The Bible (Old and New Testaments)

I wept heretofore for him that was afflicted, and my soul had compassion on the poor.

I expected good things, and evils are come upon me: I waited for light, and darkness broke out.

My inner parts have boiled without any rest, the days of affliction have prevented me.

I went mourning without indignation; I rose up, and cried in the crowd.

I was the brother of dragons, and companion of ostriches.

My skin is become black upon me, and my bones are dried up with heat.

My harp is turned to mourning, and my organ into the voice of those that weep.

I made a covenant with my eyes, that I would not so much as think upon a virgin.

For what part should God from above have in me, and what inheritance the Almighty from on high?

Is not destruction to the wicked, and aversion to them that work iniquity?

Doth not he consider my ways, and number all my steps?

If I have walked in vanity, and my foot hath made haste to deceit:

Let him weigh me in a just balance, and let God know my simplicity.

If my step hath turned out of the way, and if my heart hath followed my eyes, and if a spot hath cleaved to my hands:

Then let me sow and let another reap: and let my offspring be rooted out.

If my heart hath been deceived upon a woman, and if I have laid wait at my friend's door:

Let my wife be the harlot of another, and let other men lie with her.

For this is a heinous crime, and a most grievous iniquity.

It is a fire that devoureth even to destruction, and rooteth up all things that spring.

If I have despised to abide judgment with my man-servant, or my maid-servant, when they had any controversy against me:

For what shall I do when God shall rise to judge? and when he shall examine, what shall I answer him?

Did not he that made me in the womb make him also: and did not one and the same form me in the womb?

If I have denied to the poor what they desired, and have made the eyes of the widow wait:

If I have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof:

(For from my infancy mercy grew up with me: and it came out with me from my mother's womb:)

If I have despised him that was perishing for want of clothing, and the poor man that had no covering:

If his sides have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep:

If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, even when I saw myself superior in the gate:

Let my shoulder fall from its joint, and let my arm with its bones be broken.

For I have always feared God as waves swelling over me, and his weight I was unable to bear.

If I have thought gold my strength, and have said to fine gold: My confidence:

If I have rejoiced over my great riches, and because my hand had gotten much.

If I beheld the sun when it shined and the moon going in brightness:

And my heart in secret hath rejoiced, and I have kissed my hand with, my mouth:

Which is a very great iniquity, and a denial against the most high God.

If I have been glad at the downfall of him that hated me, and have rejoiced that evil had found him.

For I have not given my mouth to sin, by wishing a curse to his soul.

If the men of my tabernacle have not said: Who will give us of his flesh that we may be filled?

The stranger did not stay without, my door was open to the traveller.

If as a man I have hid my sin, and have concealed my iniquity in my bosom.

If I have been afraid at a very great multitude, and the contempt of kinsmen hath terrified me: and have not rather held my peace, and not gone out of the door.

Who would grant me a hearing, that the Almighty may hear my desire: and that he himself that judgeth would write a book,

That I may carry it on my shoulder, and put it about me as a crown?

At every step of mine I would pronounce it, and offer it as to a prince.

If my land cry against me, and with it the furrows thereof mourn:

If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, and have afflicted the son of the tillers thereof:

Let thistles grow up to me instead of wheat, and thorns instead of barley.

So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he seemed just to himself.

And Eliu the son of Barachel the Buzite of the kindred of Ram, was angry and was moved to indignation: now he was angry against Job, because he said he was just before God.

And he was angry with his friends, because they had not found a reasonable answer, but only had condemned Job.

So Eliu waited while Job was speaking because they were his elders that were speaking.

But when he saw that the three were not able to answer, he was exceedingly angry.

Then Eliu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered, and said: I am younger in days, and you are more ancient, therefore hanging down my head, I was afraid to shew you my opinion.

For I hoped that greater age would speak, and that a multitude of years would teach wisdom.

But, as I see, there is a spirit in men, and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth understanding.

They that are aged are not the wise men, neither do the ancients understand judgment.

Therefore I will speak: Hearken to me, I also will shew you my wisdom.

For I have waited for your words, I have given ear to your wisdom, as long as you were disputing in words.

And as long as I thought you said some thing, I considered: but, as I see, there is none of you that can convince Job, and answer his words.

Lest you should say: We have found wisdom, God hath cast him down, not man.

He hath spoken nothing to me, and I will not answer him according to your words.

They were afraid, and answered no more, and they left off speaking.

Therefore because I have waited, and they have not spoken: they stood, and answered no more:

I also will answer my part, and will shew my knowledge.

For I am full of matter to speak of, and the spirit of my bowels straiteneth me.

Behold, my belly is as new wine which wanteth vent, which bursteth the new vessels.

I will speak and take breath a little: I will open my lips, and will answer.

I will not accept the person of man, and I will not level God with man.

For I know not how long I shall continue, and whether after a while my Maker may take me away.

Hear therefore, O Job, my speeches, and hearken to all my words.

Behold now I have opened my mouth, let my tongue speak within my jaws.

My words are from my upright heart, and my lips shall speak a pure sentence.

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

If thou canst, answer me, and stand up against my face.

Behold God hath made me as well as thee, and of the same clay I also was formed.

But yet let not my wonder terrify thee, and let not my eloquence be burdensome to thee.

Now thou hast said in my hearing, and I have heard the voice of thy words:

I am clean, and without sin: I am unspotted, and there is no iniquity in me.

Because he hath found complaints against me, therefore he hath counted me for his enemy.

He hath put my feet in the stocks, he hath observed all my paths.

Now this is the thing in which thou art not justified: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man.

Dost thou strive against him, because he hath not answered thee to all words?

God speaketh once, and repeateth not the selfsame thing the second time.

By a dream in a vision by night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, and they are sleeping in their beds:

Then he openeth the ears of men, and teaching instructeth them in what they are to learn.

That he may withdraw a man from the things he is doing, and may deliver him from pride.

Rescuing his soul from corruption: and his life from passing to the sword.

He rebuketh also by sorrow in the bed, and he maketh all his bones to wither.

Bread becometh abominable to him in his life, and to his soul the meat which before he desired.

His flesh shall be consumed away, and his bones that were covered shall be made bare.

His soul hath drawn near to corruption, and his life to the destroyers.

If there shall be an angel speaking for him, one among thousands, to declare man's uprightness,

He shall have mercy on him, and shall say: Deliver him, that he may not go down to corruption: I have found wherein I may be merciful to him.

His flesh is consumed with punishments, let him return to the days of his youth.

He shall pray to God, and he will be gracious to him: and he shall see his face with joy, and he will render to man his justice.

He shall look upon men, and shall say: I have sinned, and indeed I have offended, and I have not received what I have deserved.

He hath delivered his soul from going into destruction, that it may live and see the light.

Behold, all these things God worketh three times within every one.

That he may withdraw their souls from corruption, and enlighten them with the light of the living.

Attend, Job, and hearken to me, and hold thy peace, whilst I speak.