1  THERE was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was whole-hearted and upright, and one that feared God, and shunned evil.

1  There was a certain man in the land of Ausis, whose name was Job; and than man was true, blameless, righteous, and godly, abstaining from everything evil.

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

2  And he had seven sons and three daughters.

3  His possessions also were seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she-asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the children of the east.

3  And his cattle consisted of seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred she-asses in the pastures, and a very great household, and he had a great husbandry on the earth; and that man was most noble of the men of the east.

3  And his possession was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, along with five hundred pairs of oxen and five hundred she-donkeys, and also a very large family. And this man was great among all the people of the east.

4  And his sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one upon his day; and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.

4  And his sons visiting one another prepared a banquet every day, taking with them also their three sisters to eat and drink with them.

4  And his sons went and made a feast by houses, each one on his day. And sending, they called their three sisters to eat and drink with them.

5  And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt-offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said: 'It may be that my sons have sinned, and blasphemed God in their hearts.' Thus did Job continually.

5  And when the days of the banquet were completed, Job sent and purified them, having risen up in the morning, and offered sacrifices for them, according to their number, and one calf for a sin-offering for their souls: for Job said, Lest peradventure my sons have thought evil in their minds against God. Thus, then Job did continually.

5  And when the days of their feasting had been completed, Job sent to them and sanctified them, and, getting up at dawn, he offered holocausts for each one. For he said, “Perhaps my sons have sinned and have not praised God in their hearts.” So Job did all the days.

6  Now it fell upon a day, that the sons of God came to present themselves before YHWH, and Satan came also among them.

6  And it came to pass on a day, that behold, the angels of God came to stand before the Lord, and the devil came with them.

6  But on a certain day, when the sons of God came to attend in the presence of the Lord, Satan also arrived among them.

7  And YHWH said unto Satan: 'Whence comest thou?' Then Satan answered the YHWH, and said: 'From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.'

7  And the Lord said to the devil, Whence art thou come? And the devil answered the Lord, and said, I am come from compassing the earth, and walking up and down in the world.

7  The Lord said to him, “Where do you come from?” Answering, he said, “I have circled the land, and walked around in it.”

8  And YHWH said unto Satan: 'Hast thou considered My servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a whole-hearted and an upright man, one that feareth God, and shunneth evil?'

8  And the Lord said to him, Hast thou diligently considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a man blameless, true, godly, abstaining from everything evil?

8  Then the LORD said to Satan, Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, an innocent and upright man, one who reveres God, and turns away from evil?

9  Then Satan answered YHWH, and said: 'Doth Job fear God for nought?

9  Then the devil answered, and said before the Lord, Does Job worship the Lord for nothing?

9  Answering him, Satan said, “Does Job fear God to no purpose?

10  Hast not Thou made a hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath, on every side? Thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions are increased in the land.

10  Have you not fortified him, as well as his house and every one of his belongings around him, blessed the works of his hands, and his possession has increased in the land?

10  Thou hast rested thy hand of protection upon him and upon his house and upon his children and upon everything that he has everywhere; thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.

11  But put forth Thy hand now, and touch all that he hath, surely he will blaspheme Thee to Thy face.'

11  But extend your hand a little, and touch all that he possesses, and see if he still praises you to your face.”

12  And YHWH said unto Satan: 'Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thy hand.' So Satan went forth from the presence of the YHWH.

12  Then the Lord said to the devil, Behold, I give into thine hand all that he has, but touch not himself. So the devil went out from the presence of the Lord.

13  And it fell on a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house,

13  And it came to pass on a certain day, that Job’s sons and his daughters were drinking wine in the house of their elder brother.

13  So, on a certain day, when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine, in the house of their first-born brother,

14  that there came a messenger unto Job, and said: 'The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them;

14  And, behold, there came a messenger to Job, and said to him, The yokes of oxen were ploughing, and the she-asses were feeding near them;

14  a messenger came to Job, who said, “The oxen were plowing, and the donkeys were grazing beside them,

15  and the Sabeans made a raid, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.'

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

16  And while he was still speaking, another arrived, and he said, “The fire of God fell from heaven, and, having struck the sheep and the servants, it consumed them; and I alone escaped to tell you.”

17  While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said: 'The Chaldeans set themselves in three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have taken them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.'

17  And while he also was still speaking, another arrived, and he said, “The Chaldeans organized three attacks, and advanced on the camels and took them; and not only that, but they have struck the servants with the sword; and I alone fled to tell you.”

