spirit came forth from you?

Behold, all of you have seen it yourselves; why then have you become altogether vain?

The proud animals have not trodden it, nor has the fierce lion passed by there.

Destruction and Death say, 'We have heard a rumor of it with our ears.'

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

"Now I have become their song. Yes, I am a byword to them.

For he has untied his cord, and afflicted me; and they have thrown off restraint before me.

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.

He has cast me into the mire. I have become like dust and ashes.

You have turned to be cruel to me. With the might of your hand you persecute me.

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

"If I have walked with falsehood, and my foot has hurried to deceit

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

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

"If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail,

or have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless has not eaten of it

(no, from my youth he grew up with me as with a father, her have I guided from my mother's womb);

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

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

"If I have made gold my hope, and have said to the fine gold, 'You are my confidence;'