To understand the prescribed chapters, we need to see how they fit into the structure of the whole book. The outline of the book is as follows:

introduction, written in prose     1: 1-2: 13

Job's remonstrances with God              3:1-26

the first discussion between his three friends and Job                          4: 1-14 : 22

the second discussion             15: 1-21 : 34

the third discussion          22: 1-31 : 40

a fourth man, Elihu, speaks 32: 1-37: 24

God speaks                              38: 1-42: 6

the ending, written in prose    42: 7-17.

The original story of Job is contained in the prose introduction and ending. The great questions and affirmations of the author of the book are worked out through the rest of the material which is in the form of poetry. Job's three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar, defend the traditional Israelite view that suffering is punishment sent by God for sin. Job protests that he has not sinned although his three friends insist that his suffering is proof that he has. Job pleads to God to speak to him and show him why he is suffering and if he has sinned. Elihu, the fourth man who joins in the discussion, puts forward the idea that suffering is not caused by God but can be used by him in an educative way: 'But God teaches men through suffering and uses distress to open their eyes' (36: 15). The last speaker to enter the discussion is God himself. In magnificent poetry, the wonders of creation are described. After hearing God speak, Job can only say, 'I talked about things I did not understand, about marvels that are too great for me .... So I am ashamed of all I have said and repent in dust and ashes' (42:3,6).