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

18  He was still speaking, and behold, another entered, and he said, “Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine in the house of their first-born brother,

19  And, behold, there came a great wind from across the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.'

19  suddenly a great wind came on from the desert, and caught the four corners of the house, and the house fell upon thy children, and they are dead; and I have escaped alone, and am come to tell thee.

19  when suddenly a severe wind rushed forth from a region of the desert and shook the four corners of the house, which collapsed and crushed your children, and they are dead; and I alone escaped to tell you.”

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

20  So Job arose, and rent his garments, and shaved the hair of his head, and fell on the earth, and worshipped,

21  And he said; naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither; YHWH gave, and the YHWH hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.

21  and said, I myself came forth naked from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither; the Lord gave, the Lord has taken away: as it seemed good to the Lord, so has it come to pass; blessed be the name of the Lord.

21  and he said, “Naked I departed from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away. Just as it pleased the Lord, so has it been done. Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

22  For all this Job sinned not, nor ascribed aught unseemly to God.

22  In all these events that befell him Job sinned not at all before the Lord, and did not impute folly to God.

22  In all this, Job did not sin by his lips, nor did he speak any foolish thing against God.

2:1  Again it fell upon a day, that the sons of God came to present themselves before YHWH, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the YHWH.

1  And it came to pass on a certain day, that the angels of God came to stand before the Lord, and the devil came among them to stand before the Lord.

1  But it happened that, on a certain day, when the sons of God had arrived and they stood before the Lord, Satan likewise arrived among them, and he stood in his sight.

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

2  And the Lord, said to the devil, Whence comest thou? Then the devil said before the Lord, I am come from going through the world, and walking about the whole earth.

2  So the Lord said to Satan, “Where do you come from?” Answering, he said, “I have circled the land, and walked around in it.”

2:3  And YHWH said unto Satan: 'Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a whole-hearted and an upright man, one that feareth God, and shunneth evil? and he still holdeth fast his integrity, although thou didst move Me against him, to destroy him without cause.'

3  And the Lord said to the devil, Hast thou then observed my servant Job, that there is none of men upon the earth like him, a harmless, true, blameless, godly man, abstaining from all evil? and he yet cleaves to innocence, whereas thou has told me to destroy his substance without cause?

3  And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you not considered my servant, Job, that there is no one like him in the land, a simple and honest man, fearing God and withdrawing from evil, and still retaining his innocence? Yet you have stirred me against him, so that I would afflict him to no purpose.”

2:4  And Satan answered YHWH, and said: 'Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.

4  And the devil answered and said to the Lord, Skin for skin, all that a man has will he give as a ransom for his life.

4  Answering him, Satan said, “Skin for skin; and everything that a man has, he will give for his life.

2:5  But put forth Thy hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, surely he will blaspheme Thee to Thy face.'

5  Yet send your hand and touch his bone and his flesh, and then you will see whether or not he blesses you to your face.”

2:6  And YHWH said unto Satan: 'Behold, he is in thy hand; only spare his life.'

6  And the Lord said to the devil, Behold, I deliver him up to thee; only save his life.

6  Therefore, the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your hand, but even so, spare his life.”

2:7  So Satan went forth from the presence of YHWH, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot even unto his crown.

7  So the devil went out from the Lord, and smote Job with sore boils from his feet to his head.

7  And so, Satan departed from the face of the Lord and he struck Job with a very serious ulcer from the sole of the foot all the way to the crown of his head.

2:8  And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself therewith; and he sat among the ashes.

8  And he took a potsherd to scrape away the discharge, and sat upon a dung-heap outside the city.

8  So he took a shard of earthenware and scraped the discharge, while sitting on a heap of refuse.

2:9  Then said his wife unto him: 'Dost thou still hold fast thine integrity? blaspheme God, and die.'

9  And when much time had passed, his wife said to him, How long wilt thou hold out, saying, Behold, I wait yet a little while, expecting the hope of my deliverance? for, behold, thy memorial is abolished from the earth, even thy sons and daughters, the pangs and pains of my womb which I bore in vain with sorrows; and thou thyself sittest down to spend the nights in the open air among the corruption of worms, and I am a wanderer and a servant from place to place and house to house, waiting for the setting of the sun, that I may rest from my labours and my pangs which now beset me: but say some word against the Lord, and die.

9  But his wife said to him, “Do you still continue in your simplicity? Bless God and die.”

2:10  But he said unto her: 'Thou speakest as one of the impious women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?' For all this did not Job sin with his lips.

