¹ There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; andthat man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, andeschewed evil.

² And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters.

³ His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and threethousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and fivehundred she asses, and a very great household; so that thisman was the greatest of all the men of the east.

⁴ And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one hisday; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and todrink with them.

⁵ And it was so, when the days of their feasting were goneabout, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early inthe morning, and offered burnt offerings according to thenumber of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons havesinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Jobcontinually.

⁶ Now there was a day when the sons of God came to presentthemselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.

⁷ And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satananswered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in theearth, and from walking up and down in it.

⁸ And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servantJob, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect andan upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?

⁹ Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God fornought?

¹⁰ Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house,and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessedthe work of his hands, and his substance is increased in theland.

¹¹ But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, andhe will curse thee to thy face.

¹² And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is inthy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. SoSatan went forth from the presence of the LORD.

¹³ And there was a day when his sons and his daughters wereeating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:

¹⁴ And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen wereplowing, and the asses feeding beside them:

¹⁵ And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, theyhave slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I onlyam escaped alone to tell thee.

¹⁶ While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said,The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up thesheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only amescaped alone to tell thee.

¹⁷ While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said,The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels,and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants withthe edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tellthee.

¹⁸ While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said,Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine intheir eldest brother's house:

¹⁹ And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, andsmote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon theyoung men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone totell thee.

²⁰ Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, andfell down upon the ground, and worshipped,

²¹ And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and nakedshall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath takenaway; blessed be the name of the LORD.

²² In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

¹ Again there was a day when the sons of God came to presentthemselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them topresent himself before the LORD.

² And the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? AndSatan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro inthe earth, and from walking up and down in it.

³ And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servantJob, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect andan upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? andstill he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst meagainst him, to destroy him without cause.

⁴ And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, allthat a man hath will he give for his life.

⁵ But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and hisflesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.

⁶ And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; butsave his life.

⁷ So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smoteJob with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.

⁸ And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and hesat down among the ashes.

⁹ Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thineintegrity? curse God, and die.

¹⁰ But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolishwomen speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand ofGod, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Jobsin with his lips.

¹¹ Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that wascome upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphazthe Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar theNaamathite: for they had made an appointment together to cometo mourn with him and to comfort him.

¹² And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not,they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every onehis mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven.

¹³ So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and sevennights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that hisgrief was very great.

¹ After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day.

² And Job spake, and said,

³ Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in whichit was said, There is a man child conceived.

⁴ Let that day be darkness; let not God regard it from above,neither let the light shine upon it.

⁵ Let darkness and the shadow of death stain it; let a clouddwell upon it; let the blackness of the day terrify it.

⁶ As for that night, let darkness seize upon it; let it not bejoined unto the days of the year, let it not come into thenumber of the months.

⁷ Lo, let that night be solitary, let no joyful voice cometherein.

⁸ Let them curse it that curse the day, who are ready to raiseup their mourning.

⁹ Let the stars of the twilight thereof be dark; let it look forlight, but have none; neither let it see the dawning of theday:

¹⁰ Because it shut not up the doors of my mother's womb, nor hidsorrow from mine eyes.

¹¹ Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghostwhen I came out of the belly?

¹² Why did the knees prevent me? or why the breasts that I shouldsuck?

¹³ For now should I have lain still and been quiet, I should haveslept: then had I been at rest,

¹⁴ With kings and counsellers of the earth, which built desolateplaces for themselves;

¹⁵ Or with princes that had gold, who filled their houses withsilver:

¹⁶ Or as an hidden untimely birth I had not been; as infantswhich never saw light.

¹⁷ There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary beat rest.

¹⁸ There the prisoners rest together; they hear not the voice ofthe oppressor.

¹⁹ The small and great are there; and the servant is free fromhis master.

²⁰ Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and lifeunto the bitter in soul;

²¹ Which long for death, but it cometh not; and dig for it morethan for hid treasures;

²² Which rejoice exceedingly, and are glad, when they can findthe grave?

²³ Why is light given to a man whose way is hid, and whom Godhath hedged in?

²⁴ For my sighing cometh before I eat, and my roarings are pouredout like the waters.

²⁵ For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and thatwhich I was afraid of is come unto me.

²⁶ I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet;yet trouble came.

¹ Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,

² If we assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? butwho can withhold himself from speaking?

³ Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthenedthe weak hands.

⁴ Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou haststrengthened the feeble knees.

⁵ But now it is come upon thee, and thou faintest; it toucheththee, and thou art troubled.

⁶ Is not this thy fear, thy confidence, thy hope, and theuprightness of thy ways?

⁷ Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? orwhere were the righteous cut off?

⁸ Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sowwickedness, reap the same.

⁹ By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of hisnostrils are they consumed.

¹⁰ The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, andthe teeth of the young lions, are broken.

¹¹ The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, and the stout lion'swhelps are scattered abroad.

¹² Now a thing was secretly brought to me, and mine ear receiveda little thereof.

¹³ In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleepfalleth on men,

¹⁴ Fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones toshake.

¹⁵ Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair of my fleshstood up:

¹⁶ It stood still, but I could not discern the form thereof: animage was before mine eyes, there was silence, and I heard avoice, saying,

¹⁷ Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be morepure than his maker?

¹⁸ Behold, he put no trust in his servants; and his angels hecharged with folly:

¹⁹ How much less in them that dwell in houses of clay, whosefoundation is in the dust, which are crushed before the moth?

²⁰ They are destroyed from morning to evening: they perish forever without any regarding it.

²¹ Doth not their excellency which is in them go away? they die,even without wisdom.

¹ Call now, if there be any that will answer thee; and to whichof the saints wilt thou turn?

² For wrath killeth the foolish man, and envy slayeth the sillyone.

³ I have seen the foolish taking root: but suddenly I cursed hishabitation.

⁴ His children are far from safety, and they are crushed in thegate, neither is there any to deliver them.

⁵ Whose harvest the hungry eateth up, and taketh it even out ofthe thorns, and the robber swalloweth up their substance.

⁶ Although affliction cometh not forth of the dust, neither dothtrouble spring out of the ground;

⁷ Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward.

⁸ I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause:

⁹ Which doeth great things and unsearchable; marvellous thingswithout number:

¹⁰ Who giveth rain upon the earth, and sendeth waters upon thefields:

¹¹ To set up on high those that be low; that those which mournmay be exalted to safety.

¹² He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that theirhands cannot perform their enterprise.

¹³ He taketh the wise in their own craftiness: and the counsel ofthe froward is carried headlong.

¹⁴ They meet with darkness in the daytime, and grope in thenoonday as in the night.

¹⁵ But he saveth the poor from the sword, from their mouth, andfrom the hand of the mighty.

¹⁶ So the poor hath hope, and iniquity stoppeth her mouth.

¹⁷ Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: thereforedespise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:

¹⁸ For he maketh sore, and bindeth up: he woundeth, and his handsmake whole.

¹⁹ He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven thereshall no evil touch thee.

²⁰ In famine he shall redeem thee from death: and in war from thepower of the sword.

²¹ Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue: neithershalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh.

²² At destruction and famine thou shalt laugh: neither shalt thoube afraid of the beasts of the earth.

²³ For thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field: andthe beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee.

²⁴ And thou shalt know that thy tabernacle shall be in peace; andthou shalt visit thy habitation, and shalt not sin.

²⁵ Thou shalt know also that thy seed shall be great, and thineoffspring as the grass of the earth.

²⁶ Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, like as a shock ofcorn cometh in in his season.

²⁷ Lo this, we have searched it, so it is; hear it, and know thouit for thy good.

¹ But Job answered and said,

² Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laidin the balances together!

³ For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea:therefore my words are swallowed up.

⁴ For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poisonwhereof drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of God do setthemselves in array against me.

⁵ Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the oxover his fodder?

⁶ Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? or is thereany taste in the white of an egg?

⁷ The things that my soul refused to touch are as my sorrowfulmeat.

⁸ Oh that I might have my request; and that God would grant methe thing that I long for!

⁹ Even that it would please God to destroy me; that he would letloose his hand, and cut me off!

¹⁰ Then should I yet have comfort; yea, I would harden myself insorrow: let him not spare; for I have not concealed the wordsof the Holy One.

¹¹ What is my strength, that I should hope? and what is mine end,that I should prolong my life?

¹² Is my strength the strength of stones? or is my flesh ofbrass?

¹³ Is not my help in me? and is wisdom driven quite from me?

¹⁴ To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from hisfriend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.

¹⁵ My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, and as thestream of brooks they pass away;

¹⁶ Which are blackish by reason of the ice, and wherein the snowis hid:

¹⁷ What time they wax warm, they vanish: when it is hot, they areconsumed out of their place.

¹⁸ The paths of their way are turned aside; they go to nothing,and perish.

¹⁹ The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited forthem.

²⁰ They were confounded because they had hoped; they camethither, and were ashamed.

²¹ For now ye are nothing; ye see my casting down, and areafraid.

