Job 1

Job’s Character and Greatness

1There was a man in the land of Uz whose^a name was Job. That^b man was blameless and upright and God-fearing and turning away from evil. ²And seven sons and three daughters were born to him. ³Then^c his livestock came to be seven thousand sheep and goats and three thousand camels and five hundred pairs^d of oxen and five hundred female donkeys, and he had very many slaves, and that man was greater than all the people of the east. ⁴And his sons used to go and hold a feast at each other’s house^e on his day, and they would send, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. ⁵Then when^f the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send,^g and he would sanctify them. Thus^h he would arise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of all of them, because Job thought,ⁱ “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed^j God in their heart.” This is what Job used to do all the time.^k

⁶And it happened one day^l that^m the sons of Godⁿ came to present themselves before Yahweh, and Satan^o also came into their midst. ⁷So^p Yahweh said to Satan,^q “From where have you come?”

Then^r Satan^s answered Yahweh and said, “From roaming on the earth and from walking about in it.”

⁸So^t Yahweh said to Satan,^u “Have you considered^v my servant Job? Indeed,^w there is no one like him on the earth—a blameless man and upright and God-fearing and turning away from evil.”

⁹Then^x Satan^y answered Yahweh and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? ¹⁰Have you^z not put a fence around him and his household and around all that belongs to him^a on every side?^b You have blessed the work of his hands, and his livestock^c has increased in the land. ¹¹But,^d on the other hand, stretch out^e your hand and touch all that belongs to him^f and see whether^g he will curse^h you to your face.”

¹²Soⁱ Yahweh said to Satan,^j “Look, all that belongs to him^k is in your power.^l Only do not stretch out your hand against^m him.” Soⁿ Satan^o went out from Yahweh’s presence.^p

The Adversary’s Attack on Job’s Possessions

¹³And then there was one day when^q his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their firstborn brother’s house. ¹⁴And a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing, and the female donkeys were feeding beside them.^{r 15}Then^s the Sabeans attacked,^t and they took them, and they slew the servants by the edge of the sword.^u But^v I escaped, even I alone, to tell you.”

¹⁶While this one was still speaking, another^w came and said, “The fire of God fell from the heavens, and it blazed up against the sheep and goats and against the servants, and it consumed them. But I escaped, even I alone, to tell you.”

¹⁷While this one was still speaking, another^x came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three divisions, and they made a raid on the camels, and they carried them away, and they struck your servants by the edge of the sword,^y but I escaped, even I alone, to tell you.”

¹⁸At the time^z this one was speaking, another^a came and said, “Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their firstborn brother’s house. ¹⁹And behold,^b a great wind came from across the desert, and it struck the four corners of the house so that^c it fell upon the young people, and they died. But I escaped, even I alone, to tell you.”

²⁰Then^d Job arose and tore his outer garment^e and shaved his head; then^f he fell upon the ground and he worshiped. ²¹Then^g he said, “Naked I came out from my mother’s womb, and naked I will return there. Yahweh gives, and Yahweh takes. Let Yahweh’s name be blessed.” ²²In all this, Job did not sin and did not charge God with wrongdoing.^h