2:11  Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place, Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite; and they made an appointment together to come to bemoan him and to comfort him.

11  Now his three friends having heard of all the evil that was come upon him, came to him each from his own country: Eliphaz the king of the Thaemans, Baldad sovereign of the Saucheans, Sophar king of he Minaeans: and they came to him with one accord, to comfort and to visit him.

11  And so, three friends of Job, hearing about all the evil that had befallen him, arrived, each one from his own place, Eliphaz the Themanite, and Baldad the Suhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. For they had agreed to come together to visit and console him.

2:12  And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and threw dust upon their heads toward heaven.

12  And when they saw him from a distance they did not know him; and they cried with a loud voice, and wept, and rent every one his garment, and sprinkled dust upon their heads,

12  And when they had raised up their eyes from a distance, they did not recognize him, and, crying out, they wept, and, tearing their garments, they scattered dust over their heads into the sky.

2:13  So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spoke a word unto him; for they saw that his grief was very great.

13  and they sat down beside him seven days and seven nights, and no one of them spoke; for they saw that his affliction was dreadful and very great.

13  And they sat with him on the ground for seven day and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his sorrow was very great.

3:1  After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day.

3:2  And Job spoke, and said

2  saying,

2  and this is what he said

3:3  Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night wherein it was said: 'A man-child is brought forth.'

3  May the day perish on which I was born, and the night, in which it was said, “A man has been conceived.”

3:4  Let that day be darkness; let not God inquire after it from above, neither let the light shine upon it.

4  May that day be turned into darkness, may God not seek it from above, and may light not illuminate it.

3:5  Let darkness and the shadow of death claim it for their own; let a cloud dwell upon it; let all that maketh black the day terrify it.

5  But let darkness and the shadow of death seize it; let blackness come upon it;

5  Let the darkness and the shadow of death cover it; let a cloud overshadow it; let those whose days are bitter be terrified by it.

3:6  As for that night, let thick darkness seize upon it; let it not rejoice among the days of the year; let it not come into the number of the months.

6  let that day and night be cursed, let darkness carry them away; let it not come into the days of the year, neither let it be numbered with the days of the months.

6  Let a whirlwind of darkness take hold of that night, let it not be counted in the days of the year, nor numbered in the months.

3:7  Lo, let that night be desolate; let no joyful voice come therein.

7  But let that night be pain, and let not mirth come upon it, nor joy.

7  May that night be alone and unworthy of praise.

3:8  Let them curse it that curse the day, who are ready to rouse up leviathan.

8  But let him that curses that day curse it, even he that is ready to attack the great whale.

8  May they curse it, who curse the day, who are prepared to awaken a leviathan.

3:9  Let the stars of the twilight thereof be dark; let it look for light, but have none; neither let it behold the eyelids of the morning;

9  Let the stars of that night be darkened; let it remain dark, and not come into light; and let it not see the morning star arise

9  Let the stars be concealed with its darkness. Let it expect light, and not see it, nor the rising of the dawn in the East.

3:10  Because it shut not up the doors of my mother's womb, nor hid trouble from mine eyes.

10  For it did not close the doors of the womb that bore me, nor take away evils from my eyes.

3:11  Why died I not from the womb? Why did I not perish at birth?

11  For why died I not in the belly? and why did I not come forth from the womb and die immediately?

11  Why did I not die in the womb? Having left the womb, why did I not immediately perish?

3:12  Why did the knees receive me? And wherefore the breasts, that I should suck?

12  and why did the knees support me? and why did I suck the breasts?

12  Why was I received upon the knees? Why was I suckled at the breasts?

3:13  For now should I have lain still and been quiet; I should have slept; then had I been at rest--

13  Now I should have lain down and been quiet, I should have slept and been at rest,

13  For by now, I should have been sleeping silently, and taking rest in my sleep

3:14  With kings and counsellors of the earth, who built up waste places for themselves;

3:15  Or with princes that had gold, who filled their houses with silver;

15  or with rulers, whose gold was abundant, who filled their houses with silver

15  either with princes, who possess gold and fill their houses with silver,

3:16  Or as a hidden untimely birth I had not been; as infants that never saw light.

16  or I should have been as an untimely birth proceeding from his mother’s womb, or as infants who never saw light.

16  or, like a hidden miscarriage, I should not have continued, just like those who, being conceived, have not seen the light.

3:17  There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary are at rest.

