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On another day the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them to present himself before Him.

So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and infected Job with terrible boils from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head.

So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and infected Job with terrible boils from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head.

So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and infected Job with terrible boils from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head.

And Job took a piece of broken pottery to scrape himself as he sat among the ashes.

Now when Job’s three friends—Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite—heard about all this adversity that had come upon him, each of them came from his home, and they met together to go and sympathize with Job and comfort him.

After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth.

“May the day of my birth perish, and the night it was said, ‘A boy is conceived.’

May darkness and gloom reclaim it, and a cloud settle over it; may the blackness of the day overwhelm it.

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.

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 that night did not shut the doors of the womb to hide the sorrow from my eyes.

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

The captives enjoy their ease; they do not hear the voice of the oppressor.

Why is light given to the miserable, and life to the bitter of soul,

Is your reverence not your confidence, and the uprightness of your ways your hope?

By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast of His anger they are consumed.

By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast of His anger they are consumed.

The lion may roar, and the fierce lion may growl, yet the teeth of the young lions are broken.

The old lion perishes for lack of prey, and the cubs of the lioness are scattered.

The old lion perishes for lack of prey, and the cubs of the lioness are scattered.

Now a word came to me secretly; my ears caught a whisper of it.

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

“Call out if you please, but who will answer? To which of the holy ones will you turn?

He thwarts the schemes of the crafty, so that their hands find no success.

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

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

Blessed indeed is the man whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.

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

You will be hidden from the scourge of the tongue, and will not fear havoc when it comes.

You will laugh at destruction and famine, and need not fear the beasts of the earth.

For you will have a covenant with the stones of the field, and the wild animals will be at peace with you.

You will know that your offspring will be many, your descendants like the grass of the earth.

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

For then it would outweigh the sand of the seas—no wonder my words have been rash.

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

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?

It still brings me comfort, and joy through unrelenting pain, that I have not denied the words of the Holy One.

Is my strength like that of stone, or my flesh made of bronze?

Is my strength like that of stone, or my flesh made of bronze?

A despairing man should have the kindness of his friend, even if he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.

A despairing man should have the kindness of his friend, even if he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.

…darkened because of the ice and the inflow of melting snow,

…darkened because of the ice and the inflow of melting snow,

The caravans of Tema look for water; the travelers of Sheba hope to find it.

The caravans of Tema look for water; the travelers of Sheba hope to find it.

For now you are of no help; you see terror, and you are afraid.

…deliver me from the hand of the enemy; redeem me from the grasp of the ruthless’?

…deliver me from the hand of the enemy; redeem me from the grasp of the ruthless’?

Do you intend to correct my words, and treat as wind my cry of despair?

“Is not man consigned to labor on earth? Are not his days like those of a hired hand?

So I am allotted months of futility, and nights of misery are appointed to me.

So I am allotted months of futility, and nights of misery are appointed to me.

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.

Am I the sea, or the monster of the deep, that You must keep me under guard?

If I have sinned, what have I done to You, O watcher of mankind? Why have You made me Your target, so that I am a burden to You?

“How long will you go on saying such things? The words of your mouth are a blustering wind.

Please inquire of past generations and consider the discoveries of their fathers.

Please inquire of past generations and consider the discoveries of their fathers.

Such is the destiny of all who forget God; so the hope of the godless will perish.

Such is the destiny of all who forget God; so the hope of the godless will perish.

Surely this is the joy of his way; yet others will spring from the dust.

Behold, God does not reject the blameless, nor will He strengthen the hand of evildoers.

He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with a shout of joy.

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

If one wished to contend with God, he could not answer Him one time out of a thousand.

He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea.

He is the Maker of the Bear and Orion, of the Pleiades and the constellations of the south.

He is the Maker of the Bear and Orion, of the Pleiades and the constellations of the south.

He is the Maker of the Bear and Orion, of the Pleiades and the constellations of the south.

God does not restrain His anger; the helpers of Rahab cower beneath Him.

If it is a matter of strength, He is indeed mighty! If it is a matter of justice, who can summon Him?

If it is a matter of strength, He is indeed mighty! If it is a matter of justice, who can summon Him?

When the scourge brings sudden death, He mocks the despair of the innocent.

The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; He blindfolds its judges. If it is not He, then who is it?

They sweep by like boats of papyrus, like an eagle swooping down on its prey.

Then I would speak without fear of Him. But as it is, I am on my own.

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

Does it please You to oppress me, to reject the work of Your hands and favor the schemes of the wicked?

Does it please You to oppress me, to reject the work of Your hands and favor the schemes of the wicked?

Do You have eyes of flesh? Do You see as man sees?

Are Your days like those of a mortal, or Your years like those of a man,

Are Your days like those of a mortal, or Your years like those of a man,

If I sinned, You would take note, and would not acquit me of my iniquity.

If I am guilty, woe to me! And even if I am righteous, I cannot lift my head. I am full of shame and aware of my affliction.

If I am guilty, woe to me! And even if I am righteous, I cannot lift my head. I am full of shame and aware of my affliction.

…before I go—never to return—to a land of darkness and gloom,

…to a land of utter darkness, of deep shadow and disorder, where even the light is like darkness.”

…to a land of utter darkness, of deep shadow and disorder, where even the light is like darkness.”

“Should this stream of words go unanswered and such a speaker be vindicated?

…and disclose to you the secrets of wisdom, for true wisdom has two sides. Know then that God exacts from you less than your iniquity deserves.

Can you fathom the deep things of God or discover the limits of the Almighty?

Can you fathom the deep things of God or discover the limits of the Almighty?

Surely He knows the deceit of men. If He sees iniquity, does He not take note?

But a witless man can no more become wise than the colt of a wild donkey can be born a man!

But the eyes of the wicked will fail, and escape will elude them; they will hope for their last breath.”

The one at ease scorns misfortune as the fate of those whose feet are slipping.