The Book of Job

Job is an upright man. He feared the Lord. The narrator gives us this information and we cannot doubt it.

But The Satan (which means something like 'prosecutor' in Hebrew), he isn't so sure. He says to God that maybe Job is only upright because of how he's been rewarded. The only test of his faith is to take it all away. And so God does.

God takes away Job's cattle and wealth. God kills all of Job's children. God gives Job some kinda leprosy. And Job maintains his goodness.

Three of Job's friends show up and they don't even recognize Job, the poor guy has been through so much stuff. Job tells them what's happened, and they all try to figure out what sin he's committed. Maybe he did something without realizing it... Job says no. Maybe it wasn't something he did but something he did not do.... Job says no.

Job demands justice. He knows he has done no wrong. God shows up to defend himself. The only real words he says directly to Job are basically "I'm only gonna say this once, so you'd better listen."

God explains that he made hawks and falcons and snakes and alligators and hippos. Then he scolds Job's friends for misrepresenting Him, and cures Job and gives him even more wealth and children than he had before. And Job lives longer than anyone has since Moses.