Study Desk

Whenever a round of banqueting was over, Job would send for his children and purify them, rising early in the morning to offer burnt offerings for all of them. For Job thought, “Perhaps my children have sinned, having cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular practice.

Satan answered the Lord, “Does Job fear God for nothing?

Throughout all this Job did not sin or blame God for anything.

Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? No one else on earth is like him, a man of perfect integrity, who fears God and turns away from evil. He still retains his integrity, even though you incited me against him, to destroy him for no good reason.”

“Skin for skin!” Satan answered the Lord. “A man will give up everything he owns in exchange for his life.

May its morning stars grow dark.May it wait for daylight but have none;may it not see the breaking of dawn.

For that night did not shutthe doors of my mother’s womb,and hide sorrow from my eyes.

Why did the knees receive me,and why were there breasts for me to nurse?

with the kings and counselors of the earth,who rebuilt ruined cities for themselves,

who wait for death, but it does not come,and search for it more than for hidden treasure,

For the thing I feared has overtaken me,and what I dreaded has happened to me.

I cannot relax or be calm;I have no rest, for turmoil has come.

For anger kills a fool,and jealousy slays the gullible.

The hungry consume his harvest,even taking it out of the thorns.The thirsty pant for his children’s wealth.

For distress does not grow out of the soil,and trouble does not sprout from the ground.

But humans are born for troubleas surely as sparks fly upward.

For he wounds but he also bandages;he strikes, but his hands also heal.

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

We have investigated this, and it is true!Hear it and understand it for yourself.

For then it would outweigh the sand of the seas!That is why my words are rash.