Job 1

Job was a good and rich man.

Job was a man who lived in the place named Uz. He was a very good man. He was perfect and obeyed God's laws. He loved God and hated evil.

[1] There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.

Job had 7 sons and 3 daughters.
[2] And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters.
 

"Job in Prosperity" from The Story of the Bible by Charles Foster (Illustrations by F.B. Schell and others) from www.coolnotions.com

Job was very rich. He owned 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 pairs of oxen, and 500 female donkeys. He had many things in his house. He was the richest man of his area in the east.
[3] His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.
 

Job's sons had feasts (special dinners) in their homes. They took turns, and one son had a feast each day.  They always invited their 3 sisters to come to their feasts.
[4] And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.
 

The next morning after the feasts, Job made burnt offerings for each of his sons. He did this in case any of his sons had sinned or thought bad things about God. Job offered these sacrifices continually.
[5] And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.

 

God and Satan discuss Job. Satan will test Job.

One day, the angels came to see God. Satan came with them. God asked Satan where he had been. Satan said he had been walking around the earth.
[6] Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.
[7] And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.


God asked Satan if he had seen Job. God said that Job was his servant. He was a perfect man who always behaved well. He respected God and hated evil.
[8] And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?


Satan said that Job only obeyed God because God protected him. God protected his life, his house, and all of the things he owned. Job was very rich.  Satan said that if God destroyed everything Job has, Job will curse God (say bad things) to his face.
[9] Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?
[10] Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.
[11] But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.


God told Satan that he could destroy everything Job had. But he could not touch Job himself.  Then Satan left.
[12] And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.

 

Job's children and all of the things he owned are destroyed.


One day, Job's children were eating at his oldest son's house.
[13] And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:


A messenger came to Job. He said that the oxen were plowing in the field. The donkeys were eating next to the oxen. Some Sabeans (enemies, group of people from the area now called Saudi Arabia) stole them all. The enemies also stabbed most of Job's workers. The messenger said that he was the only one to escape.
[14] And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them:
[15] And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.


While the first messenger was talking to Job, another messenger arrived. He said that God's fire fell from heaven, and the sheep burned. He said the workers taking care of the sheep were burned, too. He said he was the only one who escaped.
[16] While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.


While that messenger was talking, another messenger arrived. He said that some people attacked the camels and the people who took care of the camels. He said the people were Chaldeans (from the area we call Iraq).  He said the Chaldeans were in 3 groups. They stole all of the camels and killed the workers taking care of the camels. He said he was the only one who escaped.
[17] While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

 

"Job Receiving Evil Tidings" from The Story of the Bible by Charles Foster (Illustrations by F.B. Schell and others) from www.coolnotions.com

While that messenger was talking, another messenger arrived. He told Job that his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine at his oldest son's house.  Then a strong wind knocked the house down. It killed all of Job's sons and daughters. He was the only one to escape.
[18] While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:
[19] And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.


Job stood up. He tore his clothes and shaved his head. He fell down on the ground and worshipped God. He said that when he was born, he had nothing, not even clothes. When he dies, he will take nothing back to God.  God gave him all of his children and all of the things he owned. God also took these things away.  Job blessed God's name. He did not sin or say bad things about God.
[20] Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,
[21] And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.
[22] In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.
 

Job 2


God and Satan discuss Job again.

On another day, the angels went to meet with God.  Satan came there, too.  God asked Satan where he had been.  Satan said he had been going around the earth and walking up and down.
[1] 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 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.


God asked Satan if he had seen Job. He said that no one was like Job. Job was a good and perfect man. He honored and obeyed God. He did not do bad things. Satan convinced God to destroy Job's family and the things he owned. But still, Job did not sin.
[3] And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.


Satan said that Job would have sinned if he was hurt himself. Satan said that God should destroy Job himself, and then he will sin.
[4] And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.
[5] But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.
 

God told Satan he could touch Job, but he could not take his life.
[6] And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.

Satan left God and made Job get boils (sores) all over his body from his bottom of his feet to the top of his head.
[7] So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.

Job took a piece of pottery and scraped his sores. He sat down in the ashes.
[8] And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes.

