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.
Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.
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 said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.
And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.
And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save 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.
After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day.
Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward.
Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:
For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of God do set themselves in array against me.
Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling?
What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him?
Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase.
I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?
He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?
Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.
My soul is weary of my life; I will leave my complaint upon myself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.
Thou hast granted me life and favour, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit.
Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?
In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.
Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.
Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble.
If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.
Behold, he putteth no trust in his saints; yea, the heavens are not clean in his sight.
Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high.
My days are past, my purposes are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart.
Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book!
For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:
Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.
Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?
Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee.
Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat!
But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?
Lo, these are parts of his ways: but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand?
But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding?
And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the LORD, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.
But now they that are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my flock.
I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?
Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me, and that mine adversary had written a book.
But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.
The spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.
Therefore hearken unto me ye men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.
How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands.
But none saith, Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in the night;
Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom.
Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out.
Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.
Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?
Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew?
Doth the hawk fly by thy wisdom, and stretch her wings toward the south?
Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.
Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.
Who hath prevented me, that I should repay him? whatsoever is under the whole heaven is mine.
Then Job answered the LORD, and said,
I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.
Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.
I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.
Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.
And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.
So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses.
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.
Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,
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.
So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.
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.
Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker?
I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause:
Do ye imagine to reprove words, and the speeches of one that is desperate, which are as wind?
I loathe it; I would not live alway: let me alone; for my days are vanity.
(For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow:)
Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not.
If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.
Thine hands have made me and fashioned me together round about; yet thou dost destroy me.
For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear:
With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.
How many are mine iniquities and sins? make me to know my transgression and my sin.
For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.
Should he reason with unprofitable talk? or with speeches wherewith he can do no good?
O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour!
That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever!
Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high.
When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person.
Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.
Why, seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty, do they that know him not see his days?
For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul?
It cannot be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof.
I cry unto thee, and thou dost not hear me: I stand up, and thou regardest me not.
Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand judgment.
Behold, I am according to thy wish in God’s stead: I also am formed out of the clay.
For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.
If thou sinnest, what doest thou against him? or if thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto him?
Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him?
God thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend.
Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,
Knowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? or canst thou mark when the hinds do calve?
Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?
Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.
So Job died, being old and full of days.
In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.
There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary be at rest.
Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
Call now, if there be any that will answer thee; and to which of the saints wilt thou turn?
Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,
Only do not two things unto me: then will I not hide myself from thee.
But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?
Then Job answered and said,
Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
But Job answered and said,
So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.
Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.
So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went, and did according as the LORD commanded them: the LORD also accepted Job.
Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the white of an egg?
So am I made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me.
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;
With him is strength and wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver are his.
Why do ye persecute me as God, and are not satisfied with my flesh?
That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.
He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.
Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me;
Behold, in this thou art not just: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man.
Although thou sayest thou shalt not see him, yet judgment is before him; therefore trust thou in him.
The noise thereof sheweth concerning it, the cattle also concerning the vapour.
Canst thou put an hook into his nose? or bore his jaw through with a thorn?
After this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons’ sons, even four generations.