Seven sons and three daughters had been born to him.

Then the LORD asked Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one like him on earth. The man is blameless as well as upright. He fears God and keeps away from evil."

Haven't you surrounded him with a fence on all sides, around his house, and around all that he owns? You have blessed everything he puts his hands on and you have increased his livestock in the land.

Then the LORD told Satan, "Very well then, everything he owns is under your control, only you may not extend your hand against him." So Satan left the LORD's presence.

The LORD asked Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one like him on earth. The man is blameless as well as upright. He fears God and keeps away from evil. He remains firm in his integrity, even though you have been urging me to overwhelm him without cause."

Then his wife told him, "Do you remain firm in your integrity? Curse God and die!"

When Job's three friends heard all these tragedies that happened to him, they each traveled from their home towns to visit him. Eliphaz came from Teman, Bildad came from Shuah, and Zophar came from Naamath. They met together and went to console and comfort him.

Observing him from a distance, at first they didn't even recognize him, so they raised their voices and burst into tears. They each ripped their robes, threw ashes into the air on their heads,

To the formerly successful man who lost his way in life, and God fenced him in?

"Will the wild donkey bray from hunger if fresh grass is beside him? Will the ox low from distress if it is near its feed?

He doesn't return again to his house, and his place won't recognize him anymore."

"What is a human being, that you make so much of him; that you set your affections on him,

visit him every morning, and test him continually?

"If your children sin against him, he'll make them a prisoner of their sins.

If he is uprooted from his place, then it will deny him: "I never saw you.'

If one were to seek to argue with him, he won't be able to answer him even once in a thousand times.

He is wise in heart and strong in will who can be stubborn against him and succeed?

"If he were to pass near me, I wouldn't notice; if he moves by, I wouldn't perceive him.

Indeed, if he snatches someone away, who could restrain him? Who can say to him, "What are you doing?'

"God doesn't restrain his anger. Rahab's assistants are humiliated under him.

So how am I to answer him, choosing what I am to say to him?

Even if I'm in the right, I cannot answer him. I can only appeal for mercy.

"Is this a contest of strength? He is obviously stronger! Is this a matter of justice? Who can sue him?

He's not a man like me, so that I can answer him, or that we can enter into litigation with one another.

removing his rod from me, and not letting terror of him overwhelm me.

Otherwise, I would speak without being terrified of him, because I'm not like that inside myself."

"If he bypasses, or imprisons, or convenes a court, who can stop him?

"Now for you, if you will prepare your heart, spread out your hands to him.

With God is wisdom and strength; counsel and understanding belongs to him.

"With God are strength and sound wisdom; both the deceived and those who deceive are responsible to him.

Why do you speak falsely on God's behalf and speak deceitfully about him?

Will you show partiality to him? Will you plead God's case?

Will things go well for you under his cross-examination? Can you lie to him, as you would to a human being?

Even though he kills me, I'll continue to hope in him. At least I'll be able to argue my case to his face!

I have this as my salvation: the godless person won't be appearing before him.

Look away from him and leave him alone, so he can enjoy his time, like a hired worker."

You overpower him once and for all, and then he departs; you change his appearance and then send him away.

Terrifying sounds ring in his ears; when times are prosperous, the Destroyer will attack him.

Distress and pressure terrify him; they overwhelm him, like a king poised for attack.

He defiantly ran against him carrying his thick, reinforced shield.

Let him not trust in a worthless speech. He leads only himself astray, for emptiness will be his reward.

crying for him to arbitrate between this man and God; as a human being does with his fellow neighbor.

Light in his tent is dark, and his lamp goes out above him.

His strong steps are restricted, and his own advice trips him up.

The trap seizes him by the heel; a snare tightens its hold on him.

A rope lies hidden in the dirt; a trap lies waiting for him where he is walking."

"He is petrified by terror that surrounds him on all sides; they chase at his heels.

"There's nothing in his tent that belongs to him; sulfur is scattered all over his dwelling place.

