A  (1)  There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.

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

C  (3)  His substance also was 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 men of the east.

D  (4-5)  And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. 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 cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.

E  (6a)  Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD,

F  (6b)  and Satan came also among them.

G  (7a)  And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou?

H  (7b)  Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

I  (8)  And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?

H’  (9-11)  Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not thou made an 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 substance is increased in the land. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.

G’  (12a)  And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand.

F’  (12b)  So Satan went forth

E’  (12c)  from the presence of the LORD.

D’  (13)  And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house:

C’  (14-17)  And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them: And the Sabeans fell upon them, 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. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The 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. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

B’  (18-19)  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: And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

A’  (20-22)  Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

(Note: Elihu’s first speech of six.)

A  (6-7)  And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said, I am young, and ye are very old; wherefore I was afraid, and durst not shew you mine opinion. I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom.

B  (8-9)  But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding. Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand judgment.

C  (10)  Therefore I said, Hearken to me; I also will shew mine opinion.

D  (11)  Behold, I waited for your words; I gave ear to your reasons, whilst ye searched out what to say.

E  (12)  Yea, I attended unto you, and, behold, there was none of you that convinced Job, or that answered his words<H561>:

F  (13)  Lest ye should say, We have found out wisdom: God thrusteth him down, not man.

E’  (14)  Now he hath not directed his words against me: neither will I answer him with your speeches<H561>.

D’  (15-16)  They were amazed, they answered no more: they left off speaking. When I had waited, (for they spake not, but stood still, and answered no more;)

C’  (17)  I said, I will answer also my part, I also will shew mine opinion.

B’  (18-19)  For I am full of matter, the spirit within me constraineth me. Behold, my belly is as wine which hath no vent; it is ready to burst like new bottles.

A’  (20-22)  I will speak, that I may be refreshed: I will open my lips and answer. Let me not, I pray you, accept any man’s person, neither let me give flattering titles unto man. For I know not to give flattering titles; in so doing my maker would soon take me away.

A  (1-3)  Surely there is a vein for the silver, and a place for gold where they fine it. Iron is taken out of the earth, and brass is molten out of the stone. He setteth an end to darkness, and searcheth out all perfection: the stones of darkness, and the shadow of death.

B  (4)  The flood breaketh out from the inhabitant; even the waters forgotten of the foot: they are dried up, they are gone away from men.

C  (5-6)  As for the earth, out of it cometh bread: and under it is turned up as it were fire. The stones of it are the place of sapphires: and it hath dust of gold.

D  (7-11)  There is a path which no fowl knoweth, and which the vulture’s eye hath not seen: The lion’s whelps have not trodden it, nor the fierce lion passed by it. He putteth forth his hand upon the rock; he overturneth the mountains by the roots. He cutteth out rivers among the rocks; and his eye seeth every precious thing. He bindeth the floods from overflowing; and the thing that is hid bringeth he forth to light.

E  (12-14)

(i)  But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding?

(ii)  Man knoweth not the price thereof; neither is it found in the land of the living.

(iii)  The depth saith, It is not in me: and the sea saith, It is not with me.

F  (15-16)  It cannot be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof. It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire.

G  (17)  The gold and the crystal cannot equal it: and the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold.

H  (18)  No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls: for the price of wisdom is above rubies.

G’  (19a)  The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it,

F’  (19b)  neither shall it be valued with pure gold.

E’  (20-22)

(i)  Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding?

(ii)  Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the fowls of the air.

(iii)  Destruction and death say, We have heard the fame thereof with our ears.

D’  (23)  God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof.

C’  (24)  For he looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven;

B’  (25)  To make the weight for the winds; and he weigheth the waters by measure.

A’  (26-27)  When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder: Then did he see it, and declare it; he prepared it, yea, and searched it out.

(28)  And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.