His possessions included 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys; in addition he had a very great household. Thus he was the greatest of all the people in the east.

When the days of their feasting were finished, Job would send for them and sanctify them; he would get up early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job thought, "Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts." This was Job's customary practice.

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

But extend your hand and strike everything he has, and he will no doubt curse you to your face!"

So the Lord said to Satan, "All right then, everything he has is in your power. Only do not extend your hand against the man himself!" So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.

and the Sabeans swooped down and carried them all away, and they killed the servants with the sword! And I -- only I alone -- escaped to tell you!"

While this one was still speaking, another messenger arrived and said, "The fire of God has fallen from heaven and has burned up the sheep and the servants -- it has consumed them! And I -- only I alone -- escaped to tell you!"

While this one was still speaking another messenger arrived and said, "The Chaldeans formed three bands and made a raid on the camels and carried them all away, and they killed the servants with the sword! And I -- only I alone -- escaped to tell you!"

While this one was still speaking another messenger arrived and said, "Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house,

He said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will return there. The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. May the name of the Lord be blessed!"

In all this Job did not sin, nor did he charge God with moral impropriety.

But Satan answered the Lord, "Skin for skin! Indeed, a man will give up all that he has to save his life!

But extend your hand and strike his bone and his flesh, and he will no doubt curse you to your face!"

So the Lord said to Satan, "All right, he is in your power; only preserve his life."

Job took a shard of broken pottery to scrape himself with while he was sitting among the ashes.

But he replied, "You're talking like one of the godless women would do! Should we receive what is good from God, and not also receive what is evil?" In all this Job did not sin by what he said.

When Job's three friends heard about all this calamity that had happened to him, each of them came from his own country -- Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. They met together to come to show sympathy for him and to console him.

"If someone should attempt a word with you, will you be impatient? But who can refrain from speaking?

a trembling gripped me -- and a terror! -- and made all my bones shake.

"Call now! Is there anyone who will answer you? To which of the holy ones will you turn?

He will deliver you from six calamities; yes, in seven no evil will touch you.

In time of famine he will redeem you from death, and in time of war from the power of the sword.

You will be protected from malicious gossip, and will not be afraid of the destruction when it comes.

You will laugh at destruction and famine and need not be afraid of the beasts of the earth.

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

And you will know that your home will be secure, and when you inspect your domains, you will not be missing anything.

You will also know that your children will be numerous, and your descendants like the grass of the earth.

You will come to your grave in a full age, As stacks of grain are harvested in their season.

"Teach me and I, for my part, will be silent; explain to me how I have been mistaken.

"Now then, be good enough to look at me; and I will not lie to your face!

If I lie down, I say, 'When will I arise?', and the night stretches on and I toss and turn restlessly until the day dawns.

Remember that my life is but a breath, that my eyes will never again see happiness.

The eye of him who sees me now will see me no more; your eyes will look for me, but I will be gone.

"Therefore, I will not refrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.

If I say, "My bed will comfort me, my couch will ease my complaint,"

Will you never look away from me, will you not let me alone long enough to swallow my spittle?

And why do you not pardon my transgression, and take away my iniquity? For now I will lie down in the dust, and you will seek me diligently, but I will be gone."

"How long will you speak these things, seeing that the words of your mouth are like a great wind?

But if you will look to God, and make your supplication to the Almighty,

if you become pure and upright, even now he will rouse himself for you, and will restore your righteous abode.

Your beginning will seem so small, since your future will flourish.

Will they not instruct you and speak to you, and bring forth words from their understanding?

While they are still beginning to flower and not ripe for cutting, they can wither away faster than any grass!

Such is the destiny of all who forget God; the hope of the godless perishes,

He is a well-watered plant in the sun, its shoots spread over its garden.

If he is uprooted from his place, then that place will disown him, saying, 'I have never seen you!'

He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with gladness.

Those who hate you will be clothed with shame, and the tent of the wicked will be no more."

He does not allow me to recover my breath, for he fills me with bitterness.

If it is a matter of strength, most certainly he is the strong one! And if it is a matter of justice, he will say, 'Who will summon me?'

"It is all one! That is why I say, 'He destroys the blameless and the guilty.'

If I say, 'I will forget my complaint, I will change my expression and be cheerful,'

I dread all my sufferings, for I know that you do not hold me blameless.

"I am weary of my life; I will complain without restraint; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.

I will say to God, 'Do not condemn me; tell me why you are contending with me.'

Is it good for you to oppress, to despise the work of your hands, while you smile on the schemes of the wicked?

Remember that you have made me as with the clay; will you return me to dust?

Will your idle talk reduce people to silence, and will no one rebuke you when you mock?

For he knows deceitful men; when he sees evil, will he not consider it?

But an empty man will become wise, when a wild donkey's colt is born a human being.

For then you will lift up your face without blemish; you will be securely established and will not fear.

For you will forget your trouble; you will remember it like water that has flowed away.

And life will be brighter than the noonday; though there be darkness, it will be like the morning.

And you will be secure, because there is hope; you will be protected and will take your rest in safety.

You will lie down with no one to make you afraid, and many will seek your favor.

"Without a doubt you are the people, and wisdom will die with you.

I also have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Who does not know such things as these?

"But now, ask the animals and they will teach you, or the birds of the sky and they will tell you.

Or speak to the earth and it will teach you, or let the fish of the sea declare to you.

Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this,

in whose hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all the human race.

"Indeed, my eyes have seen all this, my ears have heard and understood it.

But you, however, are inventors of lies; all of you are worthless physicians!

Will you speak wickedly on God's behalf? Will you speak deceitfully for him?

Will you show him partiality? Will you argue the case for God?

Would it turn out well if he would examine you? Or as one deceives a man would you deceive him?

Even if he slays me, I will hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face!

Moreover, this will become my deliverance, for no godless person would come before him.

Who will contend with me? If anyone can, I will be silent and die.

Only in two things spare me, O God, and then I will not hide from your face:

Then call, and I will answer, or I will speak, and you respond to me.

And you put my feet in the stocks and you watch all my movements; you put marks on the soles of my feet.

"But there is hope for a tree: If it is cut down, it will sprout again, and its new shoots will not fail.

at the scent of water it will flourish and put forth shoots like a new plant.

so man lies down and does not rise; until the heavens are no more, they will not awake nor arise from their sleep.

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

You will call and I -- I will answer you; you will long for the creature you have made.

But as a mountain falls away and crumbles, and as a rock will be removed from its place,

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

when you turn your rage against God and allow such words to escape from your mouth?

"I will explain to you; listen to me, and what I have seen, I will declare,

All his days the wicked man suffers torment, throughout the number of the years that are stored up for the tyrant.

He will not grow rich, and his wealth will not endure, nor will his possessions spread over the land.

He will not escape the darkness; a flame will wither his shoots and he will depart by the breath of God's mouth.

Let him not trust in what is worthless, deceiving himself; for worthlessness will be his reward.

Before his time he will be paid in full, and his branches will not flourish.

Like a vine he will let his sour grapes fall, and like an olive tree he will shed his blossoms.

"I have heard many things like these before. What miserable comforters are you all!

Will there be an end to your windy words? Or what provokes you that you answer?

For the years that lie ahead are few, and then I will go on the way of no return.