²² Did I say, Bring unto me? or, Give a reward for me of yoursubstance?

²³ Or, Deliver me from the enemy's hand? or, Redeem me from thehand of the mighty?

²⁴ Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me tounderstand wherein I have erred.

²⁵ How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguingreprove?

²⁶ Do ye imagine to reprove words, and the speeches of one thatis desperate, which are as wind?

²⁷ Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and ye dig a pit for yourfriend.

²⁸ Now therefore be content, look upon me; for it is evident untoyou if I lie.

²⁹ Return, I pray you, let it not be iniquity; yea, return again,my righteousness is in it.

³⁰ Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discernperverse things?

¹ Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not hisdays also like the days of an hireling?

² As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow, and as an hirelinglooketh for the reward of his work:

³ So am I made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nightsare appointed to me.

⁴ When I lie down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night begone? and I am full of tossings to and fro unto the dawning ofthe day.

⁵ My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin isbroken, and become loathsome.

⁶ My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spentwithout hope.

⁷ O remember that my life is wind: mine eye shall no more seegood.

⁸ The eye of him that hath seen me shall see me no more: thineeyes are upon me, and I am not.

⁹ As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so he that goethdown to the grave shall come up no more.

¹⁰ He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his placeknow him any more.

¹¹ Therefore I will not refrain my mouth; I will speak in theanguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of mysoul.

¹² Am I a sea, or a whale, that thou settest a watch over me?

¹³ When I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease mycomplaint;

¹⁴ Then thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me throughvisions:

¹⁵ So that my soul chooseth strangling, and death rather than mylife.

¹⁶ I loathe it; I would not live alway: let me alone; for my daysare vanity.

¹⁷ What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thoushouldest set thine heart upon him?

¹⁸ And that thou shouldest visit him every morning, and try himevery moment?

¹⁹ How long wilt thou not depart from me, nor let me alone till Iswallow down my spittle?

²⁰ I have sinned; what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver ofmen? why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, so that I ama burden to myself?

²¹ And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take awaymine iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust; and thou shaltseek me in the morning, but I shall not be.

¹ Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,

² How long wilt thou speak these things? and how long shall thewords of thy mouth be like a strong wind?

³ Doth God pervert judgment? or doth the Almighty pervertjustice?

⁴ If thy children have sinned against him, and he have cast themaway for their transgression;

⁵ If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, and make thysupplication to the Almighty;

⁶ If thou wert pure and upright; surely now he would awake forthee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous.

⁷ Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end shouldgreatly increase.

⁸ For enquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and preparethyself to the search of their fathers:

⁹ (For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because ourdays upon earth are a shadow:)

¹⁰ Shall not they teach thee, and tell thee, and utter words outof their heart?

¹¹ Can the rush grow up without mire? can the flag grow withoutwater?

¹² Whilst it is yet in his greenness, and not cut down, itwithereth before any other herb.

¹³ So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite'shope shall perish:

¹⁴ Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be aspider's web.

¹⁵ He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand: he shallhold it fast, but it shall not endure.

¹⁶ He is green before the sun, and his branch shooteth forth inhis garden.

¹⁷ His roots are wrapped about the heap, and seeth the place ofstones.

¹⁸ If he destroy him from his place, then it shall deny him,saying, I have not seen thee.

¹⁹ Behold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the earth shallothers grow.

²⁰ Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will hehelp the evil doers:

²¹ Till he fill thy mouth with laughing, and thy lips withrejoicing.

²² They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame; and thedwelling place of the wicked shall come to nought.

¹ Then Job answered and said,

² I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just withGod?

³ If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of athousand.

⁴ He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardenedhimself against him, and hath prospered?

⁵ Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: whichoverturneth them in his anger.

⁶ Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillarsthereof tremble.

⁷ Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth upthe stars.

⁸ Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon thewaves of the sea.

⁹ Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambersof the south.

¹⁰ Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonderswithout number.

¹¹ Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, butI perceive him not.

¹² Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say untohim, What doest thou?

¹³ If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoopunder him.

¹⁴ How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words toreason with him?

¹⁵ Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but Iwould make supplication to my judge.

¹⁶ If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I notbelieve that he had hearkened unto my voice.

¹⁷ For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my woundswithout cause.

¹⁸ He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me withbitterness.

¹⁹ If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment,who shall set me a time to plead?

²⁰ If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if Isay, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.

²¹ Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I woulddespise my life.

²² This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth theperfect and the wicked.

²³ If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial ofthe innocent.

²⁴ The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereththe faces of the judges thereof; if not, where, and who is he?

²⁵ Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they seeno good.

²⁶ They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle thathasteth to the prey.

²⁷ If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off myheaviness, and comfort myself:

²⁸ I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not holdme innocent.

²⁹ If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?

³⁰ If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never soclean;

³¹ Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothesshall abhor me.

³² For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and weshould come together in judgment.

³³ Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay hishand upon us both.

³⁴ Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fearterrify me:

³⁵ Then would I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so withme.

¹ My soul is weary of my life; I will leave my complaint uponmyself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.

² I will say unto God, Do not condemn me; shew me wherefore thoucontendest with me.

³ Is it good unto thee that thou shouldest oppress, that thoushouldest despise the work of thine hands, and shine upon thecounsel of the wicked?

⁴ Hast thou eyes of flesh? or seest thou as man seeth?

⁵ Are thy days as the days of man? are thy years as man's days,

⁶ That thou enquirest after mine iniquity, and searchest aftermy sin?

⁷ Thou knowest that I am not wicked; and there is none that candeliver out of thine hand.

⁸ Thine hands have made me and fashioned me together roundabout; yet thou dost destroy me.

⁹ Remember, I beseech thee, that thou hast made me as the clay;and wilt thou bring me into dust again?

¹⁰ Hast thou not poured me out as milk, and curdled me likecheese?

¹¹ Thou hast clothed me with skin and flesh, and hast fenced mewith bones and sinews.

¹² Thou hast granted me life and favour, and thy visitation hathpreserved my spirit.

¹³ And these things hast thou hid in thine heart: I know thatthis is with thee.

¹⁴ If I sin, then thou markest me, and thou wilt not acquit mefrom mine iniquity.

¹⁵ If I be wicked, woe unto me; and if I be righteous, yet will Inot lift up my head. I am full of confusion; therefore seethou mine affliction;

¹⁶ For it increaseth. Thou huntest me as a fierce lion: and againthou shewest thyself marvellous upon me.

¹⁷ Thou renewest thy witnesses against me, and increasest thineindignation upon me; changes and war are against me.

¹⁸ Wherefore then hast thou brought me forth out of the womb? Ohthat I had given up the ghost, and no eye had seen me!

¹⁹ I should have been as though I had not been; I should havebeen carried from the womb to the grave.

²⁰ Are not my days few? cease then, and let me alone, that I maytake comfort a little,

²¹ Before I go whence I shall not return, even to the land ofdarkness and the shadow of death;

²² A land of darkness, as darkness itself; and of the shadow ofdeath, without any order, and where the light is as darkness.

¹ Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,

² Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should aman full of talk be justified?

³ Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thoumockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?

⁴ For thou hast said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean inthine eyes.

⁵ But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against thee;

⁶ And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, that theyare double to that which is! Know therefore that God exactethof thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.

⁷ Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out theAlmighty unto perfection?

⁸ It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell;what canst thou know?

⁹ The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader thanthe sea.

¹⁰ If he cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then who canhinder him?

¹¹ For he knoweth vain men: he seeth wickedness also; will he notthen consider it?

¹² For vain man would be wise, though man be born like a wildass's colt.

¹³ If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine handstoward him;

¹⁴ If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let notwickedness dwell in thy tabernacles.

¹⁵ For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thoushalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear:

¹⁶ Because thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it aswaters that pass away:

¹⁷ And thine age shall be clearer than the noonday; thou shaltshine forth, thou shalt be as the morning.

¹⁸ And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thoushalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.

¹⁹ Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid;yea, many shall make suit unto thee.

²⁰ But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall notescape, and their hope shall be as the giving up of the ghost.

¹ And Job answered and said,

² No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.

³ But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior toyou: yea, who knoweth not such things as these?

⁴ I am as one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon God, andhe answereth him: the just upright man is laughed to scorn.

⁵ He that is ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despisedin the thought of him that is at ease.

⁶ The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke Godare secure; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly.

⁷ But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and thefowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:

⁸ Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishesof the sea shall declare unto thee.

⁹ Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hathwrought this?

¹⁰ In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and thebreath of all mankind.

¹¹ Doth not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat?

¹² With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of daysunderstanding.

¹³ With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel andunderstanding.

¹⁴ Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built again: heshutteth up a man, and there can be no opening.

¹⁵ Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up: also hesendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.

¹⁶ With him is strength and wisdom: the deceived and the deceiverare his.

¹⁷ He leadeth counsellers away spoiled, and maketh the judgesfools.

¹⁸ He looseth the bond of kings, and girdeth their loins with agirdle.

