Job 1:6–22

Job Is Put to the Test

⁶One day angels came to the Lord. Satan also came with them. ⁷The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?”

Satan answered, “From traveling all around the earth. I’ve been going from one end of it to the other.”

⁸Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you thought about my servant Job? There isn’t anyone on earth like him. He is honest. He does what is right. He has respect for me and avoids evil.”

⁹“You always give Job everything he needs,” Satan replied. “That’s why he has respect for you. ¹⁰Haven’t you guarded him and his family? Haven’t you taken care of everything he has? You have blessed everything he does. His flocks and herds are spread all through the land.

¹¹“But reach out your hand and strike down everything he has. Then I’m sure he will speak evil things against you. In fact, he’ll do it right in front of you.”

¹²The Lord said to Satan, “All right. I am handing everything he has over to you. But do not touch the man himself.”

Then Satan left the Lord and went on his way.

¹³One day Job’s sons and daughters were at their oldest brother’s house. They were enjoying good food and drinking wine.

¹⁴During that time a messenger came to Job. He said, “The oxen were plowing. The donkeys were eating grass near them. ¹⁵Then the Sabeans attacked us and carried the animals off. They killed some of the servants with their swords. I’m the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

¹⁶While he was still speaking, a second messenger came. He said, “God sent lightning from the sky. It struck the sheep and killed them. It burned up some of the servants. I’m the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

¹⁷While he was still speaking, a third messenger came. He said, “The Chaldeans separated themselves into three groups. They attacked your camels and carried them off. They killed the rest of the servants with their swords. I’m the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

¹⁸While he was still speaking, a fourth messenger came. He said, “Your sons and daughters were at their oldest brother’s house. They were enjoying good food and drinking wine. ¹⁹Suddenly a strong wind blew in from the desert. It struck the four corners of the house. The house fell down on your children. Now all of them are dead. I’m the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

²⁰After Job heard all of those reports, he got up and tore his robe. He shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground and worshiped the Lord. ²¹He said,

“I was born naked.

And I’ll leave here naked.

You have given, and you have taken away.

May your name be praised.”

²²In spite of everything, Job didn’t sin by blaming God for doing anything wrong.