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And all of Mordecai’s powerful and magnificent accomplishments, together with the full account of the greatness to which the king had raised him, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Media and Persia?

There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job. And this man was blameless and upright, fearing God and shunning evil.

Job’s sons would take turns holding feasts in their homes, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them.

And when the days of feasting were over, Job would send for his children to purify them, rising early in the morning to offer burnt offerings for all of them. For Job thought, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular practice.

And when the days of feasting were over, Job would send for his children to purify them, rising early in the morning to offer burnt offerings for all of them. For Job thought, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular practice.

“Where have you come from?” said the LORD to Satan. “From roaming through the earth,” he replied, “and walking back and forth in it.”

Have You not placed a hedge on every side around him and his household and all that he owns? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.

“Very well,” said the LORD to Satan. “Everything he has is in your hands, but you must not lay a hand on the man himself.” Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.

One day, while Job’s sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house,

While he was still speaking, another messenger came and reported: “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house,

…when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on the young people and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

In all this, Job did not sin or charge God with wrongdoing.

“Where have you come from?” said the LORD to Satan. “From roaming through the earth,” he replied, “and walking back and forth in it.”

“Skin for skin!” Satan replied. “A man will give up all he owns in exchange for his life.

“Very well,” said the LORD to Satan. “He is in your hands, but you must spare his life.”

“You speak as a foolish woman speaks,” he told her. “Should we accept from God only good and not adversity?” In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.

“You speak as a foolish woman speaks,” he told her. “Should we accept from God only good and not adversity?” In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.

When they lifted up their eyes from afar, they could barely recognize Job. They began to weep aloud, and each man tore his robe and threw dust in the air over his head.

If only darkness had taken that night away! May it not appear among the days of the year; may it never be entered in any of the months.

May its morning stars grow dark; may it wait in vain for daylight; may it not see the breaking of dawn.

For now I would be lying down in peace; I would be asleep and at rest

…with kings and counselors of the earth, who built for themselves cities now in ruins,

Why is life given to a man whose way is hidden, whom God has hedged in?

In disquieting visions in the night, when deep sleep falls on men,

In disquieting visions in the night, when deep sleep falls on men,

If God puts no trust in His servants, and He charges His angels with error,

…how much more those who dwell in houses of clay, whose foundations are in the dust, who can be crushed like a moth!

…how much more those who dwell in houses of clay, whose foundations are in the dust, who can be crushed like a moth!

His sons are far from safety, crushed in court without a defender.

He catches the wise in their craftiness, and sweeps away the plans of the cunning.

They encounter darkness by day and grope at noon as in the night.

He saves the needy from the sword in their mouth and from the clutches of the powerful.

He will rescue you from six calamities; no harm will touch you in seven.

In famine He will redeem you from death, and in battle from the stroke of the sword.

In famine He will redeem you from death, and in battle from the stroke of the sword.

You will come to the grave in full vigor, like a sheaf of grain gathered in season.

You will come to the grave in full vigor, like a sheaf of grain gathered in season.

For the arrows of the Almighty have pierced me; my spirit drinks in their poison; the terrors of God are arrayed against me.

Is tasteless food eaten without salt, or is there flavor in the white of an egg?

…but ceasing in the dry season and vanishing from their channels in the heat.

…but ceasing in the dry season and vanishing from their channels in the heat.

Therefore I will not restrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.

Therefore I will not restrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.

…so that I would prefer strangling and death over my life in this body.

Why do You not pardon my transgression and take away my iniquity? For soon I will lie down in the dust; You will seek me, but I will be no more.”

His confidence is fragile; his security is in a spider’s web.

He is a well-watered plant in the sunshine, spreading its shoots over the garden.

Your enemies will be clothed in shame, and the tent of the wicked will be no more.”

God is wise in heart and mighty in strength. Who has resisted Him and prospered?

God is wise in heart and mighty in strength. Who has resisted Him and prospered?

He moves mountains without their knowledge and overturns them in His anger.

Since I am already found guilty, why should I labor in vain?

“I loathe my own life; I will express my complaint and speak in the bitterness of my soul.

Yet You concealed these things in Your heart, and I know that this was in Your mind:

Yet You concealed these things in Your heart, and I know that this was in Your mind:

You produce new witnesses against me and multiply Your anger toward me. Hardships assault me in wave after wave.

You have said, ‘My doctrine is sound, and I am pure in Your sight.’

…if you put away the iniquity in your hand, and allow no injustice to dwell in your tents,

…if you put away the iniquity in your hand, and allow no injustice to dwell in your tents,

You will be secure, because there is hope, and you will look around and lie down in safety.

The tents of robbers are safe, and those who provoke God are secure—those who carry their god in their hands.

The life of every living thing is in His hand, as well as the breath of all mankind.

He deprives the earth’s leaders of reason and makes them wander in a trackless wasteland.

They grope in the darkness without light; He makes them stagger like drunkards.

Would you show Him partiality or argue in His defense?

Why do I put myself at risk and take my life in my own hands?

Though He slay me, I will hope in Him. I will still defend my ways to His face.

Listen carefully to my words; let my declaration ring in your ears.

You put my feet in the stocks and stand watch over all my paths; You set a limit for the soles of my feet.

If its roots grow old in the ground and its stump dies in the soil,

If its roots grow old in the ground and its stump dies in the soil,

If only You would hide me in Sheol and conceal me until Your anger has passed! If only You would appoint a time for me and then remember me!

My transgression would be sealed in a bag, and You would cover over my iniquity.

Do you listen in on the council of God or limit wisdom to yourself?

If God puts no trust in His holy ones, if even the heavens are not pure in His eyes,

If God puts no trust in His holy ones, if even the heavens are not pure in His eyes,

A wicked man writhes in pain all his days; only a few years are reserved for the ruthless.

Sounds of terror fill his ears; in his prosperity the destroyer attacks him.

…he will dwell in ruined cities, in abandoned houses destined to become rubble.

…he will dwell in ruined cities, in abandoned houses destined to become rubble.

Let him not deceive himself with trust in emptiness, for emptiness will be his reward.

It will be paid in full before his time, and his branch will not flourish.

I could also speak like you if you were in my place; I could heap up words against you and shake my head at you.

I have sewn sackcloth over my skin; I have buried my horn in the dust.

Even now my witness is in heaven, and my advocate is on high.

He has made me a byword among the people, a man in whose face they spit.

They have turned night into day, making light seem near in the face of darkness.

If I look for Sheol as my home, if I spread out my bed in darkness,

Why are we regarded as cattle, as stupid in your sight?

You who tear yourself in anger—should the earth be forsaken on your account, or the rocks be moved from their place?

The light in his tent grows dark, and the lamp beside him goes out.

A noose is hidden in the ground, and a trap lies in his path.

A noose is hidden in the ground, and a trap lies in his path.

Fire resides in his tent; burning sulfur rains down on his dwelling.

The memory of him perishes from the earth, and he has no name in the land.

Those in the west are appalled at his fate, while those in the east tremble in horror.

Those in the west are appalled at his fate, while those in the east tremble in horror.

Those in the west are appalled at his fate, while those in the east tremble in horror.

My guests and maidservants count me as a stranger; I am a foreigner in their sight.

I wish that my words were recorded and inscribed in a book,