The biblical book of Job consists of forty-two chapters and is divided into five parts. The first part, called the prologue, is two chapters, one set on earth and the other in heaven. It establishes the background of Job as the best of men and sets up the wager between God and Satan.

The second part is Job's opening monologue, which comprises chapter 3. After that, the third part is made of three dialogues between Job and his friends. The first dialogue is between Eliphaz and Job and runs from chapters 4 through 7. The second dialogue is between Bildad and Job and continues through chapters 8 and 9. The third dialogue is between Zophar and Job and runs through chapter 14. These dialogues then include two more cycles, ending finally after chapter 27.

In part 3, three monologues end after chapter 37.

Part 4 includes two speeches by God and Job's responses to what God has said. This part ends with chapter 42, verse 8.

Part 5, the epilogue, runs from 42:9 to 42:17. In this section, God restores Job's good fortune.

The book of Job is famous for asserting that the evil in the world is ultimately inexplicable to humankind, for God's ways are not are our ways. The book is also considered a theological breakthrough in that Job's—and by implication, any person's—sufferings are shown not necessarily to be the punishment for their own sin.