¹⁹ He leadeth princes away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty.

²⁰ He removeth away the speech of the trusty, and taketh away theunderstanding of the aged.

²¹ He poureth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the strengthof the mighty.

²² He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth outto light the shadow of death.

²³ He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeththe nations, and straiteneth them again.

²⁴ He taketh away the heart of the chief of the people of theearth, and causeth them to wander in a wilderness where thereis no way.

²⁵ They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them tostagger like a drunken man.

¹ Lo, mine eye hath seen all this, mine ear hath heard andunderstood it.

² What ye know, the same do I know also: I am not inferior untoyou.

³ Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reasonwith God.

⁴ But ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value.

⁵ O that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it should beyour wisdom.

⁶ Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of mylips.

⁷ Will ye speak wickedly for God? and talk deceitfully for him?

⁸ Will ye accept his person? will ye contend for God?

⁹ Is it good that he should search you out? or as one manmocketh another, do ye so mock him?

¹⁰ He will surely reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons.

¹¹ Shall not his excellency make you afraid? and his dread fallupon you?

¹² Your remembrances are like unto ashes, your bodies to bodiesof clay.

¹³ Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let comeon me what will.

¹⁴ Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life inmine hand?

¹⁵ Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I willmaintain mine own ways before him.

¹⁶ He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not comebefore him.

¹⁷ Hear diligently my speech, and my declaration with your ears.

¹⁸ Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall bejustified.

¹⁹ Who is he that will plead with me? for now, if I hold mytongue, I shall give up the ghost.

²⁰ Only do not two things unto me: then will I not hide myselffrom thee.

²¹ Withdraw thine hand far from me: and let not thy dread make meafraid.

²² Then call thou, and I will answer: or let me speak, and answerthou me.

²³ How many are mine iniquities and sins? make me to know mytransgression and my sin.

²⁴ Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and holdest me for thineenemy?

²⁵ Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro? and wilt thou pursuethe dry stubble?

²⁶ For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me topossess the iniquities of my youth.

²⁷ Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, and lookest narrowlyunto all my paths; thou settest a print upon the heels of myfeet.

²⁸ And he, as a rotten thing, consumeth, as a garment that ismoth eaten.

¹ Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full oftrouble.

² He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth alsoas a shadow, and continueth not.

³ And dost thou open thine eyes upon such an one, and bringestme into judgment with thee?

⁴ Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.

⁵ Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months arewith thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass;

⁶ Turn from him, that he may rest, till he shall accomplish, asan hireling, his day.

⁷ For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it willsprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will notcease.

⁸ Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stockthereof die in the ground;

⁹ Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forthboughs like a plant.

¹⁰ But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost,and where is he?

¹¹ As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth anddrieth up:

¹² So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be nomore, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.

¹³ O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldestkeep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldestappoint me a set time, and remember me!

¹⁴ If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of myappointed time will I wait, till my change come.

¹⁵ Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have adesire to the work of thine hands.

¹⁶ For now thou numberest my steps: dost thou not watch over mysin?

¹⁷ My transgression is sealed up in a bag, and thou sewest upmine iniquity.

¹⁸ And surely the mountain falling cometh to nought, and therock is removed out of his place.

¹⁹ The waters wear the stones: thou washest away the things whichgrow out of the dust of the earth; and thou destroyest thehope of man.

²⁰ Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth: thouchangest his countenance, and sendest him away.

²¹ His sons come to honour, and he knoweth it not; and they arebrought low, but he perceiveth it not of them.

²² But his flesh upon him shall have pain, and his soul withinhim shall mourn.

¹ Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said,

² Should a wise man utter vain knowledge, and fill his bellywith the east wind?

³ Should he reason with unprofitable talk? or with speecheswherewith he can do no good?

⁴ Yea, thou castest off fear, and restrainest prayer before God.

⁵ For thy mouth uttereth thine iniquity, and thou choosest thetongue of the crafty.

⁶ Thine own mouth condemneth thee, and not I: yea, thine ownlips testify against thee.

⁷ Art thou the first man that was born? or wast thou made beforethe hills?

⁸ Hast thou heard the secret of God? and dost thou restrainwisdom to thyself?

⁹ What knowest thou, that we know not? what understandest thou,which is not in us?

¹⁰ With us are both the grayheaded and very aged men, much elderthan thy father.

¹¹ Are the consolations of God small with thee? is there anysecret thing with thee?

¹² Why doth thine heart carry thee away? and what do thy eyeswink at,

¹³ That thou turnest thy spirit against God, and lettest suchwords go out of thy mouth?

¹⁴ What is man, that he should be clean? and he which is born ofa woman, that he should be righteous?

¹⁵ Behold, he putteth no trust in his saints; yea, the heavensare not clean in his sight.

¹⁶ How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinkethiniquity like water?

¹⁷ I will shew thee, hear me; and that which I have seen I willdeclare;

¹⁸ Which wise men have told from their fathers, and have not hidit:

¹⁹ Unto whom alone the earth was given, and no stranger passedamong them.

²⁰ The wicked man travaileth with pain all his days, and thenumber of years is hidden to the oppressor.

²¹ A dreadful sound is in his ears: in prosperity the destroyershall come upon him.

²² He believeth not that he shall return out of darkness, and heis waited for of the sword.

²³ He wandereth abroad for bread, saying, Where is it? he knoweththat the day of darkness is ready at his hand.

²⁴ Trouble and anguish shall make him afraid; they shall prevailagainst him, as a king ready to the battle.

²⁵ For he stretcheth out his hand against God, and strengthenethhimself against the Almighty.

²⁶ He runneth upon him, even on his neck, upon the thick bossesof his bucklers:

²⁷ Because he covereth his face with his fatness, and makethcollops of fat on his flanks.

²⁸ And he dwelleth in desolate cities, and in houses which no maninhabiteth, which are ready to become heaps.

²⁹ He shall not be rich, neither shall his substance continue,neither shall he prolong the perfection thereof upon theearth.

³⁰ He shall not depart out of darkness; the flame shall dry uphis branches, and by the breath of his mouth shall he go away.

³¹ Let not him that is deceived trust in vanity: for vanity shallbe his recompence.

³² It shall be accomplished before his time, and his branch shallnot be green.

³³ He shall shake off his unripe grape as the vine, and shallcast off his flower as the olive.

³⁴ For the congregation of hypocrites shall be desolate, and fireshall consume the tabernacles of bribery.

³⁵ They conceive mischief, and bring forth vanity, and theirbelly prepareth deceit.

¹ Then Job answered and said,

² I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are yeall.

³ Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee thatthou answerest?

⁴ I also could speak as ye do: if your soul were in my soul'sstead, I could heap up words against you, and shake mine headat you.

⁵ But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of mylips should asswage your grief.

⁶ Though I speak, my grief is not asswaged: and though Iforbear, what am I eased?

⁷ But now he hath made me weary: thou hast made desolate all mycompany.

⁸ And thou hast filled me with wrinkles, which is a witnessagainst me: and my leanness rising up in me beareth witness tomy face.

⁹ He teareth me in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth upon mewith his teeth; mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me.

¹⁰ They have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten meupon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselvestogether against me.

¹¹ God hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over intothe hands of the wicked.

¹² I was at ease, but he hath broken me asunder: he hath alsotaken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces, and set me upfor his mark.

¹³ His archers compass me round about, he cleaveth my reinsasunder, and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon theground.

¹⁴ He breaketh me with breach upon breach, he runneth upon melike a giant.

¹⁵ I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and defiled my horn inthe dust.

¹⁶ My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadowof death;

¹⁷ Not for any injustice in mine hands: also my prayer is pure.

¹⁸ O earth, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry have noplace.

¹⁹ Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is onhigh.

²⁰ My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God.

²¹ O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadethfor his neighbour!

²² When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence Ishall not return.

¹ My breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves areready for me.

² Are there not mockers with me? and doth not mine eye continuein their provocation?

³ Lay down now, put me in a surety with thee; who is he thatwill strike hands with me?

⁴ For thou hast hid their heart from understanding: thereforeshalt thou not exalt them.

⁵ He that speaketh flattery to his friends, even the eyes of hischildren shall fail.

⁶ He hath made me also a byword of the people; and aforetime Iwas as a tabret.

⁷ Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, and all my membersare as a shadow.

⁸ Upright men shall be astonied at this, and the innocent shallstir up himself against the hypocrite.

⁹ The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hathclean hands shall be stronger and stronger.

¹⁰ But as for you all, do ye return, and come now: for I cannotfind one wise man among you.

¹¹ My days are past, my purposes are broken off, even thethoughts of my heart.

¹² They change the night into day: the light is short because ofdarkness.

¹³ If I wait, the grave is mine house: I have made my bed in thedarkness.

¹⁴ I have said to corruption, Thou art my father: to the worm,Thou art my mother, and my sister.

¹⁵ And where is now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it?

¹⁶ They shall go down to the bars of the pit, when our resttogether is in the dust.