Job's wife talked to him. She asked him if he still honored God. She said he should talk bad about God and then die.
[9] Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.

Job told his wife that she was talking like one of the foolish women. He said if they receive good things from God, they must also receive bad things from God.  But he did not talk badly about God.
[10] 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.

 

Three of Job's friends come to visit him.
 

Three of Job's friends heard about the bad things that happened to him. They decided to go together and visit him.  They wanted to mourn with him and comfort him so he would feel better. Their names were Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar. Eliphaz was a Temanite from the area of Teman. Bildad was a Shuhite from the area named Shuah. Zophar was a Naamathite from the place named Naamath.
[11] 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: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.


They were getting closer to his home and could see him far away. They didn't even recognize him. They all started to cry loudly and tore their clothes to show they were upset.  They put dust on their heads.
[12] 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.

The 3 friends sat on the ground with Job for 7 days and nights. None of them talked. They could see that he was very upset and sad.
[13] 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 3

Job curses the day he was born.

After 3 days and nights, Job started to talk. He cursed the day he was born. He said it was a bad day.
[1] After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day.


This is what Job said. 
[2] And Job spake, and said,
 

He cursed the the day he was born.  He cursed the night when he was conceived. He said that day should be dark. God should not see that day or shine light on it.
[3] Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said, There is a man child conceived.
[4] Let that day be darkness; let not God regard it from above, neither let the light shine upon it.


He said that darkness and the shadow of death should cover that day. A cloud should stay on it. That day should be black.
[5] Let darkness and the shadow of death stain it; let a cloud dwell upon it; let the blackness of the day terrify it.
 

The night should stay dark. It should not become day. It should not become a month.
[6] As for that night, let darkness seize upon it; let it not be joined unto the days of the year, let it not come into the number of the months.

That night should be alone. There should be no joyful voices in it.
[7] Lo, let that night be solitary, let no joyful voice come therein.

Everyone who is ready to mourn should curse that day.
[8] Let them curse it that curse the day, who are ready to raise up their mourning.

The stars should not make that day light. The night should not see the dawn of a new morning.  That night was bad because his mother conceived him in it. The night did not stop him from seeing this sadness.
[9] Let the stars of the twilight thereof be dark; let it look for light, but have none; neither let it see the dawning of the day:
[10] Because it shut not up the doors of my mother's womb, nor hid sorrow from mine eyes.

Job wished he had died before he was born. He wished he had not been delivered or nursed.
[11] Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly?
[12] Why did the knees prevent me? or why the breasts that I should suck?

If he had died before he was born, he would be quiet now. He would have been sleeping and resting. He would have died like kings and important people of the earth who built empty places for themselves.  He would have died like princes that had a lot of gold and silver.  He would have been like babies who died before they were born.
[13] For now should I have lain still and been quiet, I should have slept: then had I been at rest,
[14] With kings and counsellers of the earth, which built desolate places for themselves;
[15] Or with princes that had gold, who filled their houses with silver:
[16] Or as an hidden untimely birth I had not been; as infants which never saw light.


When bad people die, they stop doing bad things. When tired people die, they rest. When prisoners die, they do not hear the people who control them. Other people are free after they die--great people, small people, and servants.
[17] There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary be at rest.
[18] There the prisoners rest together; they hear not the voice of the oppressor.
[19] The small and great are there; and the servant is free from his master.
 

Job said it would be better if he would die. He said he was miserable and bitter. He asked why God gives him life. He said he wants to die, but God keeps him alive. He said he would be happy to die.
[20] Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter in soul;
[21] Which long for death, but it cometh not; and dig for it more than for hid treasures;
[22] Which rejoice exceedingly, and are glad, when they can find the grave?


He said that God has surrounded him. He wants to die. He said he sighs before he eats. He cries like pouring water.  He said that everything he  worried about has happened.  He is not safe and has no rest.
[23] Why is light given to a man whose way is hid, and whom God hath hedged in?
[24] For my sighing cometh before I eat, and my roarings are poured out like the waters.
[25] For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.
[26] I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet; yet trouble came.