Prologue

In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil.

Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”

“Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied.

Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason.”

What I feared has come upon me; what I dreaded has happened to me.

fear and trembling seized me and made all my bones shake.

You will be protected from the lash of the tongue, and need not fear when destruction comes.

You will laugh at destruction and famine, and need not fear the wild animals.

“Anyone who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty.

Then I would speak up without fear of him, but as it now stands with me, I cannot.

then, free of fault, you will lift up your face; you will stand firm and without fear.

you should fear the sword yourselves; for wrath will bring punishment by the sword, and then you will know that there is judgment.”

Their homes are safe and free from fear; the rod of God is not on them.

That is why I am terrified before him; when I think of all this, I fear him.

And he said to the human race, “The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.”

For I dreaded destruction from God, and for fear of his splendor I could not do such things.

because I so feared the crowd and so dreaded the contempt of the clans that I kept silent and would not go outside—

So Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite said: “I am young in years, and you are old; that is why I was fearful, not daring to tell you what I know.

No fear of me should alarm you, nor should my hand be heavy on you.

It laughs at fear, afraid of nothing; it does not shy away from the sword.

Who dares open the doors of its mouth, ringed about with fearsome teeth?

Nothing on earth is its equal— a creature without fear.