¹ Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,

² How long will it be ere ye make an end of words? mark, andafterwards we will speak.

³ Wherefore are we counted as beasts, and reputed vile in yoursight?

⁴ He teareth himself in his anger: shall the earth be forsakenfor thee? and shall the rock be removed out of his place?

⁵ Yea, the light of the wicked shall be put out, and the sparkof his fire shall not shine.

⁶ The light shall be dark in his tabernacle, and his candleshall be put out with him.

⁷ The steps of his strength shall be straitened, and his owncounsel shall cast him down.

⁸ For he is cast into a net by his own feet, and he walketh upona snare.

⁹ The gin shall take him by the heel, and the robber shallprevail against him.

¹⁰ The snare is laid for him in the ground, and a trap for him inthe way.

¹¹ Terrors shall make him afraid on every side, and shall drivehim to his feet.

¹² His strength shall be hungerbitten, and destruction shall beready at his side.

¹³ It shall devour the strength of his skin: even the firstbornof death shall devour his strength.

¹⁴ His confidence shall be rooted out of his tabernacle, and itshall bring him to the king of terrors.

¹⁵ It shall dwell in his tabernacle, because it is none of his:brimstone shall be scattered upon his habitation.

¹⁶ His roots shall be dried up beneath, and above shall hisbranch be cut off.

¹⁷ His remembrance shall perish from the earth, and he shall haveno name in the street.

¹⁸ He shall be driven from light into darkness, and chased out ofthe world.

¹⁹ He shall neither have son nor nephew among his people, nor anyremaining in his dwellings.

²⁰ They that come after him shall be astonied at his day, as theythat went before were affrighted.

²¹ Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked, and this is theplace of him that knoweth not God.

¹ Then Job answered and said,

² How long will ye vex my soul, and break me in pieces withwords?

³ These ten times have ye reproached me: ye are not ashamed thatye make yourselves strange to me.

⁴ And be it indeed that I have erred, mine error remaineth withmyself.

⁵ If indeed ye will magnify yourselves against me, and pleadagainst me my reproach:

⁶ Know now that God hath overthrown me, and hath compassed mewith his net.

⁷ Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard: I cry aloud,but there is no judgment.

⁸ He hath fenced up my way that I cannot pass, and he hath setdarkness in my paths.

⁹ He hath stripped me of my glory, and taken the crown from myhead.

¹⁰ He hath destroyed me on every side, and I am gone: and minehope hath he removed like a tree.

¹¹ He hath also kindled his wrath against me, and he counteth meunto him as one of his enemies.

¹² His troops come together, and raise up their way against me,and encamp round about my tabernacle.

¹³ He hath put my brethren far from me, and mine acquaintance areverily estranged from me.

¹⁴ My kinsfolk have failed, and my familiar friends haveforgotten me.

¹⁵ They that dwell in mine house, and my maids, count me for astranger: I am an alien in their sight.

¹⁶ I called my servant, and he gave me no answer; I intreated himwith my mouth.

¹⁷ My breath is strange to my wife, though I intreated for thechildren's sake of mine own body.

¹⁸ Yea, young children despised me; I arose, and they spakeagainst me.

¹⁹ All my inward friends abhorred me: and they whom I loved areturned against me.

²⁰ My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, and I am escapedwith the skin of my teeth.

²¹ Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O ye my friends; for thehand of God hath touched me.

²² Why do ye persecute me as God, and are not satisfied with myflesh?

²³ Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printedin a book!

²⁴ That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rockfor ever!

²⁵ For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand atthe latter day upon the earth:

²⁶ And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in myflesh shall I see God:

²⁷ Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, andnot another; though my reins be consumed within me.

²⁸ But ye should say, Why persecute we him, seeing the root ofthe matter is found in me?

²⁹ Be ye afraid of the sword: for wrath bringeth the punishmentsof the sword, that ye may know there is a judgment.

¹ Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,

² Therefore do my thoughts cause me to answer, and for this Imake haste.

³ I have heard the check of my reproach, and the spirit of myunderstanding causeth me to answer.

⁴ Knowest thou not this of old, since man was placed upon earth,

⁵ That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of thehypocrite but for a moment?

⁶ Though his excellency mount up to the heavens, and his headreach unto the clouds;

⁷ Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung: they whichhave seen him shall say, Where is he?

⁸ He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: yea, heshall be chased away as a vision of the night.

⁹ The eye also which saw him shall see him no more; neithershall his place any more behold him.

¹⁰ His children shall seek to please the poor, and his handsshall restore their goods.

¹¹ His bones are full of the sin of his youth, which shall liedown with him in the dust.

¹² Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, though he hide itunder his tongue;

¹³ Though he spare it, and forsake it not; but keep it stillwithin his mouth:

¹⁴ Yet his meat in his bowels is turned, it is the gall of aspswithin him.

¹⁵ He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them upagain: God shall cast them out of his belly.

¹⁶ He shall suck the poison of asps: the viper's tongue shallslay him.

¹⁷ He shall not see the rivers, the floods, the brooks of honeyand butter.

¹⁸ That which he laboured for shall he restore, and shall notswallow it down: according to his substance shall therestitution be, and he shall not rejoice therein.

¹⁹ Because he hath oppressed and hath forsaken the poor; becausehe hath violently taken away an house which he builded not;

²⁰ Surely he shall not feel quietness in his belly, he shall notsave of that which he desired.

²¹ There shall none of his meat be left; therefore shall no manlook for his goods.

²² In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits:every hand of the wicked shall come upon him.

²³ When he is about to fill his belly, God shall cast the fury ofhis wrath upon him, and shall rain it upon him while he iseating.

²⁴ He shall flee from the iron weapon, and the bow of steel shallstrike him through.

²⁵ It is drawn, and cometh out of the body; yea, the glitteringsword cometh out of his gall: terrors are upon him.

²⁶ All darkness shall be hid in his secret places: a fire notblown shall consume him; it shall go ill with him that is leftin his tabernacle.

²⁷ The heaven shall reveal his iniquity; and the earth shall riseup against him.

²⁸ The increase of his house shall depart, and his goods shallflow away in the day of his wrath.

²⁹ This is the portion of a wicked man from God, and the heritageappointed unto him by God.

¹ But Job answered and said,

² Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations.

³ Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mockon.

⁴ As for me, is my complaint to man? and if it were so, whyshould not my spirit be troubled?

⁵ Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.

⁶ Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold onmy flesh.

⁷ Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty inpower?

⁸ Their seed is established in their sight with them, and theiroffspring before their eyes.

⁹ Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of Godupon them.

¹⁰ Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, andcasteth not her calf.

¹¹ They send forth their little ones like a flock, and theirchildren dance.

¹² They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound ofthe organ.

¹³ They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down tothe grave.

¹⁴ Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire notthe knowledge of thy ways.

¹⁵ What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and whatprofit should we have, if we pray unto him?

¹⁶ Lo, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wickedis far from me.

¹⁷ How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oftcometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrowsin his anger.

¹⁸ They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that thestorm carrieth away.

¹⁹ God layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him,and he shall know it.

²⁰ His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of thewrath of the Almighty.

²¹ For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, when thenumber of his months is cut off in the midst?

²² Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those thatare high.

²³ One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease andquiet.

²⁴ His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened withmarrow.

²⁵ And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and nevereateth with pleasure.

²⁶ They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shallcover them.

²⁷ Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which yewrongfully imagine against me.

²⁸ For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? and where arethe dwelling places of the wicked?

²⁹ Have ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not knowtheir tokens,

³⁰ That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? theyshall be brought forth to the day of wrath.

³¹ Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay himwhat he hath done?

³² Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in thetomb.

³³ The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, and every manshall draw after him, as there are innumerable before him.

³⁴ How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers thereremaineth falsehood?

¹ Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,

² Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may beprofitable unto himself?

³ Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous?or is it gain to him, that thou makest thy ways perfect?

⁴ Will he reprove thee for fear of thee? will he enter with theeinto judgment?

⁵ Is not thy wickedness great? and thine iniquities infinite?

⁶ For thou hast taken a pledge from thy brother for nought, andstripped the naked of their clothing.

⁷ Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink, and thou hastwithholden bread from the hungry.

⁸ But as for the mighty man, he had the earth; and thehonourable man dwelt in it.

⁹ Thou hast sent widows away empty, and the arms of thefatherless have been broken.

¹⁰ Therefore snares are round about thee, and sudden feartroubleth thee;

¹¹ Or darkness, that thou canst not see; and abundance of waterscover thee.

¹² Is not God in the height of heaven? and behold the height ofthe stars, how high they are!

¹³ And thou sayest, How doth God know? can he judge through thedark cloud?

¹⁴ Thick clouds are a covering to him, that he seeth not; and hewalketh in the circuit of heaven.

¹⁵ Hast thou marked the old way which wicked men have trodden?

¹⁶ Which were cut down out of time, whose foundation wasoverflown with a flood:

¹⁷ Which said unto God, Depart from us: and what can the Almightydo for them?

