While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”

and behold, a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people and they died, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”

Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped.

“You will come to the grave in full vigor,
Like the stacking of grain in its season.

“He will yet fill your mouth with laughter
And your lips with shouting.

“Now my days are swifter than a runner;
They flee away, they see no good.

“I loathe my own life;
I will give full vent to my complaint;
I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.

“An idiot will become intelligent
When the foal of a wild donkey is born a man.

“But the eyes of the wicked will fail,
And there will be no escape for them;
And their hope is to breathe their last.”

“Will not His majesty terrify you,
And the dread of Him fall on you?

“Listen carefully to my speech,
And let my declaration fill your ears.

“Man, who is born of woman,
Is short-lived and full of turmoil.

“For there is hope for a tree,
When it is cut down, that it will sprout again,
And its shoots will not fail.

“Should a wise man answer with windy knowledge
And fill himself with the east wind?

“His bones are full of his youthful vigor,
But it lies down with him in the dust.

“He may flee from the iron weapon,
But the bronze bow will pierce him.

“The increase of his house will depart;
His possessions will flow away in the day of His anger.

“His ox mates without fail;
His cow calves and does not abort.

“How often is the lamp of the wicked put out,
Or does their calamity fall on them?
Does God apportion destruction in His anger?

“One dies in his full strength,
Being wholly at ease and satisfied;

“The clods of the valley will gently cover him;
Moreover, all men will follow after him,
While countless ones go before him.

“How then will you vainly comfort me,
For your answers remain full of falsehood?”

“I would present my case before Him
And fill my mouth with arguments.

“He obscures the face of the full moon
And spreads His cloud over it.

“For it will hurl at him without sparing;
He will surely try to flee from its power.

“If I have kept the poor from their desire,
Or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail,

Let my shoulder fall from the socket,
And my arm be broken off at the elbow.

“For I am full of words;
The spirit within me constrains me.

“Then indeed, He enticed you from the mouth of distress,
Instead of it, a broad place with no constraint;
And that which was set on your table was full of fatness.

“But you were full of judgment on the wicked;
Judgment and justice take hold of you.

“For to the snow He says, ‘Fall on the earth,’
And to the downpour and the rain, ‘Be strong.’

“He paws in the valley, and rejoices in his strength;
He goes out to meet the weapons.

“Can you fill his skin with harpoons,
Or his head with fishing spears?

“The arrow cannot make him flee;
Slingstones are turned into stubble for him.

And Job died, an old man and full of days.