| Setting | 1:1-2:13 |
| Accuser | Job is only faithful because of his prosperity; afflict him and see how he responds. | 1:1-2:13 |
| Job and his three friends debate | 3:1-31:40 |
| Job | I wish I hadn't been born. | 3:1-3:26 |
| Eliphaz | Innocent people aren't ruined (therefore you must not be innocent); beg for God's mercy. | 4:1-5:27 |
| Job | I'm miserable; you're terrible friends. Why are you doing this to me God? | 6:1-7:21 |
| Bildad | Obviously you have sinned; beg God for forgiveness and perhaps he'll restore you. | 8:1-8:22 |
| Job | | 9:1-10:22 |
| How could I get a hearing and prove my innocence when God is so big and powerful? | 9:1-10:1 |
| Why are you doing this God? Can't you give me a break? | 10:2-10:22 |
| Zophar | Confess your sins to God and he will restore you. | 11:1-11:20 |
| Job | | 12:1-14:22 |
| God is in control; your arguments are worthless my friends. | 12:1-13:19 |
| What have I ever done to you God? Life is bad enough as it is—can't you lay off? | 13:20-14:22 |
| Eliphaz | You're stupid and evil. | 15:1-15:35 |
| Job | I've been wronged. | 16:1-17:16 |
| Bildad | Your misfortune obviously must be a sign of your wickedness. | 18:1-18:21 |
| Job | God has ruined me; why are you my friends also abusing me? | 19:1-19:29 |
| Zophar | God punishes the wicked (so again, your misfortune obviously must be a sign of your wickedness). | 20:1-20:29 |
| Job | Does God really punish the wicked? No, wicked people often prosper. | 21:1-21:34 |
| Eliphaz | You're evil; repent and turn back to God. | 22:1-22:30 |
| Job | | 23:1-24:25 |
| I'm innocent I tell you. | 23:1-23:17 |
| Why doesn't God help the less fortunate while wicked people are getting away with evil? Surely God will punish the wicked in the end. (Right?) | 24:1-24:25 |
| Bildad | You're awfully arrogant to maintain your innocence when you are nothing compared to God. | 25:1-25:6 |
| Job | | 26:1-31:40 |
| God is powerful. | 26:1-26:14 |
| I'm not going to confess sins I don't believe I've committed. I agree that God punishes the wicked (which—since I'm innocent—is why my calamity doesn't make sense). | 27:1-27:23 |
| Where can wisdom be found? God. | 28:1-28:28 |
| I miss my good life and the respect I had; now people mock me. | 29:1-30:19 |
| God, why are you punishing me? What sin have I possible committed to deserve this? | 30:20-31:40 |
| Elihu's monologue | 32:1-37:24 |
| Introduction | 32:1-32:5 |
| Elihu | | 32:6-33:33 |
| You three friends, your arguments of have been terrible; now I have something to say. | 32:6-32:22 |
| God uses pain to get people's attention and prompt them to return to him. | 33:1-33:33 |
| Elihu | Isn't God just? How can you, Job, justify yourself and claim that God has wronged you? | 34:1-34:37 |
| Elihu | Sure, people seek God when they're hurting, but why should God give you a hearing? (Do you arrogantly think you are that important?) | 35:1-35:16 |
| Elihu | | 36:1-37:24 |
| God is just; therefore you have obviously sinned. | 36:1-36:25 |
| God is all powerful; how can you dare to question him? (In other words, you are obviously sinning by questioning God.) | 36:26-37:24 |
| God speaks | 38:1-42:6 |
| God | Are you, Job, so wise and powerful compared to me? | 38:1-40:2 |
| Job | My bad! | 40:3-40:5 |
| God | Are you powerful enough to question me and suggest I've wronged you? | 40:6-41:34 |
| Job | I'm a fool; I was arrogant to think I knew what I was talking about. I'm sorry; please forgive me. | 42:1-42:6 |
| Resolution — God restores Job's fortunes | 42:7-42:17 |