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

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.

And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, 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 cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.

Now it came to pass on the day when the sons of God came to present themselves before Jehovah, that Satan also came among them.

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.

And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?

And the Satan said in answer to the Lord, Is it for nothing that Job is a god-fearing man?

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 thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will 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.

And the day is, that his sons and his daughters are eating, and drinking wine, in the house of their brother, the first-born.

that there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them;

That messenger was still speaking when yet another came and reported: “The Chaldeans formed three bands, made a raid on the camels, and took them away. They struck down the servants with the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

And behold, a great wind came from across the desert, and it struck the four corners of the house {so that} it fell upon the young people, and they died. But I escaped, [even] I alone, to tell you."

In all this Job did no sin, and did not say that God's acts were foolish.

Again it came to pass on the day when the sons of God came to present themselves before Jehovah, that Satan came also among them to present himself before Jehovah.

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.

And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.

And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.

so that he sat upon the ground in the ashes, and scraped off the filth of his sores with a potsherd.

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.

And lifting up their eyes when they were still far off, it did not seem that the man they saw was Job because of the change in him. And they gave way to bitter weeping, with signs of grief, and put dust on their heads.

So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great.

Let the day perish in which I was born, and the night that 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 darkness and the shadow of death claim it for their own; Let a cloud dwell upon it; Let all that maketh black the day terrify 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 them curse it that curse the day, who are ready to raise up their mourning.

“Let the stars of its early dawn be dark;
Let the morning wait in vain for the light,
Let it not see the eyelids of morning (the day’s dawning),

Because it shut not up the doors of the womb that bore me, and hid not trouble from mine eyes.

Why did the knees prevent me? or why the breasts that I should suck?

Or with princes that had gold, who filled their houses with silver:

Or as a hidden untimely birth I had not been, As infants that never saw light.

In that place, the wicked stop causing trouble, and there, those whose strength is exhausted are at rest.

In that place, those who once were prisoners will be at ease together; they won't hear the voice of oppressors.

There, are small and great; the bondman, and he that is free from his master.

Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter in soul;

to those who wait for death that does not come, and search for it more than for hidden treasures,

That should be joy to the man whose way is hid, which God keepeth back from him.

For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.

Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees.

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

Remember, I pray thee, who that was innocent has perished? and where were the upright cut off?

Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.

They perish by the breath of God; they are consumed by the storm that is his anger.

Full grown lions die when they cannot find prey; that's when the lion cubs are scattered.

A fear fell upon me, along with trembling that caused all my bones to shake in terror.

"Can a mortal person be more righteous than God? Or can the purity of the valiant exceed that of his maker?'

How much less in them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, which are crushed before the moth?

Is not their tent-cord plucked up within them? They die, and that without wisdom.

Call now, if there be any that will answer thee; and to which of the saints wilt thou turn?

“I have seen the foolish taking root [and outwardly prospering],
But I cursed his dwelling immediately [for his destruction was certain].

that his children were without prosperity or health; that they were slain in the door, and no man to deliver them;

that his harvest was eaten up of the hungry; that the weaponed man had spoiled it, and that the thirsty had drunk up his riches.

"It is not the earth that bringeth forth travail, neither cometh sorrow out of the ground;

but it is man, that is born unto misery, like as the sparks fly up out of the hot coals.

who does great things that can't be fathomed, marvelous things without number;

To set up on high those that be low; that those which mourn may be exalted to safety.

He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise.

He traps the wise in their craftiness
so that the plans of the deceptive
are quickly brought to an end.

Insomuch that they run into darkness by fair day, and grope about them at the noonday, like as in the night.

So he saves from the sword that comes from their mouth, even the poor from the hand of the powerful.

that the poor may have hope, and that the mouth of the oppressor may be stopped.

Truly, that man is happy who has training from the hand of God: so do not let your heart be shut to the teaching of the Ruler of all.

For, he, woundeth that he may bind up, He smiteth through, that, his own hands, may heal.

“He will rescue you from six troubles;
Even in seven, evil will not touch you.

He shall keep thee from the perilous tongue so that when trouble cometh, thou shalt not need to fear.

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

Thou shalt know also that thy seed shall be great, and thine offspring as the grass of the earth.

You'll go to your grave at a ripe old age; like a stack of grain that's harvested at just the right time.

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.

Job answered, and said, "Oh that my misery were weighed, and my punishment laid in the balances:

Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together!

For then it would outweigh the sand of the seas!
That is why my words are rash.

Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the white of an egg?

The things that my soul refused to touch are as my sorrowful meat.

Oh that I might have my request; and that God would grant me the thing that I long for!

Even that it would please God to destroy me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!

And be it still my consolation, Yea, let me exult in pain that spareth not, That I have not denied the words of the Holy One.

What is my strength, that I should hope? and what is mine end, that I should prolong my life?

“Is my strength and endurance that of stones,
Or is my flesh made of bronze?

Is it not that I have no help in me, And that wisdom is driven quite from me?

To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.

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

That are black because of ice, By them doth snow hide itself.

The caravans that travel by the way of them turn aside; They go up into the waste, and perish.

They were ashamed that one hath trusted, They have come unto it and are confounded.

For now you have become like these streams that are no help; you see a terror, and are afraid.

Is it that I said, Make me a gift, or, out of your abundance, offer a bribe on my behalf;

Or, Get me out of the power of my hater? or, Give money so that I may be free from the power of the cruel ones?

How pleasant are the sayings that are right! But what can a decision from you, decide?

Do ye imagine to reprove words, and the speeches of one that is desperate, which are as wind?

“Now please look at me,
And see if I lie to your face [for you know that I would not].

Have I said anything that's unjust? I can discern evil, can't I?"

As a servant that earnestly desireth the shadow, And as a hireling that looketh for his wages:

O remember that my life is wind: mine eye shall no more see good.

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

As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more.

Therefore I will not spare my mouth, but will speak in the trouble of my spirit; in that bitterness of my mind will I talk.