Hashem Gave, Hashem Took

It is told in the book of Iyov that the angels came to stand before Hashem, and the Satan came among them. Hashem asked him: have you seen My servant Iyov? There is none like him on earth. The Gemara relates that the Satan had just spoken of Avraham Avinu: I have gone through the whole world and found no one as faithful as Avraham, who was promised the whole land and still had to buy a grave for Sarah, and did not complain. Rav Levi taught that the Satan meant it for the sake of Heaven. When he saw Hashem praising Iyov, he feared that Hashem might forget His love for Avraham.

The Satan was given leave. One messenger came: raiders took the oxen. While he was still speaking, another came: fire fell from heaven on the sheep. Then a third: the camels are gone. Then a fourth: a wind struck the four corners of your eldest son's house, and your children are dead.

Iyov rose and tore his garment, and fell to the ground and bowed. Naked I came out of my mother's womb, he said, and naked I will return there. Hashem gave and Hashem took; may the name of Hashem be blessed. In all this, the verse says, Iyov did not sin. The Gemara adds that when Hashem limited the Satan, spare his life, the Satan's own trial was harder than Iyov's, like a servant told to break the barrel but save the wine.