17  There the ungodly have burnt out the fury of rage; there the wearied in body rest.

17  There the impious cease from rebellion, and there the wearied in strength take rest.

3:18  There the prisoners are at ease together; they hear not the voice of the taskmaster.

18  And the men of old time have together ceased to hear the exactor’s voice.

18  And at such times, having been bound together without difficulty, they have not heard the voice of the bailiff.

3:19  The small and great are there alike; and the servant is free from his master.

3:20  Wherewith is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter in soul--

20  For why is light given to those who are in bitterness, and life to those souls which are in griefs?

20  Why is light given to the miserable, and life to those who are in bitterness of soul,

3:21  Who long for death, but it cometh not; and dig for it more than for hid treasures;

21  who desire death, and obtain it not, digging for it as for treasures;

21  who expect death, and it does not arrive, like those who dig for treasure

3:22  Who rejoice unto exultation, and are glad, when they can find the grave?--

22  and would be very joyful if they should gain it?

22  and who rejoice greatly when they have found the grave,

3:23  To a man whose way is hid, and whom God hath hedged in?

23  Death is rest to such a man, for God has hedged him in.

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

3:24  For my sighing cometh instead of my food, and my roarings are poured out like water.

24  For my groaning comes before my food, and I weep being beset with terror.

24  Before I eat, I sigh; and like overflowing waters, so is my howl,

3:25  For the thing which I did fear is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of hath overtaken me.

25  for the terror that I feared has happened to me, and so has the dread befallen me.

3:26  I was not at ease, neither was I quiet, neither had I rest; but trouble came.

26  Have I not remained hidden? Have I not kept silence? Have I not remained calm? Yet indignation has overcome me.

26  I am not at ease, neither am I calm, nor am I at rest; and yet misfortune came.

4:1  Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said

1  But Eliphaz the Themanite, answering, said

4:2  If one venture a word unto thee, wilt thou be weary? But who can withhold himself from speaking?

2  Hast thou been often spoken to in distress? but who shall endure the force of thy words?

2  If we start to speak to you, perhaps you will take it badly, but who can hold back the words he has conceived?

4:3  Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands.

3  For whereas thou hast instructed many, and hast strengthened the hands of the weak one,

3  Behold, you have taught many, and you have strengthened weary hands.

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

4  and hast supported the failing with words, and hast imparted courage to feeble knees.

4  Your words have reassured the wavering, and you have fortified the trembling knees.

4:5  But now it is come upon thee, and thou art weary; it toucheth thee, and thou art affrighted.

5  Yet now that pain has come upon thee, and touched thee, thou art troubled.

5  But now the scourge has overcome you, and you falter. It has touched you, and you are disturbed.

4:6  Is not thy fear of God thy confidence, and thy hope the integrity of thy ways?

6  Where is your reverence, your fortitude, your patience, and the perfection of your ways?

6  Behold, your fear is to be blamed, and your trust in the integrity of your way.

4:7  Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? Or where were the upright cut off?

7  Remember then who has perished, being pure? or when were the true-hearted utterly destroyed?

7  Consider this, I beg you: who ever perished being innocent? Or when have the righteous been destroyed?

4:8  According as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow mischief, reap the same.

8  In fact, I have instead seen those who work iniquity and who sow resentments, reap them,

4:9  By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast of His anger are they consumed.

9  They shall perish by the command of the Lord, and shall be utterly consumed by the breath of his wrath.

9  perishing by the breath of God, and being consumed by the wrath of his spirit.

4:10  The lion roareth, and the fierce lion howleth--yet the teeth of the young lions are broken.

10  The strength of the lion, and the voice of the lioness, and the exulting cry of serpents are quenched.

10  The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the lioness, and the teeth of young lions have been worn away.

4:11  The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, and the whelps of the lioness are scattered abroad.

11  The tiger has perished because it does not have prey, and the young lions have been scattered.

4:12  Now a word was secretly brought to me, and mine ear received a whisper thereof.

12  But if there had been any truth in thy words, none of these evils would have befallen thee. Shall not mine ear receive excellent revelations from him?

12  Furthermore, a word was spoken to me in secret, and, as if by theft, my ears received the pulse of its whisper.

4:13  In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men,

13  But as when terror falls upon men, with dread and a sound in the night,

4:14  Fear came upon me, and trembling, and all my bones were made to shake.

14  horror and trembling seized me, and caused all my bones greatly to shake.

14  fear and trembling seized me and all my bones were terrified.

4:15  Then a spirit passed before my face, that made the hair of my flesh to stand up.

