the earth?" Satan, answering, said: “Doth Job fear God in vain? [1] Thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his possession hath increased on the earth. But stretch forth Thy hand, and take away his possessions, then Thou shalt see that he will bless Thee to Thy face.”
Then the Lord said to Satan: “All that he hath is in thy hand; only put not forth thy hand upon his person.” So it came to pass upon one occasion, when the sons and daughters of Job were feasting in the house of their eldest brother, a messenger came to Job, exclaiming: “The oxen were ploughing, and the asses feeding beside them, and the Sabeans rushed in and took all away, and slew the servants with the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell thee.”
While he was[2] yet speaking, another messenger came to tell Job that fire fell from heaven which struck the sheep and the shepherds, and that he alone had escaped. Whilst he was yet speaking, there came a third messenger, who announced to Job that the Chaldeans had taken away his camels and slain all the servants but himself.
Then came a fourth messenger who, entering in, said to Job: “Whilst thy sons and daughters were eating and drinking in the house of their elder brother, a violent wind came on a sudden from the side of the desert, and shook the four corners of the house, and it fell[3], and crushed thy children, and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell thee.”
Then Job rose up and rent his garments, and, having shaved his head, fell down upon the ground and worshipped[4], saying: “The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away. As it has pleased the Lord, so is it done. Blessed be the name of the Lord.” In all these things Job sinned not by his lips, nor spoke he any foolish thing against God.
And the Lord said to Satan: “Hast thou considered my servant Job that there is none like him in the earth?” Satan replied:
- ↑ In vain. Satan means that Job’s holiness arises entirely from selfishness and greed of temporal prosperity.
- ↑ While he was. Thus quickly did the disasters follow, one after the other.
- ↑ It fell. The beams gave way, and the stones fell, crushing and burying the children of Job.
- ↑ And worshipped. He did not murmur, but fell on the ground and adored.
