Job 1:13–22

Job’s Children and Wealth Are Destroyed

¹³One day when Job’s children were having a feast at the home of their eldest brother, ¹⁴a messenger came running to Job. “We were ploughing the fields with the oxen,” he said, “and the donkeys were in a nearby pasture. ¹⁵Suddenly the Sabeans^d attacked and stole them all. They killed every one of your servants except me. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.”

¹⁶Before he had finished speaking, another servant came and said, “Lightning struck the sheep and the shepherds and killed them all. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.”

¹⁷Before he had finished speaking, another servant came and said, “Three bands of Chaldean^e raiders attacked us, took away the camels, and killed all your servants except me. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.”

¹⁸Before he had finished speaking, another servant came and said, “Your children were having a feast at the home of your eldest son, ¹⁹when a storm swept in from the desert. It blew the house down and killed them all. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.”

²⁰Then Job stood up and tore his clothes in grief. He shaved his head and threw himself face downwards on the ground. ²¹He said, “I was born with nothing, and I will die with nothing. The Lord gave, and now he has taken away. May his name be praised!”

²²In spite of everything that had happened, Job did not sin by blaming God.