42: 1-6. The end of God's word to Job has been reached and it has brought a great change to Job. Job now understands his real relationship to God, as of a creature to his Creator. He also understands that his, Creator cares for him and knows him in a personal relationship in which the man has been allowed to come face to face with God. If God cares so much for his creation and his creatures, as has been shown in Job 38-39, how much love does he have for man, the crown of his creation (Psalm 8: 5-8)? Job knows now that the God who has revealed himself to him can be trusted. He still does not know why he was afflicted, but it no ' longer matters because of the new relationship which he has found with God. From this changed situation, Job confesses to God that he talked about things that he did not understand. His knowledge of God had previously been second-hand; he knew only what others had said about God; but now God has allowed him to have direct knowledge of his nature. Job repents of his former ignorance of God and his foolish talk. He sinned in challenging God in his ignorance of whom he was challenging. Job's repentance for his sin opens the way for God's forgiveness. God's grace accepts the only thing that the sinner can offer God, his sincere repentance.

42: 7-16. The prose ending of the book completes the ancient story of Job 1-2. God first reprimanded Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar for their inadequate teaching about God which has brought no comfort to Job in his trouble. Job's knowledge of God had also been inadequate but he had struggled desperately to hold on to a faith which had finally been vindicated by God himself. Job was then commanded by God to pray for his three friends.

God then showed his acceptance of Job in his new relationship to him by restoring his health and prosperity, giving him twice what he had before. This was a sign to those who had rejected him as unclean and a sinner that Job had been blessed by God.