King James Bible
"And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD."
Job acknowledges human mortality and material transience, recognizing that he entered life with nothing and will exit the same way. The phrase 'return thither' poetically refers to returning to the earth or dust, emphasizing that all earthly possessions are temporary loans rather than permanent holdings. Job attributes both his former prosperity and current devastating losses directly to God's sovereign will. This statement, made after losing his children and wealth in a single day, demonstrates remarkable theological clarity that God has ultimate authority over all circumstances. Despite catastrophic loss, Job chooses worship over bitterness, maintaining his reverence for God. This response becomes the cornerstone of the book's exploration of righteous suffering, showing that true faith persists independent of circumstances.