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.

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 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?

Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?

While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

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

Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the Lord.

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.

Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.

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.

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

Why is light given to a man whose way is hid, and whom God hath hedged in?

By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed.

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:

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.

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!

Doth God pervert judgment? or doth the Almighty pervert justice?

If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty;

So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite's hope shall perish:

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

I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?

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

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

But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against thee;

And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.

Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?

I am as one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon God, and he answereth him: the just upright man is laughed to scorn.

The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly.

Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.

Will ye speak wickedly for God? and talk deceitfully for him?

Will ye accept his person? will ye contend for God?

Yea, thou castest off fear, and restrainest prayer before God.

Hast thou heard the secret of God? and dost thou restrain wisdom to thyself?

Are the consolations of God small with thee? is there any secret thing with thee?

That thou turnest thy spirit against God, and lettest such words go out of thy mouth?

For he stretcheth out his hand against God, and strengtheneth himself against the Almighty.

God hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked.

My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God.

O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour!

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

Know now that God hath overthrown me, and hath compassed me with his net.

Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O ye my friends; for the hand of God hath touched me.

Why do ye persecute me as God, and are not satisfied with my flesh?

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

He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again: God shall cast them out of his belly.

When he is about to fill his belly, God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him, and shall rain it upon him while he is eating.

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

Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.

Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.

How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in his anger.

God layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know it.

Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high.

Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself?

Is not God in the height of heaven? and behold the height of the stars, how high they are!

And thou sayest, How doth God know? can he judge through the dark cloud?

Which said unto God, Depart from us: and what can the Almighty do for them?

For then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God.

For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me:

Men groan from out of the city, and the soul of the wounded crieth out: yet God layeth not folly to them.

How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?

As God liveth, who hath taken away my judgment; and the Almighty, who hath vexed my soul;

All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils;

God forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me.

For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul?

Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him?

Will he delight himself in the Almighty? will he always call upon God?

I will teach you by the hand of God: that which is with the Almighty will I not conceal.

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

For God shall cast upon him, and not spare: he would fain flee out of his hand.

God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof.

Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me;

As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle;

For what portion of God is there from above? and what inheritance of the Almighty from on high?

Let me be weighed in an even balance that God may know mine integrity.

What then shall I do when God riseth up? and when he visiteth, what shall I answer him?

For destruction from God was a terror to me, and by reason of his highness I could not endure.

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

Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram: against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God.

Lest ye should say, We have found out wisdom: God thrusteth him down, not man.

The spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.

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

For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not.

He shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him: and he shall see his face with joy: for he will render unto man his righteousness.

Lo, all these things worketh God oftentimes with man,

For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment.

For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.

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.

Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.

For he will not lay upon man more than right; that he should enter into judgment with God.

Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more:

For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God.

But none saith, Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in the night;

Surely God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it.

Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom.

Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him?

Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out.

God thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend.

By the breath of God frost is given: and the breadth of the waters is straitened.

Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.

Dost thou know when God disposed them, and caused the light of his cloud to shine?

Fair weather cometh out of the north: with God is terrible majesty.

When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.

Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he imparted to her understanding.

Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.

Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him?

He is the chief of the ways of God: he that made him can make his sword to approach unto him.