Now there was a day when the sons of God (angels) came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan (adversary, accuser) also came among them.

The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Then Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming around on the earth and from walking around on it.”

and a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were feeding beside them,

While he was still speaking, another [messenger] also came and said, “The fire of God (lightning) has fallen from the heavens and has burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”

While he was still speaking, another [messenger] also came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three bands and made a raid on the camels and have taken them away and have killed the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”

While he was still speaking, another [messenger] also came and said, “Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house,

and suddenly, a great wind came from across the desert, 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.”

He said,

“Naked (without possessions) I came [into this world] from my mother’s womb,
And naked I will return there.
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;
Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

Again there was a day when the sons of God (angels) came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan (adversary, accuser) also came among them to present himself before the Lord.

The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Then Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming around on the earth and from walking around on it.”

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 to sympathize with him and to comfort him.

“As for that night, let darkness seize it;
Let it not rejoice among the days of the year;
Let it not be counted in the number of the months.

“Behold, let that night be barren [and empty];
Let no joyful voice enter it.

“I am not at ease, nor am I quiet,
And I am not at rest, and yet trouble still comes [upon me].”

“But now adversity comes upon you, and you are impatient and intolerant;
It touches you, and you are horrified.

Dread and trembling came upon me,
Which made all my bones shake.

“You will come to your grave in old age,
Like the stacking of grain [on the threshing floor] in its season.

“They were put to shame and disappointed because they had trusted [that they would find water];
They came there and were ashamed.

“As a cloud vanishes and is gone,
So he who goes down to Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead) does not come up.

I am afraid of all my pains and worries [yet to come];
I know that You will not acquit me and leave me unpunished.

“For God is not a [mere] man, as I am, that I may answer Him,
That we may go to court and judgment together.

“Be silent before me so that I may speak;
And let happen to me what may.

“This also will be my salvation,
For a godless man may not come before Him.

“How many are my iniquities and sins [that so much sorrow should come to me]?
Make me recognize and understand my transgression and my sin.

“If a man dies, will he live again?
I will wait all the days of my struggle
Until my change and release will come.

“His sons achieve honor, and he does not know it;
They become insignificant, and he is not aware of it.

“A [dreadful] sound of terrors is in his ears;
While at peace and in a time of prosperity the destroyer comes upon him [the tent of the robber is not at peace].

“For when a few years are past,
I shall go the way of no return.

“But as for all of you, come back again,
Even though I do not find a wise man among you.

“Those in the west are astonished and appalled at his fate,
And those in the east are seized with horror.

“His troops come together
And build up their way and siege works against me
And camp around my tent.

“In the fullness of his excess (great abundance) he will be in trouble;
The hand of everyone who suffers will come against him [he is miserable on every side].

“Now yield and submit yourself to Him [agree with God and be conformed to His will] and be at peace;
In this way [you will prosper and great] good will come to you.

“Oh, that I knew where I might find Him,
That I might [even] come to His seat!

“But He knows the way that I take [and He pays attention to it].
When He has tried me, I will come forth as [refined] gold [pure and luminous].

“To whom have you uttered [these] words?
And whose spirit [inspired what] came forth from you?

“From where then does wisdom come?
And where is the place of understanding?

“The blessing of him who was about to perish came upon me,
And I made the widow’s heart sing for joy.

“As through a wide breach they come,
Amid the crash [of falling walls] they roll on [over me].

“When I expected good, then came evil [to me];
And when I waited for light, then came darkness.

“I am seething within and my heart is troubled and cannot rest;
Days of affliction come to meet me.

So that they caused the cry of the poor to come to Him,
And He heard the cry of the afflicted.

“Whether [it be] for correction, or for His earth [generally]
Or for [His] mercy and lovingkindness, He causes it to happen.

“Out of the north comes golden splendor [and people can hardly look on it];
Around God is awesome splendor and majesty [far too glorious for man’s eyes].

And said, ‘This far you shall come, but no farther;
And here your proud waves shall stop’?

“Out of whose womb has come the ice?
And the frost of heaven, who has given it birth?

“Who can penetrate or strip off his outer armor?
Who can come to his jaws with a double bridle?

“One is so near to another
That no air can come between them.

Then all his brothers and sisters and all who had known him before came to him, and they ate bread with him in his house; and they consoled him and comforted him over all the [distressing] adversities that the Lord had brought on him. And each one gave him a piece of money, and each a ring of gold.