No one remembers him anywhere in the land; no one names streets in his honor.

People who live west of him are appalled at his fate; those who live east of him are seized with terror.

"I call to my servant, but he doesn't respond, even though I beg to him earnestly.

whom I will see for myself. My own eyes will look at him there won't be anyone else for me! He is the culmination of my innermost desire."

"When you're thinking about asking yourselves, "How will we pursue him, since the root of the problem is with him?'

he'll perish forever, like his own excrement; those who saw him will ask, "Where is he?'

He'll vanish like a dream, and no one will find him; he will be chased away like a night vision."

"An eye that gazes at him won't do so again; and his place won't even recognize him.

Though his bones were full of youthful vigor; yet they will lie down with him in the dust.

his food will turn rancid in his stomach it will become a cobra's poison inside him.

He will suck the poison of cobras; the fangs of a viper will slay him.

Because nothing was left for him to devour, therefore his prosperity won't last.

Even though he is satiated and self-sufficient, he suffers everyone in any sort of trouble will attack him.

"It will come about that, when he has filled himself to the full, God will vent his burning anger on him; he will pour it out on him and on his body.

Though he dodges an iron weapon, a bronze arrow will pierce him.

It will impale him and come out through his back; the point will glisten as it protrudes through his gall bladder, and he will be terrified.

"Total darkness has been reserved for his treasures; a fire that has no need to be kindled will devour him and consume whatever remains in his possession.

Heaven will reveal his iniquity, while the earth will rise up against him.

This is what the wicked person inherits from God; it is the inheritance that God appoints for him."

Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? Where's the profit in talking to him?'

Who will expose his conduct to his face? Who will repay him for what he has done

The runoff from the streams will seem sweet to him; everyone will follow after him; countless crows march ahead of him.

Will he acquit you just because you fear him, and render a verdict on your behalf?

Thick clouds cover him so he can't see as he walks back and forth at heaven's horizon.

The righteous will see this and rejoice; the innocent will insult him, saying,

"Get to know God, and you'll be at peace with him, and then prosperity will come to you.

You'll entreat him and he'll listen to you as you fulfill your vows.

If only I knew where to find him, I would visit him where he has taken his seat.

I would lay out my case before him; and fill my mouth with arguments.

In that place, the upright can reason with him; and I'll be acquitted once and for all by my judge."

"Look! If I go east, he isn't there! If I go to the west, I don't perceive him.

If he's working in the north, I can't observe him; If he turns south, I can't see him.

"But he is One who can change him? He does whatever he wants to do.

That's why I'm terrified at his presence! When I think about it, I'm afraid of him.

Why doesn't the Almighty reserve time for judgment? And why don't those who know him perceive his days?

Will God hear his cry when distress overtakes him?

Those who do survive him disease will bury, and his widow won't even weep.

Terror will overtake him like a flood, at night, a tornado will sweep him away.

It will toss him around without pity. He'll try to break free from its grip,

but it will clap its hands over him, hissing at him as it lunges toward him."

I broke the fangs of the wicked, and made him drop the prey."

"Surely he won't stretch his hand against the needy, will he, especially if they cry to him in their calamity?

what will I do when God stands up to act? When he asks the questions, how will I answer him?

if I've raised my hand against an orphan when I thought I would against him in court,

"Have I rejoiced in the destruction of those who hate me, or have I been happy that evil caught up with him?

I'll give an account for every step I've taken; I'll approach him confidently like a Commander-in-Chief."

Furthermore, he was furious with his three friends because they had not answered Job, but instead had condemned him.

However, a spirit exists in mankind, and the Almighty's breath gives him insight."

let him not direct a rebuke toward me. I won't be responding to him with your arguments.

"Job's friends won't reason with him anymore; discouraged, words escape them.

Why are you arguing with him? He doesn't have to give explanations for what he does to you!

turning a person from his actions, keeping him from pride,