Job

42 chapters

Chapter summaries

The Douay-Rheims’ own argument for each chapter. Tap a number above to read.

1. 1Holy Job offereth sacrifice for every one of his children, 6. whose good estate Satan envying, by God's permission spoileth him of all his goods, and children, 20. for which he being pensive offendeth not, but thanketh God for all.
2. 2Satan by God's permission, 7 striketh Job with sores from the sole of his foot to the top of his head. 9. His wife also insulteth against him, but he sinneth not. 11 Three friends coming to visit and comfort him, sit silent by him seven days.
3. 3Job lamenteth, describing his own, and the general calamities of man, 13. and showing how to escape many miseries which either are never born or die presently after their birth.
4. 4Eliphaz blameth Job as guilty of impatience, arguing thereupon that he was not so perfect in virtue as he seemed. 7 and therefore is now punished by God, who (as Eliphaz falsely supposeth) afflicteth not innocent men. 12. alleging for proof an imaginary vision.
5. 5Eliphaz prosecuteth his discourse to convince Job of great sins, because he is so vehemently afflicted. 17. exhorteth him therefore to acknowledge his sins, so all things shall succeed prosperously.
6. 6Job answereth the objections of Eliphaz, showing that indeed the calamity which he suffereth is much greater than his sins deserve; and therefore his lamentation is excusable. 8. wisheth (if it so please God) that he may die. 13. complaineth that his friends are become his adversaries, 16. gravely expostulateth that they reprehend him, 22. and help him not.
7. 7Job explaineth divers calamities of man's life, and namely of his own. 6. Supposing it not likely that he shall return to former prosperous state, 15. desireth to die.
8. 8Baldad chargeth Job to have spoken, unjustly exhorting him to turn to God, and so he shall prosper better than heretofore. 13. shewing that hypocrites shall not prosper, 20. inferreth (falsely) that God afflicteth not the sincere, nor helpeth the malignant.
9. 9Job approveth that no man avouching his own justice before God is justified. 22. Teacheth that affliction of the innocent standeth well with God's justice, wisdom, and power.
10. 10Job scarce able to speak yet sheweth that there is no injustice nor ignorance in God, neither is his sin the cause of so great afflictions. 9. Acknowledgeth God's love and benefits towards himself. 15. and dreadeth his strict judgement.
11. 11Sophar imputeth Job's discourse, about the cause of his so great afflictions, to insolency of mind, and loquacity of tongue, persuading him to acknowledge grievous sins, that so he may have the reward of a just man.
12. 12Job sheweth the knowledge, which his friends much boast of, to be the common known doctrine of God's servants. He more truly, and more profoundly discourseth of God's power and wisdom, still defending his own innocency in respect of great sins.
13. 13Of their own words Job confuteth his adversaries, that they have spoken that which they know not. 13. defendeth his own innocency. 22. desiring of God, if he be afflicted for secret sins, that he may know them.
14. 14Again Job describeth the miseries of man's life. 3. Nevertheless God's great providence towards him. 7. professeth his belief of the Resurrection.
15. 15Eliphaz again chargeth Job to have spoken presumptuously and blasphemously. 14. avoucheth that no man is innocent nor just. 20. describing the malediction of impious and hypocrites.
16. 16Job, moved by his importunate friends, 4. expostulateth their severity, 12. further describeth his afflictions, and appealeth to God's judgement, that he suffereth more than his sins deserve.
17. 17For the grievousness of his pain Job expecteth speedy death, 4. chargeth his friends with folly for holding only remuneration in this life. 6. himself hopeth happier rest in the other world.
18. 18Baldad setteth upon Job again, charging him with present impatience, and former impiety, 6. and that therefore he suffereth worthy punishment.
19. 19Job lamenteth of his friends' cruelty, 6. affirmeth that his so great affliction is not for his sins, 25. and comforteth himself with his undoubted belief of the Resurrection.
20. 20Sophar avoucheth that some wicked men flourish for a time, but are afterwards justly plagued. 19. whereupon condemneth Job as an hypocrite.
21. 21Job requiring his friends to hear him, 7. discourseth of the cause, why some evil men prosper at this life.
22. 22Eliphaz contendeth that God is not pleased with a just man's afflictions. 5. falsely imputeth enormous crimes to holy Job, 12. and gross errors. 21. Wisheth him therefore to repent, that so he may prosper.
23. 23Job expecteth help and sentence of God, 6. with just fear, yet with good conscience maintaineth his own innocence.
24. 24God in his providence knoweth when he will punish the wicked, which his true servants know not, much less the impious.
25. 25Baldad endeavoureth again to terrify Job, with God's judgement, from appealing thereto, and from avouching his own innocency.
26. 26Job refuteth his adversaries' needless and common arguments, by more sound discoursing of God's power, and wisdom.
27. 27More and more Job confirmeth his innocency, avouching that God not presently judging. 11. Will in time condemn the wicked.
28. 28The marvellous works of God, the author of nature, shew his power and wisdom, 12. and that true riches consist not in temporal creatures, but in wisdom, 28. and fear of God.
29. 29Again Job recounteth God's former benefits, as well his grace, whereby he did good works, 5. as temporal prosperity. 9. and wisdom above other princes.
30. 30Holy Job sheweth the great change of his temporal estate, from welfare into great calamity.
31. 31Holy Job reciteth sincerely his own virtues, shewing thereby that he is not punished so grievously for his sins, but by God's providence for some other cause.
32. 32Eliu a young man being angry that Job persisted in his opinion, and that his three friends could not convince him, 8. taketh upon him to confute Job which they could not do.
33. 33Eliu endeavoureth to prove by Job's speech that he is unjust: 13. arguing that God (by afflicting him) hath already so judged. 23. but if by an Angel's admonition he repent, all shall be remitted.
34. 34Again Eliu chargeth Job with blasphemy, and other crimes: 10. sheweth the equity of God's judgement: 20. and that all things are subject to God's power and knowledge.
35. 35Eliu pretending that Job had said God to be unjust, sheweth that man's piety nor impiety neither profiteth nor disprofiteth God: 13. and that he judgeth all things rightly.
36. 36Yet further Eliu sheweth, that God by his power and wisdom giveth to every one that is just: 16. inferring (falsely) that all Job's affliction is for his sins: 22. discoursing still of God's power, wisdom, and providence.
37. 37Eliu continueth his discourse, shewing God's wisdom, power, and justice, by his marvellous works of Meteors: 14. and use thereof to man's commodity: 18. which the wisest men insufficiently understand not, much less may presume (as he unjustly chargeth Job) to contend with God.
38. 38God after terror of a whirlwind, by way of examining his client Job of divers creatures about their nature, sheweth that no man hath perfect knowledge of them, much less of God's immensity.
39. 39God Almighty prosecuteth his discourse, showing his admirable power and providence in living creatures. 34. Whereupon Job acknowledgeth his own oversight in some light words.
40. 40Our Lord further showeth that man's power, nor justice, is not comparable to God's. 10. as appeareth in overcoming Behemoth, 20. and Leviathan.
41. 41Leviathan is further described by the peculiar parts of his body, and terrible composition of all his members.
42. 42Holy Job, instructed and comforted by God's discourse, acknowledgeth his fault, and craveth pardon for his oversight in speech, or cogitation. 7. God justifieth his cause against his friends. 9. They offer sacrifice for their offence. 10. All things prosper with Job, double to that he had before. 16. and he dieth happily.