Study Desk

Hasatan answered the LORD, and said, "Skin for skin. Yes, all that a man has will he give for his life.

But put forth your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will renounce you to your face."

The LORD said to Hasatan, "Behold, he is in your hand. Only spare his life."

So Hasatan went forth from the presence of the LORD, and struck Iyov with painful sores from the sole of his foot to his head.

Then his wife said to him, "Do you still maintain your integrity? Renounce God, and die."

But he said to her, "You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?" In all this Iyov didn't sin with his lips.

Now when Iyov's three friends heard of all this evil that had come on him, they each came from his own place: Elifaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuchite, and Tzofar the Na`amatite, and they made an appointment together to come to sympathize with him and to comfort him.

When they lifted up their eyes from a distance, and didn't recognize him, they raised their voices, and wept; and they each tore his robe, and sprinkled dust on their heads toward the sky.

So they sat down with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spoke a word to him, for they saw that his grief was very great.

After this Iyov opened his mouth, and cursed the day of his birth.

The small and the great are there. The servant is free from his master.

By the breath of God they perish, By the blast of his anger are they consumed.

'Shall mortal man be more just than God? Shall a man be more pure than his Maker?

Behold, he puts no trust in his servants. He charges his angels with error.

I have seen the foolish taking root, But suddenly I cursed his habitation.

His children are far from safety, They are crushed in the gate. Neither is there any to deliver them,

For he wounds, and binds up; He injures, and his hands make whole.

Does the wild donkey bray when he has grass? Or does the ox low over his fodder?

Even that it would please God to crush me; That he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!

"To him who is ready to faint, kindness should be shown from his friend; Even to him who forsakes the fear of Shaddai.