₁There was a man named Job, living in the land of Uz, who worshipped God and was faithful to him. He was a good man, careful not to do anything evil.

₁When the day came for the heavenly beings to appear before the LORD again, Satan was there among them. ₂The LORD asked him, “Where have you been?”

Satan answered, “I have been walking here and there, roaming round the earth.”

₃“Did you notice my servant Job?” the LORD asked. “There is no one on earth as faithful and good as he is. He worships me and is careful not to do anything evil. You persuaded me to let you attack him for no reason at all, but Job is still as faithful as ever.”

₄Satan replied, “A person will give up everything in order to stay alive. ₅But now suppose you hurt his body — he will curse you to your face!”

₆So the LORD said to Satan, “All right, he is in your power, but you are not to kill him.”

₇Then Satan left the LORD's presence and made sores break out all over Job's body. ₈Job went and sat by the rubbish heap and took a piece of broken pottery to scrape his sores. ₉His wife said to him, “You are still as faithful as ever, aren't you? Why don't you curse God and die?”

₁₀Job answered, “You are talking nonsense! When God sends us something good, we welcome it. How can we complain when he sends us trouble?” In spite of everything he suffered, Job said nothing against God.