for I rescued the poor who cried out for help, and the orphan who had no one to assist him;

“Then I thought, ‘I will die in my own home, my days as numerous as the grains of sand.

My roots reach the water, and the dew lies on my branches all night long.

After I had spoken, they did not respond; my words fell on them drop by drop.

Moreover, the strength of their hands – what use was it to me? Men whose strength had perished;

By the brush they would gather herbs from the salt marshes, and the root of the broom tree was their food.

so that they had to live in the dry stream beds, in the holes of the ground, and among the rocks.

They destroy my path; they succeed in destroying me without anyone assisting them.

You pick me up on the wind and make me ride on it; you toss me about in the storm.

then let my wife turn the millstone for another man, and may other men have sexual relations with her.

whose heart did not bless me as he warmed himself with the fleece of my sheep,

if I have rejoiced because of the extent of my wealth, or because of the great wealth my hand had gained,

then this also would be iniquity to be judged, for I would have been false to God above.

if I have covered my transgressions as men do, by hiding iniquity in my heart,

So these three men refused to answer Job further, because he was righteous in his own eyes.

I said to myself, ‘Age should speak, and length of years should make wisdom known.’

Therefore no fear of me should terrify you, nor should my pressure be heavy on you.

Who entrusted to him the earth? And who put him over the whole world?

“Has anyone said to God, ‘I have endured chastisement, but I will not act wrongly any more.

But Job will be tested to the end, because his answers are like those of wicked men.