Prologue

There once was a man named Job who lived in the land of Uz. He was blameless—a man of complete integrity. He feared God and stayed away from evil.

Then the Lord asked Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil.”

Then the Lord asked Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil. And he has maintained his integrity, even though you urged me to harm him without cause.”

Though I am innocent, my own mouth would pronounce me guilty. Though I am blameless, it would prove me wicked.

Innocent or wicked, it is all the same to God. That’s why I say, ‘He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’

Yet my friends laugh at me, for I call on God and expect an answer. I am a just and blameless man, yet they laugh at me.