<p class="poetry">So Job opens his mouth to no purpose;<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">without knowledge he multiplies words.&#8221;p>

<p class="poetry">All humanity has seen it;p> <p class="poetry">people gaze on it from afar.p>

<p class="poetry">Under the lotus trees it lies,p> <p class="poetry">in the secrecy of the reeds and the marsh.p>

<p class="poetry">Can you fill its hide with harpoonsp> <p class="poetry">or its head with fishing spears?p>

<p class="poetry">They lock tightly together, one to the next;<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">they cling together and cannot be separated.p>

<p class="poetry">Arrows<n id="1" /> do not make it flee;p> <p class="poetry">slingstones become like chaff to it.p>

<p class="poetry">and reveal to you the secrets of wisdom &#8211;p> <p class="poetry">for true wisdom has two sides<n id="1" /> &#8211;p> <p class="poetry">so that you would know<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">that God has forgiven some of your sins.<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">But the eyes of the wicked fail,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">and escape<n id="2" /> eludes them;p> <p class="poetry">their one hope<n id="3" /> is to breathe their last.&#8221;<n id="4" />p>

When<n id="1" /> the days of their feasting were finished,<n id="2" /> Job would send<n id="3" /> for them and sanctify<n id="4" /> them; he would get up early<n id="5" /> in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to<n id="6" /> the number of them all. For Job thought, &#8220;Perhaps<n id="7" /> my children<n id="8" /> have sinned and cursed<n id="9" /> God in their hearts.&#8221; This was Job&#8217;s customary practice.<n id="10" />p>

<p class="bodytext">Then<n id="1" /> his wife said to him, &#8220;Are you still holding firmly to your integrity?<n id="2" /> Curse<n id="3" /> God, and die!&#8221;<n id="4" />

<p class="poetry">Let those who curse the day<n id="1" /> curse it<n id="2" /> &#8211;p> <p class="poetry">those who are prepared to rouse<n id="3" /> Leviathan.<n id="4" />p>

<p class="poetry">But now the same thing<n id="1" /> comes to you,p> <p class="poetry">and you are discouraged;<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">it strikes you,p> <p class="poetry">and you are terrified.<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">They are destroyed<n id="1" /> between morning and evening;<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">they perish forever<n id="3" /> without anyone regarding it.<n id="4" />p>

<p class="poetry">&#8220;Call now!<n id="1" /> Is there anyone who will answer you?<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">To which of the holy ones<n id="3" /> will you turn?<n id="4" />p>

<p class="poetry">I myself<n id="1" /> have seen the fool<n id="2" /> taking root,p> <p class="poetry">but suddenly I cursed his place of residence.<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">His children are far<n id="1" /> from safety,p> <p class="poetry">and they are crushed<n id="2" /> at the place where judgment is rendered,<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">nor is there anyone to deliver them.<n id="4" />p>

<p class="poetry">he sets<n id="1" /> the lowly<n id="2" /> on high,p> <p class="poetry">that those who mourn<n id="3" /> are raised<n id="4" /> to safety.p>

<p class="poetry">Can food that is tasteless<n id="1" /> be eaten without salt?p> <p class="poetry">Or is there any taste in the white<n id="2" /> of an egg?p>

<p class="poetry">What is my strength, that I should wait?<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">and what is my end,<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">that I should prolong my life?p>

<t /><p class="poetry">&#8220;Teach<n id="1" /> me and I, for my part,<n id="2" /> will be silent;p> <p class="poetry">explain to me<n id="3" /> how I have been mistaken.<n id="4" />p>