Also, his possessions were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very large household, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the East.

So it was, when the days of feasting had run their course, that Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did regularly.

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

But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!”

And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.

In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.

So 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 speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.

Job’s Three Friends

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

Fear came upon me, and trembling, Which made all my bones shake.

So I have been allotted months of futility, And wearisome nights have been appointed to me.

So are the paths of all who forget God; And the hope of the hypocrite shall perish,

God will not withdraw His anger, The allies of the proud lie prostrate beneath Him.

He will not allow me to catch my breath, But fills me with bitterness.

It is all one thing; Therefore I say, ‘He destroys the blameless and the wicked.’

I am afraid of all my sufferings; I know that You will not hold me innocent.

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 Defends Himself

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

But you forgers of lies, You are all worthless physicians.

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

If a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait, Till my change comes.

The wicked man writhes with pain all his days, And the number of years is hidden from the oppressor.

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

But now He has worn me out; You have made desolate all my company.