¹⁸ Yet he filled their houses with good things: but the counselof the wicked is far from me.

¹⁹ The righteous see it, and are glad: and the innocent laughthem to scorn.

²⁰ Whereas our substance is not cut down, but the remnant of themthe fire consumeth.

²¹ Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby goodshall come unto thee.

²² Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up hiswords in thine heart.

²³ If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, thoushalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles.

²⁴ Then shalt thou lay up gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir asthe stones of the brooks.

²⁵ Yea, the Almighty shall be thy defence, and thou shalt haveplenty of silver.

²⁶ For then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, andshalt lift up thy face unto God.

²⁷ Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee,and thou shalt pay thy vows.

²⁸ Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be establishedunto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways.

²⁹ When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, There is liftingup; and he shall save the humble person.

³⁰ He shall deliver the island of the innocent: and it isdelivered by the pureness of thine hands.

¹ Then Job answered and said,

² Even to day is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier thanmy groaning.

³ Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come evento his seat!

⁴ I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth witharguments.

⁵ I would know the words which he would answer me, andunderstand what he would say unto me.

⁶ Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but hewould put strength in me.

⁷ There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I bedelivered for ever from my judge.

⁸ Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but Icannot perceive him:

⁹ On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him:he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him:

¹⁰ But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, Ishall come forth as gold.

¹¹ My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and notdeclined.

¹² Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; Ihave esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessaryfood.

¹³ But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his souldesireth, even that he doeth.

¹⁴ For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and manysuch things are with him.

¹⁵ Therefore am I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I amafraid of him.

¹⁶ For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me:

¹⁷ Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither hath hecovered the darkness from my face.

¹ Why, seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty, do theythat know him not see his days?

² Some remove the landmarks; they violently take away flocks,and feed thereof.

³ They drive away the ass of the fatherless, they take thewidow's ox for a pledge.

⁴ They turn the needy out of the way: the poor of the earth hidethemselves together.

⁵ Behold, as wild asses in the desert, go they forth to theirwork; rising betimes for a prey: the wilderness yieldeth foodfor them and for their children.

⁶ They reap every one his corn in the field: and they gather thevintage of the wicked.

⁷ They cause the naked to lodge without clothing, that they haveno covering in the cold.

⁸ They are wet with the showers of the mountains, and embracethe rock for want of a shelter.

⁹ They pluck the fatherless from the breast, and take a pledgeof the poor.

¹⁰ They cause him to go naked without clothing, and they takeaway the sheaf from the hungry;

¹¹ Which make oil within their walls, and tread theirwinepresses, and suffer thirst.

¹² Men groan from out of the city, and the soul of the woundedcrieth out: yet God layeth not folly to them.

¹³ They are of those that rebel against the light; they know notthe ways thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof.

¹⁴ The murderer rising with the light killeth the poor and needy,and in the night is as a thief.

¹⁵ The eye also of the adulterer waiteth for the twilight,saying, No eye shall see me: and disguiseth his face.

¹⁶ In the dark they dig through houses, which they had marked forthemselves in the daytime: they know not the light.

¹⁷ For the morning is to them even as the shadow of death: if oneknow them, they are in the terrors of the shadow of death.

¹⁸ He is swift as the waters; their portion is cursed in theearth: he beholdeth not the way of the vineyards.

¹⁹ Drought and heat consume the snow waters: so doth the gravethose which have sinned.

²⁰ The womb shall forget him; the worm shall feed sweetly on him;he shall be no more remembered; and wickedness shall be brokenas a tree.

²¹ He evil entreateth the barren that beareth not: and doeth notgood to the widow.

²² He draweth also the mighty with his power: he riseth up, andno man is sure of life.

²³ Though it be given him to be in safety, whereon he resteth;yet his eyes are upon their ways.

²⁴ They are exalted for a little while, but are gone and broughtlow; they are taken out of the way as all other, and cut offas the tops of the ears of corn.

²⁵ And if it be not so now, who will make me a liar, and make myspeech nothing worth?

¹ Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,

² Dominion and fear are with him, he maketh peace in his highplaces.

³ Is there any number of his armies? and upon whom doth not hislight arise?

⁴ How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be cleanthat is born of a woman?

⁵ Behold even to the moon, and it shineth not; yea, the starsare not pure in his sight.

⁶ How much less man, that is a worm? and the son of man, whichis a worm?

¹ But Job answered and said,

² How hast thou helped him that is without power? how savestthou the arm that hath no strength?

³ How hast thou counselled him that hath no wisdom? and how hastthou plentifully declared the thing as it is?

⁴ To whom hast thou uttered words? and whose spirit came fromthee?

⁵ Dead things are formed from under the waters, and theinhabitants thereof.

⁶ Hell is naked before him, and destruction hath no covering.

⁷ He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeththe earth upon nothing.

⁸ He bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds; and the cloud isnot rent under them.

⁹ He holdeth back the face of his throne, and spreadeth hiscloud upon it.

¹⁰ He hath compassed the waters with bounds, until the day andnight come to an end.

¹¹ The pillars of heaven tremble and are astonished at hisreproof.

¹² He divideth the sea with his power, and by his understandinghe smiteth through the proud.

¹³ By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hathformed the crooked serpent.

¹⁴ Lo, these are parts of his ways: but how little a portion isheard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand?

¹ Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,

² As God liveth, who hath taken away my judgment; and theAlmighty, who hath vexed my soul;

³ All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is inmy nostrils;

⁴ My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utterdeceit.

⁵ God forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will notremove mine integrity from me.

⁶ My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heartshall not reproach me so long as I live.

⁷ Let mine enemy be as the wicked, and he that riseth up againstme as the unrighteous.

⁸ For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained,when God taketh away his soul?

⁹ Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him?

¹⁰ Will he delight himself in the Almighty? will he always callupon God?

¹¹ I will teach you by the hand of God: that which is with theAlmighty will I not conceal.

¹² Behold, all ye yourselves have seen it; why then are ye thusaltogether vain?

¹³ This is the portion of a wicked man with God, and the heritageof oppressors, which they shall receive of the Almighty.

¹⁴ If his children be multiplied, it is for the sword: and hisoffspring shall not be satisfied with bread.

¹⁵ Those that remain of him shall be buried in death: and hiswidows shall not weep.

¹⁶ Though he heap up silver as the dust, and prepare raiment asthe clay;

¹⁷ He may prepare it, but the just shall put it on, and theinnocent shall divide the silver.

¹⁸ He buildeth his house as a moth, and as a booth that thekeeper maketh.

¹⁹ The rich man shall lie down, but he shall not be gathered: heopeneth his eyes, and he is not.

²⁰ Terrors take hold on him as waters, a tempest stealeth himaway in the night.

²¹ The east wind carrieth him away, and he departeth: and as astorm hurleth him out of his place.

²² For God shall cast upon him, and not spare: he would fain fleeout of his hand.

²³ Men shall clap their hands at him, and shall hiss him out ofhis place.

¹ Surely there is a vein for the silver, and a place for goldwhere they fine it.

² Iron is taken out of the earth, and brass is molten out of thestone.

³ He setteth an end to darkness, and searcheth out allperfection: the stones of darkness, and the shadow of death.

⁴ The flood breaketh out from the inhabitant; even the watersforgotten of the foot: they are dried up, they are gone awayfrom men.

⁵ As for the earth, out of it cometh bread: and under it isturned up as it were fire.

⁶ The stones of it are the place of sapphires: and it hath dustof gold.

⁷ There is a path which no fowl knoweth, and which the vulture'seye hath not seen:

⁸ The lion's whelps have not trodden it, nor the fierce lionpassed by it.

⁹ He putteth forth his hand upon the rock; he overturneth themountains by the roots.

¹⁰ He cutteth out rivers among the rocks; and his eye seeth everyprecious thing.

¹¹ He bindeth the floods from overflowing; and the thing that ishid bringeth he forth to light.

¹² But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place ofunderstanding?

¹³ Man knoweth not the price thereof; neither is it found in theland of the living.

¹⁴ The depth saith, It is not in me: and the sea saith, It is notwith me.

¹⁵ It cannot be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighedfor the price thereof.

¹⁶ It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the preciousonyx, or the sapphire.

¹⁷ The gold and the crystal cannot equal it: and the exchange ofit shall not be for jewels of fine gold.

¹⁸ No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls: for the priceof wisdom is above rubies.

¹⁹ The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, neither shall it bevalued with pure gold.

²⁰ Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place ofunderstanding?

²¹ Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept closefrom the fowls of the air.

²² Destruction and death say, We have heard the fame thereof withour ears.

²³ God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the placethereof.

²⁴ For he looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under thewhole heaven;

²⁵ To make the weight for the winds; and he weigheth the watersby measure.

²⁶ When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for thelightning of the thunder:

²⁷ Then did he see it, and declare it; he prepared it, yea, andsearched it out.