15  And a spirit came before my face; and my hair and flesh quivered.

15  And when a spirit passed before me, the hair on my body stood up.

4:16  It stood still, but I could not discern the appearance thereof; a form was before mine eyes; I heard a still voice

16  I arose and perceived it not: I looked, and there, was no form before my eyes: but I only heard a breath and a voice, saying,

16  There appeared an image before my eyes, someone whose face I did not recognize, and I heard a voice like a gentle breeze.

4:17  'Shall mortal man be just before God? Shall a man be pure before his Maker?

17  What, shall a mortal be pure before the Lord? or a man be blameless in regard to his works?

17  Should man be justified in relation to God, or will a man be more pure than his Maker?

4:18  Behold, He putteth no trust in His servants, and His angels He chargeth with folly;

18  Whereas he trust not in his servants, and perceives perverseness in his angels.

18  Behold, those who serve him are not steadfast, and in his angels he finds imperfection.

4:19  How much more them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed before the moth!

19  But as for them that dwell in houses of clay, of whom we also are formed of the same clay, he smites them like a moth.

19  Even those who dwell in decorated houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, shall be humbled before the thick darkness.

4:20  Betwixt morning and evening they are shattered; they perish for ever without any regarding it.

20  And from the morning to evening they no longer exist: they have perished, because they cannot help themselves.

4:21  Is not their tent-cord plucked up within them? They die, and that without wisdom.'

21  For he blows upon them, and they are withered: they have perished for lack of wisdom.

21  But those who are left behind will be taken away from them; they will die, and not in wisdom.

5:1  Call now; is there any that will answer thee? And to which of the holy ones wilt thou turn?

1  But call, if any one will hearken to thee, or if thou shalt see any of the holy angels.

1  Therefore call, if there are any who will respond to you, and turn to one or another of the saints.

5:2  For anger killeth the foolish man, and envy slayeth the silly one.

2  For wrath destroys the foolish one, and envy slays him that has gone astray.

2  Truly, anger condemns the foolish to death, and envy kills the petty.

5:3  I have seen the foolish taking root; but suddenly I beheld his habitation cursed.

3  And I have seen foolish ones taking root: but suddenly their habitation was devoured.

3  I have seen a fool with a strong root, and I have cursed his excellence without hesitation.

5:4  His children are far from safety, and are crushed in the gate, with none to deliver them.

4  Let their children be far from safety, and let them be crushed at the doors of vile men, and let there be no deliverer.

4  His sons will be far from prosperity and will be crushed at the gate, and there will be none who can rescue them.

5:5  Whose harvest the hungry eateth up, and taketh it even out of the thorns, and the snare gapeth for their substance.

5  For what they have collected, the just shall eat; but they shall not be delivered out of calamities: let their strength be utterly exhausted.

5  Their harvest, the starving will eat. The armed man will rob him, and the thirsty will drink his resources.

5:6  For affliction cometh not forth from the dust, neither doth trouble spring out of the ground;

6  For labour cannot by any means come out of the earth, nor shall trouble spring out of the mountains

6  Nothing on earth occurs without a reason, and sorrow does not rise from the earth.

5:7  But man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward.

7  yet man is born to labour, and even so the vulture’s young seek the high places.

5:8  But as for me, I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause;

8  Nevertheless I will beseech the Lord, and will call upon the Lord, the sovereign of all;

8  Therefore, because of this, I will beg the Lord, and place my eloquence before God.

5:9  Who doeth great things and unsearchable, marvellous things without number;

9  who does great things and untraceable, glorious things also, and marvellous, of which there is no number

9  He does great and unfathomable and miraculous things without number.

5:10  Who giveth rain upon the earth, and sendeth waters upon the fields;

10  He gives rain over the face of the earth and irrigates all things with the waters.

5:11  So that He setteth up on high those that are low, and those that mourn are exalted to safety.

11  who exalts the lowly, and raises up them that are lost

11  He places the humble on high and encourages the grieving towards health.

5:12  He frustrateth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands can perform nothing substantial.

12  frustrating the counsels of the crafty, and their hands shall not perform the truth

12  He dispels the thoughts of the spiteful, lest their hands be able to complete what they had begun.

5:13  He taketh the wise in their own craftiness; and the counsel of the wily is carried headlong.

13  He catches the wise in their cleverness and dissipates the counsel of the perverse.

5:14  They meet with darkness in the day-time, and grope at noonday as in the night.

