Job 2 · איוב

Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and the adversary came also among them to present himself before the Lord.

And the Lord said to the adversary, From where dost thou come? And the adversary answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

And the Lord said to the adversary, Hast thou considered my servant Iyyov, that there is none like him on earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that fears God and turns away from evil? and still he holds fast to his integrity, although thou didst move me against him, to destroy him without cause.

And the adversary answered the Lord, and said, Skin covers skin! for all that a man has he will give for his life.

But put forth thy hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse Thee to Thy face.

And the Lord said to the adversary, Behold, he is in thy hand; but save his life.

So the adversary went forth from the presence of the Lord, and smote Iyyov with vile sores from the sole of his foot to his crown.

And he took him a potsherd with which to scrape himself; and he sat down among the ashes.

Then his wife said to him, Dost thou still retain thy integrity? curse God, and die.

But he said to her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaks. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this Iyyov did not sin with his lips.

Now when Iyyov’s three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Elifaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuĥite, and Żofar the Na῾amatite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.

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 coat, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven.

And they sat down with him on the ground for seven days and seven nights, and none spoke a word to him: for they saw that his suffering was very great.