²⁸ And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the LORD, that iswisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.

¹ Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,

² Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when Godpreserved me;

³ When his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light Iwalked through darkness;

⁴ As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God wasupon my tabernacle;

⁵ When the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were aboutme;

⁶ When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me outrivers of oil;

⁷ When I went out to the gate through the city, when I preparedmy seat in the street!

⁸ The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose,and stood up.

⁹ The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on theirmouth.

¹⁰ The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to theroof of their mouth.

¹¹ When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eyesaw me, it gave witness to me:

¹² Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless,and him that had none to help him.

¹³ The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: andI caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.

¹⁴ I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was asa robe and a diadem.

¹⁵ I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.

¹⁶ I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not Isearched out.

¹⁷ And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil outof his teeth.

¹⁸ Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply mydays as the sand.

¹⁹ My root was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay allnight upon my branch.

²⁰ My glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand.

²¹ Unto me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at mycounsel.

²² After my words they spake not again; and my speech droppedupon them.

²³ And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened theirmouth wide as for the latter rain.

²⁴ If I laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light ofmy countenance they cast not down.

²⁵ I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king inthe army, as one that comforteth the mourners.

¹ But now they that are younger than I have me in derision,whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogsof my flock.

² Yea, whereto might the strength of their hands profit me, inwhom old age was perished?

³ For want and famine they were solitary; fleeing into thewilderness in former time desolate and waste.

⁴ Who cut up mallows by the bushes, and juniper roots for theirmeat.

⁵ They were driven forth from among men, (they cried after themas after a thief;)

⁶ To dwell in the cliffs of the valleys, in caves of the earth,and in the rocks.

⁷ Among the bushes they brayed; under the nettles they weregathered together.

⁸ They were children of fools, yea, children of base men: theywere viler than the earth.

⁹ And now am I their song, yea, I am their byword.

¹⁰ They abhor me, they flee far from me, and spare not to spit inmy face.

¹¹ Because he hath loosed my cord, and afflicted me, they havealso let loose the bridle before me.

¹² Upon my right hand rise the youth; they push away my feet, andthey raise up against me the ways of their destruction.

¹³ They mar my path, they set forward my calamity, they have nohelper.

¹⁴ They came upon me as a wide breaking in of waters: in thedesolation they rolled themselves upon me.

¹⁵ Terrors are turned upon me: they pursue my soul as the wind:and my welfare passeth away as a cloud.

¹⁶ And now my soul is poured out upon me; the days of afflictionhave taken hold upon me.

¹⁷ My bones are pierced in me in the night season: and my sinewstake no rest.

¹⁸ By the great force of my disease is my garment changed: itbindeth me about as the collar of my coat.

¹⁹ He hath cast me into the mire, and I am become like dust andashes.

²⁰ I cry unto thee, and thou dost not hear me: I stand up, andthou regardest me not.

²¹ Thou art become cruel to me: with thy strong hand thouopposest thyself against me.

²² Thou liftest me up to the wind; thou causest me to ride uponit, and dissolvest my substance.

²³ For I know that thou wilt bring me to death, and to the houseappointed for all living.

²⁴ Howbeit he will not stretch out his hand to the grave, thoughthey cry in his destruction.

²⁵ Did not I weep for him that was in trouble? was not my soulgrieved for the poor?

²⁶ When I looked for good, then evil came unto me: and when Iwaited for light, there came darkness.

²⁷ My bowels boiled, and rested not: the days of afflictionprevented me.

²⁸ I went mourning without the sun: I stood up, and I cried inthe congregation.

²⁹ I am a brother to dragons, and a companion to owls.

³⁰ My skin is black upon me, and my bones are burned with heat.

³¹ My harp also is turned to mourning, and my organ into thevoice of them that weep.

¹ I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upona maid?

² For what portion of God is there from above? and whatinheritance of the Almighty from on high?

³ Is not destruction to the wicked? and a strange punishment tothe workers of iniquity?

⁴ Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps?

⁵ If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted todeceit;

⁶ Let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know mineintegrity.

⁷ If my step hath turned out of the way, and mine heart walkedafter mine eyes, and if any blot hath cleaved to mine hands;

⁸ Then let me sow, and let another eat; yea, let my offspring berooted out.

⁹ If mine heart have been deceived by a woman, or if I have laidwait at my neighbour's door;

¹⁰ Then let my wife grind unto another, and let others bow downupon her.

¹¹ For this is an heinous crime; yea, it is an iniquity to bepunished by the judges.

¹² For it is a fire that consumeth to destruction, and would rootout all mine increase.

¹³ If I did despise the cause of my manservant or of mymaidservant, when they contended with me;

¹⁴ What then shall I do when God riseth up? and when he visiteth,what shall I answer him?

¹⁵ Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not onefashion us in the womb?

¹⁶ If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have causedthe eyes of the widow to fail;

¹⁷ Or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless hathnot eaten thereof;

¹⁸ (For from my youth he was brought up with me, as with afather, and I have guided her from my mother's womb;)

¹⁹ If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or any poorwithout covering;

²⁰ If his loins have not blessed me, and if he were not warmedwith the fleece of my sheep;

²¹ If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, when I sawmy help in the gate:

²² Then let mine arm fall from my shoulder blade, and mine arm bebroken from the bone.

²³ For destruction from God was a terror to me, and by reason ofhis highness I could not endure.

²⁴ If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold,Thou art my confidence;

²⁵ If I rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because minehand had gotten much;

²⁶ If I beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking inbrightness;

²⁷ And my heart hath been secretly enticed, or my mouth hathkissed my hand:

²⁸ This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for Ishould have denied the God that is above.

²⁹ If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, orlifted up myself when evil found him:

³⁰ Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by wishing a curse tohis soul.

³¹ If the men of my tabernacle said not, Oh that we had of hisflesh! we cannot be satisfied.

³² The stranger did not lodge in the street: but I opened mydoors to the traveller.

³³ If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding mineiniquity in my bosom:

³⁴ Did I fear a great multitude, or did the contempt of familiesterrify me, that I kept silence, and went not out of the door?

³⁵ Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire is, that theAlmighty would answer me, and that mine adversary had writtena book.

³⁶ Surely I would take it upon my shoulder, and bind it as acrown to me.

³⁷ I would declare unto him the number of my steps; as a princewould I go near unto him.

³⁸ If my land cry against me, or that the furrows likewisethereof complain;

³⁹ If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, or havecaused the owners thereof to lose their life:

⁴⁰ Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and cockle instead ofbarley. The words of Job are ended.

¹ So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he wasrighteous in his own eyes.

² Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel theBuzite, of the kindred of Ram: against Job was his wrathkindled, because he justified himself rather than God.

³ Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, becausethey had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.

⁴ Now Elihu had waited till Job had spoken, because they wereelder than he.

⁵ When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of thesethree men, then his wrath was kindled.

⁶ And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said, Iam young, and ye are very old; wherefore I was afraid, anddurst not shew you mine opinion.

⁷ I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teachwisdom.

⁸ But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of theAlmighty giveth them understanding.

⁹ Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understandjudgment.

¹⁰ Therefore I said, Hearken to me; I also will shew mineopinion.

¹¹ Behold, I waited for your words; I gave ear to your reasons,whilst ye searched out what to say.

¹² Yea, I attended unto you, and, behold, there was none of youthat convinced Job, or that answered his words:

¹³ Lest ye should say, We have found out wisdom: God thrustethhim down, not man.

¹⁴ Now he hath not directed his words against me: neither will Ianswer him with your speeches.

¹⁵ They were amazed, they answered no more: they left offspeaking.

¹⁶ When I had waited, (for they spake not, but stood still, andanswered no more;)

¹⁷ I said, I will answer also my part, I also will shew mineopinion.

¹⁸ For I am full of matter, the spirit within me constraineth me.

¹⁹ Behold, my belly is as wine which hath no vent; it is ready toburst like new bottles.

²⁰ I will speak, that I may be refreshed: I will open my lips andanswer.

²¹ Let me not, I pray you, accept any man's person, neither letme give flattering titles unto man.

²² For I know not to give flattering titles; in so doing my makerwould soon take me away.

¹ Wherefore, Job, I pray thee, hear my speeches, and hearken toall my words.

² Behold, now I have opened my mouth, my tongue hath spoken inmy mouth.

³ My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart: and my lipsshall utter knowledge clearly.

⁴ The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almightyhath given me life.

⁵ If thou canst answer me, set thy words in order before me,stand up.

⁶ Behold, I am according to thy wish in God's stead: I also amformed out of the clay.

⁷ Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, neither shall myhand be heavy upon thee.

⁸ Surely thou hast spoken in mine hearing, and I have heard thevoice of thy words, saying,

⁹ I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither isthere iniquity in me.

¹⁰ Behold, he findeth occasions against me, he counteth me forhis enemy,

¹¹ He putteth my feet in the stocks, he marketh all my paths.

