THE LORD--"Whence comest thou?"

SATAN--"From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and
down in it."

THE LORD--"Hast thou considered my servant Job? for there is none like
him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God,
and shunneth evil."

SATAN--"Doth Job fear God for nought? 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 {182} work of his hands, and his substance
is increased in the land. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all
that he hath, and he will renounce thee to thy face."

THE LORD--"Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself
put not forth thine hand."

Then Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord. After this on a
certain day messengers came with tidings to Job.

FIRST MESSENGER--"The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside
them: 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."

SECOND MESSENGER--"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."

THIRD MESSENGER--"The Chaldeans made three bands, and fell upon the
camels, and have taken them away, yea, and slain the servants with the
edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee."

FOURTH MESSENGER--"Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking
wine in their eldest brother's house: 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--(He arose, rent his mantle, shaved his head, and fell on the
ground and worshipped.)

{183}

"Naked came I into the world, and naked I must return out of it. The
Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the
Lord."

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.

And thus they spoke:--

THE LORD--"From whence comest thou?"

SATAN--"From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and
down in it."

THE LORD--"Hast thou considered my servant Job? for there is none like
him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God,
and shunneth evil: