Study Desk

Then Zebah and Zalmunna said to Gideon, "Come on, kill us yourself. It takes a man to do a man's job." So Gideon killed them and took the ornaments that were on the necks of their camels.

There was a man named Job, living in the land of Uz, who worshiped God and was faithful to him. He was a good man, careful not to do anything evil.

The morning after each feast, Job would get up early and offer sacrifices for each of his children in order to purify them. He always did this because he thought that one of them might have sinned by insulting God unintentionally.

"Did you notice my servant Job?" the Lord asked. "There is no one on earth as faithful and good as he is. He worships me and is careful not to do anything evil."

Satan replied, "Would Job worship you if he got nothing out of it?

"All right," the Lord said to Satan, "everything he has is in your power, but you must not hurt Job himself." So Satan left.

a messenger came running to Job. "We were plowing the fields with the oxen," he said, "and the donkeys were in a nearby pasture.

Then Job got up and tore his clothes in grief. He shaved his head and threw himself face downward on the ground.

In spite of everything that had happened, Job did not sin by blaming God.

"Did you notice my servant Job?" the Lord asked. "There is no one on earth as faithful and good as he is. He worships me and is careful not to do anything evil. You persuaded me to let you attack him for no reason at all, but Job is still as faithful as ever."

Job went and sat by the garbage dump and took a piece of broken pottery to scrape his sores.

Job answered, "You are talking nonsense! When God sends us something good, we welcome it. How can we complain when he sends us trouble?" Even in all this suffering Job said nothing against God.

Three of Job's friends were Eliphaz, from the city of Teman, Bildad, from the land of Shuah, and Zophar, from the land of Naamah. When they heard how much Job had been suffering, they decided to go and comfort him.

While they were still a long way off they saw Job, but did not recognize him. When they did, they began to weep and wail, tearing their clothes in grief and throwing dust into the air and on their heads.

Finally Job broke the silence and cursed the day on which he had been born.

Job O God, put a curse on the day I was born; put a curse on the night when I was conceived! <

Job, will you be annoyed if I speak? I can't keep quiet any longer. <

Call out, Job. See if anyone answers. Is there any angel to whom you can turn?

Job, we have learned this by long study. It is true, so now accept it.

Job, do you think we can't answer you? That your mocking words will leave us speechless?