Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/164

 the earth?"  Satan,  answering,  said:  “Doth  Job  fear  God  in  vain? Thou  hast  blessed  the  work  of  his  hands,  and  his  possession  hath increased  on  the  earth.  But  stretch  forth  Thy  hand,  and  take away  his  possessions,  then  Thou  shalt  see  that  he  will  bless  Thee to  Thy  face.”

Then the  Lord  said  to  Satan: “All  that  he  hath  is  in  thy hand; only  put  not  forth  thy  hand  upon  his  person.”  So  it  came to pass  upon  one  occasion,  when  the  sons  and  daughters  of  Job were feasting  in  the  house  of  their  eldest  brother,  a messenger came to  Job,  exclaiming:  “The  oxen  were  ploughing,  and  the asses feeding  beside  them,  and  the  Sabeans  rushed  in  and  took all away,  and  slew  the  servants  with  the  sword,  and  I alone  have escaped to  tell  thee.”

While he  was  yet  speaking,  another  messenger  came  to  tell Job that  fire  fell  from  heaven  which  struck  the  sheep  and  the shepherds, and  that  he  alone  had  escaped. Whilst he  was  yet speaking, there  came  a third  messenger,  who  announced  to  Job that the  Chaldeans  had  taken  away  his  camels  and  slain  all  the servants but  himself.

Then came  a fourth  messenger  who,  entering  in,  said  to  Job: “Whilst thy  sons  and  daughters  were  eating  and  drinking  in  the house of  their  elder  brother,  a violent  wind  came  on  a sudden from the  side  of  the  desert,  and  shook  the  four  corners  of  the house, and  it  fell,  and  crushed  thy  children,  and  they  are  dead, and I alone  have  escaped  to  tell  thee.”

Then Job  rose  up  and  rent  his  garments,  and,  having  shaved his head,  fell  down  upon  the  ground  and  worshipped,  saying: “The Lord  gave,  and  the  Lord  hath  taken  away. As it  has pleased the  Lord,  so  is  it  done. Blessed be  the  name  of  the Lord.” In  all  these  things  Job  sinned  not  by  his  lips,  nor  spoke he any  foolish  thing  against  God.

And the  Lord  said  to  Satan: “Hast  thou  considered  my  servant Job  that  there  is  none  like  him  in  the  earth?”  Satan  replied: