The holy righteous Job came from the tribe of Abraham and lived in Arabia, in the land of Uz. He was a man of truth, distinguished by his impeccable conduct, justice, and care for the poor. He had seven sons and three daughters and was very wealthy, with great possessions and many servants. Job cared deeply for his children, encouraging their love for one another and offering sacrifices for them, in case they had sinned against God.
When the angels gathered before the throne of the Lord, the devil also appeared to slander Job. The Lord praised Job for his righteousness, but Satan claimed that Job was pious only because he enjoyed God’s protection. The Lord then allowed Satan to test him by taking away all his possessions and even his children. Despite his immense suffering, Job did not sin or accuse God of injustice, believing that the Lord has the right to take away whatever He has given.
The devil then struck Job with a terrible illness. Even his wife, having lost all hope, urged him to stop praising God. However, Job, remaining steadfast in his faith, replied that one must accept both good and evil from the hand of God.
Three of his friends came to comfort him. When they saw his condition, they sat in silence, not knowing what to say. Overwhelmed with grief, Job cursed the day of his birth. His friends, believing his suffering was punishment for hidden sins, urged him to repent, but Job defended his innocence.
He insisted that his suffering was not a result of sin, but part of God’s will. Then a young man named Elihu entered the discussion, criticising Job for justifying himself rather than God. Finally, the Lord appeared to Job, reproaching him for trying to comprehend divine wisdom. Job humbly acknowledged his weakness and repented. The Lord then instructed Job’s friends to offer a sacrifice, while Job prayed for them. Afterward, God restored Job’s health and blessed him with twice as much as he had before. He lived one hundred and forty years after these trials and saw his descendants to the fourth generation.
