The Book of Job

The Book of Job is one of the books in the Old Testament. It tells the story of a man named Job. Job was a good man who loved God. He lived a faithful life and followed God’s ways.

The story shows how Job suffered great loss. He lost his children, his health, and all his belongings. Still, Job did not turn away from God. He asked many questions, but he stayed faithful.

Read more about the life of Job here.

The Book of Job teaches us about suffering. It helps us see that good people can suffer. It also shows that we may not always understand why things happen. But we are called to trust God.

This book is not easy to read. There are long speeches and hard questions. But it has an important message. It tells us that faith in God is not just about getting rewards. Faith stays even when life is hard.

The Book of Job is very old. Some people think it was written before many other books in the Bible. Others think it came later. We do not know the exact time. It may have been written during the time of the exile, when the Jewish people were far from their home.

We also do not know who wrote it. The writer does not say his name. But the story was passed down through the years. The Church believes the message in the book is true and important, even if we do not know the author.

The book was written in a way that sounds like poetry. It has long speeches and questions about life. It is different from stories like Genesis or Exodus. It does not give facts about history. It gives a lesson about faith and trust.

The Church has kept this book in the Bible because it helps people think about suffering. It shows that faith is not just about good times. It is also about staying close to God when life is hard.

The Book of Job is written like a story, but most of it is in the form of poetry. The beginning and the end are told in plain story style. These parts tell us what happens to Job. The middle part is made up of speeches.

Job and his friends speak in poems. They ask big questions about God, life, and suffering. They do not talk in simple sentences. They use images, questions, and strong words. Sometimes it is hard to follow, but it shows how deep their struggle is.

There is also a part where a man named Elihu speaks. After that, God speaks from a storm. This is the most important part. God does not answer every question. But He reminds Job that He made the world and is in control.

The book uses poetry to help us feel the pain and confusion of Job. It also helps us see that some things are too big for us to understand. Still, the style points us back to God, who is always present.

The Book of Job speaks about many important truths. These truths are also found in Catholic teaching. Here are some of the main themes in the book:

• Suffering and Faith: Job suffers even though he is a good man. This shows us that bad things can happen to good people. Catholics believe that suffering can have meaning, even if we do not understand it.
• Trust in God: Job does not stop talking to God. He asks questions but keeps praying. This shows that we can stay close to God, even when life is hard.
• God is Greater Than Us: When God speaks, He reminds Job that humans do not see the whole picture. Catholics believe that God’s ways are above ours. We are called to trust Him, even when we don’t get answers.
• The Role of Friends: Job’s friends try to explain his pain, but they are wrong. Sometimes people try to give easy answers to hard problems. The book warns us to be careful when speaking for God.
• Hope and New Life: At the end of the book, Job is blessed again. This shows that God does not forget us. Catholics believe that God can bring good out of suffering.

The Book of Job helps us remember that God is with us in hard times. It invites us to trust Him, even when we are in pain.

The Book of Job has several clear parts. Each one has a different focus. Here is a simple way to look at the sections, with the verses:

• Job’s Story Begins (Job 1:1–2:13)
  Job is a good man. He loses his children, his health, and all he owns. His friends come to visit him.
• Job and His Friends Speak (Job 3:1–31:40)
  This is the longest part. Job and his three friends talk about suffering and God. They go back and forth. Job keeps asking why this is happening.
• Elihu Speaks (Job 32:1–37:24)
  A new man named Elihu talks. He says that God teaches people through suffering.
• God Speaks to Job (Job 38:1–42:6)
  God answers Job from a storm. He does not explain everything but shows that He is in control of the world.
• The Ending (Job 42:7–17)
  God tells Job’s friends they were wrong. Job prays for them. Then Job is blessed again with a new family and a full life.

These sections help us see the flow of the story. The book moves from loss, to deep questions, to a new sense of peace. It ends with hope.

Many people today feel lost or hurt. Life can be hard. The Book of Job speaks to this. It helps us know we are not alone in our pain.

