JOB'S GOODNESS AND RICHES. AFFLICTIONS ARE SENT UPON HIM. HIS FRIENDS' UNKINDNESS. JOB COMPLAINS OF HIS SUFFERINGS. GOD SPEAKS TO HIM, AND GIVES HIM GREATER BLESSINGS THAN HE HAD BEFORE HE WAS AFFLICTED.
THERE was a man in the land of Uz named Job, who feared God, and was careful to do no evil. And God gave him seven sons and three daughters. He gave Job great riches also; for he had three thousand camels, seven thousand sheep, a thousand oxen, five hundred asses, and many men-servants and maid-servants, so that he was the greatest of all the men in that part of the world where he lived.
And his sons, who were grown up, and had homes of their own, used to feast together, taking turns at each other's houses, and inviting their three sisters to come and eat and drink with them. When their feasts were over, Job always sent and told them, if they had done anything wrong, to repent of it; then he offered up burnt offerings for each one of them, because he feared they might have sinned and displeased God.
But after Job had enjoyed his blessings for many years, God sent trouble upon him, to try whether he would bear it patiently, and be willing that his heavenly Father should do to him what he thought best. Therefore God allowed his riches and his children to be taken from him. For there came to him one day a messenger, saying, While thy oxen were ploughing in the field and thy asses were feeding beside them, a band of robbers drove them all away, and slew thy servants who were with them, and I am the only one left to tell thee.
While this servant was speaking, there came another, who said, A great fire has fallen from the sky and burnt up thy sheep, and the servants who were taking care of them, and I alone am left to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, another came, and said, Thy enemies have taken thy camels, and killed thy servants who were keeping them, and I only am left to tell thee. While he was speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were feasting in their eldest brother's house, and there came a great wind from the wilderness that broke down the house, and it fell upon the young men and they are dead, and I only am left to tell thee.
When Job heard these things, he rent his clothes, and bowed down to the earth, ana worshipped, saying, I had nothing of my own, when I was born as a little child into the world, and I shall have nothing when I die and go out of it. It was God who gave me my children and my riches, and it is God who has taken them away again. He knows what is best for me, and I thank him for all he has done. So Job did not sin, nor speak against God, although his grief was so great and had come so suddenly upon him.
After this, to try Job still more, God sent him sickness and pain. Sore boils came upon him and covered him, from his feet to his head, and he sat down on the ground in great distress. Then his wife, being angry because God sent him such suffering, came to Job, and said, Dost thou still trust in God? Do so no more, but speak against him and wish him evil, for afflicting thee, even though he kill thee for doing it. Job answered her, Thou speakest like a foolish woman. After we have had so many good things from God, shall we not be willing to take evil things? In all this Job said nothing that was wrong.
And he had three friends, who, when they heard of his trouble, came to talk with him and comfort him. But when they saw him, he was so changed that they did not know him. Then they rent their clothes and wept, and sat down on the ground near to him, but did not speak, because they could see that his grief was great. Now his friends thought his troubles had been sent upon him, on account of some evil that he had done. And after a while they spoke to him, and said, If thou hast done wickedly, do so no more. Thou must have sinned, in taking what did not belong to thee, or in being cruel to the poor, or in not praying to God; yet if thou wilt repent of thy sins, God will forgive thee and take thy sufferings away.
But Job knew that he had not done the things which his friends accused him of, and he said to them, You came to comfort me, but what you say does not comfort me at all. I would rather you should be still altogether, and let me alone. Did I send for you, or ask you to help me? If you were afflicted as I am, I also could say many things against you, and call you wicked. But instead of this I would speak kindly, and try to make your sorrow less.
Then Job spoke of his sorrows, and said, The Lord has sent great troubles upon me. Oh that he would put me to death, that I might suffer no more. When I lie down at night, instead of resting in sleep, I toss upon my bed in pain and wish it was morning. Or, if I fall asleep for a little while, dreadful dreams frighten me, so that I would rather die than live. Oh that I had some one to speak to God for me, for he does not listen to my prayers. Yet I know that my Saviour is living, and that after many years he will come upon the earth, and I shall rise up from my grave and see him for myself.
But when Job saw that he could not die as he wanted to, nor be made well, but that he must still bear his pains, he grew impatient. He was willing to bear them for a little while, but not until God saw best to take them away. Then he began to find fault, and say, that his troubles were too great, and that God was cruel to him. And his three friends, instead of trying to encourage him, still told him that he must have offended God. His troubles were a punishment, they said, and God did not punish the good but the wicked, and therefore Job must have done very wickedly. Then Job was displeased at them and answered them angrily, and they answered him angrily again. So they kept on, accusing one another and complaining against each other. After they had talked in this way for a long while, and had, both of them, said many things they ought not to have said, they heard a voice speaking out of a whirlwind that came by that place. It was the voice of God.
And the voice spoke to Job, and told him of the wonderful works God had done; that it was he who had made the earth, the sea, and the sky. It is God, the voice said, who sends the rain on the fields, to make the grass and the flowers spring up. He covers the rivers with ice, and the ground with snow, and sends the lightning from the sky. He gives the wild beasts their food, and the young birds which cry to him when they are hungry. It is God who gave the beautiful wings to the peacock, and feathers to the ostrich. He made the horse that is so swift and strong, and that is not afraid in the time of war, when he hears the trumpets, and the shouting of the captains, but is eager to rush with them into the battle. He taught the eagle to build her nest on the high rocks, and to fly off and hunt food for her young ones.
When God had told Job of all these wonderful works, he asked whether Job was able to do such things, or whether he was wise enough to teach God what he should do? Then Job saw how he had sinned in finding fault with God. He said, I am wicked, and have spoken of things that I do not understand; therefore I repent of my sin, and bow down in the dust before thee.
And God said to Job's three friends, I am angry with you, for you have not spoken what is right to my servant Job, in his trouble. Now, therefore, lest I punish you, take seven bullocks and seven rams, and offer them up as a burnt offering, and ask Job to pray for you that you may be forgiven, for his prayer I will hear. So they did as the Lord commanded; and Job prayed for them and they were forgiven.
After this the Lord took away Job's sickness. Then all his brothers, and sisters, and friends, came to him, and they had a feast in his house. And every man gave him a piece of money and an earring of gold. And now the Lord blessed Job more than he had done before he sent his troubles upon him, and gave him twice as great riches. For Job had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, two thousand oxen, and a thousand asses. He had also, seven sons and three daughters; and in all the land there were no women so beautiful as the daughters of Job. After these things he lived a hundred and forty years: and he died, being a very old man.