And

While he was still speaking, another messenger came and reported: “The fire of God fell from heaven. It burned and consumed the sheep and the servants, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

While he was still speaking, another messenger came and reported: “The fire of God fell from heaven. It burned and consumed the sheep and the servants, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

While he was still speaking, another messenger came and reported: “The Chaldeans formed three bands, raided the camels, and took them away. They put the servants to the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

While he was still speaking, another messenger came and reported: “The Chaldeans formed three bands, raided the camels, and took them away. They put the servants to the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

While he was still speaking, another messenger came and reported: “The Chaldeans formed three bands, raided the camels, and took them away. They put the servants to the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

While he was still speaking, another messenger came and reported: “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house,

While he was still speaking, another messenger came and reported: “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house,

While he was still speaking, another messenger came and reported: “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house,

…when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on the young people and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

…when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on the young people and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

…when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on the young people and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

Then Job stood up, tore his robe, and shaved his head. He fell to the ground and worshiped,

Then Job stood up, tore his robe, and shaved his head. He fell to the ground and worshiped,

…saying: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.”

…saying: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.”

On another day the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them to present himself before Him.

“Where have you come from?” said the LORD to Satan. “From roaming through the earth,” he replied, “and walking back and forth in it.”

“Where have you come from?” said the LORD to Satan. “From roaming through the earth,” he replied, “and walking back and forth in it.”

Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one on earth like him, a man who is blameless and upright, who fears God and shuns evil. He still retains his integrity, even though you incited Me against him to ruin him without cause.”

Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one on earth like him, a man who is blameless and upright, who fears God and shuns evil. He still retains his integrity, even though you incited Me against him to ruin him without cause.”

But stretch out Your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse You to Your face.”

But stretch out Your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse You to Your face.”

But stretch out Your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse You to Your face.”

So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and infected Job with terrible boils from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head.

And Job took a piece of broken pottery to scrape himself as he sat among the ashes.

Then Job’s wife said to him, “Do you still retain your integrity? Curse God and die!”

“You speak as a foolish woman speaks,” he told her. “Should we accept from God only good and not adversity?” In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.

Now when Job’s three friends—Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite—heard about all this adversity that had come upon him, each of them came from his home, and they met together to go and sympathize with Job and comfort him.

Now when Job’s three friends—Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite—heard about all this adversity that had come upon him, each of them came from his home, and they met together to go and sympathize with Job and comfort him.

Now when Job’s three friends—Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite—heard about all this adversity that had come upon him, each of them came from his home, and they met together to go and sympathize with Job and comfort him.

Now when Job’s three friends—Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite—heard about all this adversity that had come upon him, each of them came from his home, and they met together to go and sympathize with Job and comfort him.

When they lifted up their eyes from afar, they could barely recognize Job. They began to weep aloud, and each man tore his robe and threw dust in the air over his head.

When they lifted up their eyes from afar, they could barely recognize Job. They began to weep aloud, and each man tore his robe and threw dust in the air over his head.

Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights, but no one spoke a word to him because they saw how intense his suffering was.

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

And this is what he said:

“May the day of my birth perish, and the night it was said, ‘A boy is conceived.’

May darkness and gloom reclaim it, and a cloud settle over it; may the blackness of the day overwhelm it.

May darkness and gloom reclaim it, and a cloud settle over it; may the blackness of the day overwhelm it.

Why were there knees to receive me, and breasts that I should be nursed?

For now I would be lying down in peace; I would be asleep and at rest

…with kings and counselors of the earth, who built for themselves cities now in ruins,

There the wicked cease from raging, and there the weary find rest.

Both small and great are there, and the slave is freed from his master.

Both small and great are there, and the slave is freed from his master.

Why is light given to the miserable, and life to the bitter of soul,

…who long for death that does not come, and search for it like hidden treasure,

…who rejoice and greatly exult when they reach the grave?

I sigh when food is put before me, and my groans pour out like water.

For the thing I feared has overtaken me, and what I dreaded has befallen me.

Surely you have instructed many, and have strengthened their feeble hands.

But now trouble has come upon you, and you are weary. It strikes you, and you are dismayed.

But now trouble has come upon you, and you are weary. It strikes you, and you are dismayed.

Is your reverence not your confidence, and the uprightness of your ways your hope?

As I have observed, those who plow iniquity and those who sow trouble reap the same.

By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast of His anger they are consumed.

The lion may roar, and the fierce lion may growl, yet the teeth of the young lions are broken.

The old lion perishes for lack of prey, and the cubs of the lioness are scattered.

…fear and trembling came over me and made all my bones shudder.

…fear and trembling came over me and made all my bones shudder.

Then a spirit glided past my face, and the hair on my body bristled.

It stood still, but I could not discern its appearance; a form loomed before my eyes, and I heard a whispering voice:

If God puts no trust in His servants, and He charges His angels with error,

For resentment kills a fool, and envy slays the simple.

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

For distress does not spring from the dust, and trouble does not sprout from the ground.

However, if I were you, I would appeal to God and lay my cause before Him—

…the One who does great and unsearchable things, wonders without number.

He gives rain to the earth and sends water upon the fields.

He catches the wise in their craftiness, and sweeps away the plans of the cunning.

They encounter darkness by day and grope at noon as in the night.

He saves the needy from the sword in their mouth and from the clutches of the powerful.

So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts its mouth.

In famine He will redeem you from death, and in battle from the stroke of the sword.

You will be hidden from the scourge of the tongue, and will not fear havoc when it comes.

You will laugh at destruction and famine, and need not fear the beasts of the earth.

You will laugh at destruction and famine, and need not fear the beasts of the earth.

For you will have a covenant with the stones of the field, and the wild animals will be at peace with you.

You will know that your tent is secure, and find nothing amiss when inspecting your home.

Indeed, we have investigated, and it is true! So hear it and know for yourself.”

Indeed, we have investigated, and it is true! So hear it and know for yourself.”

“If only my grief could be weighed and placed with my calamity on the scales.

If only my request were granted and God would fulfill my hope:

…that God would be willing to crush me, to unleash His hand and cut me off!

It still brings me comfort, and joy through unrelenting pain, that I have not denied the words of the Holy One.

…darkened because of the ice and the inflow of melting snow,

…but ceasing in the dry season and vanishing from their channels in the heat.

Caravans turn aside from their routes; they go into the wasteland and perish.

For now you are of no help; you see terror, and you are afraid.

Teach me, and I will be silent. Help me understand how I have erred.

Do you intend to correct my words, and treat as wind my cry of despair?

You would even cast lots for an orphan and barter away your friend.

So I am allotted months of futility, and nights of misery are appointed to me.

When I lie down I think: ‘When will I get up?’ But the night drags on, and I toss and turn until dawn.

When I lie down I think: ‘When will I get up?’ But the night drags on, and I toss and turn until dawn.

My flesh is clothed with worms and encrusted with dirt; my skin is cracked and festering.

My flesh is clothed with worms and encrusted with dirt; my skin is cracked and festering.

As a cloud vanishes and is gone, so he who goes down to Sheol does not come back up.

When I think my bed will comfort me and my couch will ease my complaint,

…then You frighten me with dreams and terrify me with visions,