< Job 2 >

1 And there came a certain day when the sons of God entered in, to present themselves unto Yahweh—so the accuser also entered in their midst, to present himself unto Yahweh.
Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD.
2 And Yahweh said unto the accuser, Whence comest thou? And the accuser answered Yahweh, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from wandering about therein.
And the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
3 And Yahweh said unto the accuser, Hast thou applied thy heart unto my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a man blameless and upright, one who revereth God, and avoideth evil; and still he is holding fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to swallow him up without cause.
And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job? for there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil: and he still holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.
4 Then the accuser answered Yahweh, and said, Skin for skin, and so, all that a man hath, will he give for his life.
And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.
5 In very deed, put forth, I pray thee thy hand, and smite unto his bone, and unto his flesh, —verily, unto thy face, will he curse thee.
But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will renounce thee to thy face.
6 And Yahweh said unto the accuser, Behold him! in thy hand, —only, his life, preserve thou!
And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; only spare his life.
7 So the accuser went forth from the presence of Yahweh, —and smote Job with a sore boil, from the sole of his foot, unto his crown.
So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.
8 And he took him a potsherd, to scrape himself therewith; he being seated in the midst of ashes.
And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat among the ashes.
9 Then said his wife unto him, Art thou still holding fast thine integrity? Curse God, and die!
Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still hold fast thine integrity? renounce God, and die.
10 And he said unto her, As one of the base women speaketh, speakest thou? Blessing, shall we accept from God, and, misfortune, shall we not accept? In all this, Job sinned not with his lips.
But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.
11 Now when the three friends of Job heard of all this misfortune which had befallen him, —they came, every man from his own place, Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite, —for they had by appointment met together to come to shew sympathy with him, and to comfort him.
Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: and they made an appointment together to come to bemoan him and to comfort him.
12 And, when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept—and rent, every one his robe, and sprinkled dust upon their heads, toward the heavens.
And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven.
13 And they sat with him upon the ground, seven days and seven nights, —and none was speaking unto him a word, for they saw that, exceeding great, was the stinging pain.
So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great.

< Job 2 >