There once, a man did walk the earth whose ways did please the Lord.
A king who learned almost from birth to wield a righteous sword.
Oxen, camels, donkeys, sheep; this man had not a few.
Land and love and peaceful sleep abounded to him too.
As many find in this fair life, when blessings multiply,
Envy, lust and evil thoughts fill hearts of passers-by.
And so it was, in throne room high, a dragon, heart of black
Enkindled by his jealous rage began a deft attack.
“You say you’ve wandered on the Earth,” said God in His great robe;
“In all your wanderings, have you seen my righteous servant Job?”
Now, deep within his evil heart, the dragon formed his words;
And giving vent to jealous thought, his venom soon was heard:
“Does not this man walk thus upright for cause of all his gain?
If one should steal and take his spoil, would curses not then rain?”
“Do as you will, oh evil one”, replied the holy King,
“But of his life and limb and health, you shall not touch a thing.”
And thus began the earthly fall, as ‘twere from lofty heights.
The righteous man soon lost his all; so hopeless was his plight.
It started with his cattle; the Sabeans led the raid.
His sheep were next, with fire from Heaven felling like a blade.
As if it were not bad enough to take these earthly things,
The dragon quickly moved to snuff the children of this king.
Ten of them there were in all – successful every one;
The dragon’s breath collapsed the walls without a chance to run.
And so were lost the earthly treasures of this righteous man.
‘Twas one short day- indeed a measure far too short of span.
Yet when upon the ground he lay, this righteous man proclaimed:
“The Lord; He gives and takes away; Blessed be His name!”