Job shows that it is okay to ask questions. He talks to God when things go wrong. He does not hide his sadness. This helps us see that we can be honest with God in prayer.

Job also shows that suffering does not mean we did something wrong. Sometimes we do not understand why things happen. But we can still trust that God is with us.

This book helps people who are struggling. It reminds us to keep faith, even in hard times. It also helps us to be kind to others who are hurting. Job still speaks to us today.

The Book of Job is not read often at Mass, but it is still part of the Roman Catholic lectionary. Some of its readings are used during Ordinary Time and at funerals.

These readings help us think about suffering and faith. They remind us that God listens, even when we are hurting. The Church uses Job to guide us through hard times and to help us keep trusting God.

The Book of Job appears twice in the Sunday readings. Follow the links below for resources for the specific readings.

5th Sunday in Ordinary Time B

When Life Feels Empty and Long

In Job 7:1-4, 6-7, Job speaks about how hard his life has become. He feels like a worker who never gets rest. Each day feels long, and each night brings no peace. He compares his life to the wind—passing by quickly and without much meaning. Job is tired and full of sorrow.

This part of the story shows how deep Job’s pain is. He doesn’t understand why he is suffering so much. He feels forgotten and hopeless. But even in his sadness, he is still talking to God. This teaches us that we can turn to God, even when we feel lost. Many people hear this reading at Mass and find comfort in knowing they are not alone in their pain.

12 Sunday in Ordinary Time B

God Reminds Job Who Is in Control

In Job 38:1, 8-11, God speaks to Job from a storm. He reminds Job that He is the one who created the sea and set its limits. God asks Job if he was there when the world was made. He shows that He alone has the power to rule over nature.

This part of the story helps Job see that some things are too big for people to understand. God does not give Job a direct answer to his pain, but He shows that He is in charge of all things. This teaches us that even when we do not have clear answers, we can still trust God. He knows what we do not.

It also is used for a week in the weekday readings:

• Monday of the 26th Week in Ordinary Time II – Job 1:6-22 Job’s Trials Begin
• Tuesday of the 26th Week in Ordinary Time II – Job 3:1-3, 11-17, 20-23 Job’s Cry of Despair
• Wednesday of the 26th Week in Ordinary Time II – Job 9:1-12, 14-16 God’s Unfathomable Power
• Thursday of the 26th Week in Ordinary Time II – Job 19:21-27 My Hope in a Vindicator
• Friday of the 26th Week in Ordinary Time II – Job 38:1, 12-21; 40:3-5 The LORD Speaks to Job
• Saturday of the 26th Week in Ordinary Time II – Job 42:1-3, 5-6, 12-17 Job’s Response and Blessing

Job: Worship in the Middle of Pain

In this episode of The Bible in a Year Podcast, Fr. Mike Schmitz talks about Job chapters 1 and 2.

He says Job is a good and faithful man. He fears God and stays away from evil. But Job suffers great loss. His animals are stolen. His servants are killed. His children die. Then he becomes very sick.

Fr. Mike explains that Satan accuses Job. He says Job only loves God because life is easy. But even after everything is taken away, Job does not curse God. Instead, he worships.

Fr. Mike says Job’s story reminds us to trust God even when life is hard. We may not understand our suffering, but we can still choose to praise God. Like Job, we are called to stay faithful, even when life hurts.

When Life Feels Too Hard

In this episode of The Bible in a Year Podcast, Fr. Mike Schmitz talks about Job chapters 3 and 4.

Fr. Mike explains that Job is now very sad. He feels so broken that he wishes he had never been born. Job says it would have been better if he had died as a baby. He is hurting deeply and doesn’t hold back his pain.

Fr. Mike also talks about Job’s friend, Eliphaz. Eliphaz believes that all suffering comes from sin. He tells Job that if he is suffering, he must have done something wrong. Fr. Mike says this idea is not true. Some pain comes from living in a broken world, not always from sin.