¹² Behold, in this thou art not just: I will answer thee, thatGod is greater than man.

¹³ Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account ofany of his matters.

¹⁴ For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not.

¹⁵ In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep fallethupon men, in slumberings upon the bed;

¹⁶ Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth theirinstruction,

¹⁷ That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride fromman.

¹⁸ He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life fromperishing by the sword.

¹⁹ He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitudeof his bones with strong pain:

²⁰ So that his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty meat.

²¹ His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and hisbones that were not seen stick out.

²² Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his life to thedestroyers.

²³ If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among athousand, to shew unto man his uprightness:

²⁴ Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him fromgoing down to the pit: I have found a ransom.

²⁵ His flesh shall be fresher than a child's: he shall return tothe days of his youth:

²⁶ He shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him:and he shall see his face with joy: for he will render untoman his righteousness.

²⁷ He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, andperverted that which was right, and it profited me not;

²⁸ He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his lifeshall see the light.

²⁹ Lo, all these things worketh God oftentimes with man,

³⁰ To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened withthe light of the living.

³¹ Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I willspeak.

³² If thou hast any thing to say, answer me: speak, for I desireto justify thee.

³³ If not, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I shall teachthee wisdom.

¹ Furthermore Elihu answered and said,

² Hear my words, O ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye thathave knowledge.

³ For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat.

⁴ Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves whatis good.

⁵ For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away myjudgment.

⁶ Should I lie against my right? my wound is incurable withouttransgression.

⁷ What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water?

⁸ Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, andwalketh with wicked men.

⁹ For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he shoulddelight himself with God.

¹⁰ Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: far be itfrom God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty,that he should commit iniquity.

¹¹ For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and causeevery man to find according to his ways.

¹² Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will theAlmighty pervert judgment.

¹³ Who hath given him a charge over the earth? or who hathdisposed the whole world?

¹⁴ If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself hisspirit and his breath;

¹⁵ All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again untodust.

¹⁶ If now thou hast understanding, hear this: hearken to thevoice of my words.

¹⁷ Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemnhim that is most just?

¹⁸ Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? and to princes,Ye are ungodly?

¹⁹ How much less to him that accepteth not the persons ofprinces, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for theyall are the work of his hands.

²⁰ In a moment shall they die, and the people shall be troubledat midnight, and pass away: and the mighty shall be taken awaywithout hand.

²¹ For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all hisgoings.

²² There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workersof iniquity may hide themselves.

²³ For he will not lay upon man more than right; that he shouldenter into judgment with God.

²⁴ He shall break in pieces mighty men without number, and setothers in their stead.

²⁵ Therefore he knoweth their works, and he overturneth them inthe night, so that they are destroyed.

²⁶ He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others;

²⁷ Because they turned back from him, and would not consider anyof his ways:

²⁸ So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, andhe heareth the cry of the afflicted.

²⁹ When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and whenhe hideth his face, who then can behold him? whether it bedone against a nation, or against a man only:

³⁰ That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.

³¹ Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have bornechastisement, I will not offend any more:

³² That which I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, Iwill do no more.

³³ Should it be according to thy mind? he will recompense it,whether thou refuse, or whether thou choose; and not I:therefore speak what thou knowest.

³⁴ Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearkenunto me.

³⁵ Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were withoutwisdom.

³⁶ My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end because of hisanswers for wicked men.

³⁷ For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his handsamong us, and multiplieth his words against God.

¹ Elihu spake moreover, and said,

² Thinkest thou this to be right, that thou saidst, Myrighteousness is more than God's?

³ For thou saidst, What advantage will it be unto thee? and,What profit shall I have, if I be cleansed from my sin?

⁴ I will answer thee, and thy companions with thee.

⁵ Look unto the heavens, and see; and behold the clouds whichare higher than thou.

⁶ If thou sinnest, what doest thou against him? or if thytransgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto him?

⁷ If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? or what receivethhe of thine hand?

⁸ Thy wickedness may hurt a man as thou art; and thyrighteousness may profit the son of man.

⁹ By reason of the multitude of oppressions they make theoppressed to cry: they cry out by reason of the arm of themighty.

¹⁰ But none saith, Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in thenight;

¹¹ Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and makethus wiser than the fowls of heaven?

¹² There they cry, but none giveth answer, because of the prideof evil men.

¹³ Surely God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almightyregard it.

¹⁴ Although thou sayest thou shalt not see him, yet judgment isbefore him; therefore trust thou in him.

¹⁵ But now, because it is not so, he hath visited in his anger;yet he knoweth it not in great extremity:

¹⁶ Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vain; he multipliethwords without knowledge.

¹ Elihu also proceeded, and said,

² Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee that I have yet tospeak on God's behalf.

³ I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascriberighteousness to my Maker.

⁴ For truly my words shall not be false: he that is perfect inknowledge is with thee.

⁵ Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty instrength and wisdom.

⁶ He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth right tothe poor.

⁷ He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: but with kingsare they on the throne; yea, he doth establish them for ever,and they are exalted.

⁸ And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords ofaffliction;

⁹ Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions thatthey have exceeded.

¹⁰ He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth thatthey return from iniquity.

¹¹ If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days inprosperity, and their years in pleasures.

¹² But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and theyshall die without knowledge.

¹³ But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not whenhe bindeth them.

¹⁴ They die in youth, and their life is among the unclean.

¹⁵ He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth theirears in oppression.

¹⁶ Even so would he have removed thee out of the strait into abroad place, where there is no straitness; and that whichshould be set on thy table should be full of fatness.

¹⁷ But thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked: judgmentand justice take hold on thee.

¹⁸ Because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with hisstroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee.

¹⁹ Will he esteem thy riches? no, not gold, nor all the forces ofstrength.

²⁰ Desire not the night, when people are cut off in their place.

²¹ Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this hast thou chosenrather than affliction.

²² Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him?

²³ Who hath enjoined him his way? or who can say, Thou hastwrought iniquity?

²⁴ Remember that thou magnify his work, which men behold.

²⁵ Every man may see it; man may behold it afar off.

²⁶ Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can thenumber of his years be searched out.

²⁷ For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rainaccording to the vapour thereof:

²⁸ Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly.

²⁹ Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or thenoise of his tabernacle?

³⁰ Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it, and covereth thebottom of the sea.

³¹ For by them judgeth he the people; he giveth meat inabundance.

³² With clouds he covereth the light; and commandeth it not toshine by the cloud that cometh betwixt.

³³ The noise thereof sheweth concerning it, the cattle alsoconcerning the vapour.

¹ At this also my heart trembleth, and is moved out of hisplace.

² Hear attentively the noise of his voice, and the sound thatgoeth out of his mouth.

³ He directeth it under the whole heaven, and his lightning untothe ends of the earth.

⁴ After it a voice roareth: he thundereth with the voice of hisexcellency; and he will not stay them when his voice is heard.

⁵ God thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things doethhe, which we cannot comprehend.

⁶ For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise tothe small rain, and to the great rain of his strength.

⁷ He sealeth up the hand of every man; that all men may know hiswork.

⁸ Then the beasts go into dens, and remain in their places.

⁹ Out of the south cometh the whirlwind: and cold out of thenorth.

¹⁰ By the breath of God frost is given: and the breadth of thewaters is straitened.

¹¹ Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud: he scatterethhis bright cloud:

¹² And it is turned round about by his counsels: that they may dowhatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the world inthe earth.

¹³ He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for hisland, or for mercy.

¹⁴ Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider thewondrous works of God.

¹⁵ Dost thou know when God disposed them, and caused the light ofhis cloud to shine?

¹⁶ Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrousworks of him which is perfect in knowledge?

¹⁷ How thy garments are warm, when he quieteth the earth by thesouth wind?

¹⁸ Hast thou with him spread out the sky, which is strong, and asa molten looking glass?

¹⁹ Teach us what we shall say unto him; for we cannot order ourspeech by reason of darkness.

²⁰ Shall it be told him that I speak? if a man speak, surely heshall be swallowed up.

²¹ And now men see not the bright light which is in the clouds:but the wind passeth, and cleanseth them.

²² Fair weather cometh out of the north: with God is terriblemajesty.

²³ Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellentin power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he willnot afflict.

²⁴ Men do therefore fear him: he respecteth not any that are wiseof heart.

¹ Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,

² Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?

³ Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee,and answer thou me.

⁴ Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth?declare, if thou hast understanding.

⁵ Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or whohath stretched the line upon it?

⁶ Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laidthe corner stone thereof;

⁷ When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of Godshouted for joy?

⁸ Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as ifit had issued out of the womb?

⁹ When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darknessa swaddlingband for it,

¹⁰ And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors,

¹¹ And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and hereshall thy proud waves be stayed?

¹² Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused thedayspring to know his place;

¹³ That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that thewicked might be shaken out of it?

¹⁴ It is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment.

¹⁵ And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the higharm shall be broken.

¹⁶ Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thouwalked in the search of the depth?

¹⁷ Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thouseen the doors of the shadow of death?

