"There the wicked cease from troubling, There the weary are at rest; Captives too at ease together, Hearing not the voice of masters.

There the small and great are gathered, There the slave is free at last."

Then Eliphaz, the Temanite, answered:

"If one dares to speak, will it vex you?

But who can keep from speaking?

See! you have instructed many, And strengthened the drooping hands.

Your words have upheld the fallen, Giving strength to tottering knees.

But now that trouble comes, you are impatient, Now that it touches you, you lose courage.

"Is not your religion your confidence; Your blameless life, your hope?

Remember! What innocent man ever perished?

Or where were the upright ever destroyed?

Happy the man whom G.o.d corrects; Therefore, spurn not the Almighty's chastening.

For he causes pain but to comfort, And wounds, that his hands may heal."

Then Job answered:

"What strength have I, that I should endure?

And what is my future, that I should be patient?

Is my strength the strength of stones, Or is my body made of bra.s.s?

A friend should be kind to one fainting, Though he lose his faith in the Almighty.

Teach me, and I will keep silent.

Show me how I have sinned."

Then Bildad, the Shuhite, answered:

"Is G.o.d a G.o.d of injustice?

Or can the Almighty do wrong?

If your children sinned against him, He has let them suffer the penalty; But you should earnestly seek him, And devoutly beseech the Almighty.

If you are pure and upright, He will surely answer your prayer, And will prosper your righteous abode."

Then Job answered:

"To be sure, I know that it is so; But how can a man be just before G.o.d?

He is wise in mind and mighty in strength, Who has ever defied him and prospered, Blameless I am! I regard not myself; I hate my life; it is all one to me.

Therefore, I openly declare: He destroys the blameless as well as the wicked."

Then Zophar, the Naamathite, answered:

"If you would cleanse your heart, And stretch out your hands to G.o.d, And put away sin from your hand, And let no wrong dwell in your tent, You would then lift your face without spot, You would then be steadfast and fearless."

Then Job answered:

"Verily you are the people, And with you wisdom shall die!

But I have a mind as well as you, And who does not know all this?

Oh, that my words were now written, That they were inscribed in a book, That with an iron pen and with lead In rock they were carved forever!

"For I know that my Defender lives, That at last he shall stand upon earth; And after this skin is destroyed.

Freed from my flesh, I shall see him, Whom I shall behold for myself; My own eyes shall see, and no stranger's."

Job again spoke and said:

"Oh, to be as in months of old, As in days when G.o.d guarded my steps, When his lamp shone above my head, And I walked by his light through the darkness; As I was in my prosperous days, When G.o.d protected my tent; When still the Almighty was with me, And my children were all about me!

"When I went to the gate of the city, And took my seat in the open, The youths, when they saw me, retired, And the aged rose up and stood; The princes refrained from talking, And laid their hands on their mouths; The voices of n.o.bles were hushed, And their tongues stuck fast to their palates.

"He who heard of me called me happy, He who saw me bore me witness, For I saved the poor who cried, And the orphan with none to help him.

The suffering gave me their blessing, And I made the widow's heart glad.

"Eyes was I to the blind, Feet was I to the lame, And a father to those who were needy.

I defended the cause of the stranger, I shattered the jaws of the wicked, And wrested the prey from his teeth.

"Men listened to me eagerly, And in silence awaited my counsel.

After my words they spoke not, And my speech fell as rain-drops upon them.

But they sing of me now in derision, And my name is a by-word among them.

"Oh, for some one to hear me!

Behold my defense all signed!

Let now the Almighty answer, Let Jehovah write the charge!

On my shoulder I would bear it, As a crown I would bind it round me; I would tell him my every act; Like a prince I would enter his presence!"

Then out of the whirlwind Jehovah answered Job:

"Where were you when I founded the earth?

You have knowledge and insight, so tell me.

You must know! Who determined its measures?

Or who measured it off with a line?

On what were its foundations placed?

Or who laid its corner-stone, When the morning stars all sang together, And the sons of G.o.d shouted for joy?

"Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, That abundance of water may answer you?

Can you send on their missions the lightnings; To you do they say, 'Here we are'?

"Does the hawk soar because of your wisdom, And stretch her wings to the south wind?

Does the eagle mount up at your bidding, And build her nest on high?

"Will the fault-finder strive with Almighty?

He who argues with G.o.d, let him answer.

Will you set aside my judgment, And condemn me, that you may be justified?"

Then Job answered the Lord:

"How small I am! what can I answer?

I lay my hand on my mouth.

I spoke once, but will do so no more; Yes, twice, but will go no further.

"I know thou canst do all things, And that nothing with thee is impossible.