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.

“To him who is afflicted, kindness should be shown by his friend, Even though he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.

Yes, you overwhelm the fatherless, And you undermine your friend.

“I am one mocked by his friends, Who called on God, and He answered him, The just and blameless who is ridiculed.

Job Reproaches His Pitiless Friends

Then Job answered and said:

My friends scorn me; My eyes pour out tears to God.

He who speaks flattery to his friends, Even the eyes of his children will fail.

My relatives have failed, And my close friends have forgotten me.

All my close friends abhor me, And those whom I love have turned against me.

“Have pity on me, have pity on me, O you my friends, For the hand of God has struck me!

Just as I was in the days of my prime, When the friendly counsel of God was over my tent;

Elihu Contradicts Job’s Friends

So these three men ceased answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.

Also against his three friends his wrath was aroused, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.

And so it was, after the Lord had spoken these words to Job, that the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My wrath is aroused against you and your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.

And the Lord restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.