Satan’s Second Attack on Job
2 Some time later, divine beings again[a] presented themselves to the Lord, and Satan accompanied them to present himself to the Lord. 2 The Lord asked Satan, “Where have you come from?”
In response, Satan told the Lord, “From wandering all over the earth and walking back and forth throughout it.”
3 The Lord asked Satan, “Have you considered[b] my servant Job? There is no one like him on earth. The man is blameless as well as upright. He fears God and keeps away from evil. He remains firm in his integrity, even though you have been urging me to overwhelm him without cause.”
4 Satan answered the Lord, “Skin for skin! The man will give up everything that he owns in exchange for his health.[c] 5 However, stretch out your hand[d] and strike his bones and flesh, and he’ll curse you to your face, won’t he?”
6 Then the Lord told Satan, “Very well then, he is under your control.[e] Just preserve his life.”[f]
7 So Satan left the Lord’s presence and struck Job with terrible boils from the sole of his feet to the top of his head. 8 Job[g] took a broken piece of pottery to scrape himself while sitting among the ashes.
Job Refuses to Curse God
9 Then his wife told him, “Do you remain firm in your integrity? Curse God and die!”
10 But he replied to her, “You’re talking like foolish women do. Are we to accept[h] what is good from God but not tragedy?”
Throughout all of this, Job did not sin by what he said.[i]
Job’s Friends Visit
11 When Job’s three friends heard all these tragedies that happened to him, they each traveled from their home towns[j] to visit him. Eliphaz came from Teman,[k] Bildad came from Shuah,[l] and Zophar came from Naamath.[m] They met together and went to console and comfort him. 12 Observing him from a distance, at first they didn’t even recognize him, so they raised their voices and burst into tears. They each ripped their robes, threw ashes into the air on their heads, 13 and sat with Job[n] on the ground for a full week[o] without saying a word, since they could see the great extent of his anguish.
Footnotes
- Job 2:1 Lit. later, the sons of God
- Job 2:3 Lit. you set your heart over
- Job 2:4 Lit. his soul
- Job 2:5 Or send judgment
- Job 2:6 Lit. hand
- Job 2:6 Lit. his soul
- Job 2:8 Lit. He
- Job 2:10 Or receive
- Job 2:10 Lit. by his lips
- Job 2:11 Lit. from his place
- Job 2:11 Lit. Eliphaz the Temanite; i.e. from Teman in Edom, and so throughout the book
- Job 2:11 Lit. Bildad the Shuhite; i.e. from Shuah, and so throughout the book
- Job 2:11 Lit. Zophar the Naamathite; i.e. from Naamath in Arabia, and so throughout the book
- Job 2:13 Lit. him
- Job 2:13 Lit. for seven days and seven nights