¹⁸ Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if thouknowest it all.

¹⁹ Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness,where is the place thereof,

²⁰ That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and thatthou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof?

²¹ Knowest thou it, because thou wast then born? or because thenumber of thy days is great?

²² Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thouseen the treasures of the hail,

²³ Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against theday of battle and war?

²⁴ By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the eastwind upon the earth?

²⁵ Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters,or a way for the lightning of thunder;

²⁶ To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on thewilderness, wherein there is no man;

²⁷ To satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the budof the tender herb to spring forth?

²⁸ Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew?

²⁹ Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven,who hath gendered it?

³⁰ The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deepis frozen.

³¹ Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose thebands of Orion?

³² Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thouguide Arcturus with his sons?

³³ Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set thedominion thereof in the earth?

³⁴ Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance ofwaters may cover thee?

³⁵ Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say untothee, Here we are?

³⁶ Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath givenunderstanding to the heart?

³⁷ Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay thebottles of heaven,

³⁸ When the dust groweth into hardness, and the clods cleave fasttogether?

³⁹ Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite ofthe young lions,

⁴⁰ When they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to liein wait?

⁴¹ Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cryunto God, they wander for lack of meat.

¹ Knowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bringforth? or canst thou mark when the hinds do calve?

² Canst thou number the months that they fulfil? or knowest thouthe time when they bring forth?

³ They bow themselves, they bring forth their young ones, theycast out their sorrows.

⁴ Their young ones are in good liking, they grow up with corn;they go forth, and return not unto them.

⁵ Who hath sent out the wild ass free? or who hath loosed thebands of the wild ass?

⁶ Whose house I have made the wilderness, and the barren landhis dwellings.

⁷ He scorneth the multitude of the city, neither regardeth hethe crying of the driver.

⁸ The range of the mountains is his pasture, and he searchethafter every green thing.

⁹ Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or abide by thycrib?

¹⁰ Canst thou bind the unicorn with his band in the furrow? orwill he harrow the valleys after thee?

¹¹ Wilt thou trust him, because his strength is great? or wiltthou leave thy labour to him?

¹² Wilt thou believe him, that he will bring home thy seed, andgather it into thy barn?

¹³ Gavest thou the goodly wings unto the peacocks? or wings andfeathers unto the ostrich?

¹⁴ Which leaveth her eggs in the earth, and warmeth them in dust,

¹⁵ And forgetteth that the foot may crush them, or that the wildbeast may break them.

¹⁶ She is hardened against her young ones, as though they werenot hers: her labour is in vain without fear;

¹⁷ Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath heimparted to her understanding.

¹⁸ What time she lifteth up herself on high, she scorneth thehorse and his rider.

¹⁹ Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neckwith thunder?

²⁰ Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper? the glory of hisnostrils is terrible.

²¹ He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: hegoeth on to meet the armed men.

²² He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted; neither turneth heback from the sword.

²³ The quiver rattleth against him, the glittering spear and theshield.

²⁴ He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage: neitherbelieveth he that it is the sound of the trumpet.

²⁵ He saith among the trumpets, Ha, ha; and he smelleth thebattle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and theshouting.

²⁶ Doth the hawk fly by thy wisdom, and stretch her wings towardthe south?

²⁷ Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest onhigh?

²⁸ She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of therock, and the strong place.

²⁹ From thence she seeketh the prey, and her eyes behold afaroff.

³⁰ Her young ones also suck up blood: and where the slain are,there is she.

¹ Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said,

² Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? hethat reproveth God, let him answer it.

³ Then Job answered the LORD, and said,

⁴ Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay minehand upon my mouth.

⁵ Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but Iwill proceed no further.

⁶ Then answered the LORD unto Job out of the whirlwind, andsaid,

⁷ Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, anddeclare thou unto me.

⁸ Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me,that thou mayest be righteous?

⁹ Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voicelike him?

¹⁰ Deck thyself now with majesty and excellency; and arraythyself with glory and beauty.

¹¹ Cast abroad the rage of thy wrath: and behold every one thatis proud, and abase him.

¹² Look on every one that is proud, and bring him low; and treaddown the wicked in their place.

¹³ Hide them in the dust together; and bind their faces insecret.

¹⁴ Then will I also confess unto thee that thine own right handcan save thee.

¹⁵ Behold now behemoth, which I made with thee; he eateth grassas an ox.

¹⁶ Lo now, his strength is in his loins, and his force is in thenavel of his belly.

¹⁷ He moveth his tail like a cedar: the sinews of his stones arewrapped together.

¹⁸ His bones are as strong pieces of brass; his bones are likebars of iron.

¹⁹ He is the chief of the ways of God: he that made him can makehis sword to approach unto him.

²⁰ Surely the mountains bring him forth food, where all thebeasts of the field play.

²¹ He lieth under the shady trees, in the covert of the reed, andfens.

²² The shady trees cover him with their shadow; the willows ofthe brook compass him about.

²³ Behold, he drinketh up a river, and hasteth not: he trusteththat he can draw up Jordan into his mouth.

²⁴ He taketh it with his eyes: his nose pierceth through snares.

¹ Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook? or his tongue witha cord which thou lettest down?

² Canst thou put an hook into his nose? or bore his jaw throughwith a thorn?

³ Will he make many supplications unto thee? will he speak softwords unto thee?

⁴ Will he make a covenant with thee? wilt thou take him for aservant for ever?

⁵ Wilt thou play with him as with a bird? or wilt thou bind himfor thy maidens?

⁶ Shall thy companions make a banquet of him? shall they parthim among the merchants?

⁷ Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? or his head withfish spears?

⁸ Lay thine hand upon him, remember the battle, do no more.

⁹ Behold, the hope of him is in vain: shall not one be cast downeven at the sight of him?

¹⁰ None is so fierce that dare stir him up: who then is able tostand before me?

¹¹ Who hath prevented me, that I should repay him? whatsoever isunder the whole heaven is mine.

¹² I will not conceal his parts, nor his power, nor his comelyproportion.

¹³ Who can discover the face of his garment? or who can come tohim with his double bridle?

¹⁴ Who can open the doors of his face? his teeth are terribleround about.

¹⁵ His scales are his pride, shut up together as with a closeseal.

¹⁶ One is so near to another, that no air can come between them.

¹⁷ They are joined one to another, they stick together, that theycannot be sundered.

¹⁸ By his neesings a light doth shine, and his eyes are like theeyelids of the morning.

¹⁹ Out of his mouth go burning lamps, and sparks of fire leapout.

²⁰ Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a seething pot orcaldron.

²¹ His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth.

²² In his neck remaineth strength, and sorrow is turned into joybefore him.

²³ The flakes of his flesh are joined together: they are firm inthemselves; they cannot be moved.

²⁴ His heart is as firm as a stone; yea, as hard as a piece ofthe nether millstone.

²⁵ When he raiseth up himself, the mighty are afraid: by reasonof breakings they purify themselves.

²⁶ The sword of him that layeth at him cannot hold: the spear,the dart, nor the habergeon.

²⁷ He esteemeth iron as straw, and brass as rotten wood.

²⁸ The arrow cannot make him flee: slingstones are turned withhim into stubble.

²⁹ Darts are counted as stubble: he laugheth at the shaking of aspear.

³⁰ Sharp stones are under him: he spreadeth sharp pointed thingsupon the mire.

³¹ He maketh the deep to boil like a pot: he maketh the sea likea pot of ointment.

³² He maketh a path to shine after him; one would think the deepto be hoary.

³³ Upon earth there is not his like, who is made without fear.

³⁴ He beholdeth all high things: he is a king over all thechildren of pride.

¹ Then Job answered the LORD, and said,

² I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought canbe withholden from thee.

³ Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? thereforehave I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful forme, which I knew not.

⁴ Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee,and declare thou unto me.

⁵ I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mineeye seeth thee.

⁶ Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.

⁷ And it was so, that after the LORD had spoken these words untoJob, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath iskindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye havenot spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Jobhath.

⁸ Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, andgo to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burntoffering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him willI accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that yehave not spoken of me the thing which is right, like myservant Job.

⁹ So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar theNaamathite went, and did according as the LORD commanded them:the LORD also accepted Job.

¹⁰ And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed forhis friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he hadbefore.

¹¹ Then came there unto him all his brethren, and all hissisters, and all they that had been of his acquaintancebefore, and did eat bread with him in his house: and theybemoaned him, and comforted him over all the evil that theLORD had brought upon him: every man also gave him a piece ofmoney, and every one an earring of gold.

¹² So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than hisbeginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and sixthousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousandshe asses.

¹³ He had also seven sons and three daughters.

¹⁴ And he called the name of the first, Jemima; and the name ofthe second, Kezia; and the name of the third, Keren-happuch.

¹⁵ And in all the land were no women found so fair as thedaughters of Job: and their father gave them inheritance amongtheir brethren.

¹⁶ After this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw hissons, and his sons' sons, even four generations.

¹⁷ So Job died, being old and full of days.

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