e following chapter, ver. 5
and 9, uses the word bless to signify its contrary.

1:6. Now on a certain day, when the sons of God came to stand before the
Lord, Satan also was present among them.

The sons of God... The angels.-Ibid. Satan also, etc.. This passage
represents to us in a figure, accommodated to the ways and
understandings of men, 1. The restless endeavours of Satan against the
servants of God; 2. That he can do nothing without God's permission; 3.
That God doth not permit him to tempt them above their strength: but
assists them by his divine grace in such manner, that the vain efforts
of the enemy only serve to illustrate their virtue and increase their
merit.

1:7. And the Lord said to him: Whence comest thou? And he answered and
said: I have gone round about the earth, and walked through it.

1:8. And the Lord said to him: Hast thou considered my servant, Job,
that there is none like him in the earth, a simple and upright man, and
fearing God, and avoiding evil?

1:9. And Satan answering, said: Doth Job fear God in vain?

1:10. Hast thou not made a fence for him, and his house, and all his
substance round about, blessed the works of his hands, and his
possession hath increased on the earth?

1:11. But stretch forth thy hand a little, and touch all that he hath,
and see if he bless thee not to thy face.

1:12. Then the Lord said to Satan: Behold, all that he hath is in thy
hand: only put not forth thy hand upon his person. And Satan went forth
from the presence of the Lord.

1:13. Now upon a certain day, when his sons and daughters were eating
and drinking wine, in the house of their eldest brother,

1:14. There came a messenger to Job, and said: The oxen were ploughing,
and the asses feeding beside them,

1:15. And the Sabeans rushed in, and took all away, and slew the
servants with the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell thee.

1:16. And while he was yet speaking, another came, and said: The fire of
God fell from heaven, and striking the sheep and the servants, hath
consumed them; and I alone have escaped to tell thee.

1:17. And while he also was yet speaking, there came another, and said:
The Chaldeans made three troops, and have fallen upon the camels, and
taken them; moreover, they have slain the servants with the sword: and I
alone have escaped to tell thee.

1:18. He was yet speaking, and behold another came in, and said: Thy
sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in