His possessions were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and very many servants; and that man was the greatest of all the men of the east.

When the days of feasting had completed their cycle, Job would send word to them and consecrate them, getting up early in the morning and offering burnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, “Perhaps my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Job did so continually.

Have You not made a fence around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.

But reach out with Your hand now and touch all that he has; he will certainly curse You to Your face.”

Then the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not reach out and put your hand on him.” So Satan departed from the presence of the Lord.

Satan Allowed to Test Job

Now on the day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house,

Despite all this, Job did not sin, nor did he blame God.

Satan answered the Lord and said, “Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has, he will give for his life.

But he said to her, “You are speaking as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we actually accept good from God but not accept adversity?” Despite all this, Job did not sin with his lips.

Now when Job’s three friends heard about all this adversity that had come upon him, they came, each one from his own place—Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite; and they made an appointment together to come to sympathize with him and comfort him.

Dread came upon me, and trembling, And made all my bones shake.

So I am allotted worthless months, And nights of trouble are apportioned to me.

So are the paths of all who forget God; And the hope of the godless will perish,

He will not allow me to get my breath, But He saturates me with bitterness.

It is all one; therefore I say, ‘He destroys the guiltless and the wicked.’

I am afraid of all my pains, I know that You will not acquit me.

Who among all these does not know That the hand of the Lord has done this,

In whose hand is the life of every living thing, And the breath of all mankind?

Job Says His Friends’ Proverbs Are Ashes

“Behold, my eye has seen all this, My ear has heard and understood it.

But you smear me with lies; You are all worthless physicians.

You put my feet in the stocks And watch all my paths; You set a limit for the soles of my feet,

If a man dies, will he live again? All the days of my struggle I will wait Until my relief comes.

The wicked person writhes in pain all his days, And the years reserved for the ruthless are numbered.

“I have heard many things like these; Miserable comforters are you all!

But now He has exhausted me; You have laid waste all my group of loved ones.