《约》第一章一至五段是引子，介绍约伯这个人，说他 “perfect and upright, and ...feared god, and eschewed evil.” 《旧约》在介绍神对人的神祝福时，通常是通过家庭兴旺（这里说约伯有七男三女）、物质富足（7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 asses and a very great household)来表现的。
第６至１２段是戏剧（或约伯悲剧）的开始。设置有点象萨剧甚至京剧中的一幕。神坐中间，他的众子前来参拜，Satan也在其中。神问“汝从何来？” ("Whence comest thous?") 对曰“吾游天地之间，漫步六合之内。” ("From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.") 神这时开始“炫耀”他的仆人约伯，说“尔闻仆约伯呼？其无瑕公义，惧神远邪，世无二耳！” ("Has thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?") Satan不服气，激神道“惧神岂无由耶？上垂爱之，赐其宅，予其有，佑其功，增其得。今以手击之，夺其所有。定面咒上矣。” ("Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.") 神怒曰“今予子权，伯尽在汝掌中，不得索其命。”Satan喏喏而退。（待续）
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| Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble (Job 14:1) |