14  In the day darkness shall come upon them, and let them grope in the noon-day even as in the night

14  They handle things in the daytime as though they were in darkness, and grope in the noonday as in the night.

5:15  But He saveth from the sword of their mouth, even the needy from the hand of the mighty.

15  and let them perish in war, and let the weak escape from the hand of the mighty.

15  Thereafter, he will act to save the needy from the sword of their mouth, and the poor from the hand of the violent.

5:16  So the poor hath hope, and iniquity stoppeth her mouth.

16  And let the weak have hope, but the mouth of the unjust be stopped.

16  And there will be hope for those in need, for iniquity will diminish its speech.

5:17  Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth; therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty.

17  But blessed is the man whom the Lord has reproved; and reject not thou the chastening of the Almighty.

17  Blessed is the man whom God corrects; therefore, do not reject the chastisement of the Lord.

5:18  For He maketh sore, and bindeth up; He woundeth, and His hands make whole.

18  for he causes a man to be in pain, and restores him again: he smites, and his hands heal.

18  For he wounds and he cures; he strikes and his hands will heal.

5:19  He will deliver thee in six troubles; yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee.

19  Six time he shall deliver thee out of distresses: and in the seventh harm shall not touch thee.

5:20  In famine He will redeem thee from death; and in war from the power of the sword.

20  During famine, he will rescue you from death, and during war, from the hand of the sword.

5:21  Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue; neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh.

21  You will be hidden from the scourge of the tongue, and you will not fear calamity when it arrives.

5:22  At destruction and famine thou shalt laugh; neither shalt thou be afraid of the beasts of the earth.

22  In desolation and in famine, you will laugh, and you will not dread the beasts of the earth.

5:23  For thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field; and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee.

23  For the wild beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee.

23  For you are in harmony with the stones of the land, and the beasts of the earth will make peace with you.

5:24  And thou shalt know that thy tent is in peace; and thou shalt visit thy habitation, and shalt miss nothing.

24  Then shalt thou know that thy house shall be at peace, and the provision for thy tabernacle shall not fail.

24  And you will know that your home has peace, and, concerning your appearance, you will not sin.

5:25  Thou shalt know also that thy seed shall be great, and thine offspring as the grass of the earth.

25  Likewise, you will know that your offspring will be manifold and your progeny will be like the grass of the earth.

5:26  Thou shalt come to thy grave in a ripe age, like as a shock of corn cometh in in its season.

26  And thou shalt come to the grave like ripe corn reaped in its season, or as a heap of the corn-flour collected in proper time.

26  You will enter the grave with abundance, just as a crop of wheat is gathered in its time.

5:27  Lo this, we have searched it, so it is; hear it, and know thou it for thy good.

27  Behold, we have thus sought out these matters; these are what we have heard: but do thou reflect with thyself, if thou hast done anything wrong.

6:1  Then Job answered and said

1  But Job answered and said,

6:2  Oh that my vexation were but weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances altogether!

2  Oh that one would indeed weigh the wrath that is upon me, and take up my griefs in a balance together!

2  I wish that my sins, for which I deserve wrath, and the calamity that I endure, were weighed out on a balance.

6:3  For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas; therefore are my words broken.

3  And verily they would be heavier than the sand by the seashore: but, as it seems, my words are vain.

3  Compared to the sand of the sea, they would appear heavier, and so my words are full of sorrow.

6:4  For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison whereof my spirit drinketh up; the terrors of God do set themselves in array against me.

4  For the arrows of the Lord are in my body, whose violence drinks up my blood: whenever I am going to speak, they pierce me.

6:5  Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox over his fodder?

5  What then? will the wild ass bray for nothing, if he is not seeking food? or again, will the ox low at the manger, when he has a fodder?

5  Will the wild ass bray when he has grass? Or will the ox bellow when he stands before a full manger?

6:6  Can that which hath no savour be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the juice of mallows?

6  Shall bread be eaten without salt? or again, is there taste in empty words?

6  Or can one eat bland food, which is not seasoned with salt? Or can anyone taste that which, if tasted, causes death?

6:7  My soul refuseth to touch them; they are as the sickness of my flesh.

7  For my wrath cannot cease; for I perceive my food as the smell of a lion to be loathsome.

7  My soul is weary of its troubles, I lament like a drunken man in my affliction.

6:8  Oh that I might have my request, and that God would grant me the thing that I long for!

8  For oh that he would grant my desire, and my petition might come, and the Lord would grant my hope!

8  Who will grant that my petition may arrive and that God may bestow on me what I expect,

6:9  Even that it would please God to crush me; that He would let loose His hand, and cut me off!

