And the Lord said to the Satan, Have you taken note of my servant Job, for there is no one like him on the earth, a man without sin and upright, fearing God and keeping himself far from evil?

Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.

But put forth thy hand now and touch all that he hath, and see if he will not curse thee to thy face!

And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.

In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

And the Lord said to the Satan, Have you taken note of my servant Job, for there is no one like him on the earth, a man without sin and upright, fearing God and keeping himself far from evil? and he still keeps his righteousness, though you have been moving me to send destruction on him without cause.

but put forth thy hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and see if he will not curse thee to thy face!

And the Lord said to the Satan, See, he is in your hands, only do not take his life.

But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven.

Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said, There is a man child conceived.

Let that day be darkness; let not God regard it from above, neither let the light shine upon it.

Let the dark and the black night take it for themselves; let it be covered with a cloud; let the dark shades of day send fear on it.

As for that night, let darkness seize upon it; let it not be joined unto the days of the year, let it not come into the number of the months.

Lo, let that night be solitary, let no joyful voice come therein.

Let the stars of its twilight be dark, Let it wait for light, and there is none, And let it not look on the eyelids of the dawn.

Because it shut not up the doors of my mother's womb, nor hid sorrow from mine eyes.

Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly?

Or as an hidden untimely birth I had not been; as infants which never saw light.

There the prisoners rest together; they hear not the voice of the oppressor.

Which long for death, but it cometh not; and dig for it more than for hid treasures;

I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet; yet trouble came.

Is not this thy fear, thy confidence, thy hope, and the uprightness of thy ways?

The old lion comes to his end for need of food, and the young of the she-lion go wandering in all directions.

In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men,

It stood still, but I could not discern the form thereof: an image was before mine eyes, there was silence, and I heard a voice, saying,

Lo, he trusteth not his servants, and his angels he chargeth with folly:

Between morning and evening they are completely broken; they come to an end for ever, and no one takes note.

Doth not their excellency which is in them go away? they die, even without wisdom.

Their produce is taken by him who has no food, and their grain goes to the poor, and he who is in need of water gets it from their spring.

Although affliction cometh not forth of the dust, neither doth trouble spring out of the ground;

He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, and their hands carry not out the enterprise.

They meet with darkness in the daytime, and grope in the noonday as in the night.

Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:

In six distresses He delivereth thee, And in seven evil striketh not on thee.

When there is need of food he will keep you from death, and in war from the power of the sword.

Thou shalt be hidden from the scourge of the tongue; and thou shalt not be afraid of destruction when it cometh.

At destruction and famine thou shalt laugh, and of the beasts of the earth thou shalt not be afraid.

And thou shalt know that thy tabernacle shall be in peace; and thou shalt visit thy habitation, and shalt not sin.

See, we have made search with care, and it is so; it has come to our ears; see that you take note of it for yourself.

The things that sometime I might not away withal, are now my meat for very sorrow.

Then should I yet have comfort; yea, I would harden myself in sorrow: let him not spare; for I have not concealed the words of the Holy One.

Is not my help in me? and is wisdom driven quite from me?

“For the despairing man there should be kindness from his friend;
So that he does not forsake the fear of the Almighty.

For now ye were not: ye shall see the terror and be afraid.

Now therefore be pleased to look upon me; For surely I shall not lie to your face.

Return, I pray you, let it not be iniquity; yea, return again, my righteousness is in it.

Is there in my tongue perverseness? Discerneth not my palate desirable things?

Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling?

Even so have I laboured whole months long - but in vain - and many a careful night have I told.

When I lie down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be gone? and I am full of tossings to and fro unto the dawning of the day.

Remember Thou that my life is a breath, Mine eye turneth not back to see good.

The eye of him that hath seen me shall see me no more: thine eyes are upon me, and I am not.

The cloud consumeth and vanisheth away; so he that goeth down to Sheol shall not come up.

He turneth not again to his house, Nor doth his place discern him again.

Therefore I will not refrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.

I loathe it; I would not live alway: let me alone; for my days are vanity.

How long wilt thou not depart from me, nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle?

And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away mine iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust; and thou shalt seek me in the morning, but I shall not be.

Does God give wrong decisions? or is the Ruler of all not upright in his judging?

When thy sons sinned against him, did not he punish them for their wickedness?

If thou wouldest live a pure and godly life; should he not wake up unto thee immediately, and give thee the beauty of righteousness again?

(For of yesterday we are, and we know not, For a shadow are our days on earth.)

Shall not they teach thee, and tell thee, and utter words out of their heart?

Can papyrus grow tall where [there is] not a marsh? Will reeds flourish without water?

Whilst it is yet in his greenness, and not cut down, it withereth before any other herb.

So is the end of all who do not keep God in mind; and the hope of the evil-doer comes to nothing:

He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand: he shall hold it fast, but it shall not endure.

If he destroy him from his place, then it shall deny him, saying, I have not seen thee.

Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he help the evil doers:

Those hating thee do put on shame, And the tent of the wicked is not!

If he delight to strive with Him -- He doth not answer him one of a thousand.

Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger.

Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars.

Who does great things not to be searched out; yes, wonders without number.

Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not.

If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him.

Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.

If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.

For, with a tempest, would he fall upon me, and would multiply my wounds without need;

He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness.

Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.

“It is all one; therefore I say,
‘He destroys [both] the blameless and the wicked.’

The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereth the faces of the judges thereof; if not, where, and who is he?

My days have been swifter than a runner, They have fled, they have not seen good,

I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.

You will not let me be clear of sin! why then do I take trouble for nothing?

For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment.

There is not an umpire between us, who should lay his hand upon us both.

Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me:

Then would I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.

I will say unto God, Do not condemn me; shew me wherefore thou contendest with me.

That you take note of my sin, searching after my wrongdoing,

Thou knowest that I am not wicked; and there is none that can deliver out of thine hand.

Hast thou not poured me out as milk, and curdled me like cheese?

Thou hast clothed me with skin and flesh, And knit me together with bones and sinews.

If I sin, then thou markest me, and thou wilt not acquit me from mine iniquity.

If I be wicked, woe unto me; and if I be righteous, yet will I not lift up my head. I am full of confusion; therefore see thou mine affliction;

And why from the womb Hast Thou brought me forth? I expire, and the eye doth not see me.

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