There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and this man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God and abstained from evil.

This man had seven sons, and three daughters.

His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.

{Then when} the days of the feast had run their course, {Job would send}, and he would sanctify them. Thus he would arise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings [according to] the number of all of them, because Job thought, "Perhaps my children have sinned and {cursed} God in their heart." This is what Job used to do {all the time}.

And the Lord said to the Satan, Where do you come from? And the Satan said in answer, From wandering this way and that on the earth, and walking about on it.

While this one is speaking another also hath come and saith, 'Fire of God hath fallen from the heavens, and burneth among the flock, and among the young men, and consumeth them, and I am escaped -- only I alone -- to declare it to thee.'

While this one is speaking another also hath come and saith, 'Chaldeans made three heads, and rush on the camels, and take them, and the young men they have smitten by the mouth of the sword, and I am escaped -- only I alone -- to declare it to thee.'

While this one is speaking another also hath come and saith, 'Thy sons and thy daughters are eating, and drinking wine, in the house of their brother, the first-born.

He said,

“Naked (without possessions) I came [into this world] from my mother’s womb,
And naked I will return there.
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;
Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

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

And the Lord said to the Satan, Where do you come from? And the Satan said in answer, From wandering this way and that on the earth, and walking about on it.

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.

Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.

After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day.

This is what Job said:

"Because that night refused to shut the doors of my mother's womb; it failed to keep me from seeing this trouble.

"Will you get offended if somebody tries to talk to you? Who can keep from speaking at a time like this?

But now that this has happened to you,
you have become exhausted.
It strikes you, and you are dismayed.

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

It remained standing, but I couldn't recognize its appearance. A form appeared before my eyes; At first there was silence, and then this voice:

Lo this, we have searched it, so it is; hear it, and know thou it for thy good.

For then its weight would be more than the sand of the seas: because of this my words have been uncontrolled.

I cannot bring myself to touch them; food like this makes me sick."

For all their expectations, they are doomed to disappointment; even though they have come and searched this far.

So this is what you have now become to me.
When you see something dreadful, you are afraid.

Turn back, please let there be no sin; yea, return again, my righteousness is in this matter.

so that I prefer strangling—
death rather than life in this body.

"How long will you keep talking like this? How long will you keep talking like a wind storm?

Behold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the earth shall others grow.

This was Job's response:

"Indeed, I'm fully aware that this is so, but how can a person become right with God?

"Is this a contest of strength? He is obviously stronger! Is this a matter of justice? Who can sue him?

This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.

“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]?

I -- I am become wicked; why is this? In vain I labour.

And these things hast thou hid in thine heart: I know that this is with thee.

Zophar from Naamath had this to say:

Should this stream of words go unanswered
and such a talker be acquitted?

Like you, I also have understanding. I'm not inferior to you; who doesn't know things like this?"

"I'm a laughingstock to my friends, someone who called on God. But then he answered this upright and blameless man, and I have become a laughingstock.

The tents of robbers are safe,
and those who provoke God are secure;
God’s power provides this.

Or speak to the earth [with its many forms of life], and it will teach you;
And let the fish of the sea declare [this truth] to you.

Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this?

Lo, mine eye hath seen all this, mine ear hath heard and understood it.

Will you have respect for God's person in this cause, and put yourselves forward as his supporters?

This also shall be my salvation, That a godless man shall not come before him.

Withdraw Your hand from me and remove this bodily suffering,
And let not the dread of You terrify me.

Also -- on this Thou hast opened Thine eyes, And dost bring me into judgment with Thee.

May a dead man live again? All the days of this my pilgrimage am I looking, till my changing shall come.

that you turn your anger against God and speak words like this?

I shew thee -- hearken to me -- And this I have seen and declare:

This will be accomplished before his time; his branches won't grow luxuriant.

"I've heard many things like this. What miserable comforters you all are!

“Is there no end to [your futile] words of wind?
Or what plagues you [so much] that you [so boldly] answer [me like this]?

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

crying for him to arbitrate between this man and God; as a human being does with his fellow neighbor.

You have kept their hearts from wisdom: for this cause you will not give them honour.

Upright men shall be astonied at this, and the innocent shall stir up himself against the hypocrite.

At this day westerns have been astonished And easterns have taken fright.

Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked, and this is the place of him that knoweth not God.

And this, ten times you have blamed me; you are not ashamed that you have wronged me.

know this then: that it is God which hath handled me so violently, and hath compassed me about with his net.

All the men of my counsel detest me, even this one I loved has turned against me.

And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:

Therefore do my thoughts cause me to answer, and for this I make haste.

Knowest thou not this of old, since man was placed upon earth,

He had never enough for his desire; for this cause his well-being will quickly come to an end.

This is the portion of a wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed unto him by God.

Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations.

Is it with a man, that I make this disputation? Which if it were so, should not my spirit be then in sore trouble?

When I think about this, I'm petrified with terror and my body shudders uncontrollably."

This one dieth in his perfect strength, Wholly at ease and quiet.

And this one dieth with a bitter soul, And have not eaten with gladness.

“Have you not asked those who travel this way,
And do you not recognize their witness?

For this cause nets are round your feet, and you are overcome with sudden fear.

The righteous see this and rejoice;
the innocent mock them, saying,

"Please reconcile yourself with him, and be at peace; {in this way}, good will come to you.

"My saying is yet this day in bitterness, and my hand heavy among my groanings.

Therefore I am terrified in His presence;
when I consider this, I am afraid of Him.

From the city, men groan;
the mortally wounded cry for help,
yet God pays no attention to this crime.

“And if this is not so, who can prove me a liar
And make my speech worthless?”

Who helped you say all of this? Who inspired you?"

This is now a short sum of his doings. But who is able sufficiently to rehearse his works? Who can perceive and understand the thunder of his power?"

“For what is the hope of the godless, even though he has gained [in this world],
When God takes his life?

Lo, ye -- all of you -- have seen, And why is this -- ye are altogether vain?

This is the portion of a wicked man with God, and the heritage of oppressors, which they shall receive of the Almighty.

And the wisdom -- whence is it found? And where is this, the place of understanding?

And the wisdom -- whence doth it come? And where is this, the place of understanding?

When I laughed, they knew well it was not earnest; and this testimony of my countenance pleased them nothing at all.

They tear up my pathways; they profit from my destruction, and they need no help to do this!

For this is an heinous crime; yea, it is an iniquity to be punished by the judges.

This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have denied the God that is above.

O that I had one which would hear me. Lo, this is my cause: Let the almighty give me answer, and let him that is my contrary party, sue me with libel.

may thorns spring up instead of wheat, and obnoxious weeds instead of barley." With this, Job's discourse with his friends is completed.

So then Elihu, son of Barachel, the Buzite, responded and said: - Young, am I, whereas, ye, are aged, For this cause, I faltered, and feared - to shew my knowledge unto you:

For this, I said, Hear to me; I also will show my knowledge.

Behold, in this thou art not just: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man.

Hear this, Job, listen to me; be silent and I will speak.

Now this is Job's claim: "Even though I'm innocent, God has stopped treating me righteously.

For this, ye men of heart, hear to me: far be it to God from doing evil; and the Almighty from iniquity.