Fr. Mike reminds us that even when we don’t understand suffering, God still loves us. Job is hurting, but God is still with him.

When Friends Don’t Understand

In this episode, Fr. Mike Schmitz talks about Job chapters 5 and 6.

He says Job is still suffering. His friend Eliphaz tells him that people suffer only when they do wrong. Eliphaz thinks Job must have sinned. But Fr. Mike explains that this idea is not always true. Not all pain comes from doing something wrong.

Fr. Mike says Job just wants someone to be with him in his pain. He doesn’t need quick answers. He needs someone to care. Job feels misunderstood by his friends.

Fr. Mike reminds us that people don’t always need advice. Sometimes they just need us to stay close. And that’s what Job really wanted—someone to stay close while he suffered.

When Answers Don’t Help

In this episode, Fr. Mike Schmitz talks about Job chapters 7 and 8.

He says Job is still in pain. Job’s second friend, Bildad, tells him that God is always fair. Bildad thinks Job must have done something wrong. Fr. Mike explains that this kind of answer doesn’t help.

Fr. Mike says Job knows God is just. But he also knows he didn’t sin. He wants to understand why he is suffering. He asks big questions.

Fr. Mike tells us not to rush to find the answer. Instead, we should walk with Job. Job’s story shows us that sometimes we don’t get a clear reason. But the real answer is not a reason. It’s a person. It’s about who God is.

Feeling Alone in the Pain

In this episode of the Bible in a Year Podcast, Fr. Mike Schmitz talks about Job chapters 9 and 10.

Fr. Mike says Job feels helpless. He wants to talk to God, but he thinks he can’t. Job says even if he is innocent, he still suffers. He feels like God doesn’t care. Job asks, “Why did you make me if this is how it ends?”

Fr. Mike says many of us feel the same way when life is hard. We wonder if God is really on our side. Job is asking real, honest questions.

Fr. Mike tells us to stay close to Job in his pain. He reminds us that Job can be our friend when we suffer. We don’t need quick answers. We just need to keep walking with Job and with God.

Is God Against Me?

In this episode of the Bible in a Year Podcast, Fr. Mike Schmitz gives a short comment about Job chapters 11 and 12.

Fr. Mike says Job is struggling with a big question. Job wonders if God is his enemy. He feels like God doesn’t care. He’s trying to live a good life, but he still suffers.

Fr. Mike explains that many of us ask the same thing. We hurt and we wonder if God really sees us. Job’s story helps us face those hard questions.

Fr. Mike reminds us that God is not our enemy. He wants us to trust Him, even when we don’t understand what is happening.

When Life Doesn’t Make Sense

In this episode, Fr. Mike Schmitz talks about Job and how he feels confused and hurt in chapters 13 and 14.

Fr. Mike says Job keeps turning to God. He wants answers. Job says he would understand if he had done something wrong. But he hasn’t, and that’s why it hurts even more.

Fr. Mike explains that Job feels like God might be against him. Job wonders, “God, do you care? Are you for me or against me?”

Fr. Mike reminds us that sometimes we don’t understand what’s happening. Like Job, we may feel lost. But God still calls us to take the next step in faith, even when things are dark.

Miserable Comforters and Honest Pain

In this episode, Fr. Mike Schmitz shares a little about Job and his suffering in chapters 15 and 16.

Fr. Mike points out how Job feels beaten down. Job says God has worn him out. He feels like God is against him. Job even says his friends are no help. He calls them “miserable comforters.”

Fr. Mike highlights how Job still cries out to God. Even in pain, Job keeps talking to God. He says his witness is in heaven.

Fr. Mike reminds us that Job is honest. He doesn’t hide how much it hurts. But he still turns to God. That shows real trust.

Reading of Job Chapters 17 and 18

In this episode of the Bible in a Year Podcast, Fr. Mike Schmitz reads from Job chapters 17 and 18.

