THERE was a man in the land of Uz named Job. He was a plain and upright person – he feared God and kept himself from evil.

He had seven sons and three daughters.

His estate included seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very large number of servants. Job was the greatest among all the people of the east.

His sons used to go and feast in the house of each one on his birthday. They would send an invitation to their three sisters to eat and drink with them.

Whenever a round of banqueting was over, Job would send for his children and purify them, rising early in the morning to offer burnt offerings for all of them, thinking, “Perhaps my children have sinned, cursing God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular practice.

One day, when the people of God [the Self-existent] came to present themselves before the Self-existent, the Holy Spirit – the Emissary of the Self-existent - and Satan also came with them,

the Self-existent [the Holy Spirit] asked Satan, “Where have you come from?” “From roaming through the earth,” Satan answered Him, “and walking around on it.”

The Self-existent [the Holy Spirit] said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant, Job? No one in the earth is like him, a plain and upright person – he fears God [the Self-existent] and turns his back on evil.”

Satan answered the Self-existent [the Holy Spirit], “Does Job fear God for nothing?

Haven’t You placed a hedge around him, his household, and everything he owns? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.

Stretch out Your hand and strike all his belongings, he will surely curse You recklessly.”

“Very well,” the Self-existent [the Holy Spirit] told Satan, “Do what you like with any of his belongings, however, you must not touch Job himself.” So, Satan left the presence of the Self-existent [the Holy Spirit].

One day when Job’s sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house,

a messenger came to Job and reported: “While the oxen were plowing and the donkeys grazing nearby,

the Sabeans swooped down and took them away. They struck down the servants with sword; I alone escaped!”

He was still speaking when another messenger came and reported: “A lightning struck from the sky. It burned the sheep and the servants; I alone escaped!”

That messenger was still speaking when yet another came and reported: “The Chaldeans formed three bands, made a raid on the camels, and took them away. They struck down the servants with sword; I alone escaped!”

He was still speaking when another messenger came and reported: “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house.

Suddenly, a powerful wind swept in from the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on the young people so that they died; I alone escaped!”

Then Job got up, tore his robe and shaved his head. He fell to the ground and worshiped,

saying: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb and naked I will leave. The Self-existent gives and the Self-existent takes away. Praise the Name [Emissary] of the Self-existent – the Self-existent, the Holy Spirit.”

Throughout all this, Job did not sin or foolishly blame God.