²² He answered, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, ‘Who knows?^(A) The Lord may be gracious to me and let the child live.’^(B)

²³ But now that he is dead, why should I go on fasting? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him,^(A) but he will not return to me.”^(B)

¹⁸ While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters^(A) were feasting^(B) and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, ¹⁹ when suddenly a mighty wind^(C) swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead,^(D) and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!^(E)”

²⁰ At this, Job got up and tore his robe^(F) and shaved his head.^(G) Then he fell to the ground in worship^{(H) 21} and said:

Believers Who Have Died

¹³ Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed^(A) about those who sleep in death,^(B) so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.^{(C) 14} For we believe that Jesus died and rose again,^(D) and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.^{(E) 15} According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord,^(F) will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.^{(G) 16} For the Lord himself will come down from heaven,^(H) with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel^(I) and with the trumpet call of God,^(J) and the dead in Christ will rise first.^{(K) 17} After that, we who are still alive and are left^(L) will be caught up together with them in the clouds^(M) to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord^(N) forever. ¹⁸ Therefore encourage one another^(O) with these words.