Job and His Friends: Still Missing the Point

In this episode, Fr. Mike Schmitz talks briefly about Job chapters 19 and 20. He reminds us that Job has three friends who think Job must have done something wrong. They keep pushing him to admit guilt.

But Job keeps saying he didn’t sin. He feels like God is not on his side anymore. Fr. Mike says Job is being honest about his pain. The friends think they are helping, but later God will say they didn’t speak well about Him.

Fr. Mike says we’re not at the end of Job’s story yet. But we can already see how Job is struggling, and how his friends are not really helping.

Job’s Friends Talk Too Much

In this episode, Fr. Mike Schmitz talks about Job and his friend Eliphaz in chapters 21 and 22. Eliphaz believes Job is suffering because he did something wrong. He tells Job to repent so God will hear him again.

Fr. Mike explains that this idea has some truth. Sometimes our suffering does come from bad choices. And sometimes God uses suffering to teach us or help us turn back to Him.

But in Job’s case, Fr. Mike reminds us that Job didn’t do anything wrong. He was already faithful. So Eliphaz is wrong to assume Job is guilty. This shows that giving easy answers can hurt people more than help.

Fr. Mike says the best thing Job’s friends did was stay silent with him for seven days. Sometimes just being with someone in pain is better than trying to fix it with words.

Job Wrestles with Questions

In this episode of the Bible in a Year Podcast for Job chapters 23 and 24, Fr. Mike Schmitz says Job is still struggling with why bad things happen to good people. Job sees that wicked people often live well while the innocent suffer. Life doesn’t always seem fair.

Fr. Mike compares Job to Jacob, who wrestled with God for one night. Job, though, wrestles much longer. He keeps asking God, “Why?” Job wants answers, but he also keeps holding on to his faith.

Fr. Mike reminds us that we sometimes feel this way too. We ask God where He is when life hurts. But like Job, we can keep going, even when we don’t understand.

Job and the Power of God

In this episode of the Bible in a Year Podcast, Fr. Mike Schmitz gives a short comment on Job.

He points out that Job is still wrestling with big questions. In chapter 25, Job’s friend says no one is clean before God. Job replies in chapter 26 by praising God’s power. He says God rules over death, the sea, the sky, and all creation.

Fr. Mike explains that Job knows he cannot fully understand God. Job only sees a small part of what God does. But even that small part shows how great God is.

Fr. Mike reminds us that like Job, we don’t always see the full picture. But we can trust that God is in control.

Holding On to What’s Right

In this episode of the Bible in a Year Podcast, Fr. Mike Schmitz talks about Job chapters 27 and 28.

Fr. Mike says Job refuses to lie or turn away from what is right. Even though he is suffering, Job says he will not let go of his integrity. He knows he has done nothing wrong and will not pretend just to please others.

Fr. Mike explains that Job speaks about wisdom. Job says wisdom is worth more than gold or jewels. But it cannot be found by human effort alone. Only God knows where wisdom comes from.

Fr. Mike reminds us that Job teaches us to stay honest and trust God, even when life is confusing.

Remembering the Good, Hurting in the Now

In this episode of the Bible in a Year Podcast, Fr. Mike Schmitz talks about Job chapters 29 and 30.

Fr. Mike says Job remembers the time when life was good. Job had respect, friends, and joy. He helped the poor and was full of hope. He thought his life would stay that way. But now everything has changed. Job feels rejected. People mock him. He is in pain and feels like God is far away.

Fr. Mike shows us how Job is honest about his sadness. Job feels lost, but he still cries out to God. His words remind us that it’s okay to grieve and ask questions when we suffer.

God Feels Far, But He’s Still Close

In this episode, Fr. Mike Schmitz talks about Job chapters 31 and 32. He says Job has walked with God and lived a good life. But now, Job feels like God is far away. Even though Job is hurting, he still holds on to his faith.

Fr. Mike points out that Job says, “I have not left God, and He will not leave me.”

Fr. Mike reminds us that even when life feels hard, God is still with us. Like Job, we may not feel it, but we can trust it. God is near, even in the struggle.