9  Let the Lord begin and wound me, but let him not utterly destroy me.

6:10  Then should I yet have comfort; yea, I would exult in pain, though He spare not; for I have not denied the words of the Holy One.

10  And may this be my consolation, that in afflicting me with sorrow, although he might not be lenient with me, I still do not contradict the words of the Holy One.

6:11  What is my strength, that I should wait? and what is mine end, that I should be patient?

11  For what is my strength, that I continue? what is my time, that my soul endures?

6:12  Is my strength the strength of stones? or is my flesh of brass?

12  My strength is not the strength of stones, nor is my flesh made of bronze.

6:13  Is it that I have no help in me, and that sound wisdom is driven quite from me?

13  Or have I not trusted in him? but help is far from me.

13  Behold, there is no help for me in myself, and my loved ones also have withdrawn from me.

6:14  To him that is ready to faint kindness is due from his friend, even to him that forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.

14  Mercy has rejected me; and the visitation of the Lord has disregarded me.

14  He who takes away mercy from his friend, abandons the fear of the Lord.

6:15  My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, as the channel of brooks that overflow,

15  My nearest relations have not regarded me; they have passed me by like a failing brook, or like a wave.

15  My brethren have disregarded me, like a torrent that passes swiftly through the steep valleys.

6:16  Which are black by reason of the ice, and wherein the snow hideth itself;

16  They who used to reverence me, now have come against me like snow or congealed ice.

16  Those who fear frost, snow will rush over them.

6:17  What time they wax warm, they vanish, when it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.

17  When it has melted at the approach of heat, it is not known what it was.

17  At that time, when they are scattered, they will perish, and when it becomes hot, they will be freed from their place.

6:18  The paths of their way do wind, they go up into the waste, and are lost.

18  Thus I also have been deserted of all; and I am ruined, and become an outcast.

6:19  The caravans of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them--

19  Behold the ways of the Thaemanites, ye that mark the paths of the Sabaeans.

19  Consider the paths of Thema, the ways of Saba, and wait a little while.

6:20  They were ashamed because they had hoped; they came thither, and were confounded.

20  They too that trust in cities and riches shall come to shame.

20  They have been thrown into confusion, just as I had hoped; they have even come to me and are overwhelmed with shame.

6:21  For now ye are become His; ye see a terror, and are afraid.

21  But ye also have come to me without pity; so that beholding my wound ye are afraid.

21  Now you have arrived, and merely by seeing my affliction, you are afraid.

6:22  Did I say: 'Give unto me'? or: 'Offer a present for me of your substance'?

22  What? have I made any demand of you? or do I ask for strength from you,

6:23  or: 'Deliver me from the adversary's hand'? or: 'Redeem me from the hand of the oppressors'?

23  to deliver me from enemies, or to rescue me from the hand of the mighty ones?

23  or, “Free me from the hand of the enemy and rescue me from the hand of the strong?”

6:24  Teach me, and I will hold my peace; and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.

24  Teach ye me, and I will be silent: if in anything I have erred, tell me.

24  Teach me, and I will be silent, and if by chance I have been ignorant of anything, instruct me.

6:25  How forcible are words of uprightness! But what doth your arguing argue?

25  But as it seems, the words of a true man are vain, because I do not ask strength of you.

25  Why have you diminished the words of truth, when there is none of you who is able to offer proof against me?

6:26  Do ye hold words to be an argument, but the speeches of one that is desperate to be wind?

26  You prepare speeches as so much noise, and you offer words into the wind.

26  Behold you are seeking to find words with which to reprove, and against my soul you are conjuring up words.

6:27  Yea, ye would cast lots upon the fatherless, and dig a pit for your friend.

27  You encroach upon the orphan, and you strive to undermine your friend.

27  Behold, you overwhelm the fatherless, and you grieve your friend.

6:28  Now therefore be pleased to look upon me; for surely I shall not lie to your face.

28  But now, having looked upon your countenances, I will not lie.

28  Such is true, so finish what you have begun. Listen closely, and see if I lie.

6:29  Return, I pray you, let there be no injustice; yea, return again, my cause is righteous.

29  Sit down now, and let there not be unrighteousness; and unite again with the just.

6:30  Is there injustice on my tongue? Cannot my taste discern crafty devices?

