l this Job said nothing that was wrong.

When Job's three friends heard of all this trouble that had befallen
him, they came each from his own home: Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the
Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite, for they had arranged to go together
and show their sympathy for him and comfort him. But when they saw him
in the distance, they did not at first know him. Then they all wept
aloud and tore their robes and threw dust upon their heads. And they sat
down with him on the ground seven days and seven nights without any one
saying a word to him, for they saw that he was in great trouble.

Then Job began to speak and said:

"Why did I not die at birth,
Breathe my last when I was born?
I should then have lain down in quiet,
Should have slept and been at rest
With kings and counsellors of earth,
Who built themselves great pyramids;
With princes rich in gold,
Who filled their houses with silver.

"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 God 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 brass?
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."