Reading of Job Chapters 33 and 34

In this episode of the Bible in a Year Podcast, Fr. Mike Schmitz reads from Job chapters 33 and 34.

Reading of Job Chapters 35 and 36

In this episode of the Bible in a Year Podcast, Fr. Mike Schmitz reads from Job chapters 35 and 36.

Reading of Job Chapters 37 and 38

In this episode of the Bible in a Year Podcast, Fr. Mike Schmitz reads from Job chapters 37 and 38.

God Reminds Job Who’s in Charge

Fr. Mike Schmitz talks about how Job is a good man who suffers, even though he did nothing wrong. God allowed Job to lose many things, but not because Job sinned.

Fr. Mike says Job’s friends tried to explain suffering. They gave reasons like sin, correction, or the need to repent. But their answers didn’t really fit Job’s story.

Then, in Job 39 and 40, God finally speaks. He reminds Job that there’s a lot he doesn’t know. God talks about wild animals and big creatures like the behemoth. He shows Job that the world is full of mystery.

Fr. Mike says God isn’t telling Job to stop asking questions. He’s reminding Job that there’s more going on than he can see. God knows the whole story. Some suffering helps us grow, and some can even help others. God can use all of it for good.

God’s Answer Is Himself

In this episode of The Bible in a Year Podcast, Fr. Mike Schmitz talks about how the book of Job ends.

He explains that in Job 41 and 42, God does not give Job a reason for his suffering. God doesn’t explain why bad things happen. Instead, He shows Job His power and presence.

Fr. Mike says Job’s response is simple. Job says, “I had heard of you before, but now I see you.” Job realizes that seeing God is enough.

Fr. Mike says this is the real answer to pain. God doesn’t give Job a reason. He gives Himself. That is also what God does for us—especially in Jesus.

God enters our suffering. He shares it with us. That is what we learn from Job.

The Bible

The Book of Job is just one part of the Bible. There are many other books that can help us learn more about God, faith, and how to live. Each book has something to teach us.

If you want to learn more about the Bible, visit this page: The Bible. It gives a simple guide to the different books and how to read them. It’s a good place to start.

Who was Job?

Job was a good and faithful man. He lived long ago. He trusted God and tried to do what was right. Read more about the life of Job here.

Why did Job suffer?

Job suffered not because he sinned, but as a test of faith. The story shows that bad things can happen to good people.

Did Job lose his faith?

No. Job asked hard questions and cried out to God, but he did not turn away from Him.

What does the Book of Job teach us?

It teaches us to trust God, even when life is hard. It shows that we can pray and speak to God when we are hurting.

Is Job a real person?

The Church does not say for sure. Some think Job was real. Others think it is a story with a lesson. The message is what matters most.

Is the Book of Job used in Mass?

Yes. Some parts are read during Ordinary Time and at funerals.

The Book of Job tells the story of a man who loses almost everything. Job is a faithful man who loves God. He has a large family, good health, and many possessions. But then, he loses his children, his animals, and even his health. He does not know why these things happen.

Job does not stop believing in God, but he does ask questions. He speaks with friends who tell him he must have sinned. Job does not agree. He keeps asking God to explain. Job wants to understand why good people suffer.

Later, a man named Elihu gives his thoughts. Then God speaks to Job from a storm. God does not give Job a full answer. Instead, He reminds Job that He is in control of all things. Job listens and puts his trust in God.

At the end, God blesses Job again. He gives him a new family and a full life. The story shows that we can stay close to God, even in pain. It also reminds us that we will not always have clear answers, but God is always near.

The Book of Job is not always easy, but it is worth reading. It speaks to anyone who has gone through loss or pain. You do not need to read it all at once. Take your time and think about each part.

Have you read the Book of Job before? What stood out to you? Share your thoughts in the comments. Your story could help someone else who is struggling. Let’s learn from each other as we read this powerful part of Scripture.