His sons used to hold feasts in their homes on their birthdays, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them.

“Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land.

At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship

Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason.”

“Skin for skin!” Satan replied. “A man will give all he has for his own life.

But now stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face.”

The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life.”

So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head.

His wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!”

Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was.

Job Speaks

After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth.

At the breath of God they perish; at the blast of his anger they are no more.

‘Can a mortal be more righteous than God? Can even a strong man be more pure than his Maker?

If God places no trust in his servants, if he charges his angels with error,

I myself have seen a fool taking root, but suddenly his house was cursed.

His children are far from safety, crushed in court without a defender.

The hungry consume his harvest, taking it even from among thorns, and the thirsty pant after his wealth.

For he wounds, but he also binds up; he injures, but his hands also heal.

that God would be willing to crush me, to let loose his hand and cut off my life!

He will never come to his house again; his place will know him no more.

His wisdom is profound, his power is vast. Who has resisted him and come out unscathed?

He moves mountains without their knowing it and overturns them in his anger.

God does not restrain his anger; even the cohorts of Rahab cowered at his feet.

someone to remove God’s rod from me, so that his terror would frighten me no more.

Oh, how I wish that God would speak, that he would open his lips against you