30  For there is no injustice in my tongue; and does not my throat meditate understanding?

30  And you will not find iniquity on my tongue, nor will foolishness resound in my throat.

7:1  Is there not a time of service to man upon earth? And are not his days like the days of a hireling?

1  The life of a man on the earth is a battle, and his days are like the days of a hired hand.

7:2  As a servant that eagerly longeth for the shadow, and as a hireling that looketh for his wages;

2  Or as a servant that fears his master, and one who has grasped a shadow? or as a hireling waiting for his pay?

2  Just as a servant desires the shade, and just as the hired hand looks forward to the end of his work,

7:3  So am I made to possess--months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me.

3  So have I also endured months of vanity, and nights of pain have been appointed me.

3  so also have I had empty months and have counted my burdensome nights.

7:4  When I lie down, I say: 'When shall I arise?' But the night is long, and I am full of tossings to and fro unto the dawning of the day.

4  Whenever I lie down, I say, When will it be day? and whenever I rise up, again I say when will it be evening? and I am full of pains from evening to morning.

4  If I lie down to sleep, I will say, “When will I rise?” And next I will hope for the evening and will be filled with sorrows even until darkness.

7:5  My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin closeth up and breaketh out afresh.

5  And my body is covered with loathsome worms; and I waste away, scraping off clods of dust from my eruption.

7:6  My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope.

6  And my life is lighter than a word, and has perished in vain hope.

6  My days have passed by more quickly than threads are cut by a weaver, and they have been consumed without any hope.

7:7  O remember that my life is a breath; mine eye shall no more see good.

7  Remember then that my life is breath, and mine eye shalt not yet again see good.

7:8  The eye of him that seeth me shall behold me no more; while Thine eyes are upon me, I am gone.

8  Neither will the sight of man gaze upon me; your eyes are upon me, and I will not endure.

7:9  As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away, so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more.

9  I am as a cloud that is cleared away from the sky: for if a man go down to the grave, he shall not come up again

9  Just as a cloud is consumed and passes away, so he who descends to hell will not ascend.

7:10  He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him any more.

10  and he shall surely not return to his own house, neither shall his place know him any more.

10  He will not return again to his house, nor will his own place know him any longer.

7:11  Therefore I will not refrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.

11  Then neither will I refrain my mouth: I will speak being in distress; being in anguish I will disclose the bitterness of my soul.

11  And because of this, I will not restrain my mouth. I will speak in the affliction of my spirit. I will converse from the bitterness of my soul.

7:12  Am I a sea, or a sea-monster, that Thou settest a watch over me?

12  Am I an ocean or a whale, that you have encircled me in a prison?

7:13  When I say: 'My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaint';

13  I said that my bed should comfort me, and I would privately counsel with myself on my couch.

13  If I say, “My bed will comfort me, and I will find rest, speaking with myself on my blanket,”

7:14  Then Thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions;

7:15  So that my soul chooseth strangling, and death rather than these my bones.

15  Thou wilt separate life from my spirit; and yet keep my bones from death.

15  Thou hast drawn my life out of destruction, and my bones out of death.

7:16  I loathe it; I shall not live alway; let me alone; for my days are vanity.

16  For I shall not live for ever, that I should patiently endure: depart from me, for my life is vain.

7:17  What is man, that Thou shouldest magnify him, and that Thou shouldest set Thy heart upon him,

17  For what is man, that thou hast magnified him? or that thou givest heed to him?

7:18  And that Thou shouldest remember him every morning, and try him every moment?

18  Wilt thou visit him till the morning, and judge him till the time of rest?

18  You visit him at dawn, and you test him unexpectedly.

7:19  How long wilt Thou not look away from me, nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle?

19  How long will you not spare me, nor release me to ingest my saliva?

7:20  If I have sinned, what do I unto Thee, O Thou watcher of men? Why hast Thou set me as a mark for Thee, so that I am a burden to myself?

20  I have sinned; what should I do for you, O keeper of men? Why have you set me against you, so that I have become burdensome even to myself?

20  If I have sinned; what have I done to thee, O thou Creator of men? Why hast thou caused me to encounter thee? Thou hast become a burden to me.

7:21  And why dost Thou not pardon my transgression, and take away mine iniquity? For now shall I lie down in the dust; and Thou wilt seek me, but I shall not be.

21  Why hast thou not forgotten my iniquity, and purged my sin? but now I shall depart to the earth; and in the morning I am no more.

21  Why do you not steal away my sin, and why do you not sweep away my iniquity? Behold, now I will sleep in the dust, and if you seek me in the morning, I will not remain.