Job 1:13–22

¹³One day when Job’s sons and daughters^g were feasting^h and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, ¹⁴a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazingⁱ nearby, ¹⁵and the Sabeans^j attacked and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

¹⁶While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The fire of God fell from the heavens^k and burned up the sheep and the servants,^l and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

¹⁷While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The Chaldeans^m formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

¹⁸While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughtersⁿ were feasting^o and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, ¹⁹when suddenly a mighty wind^p swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead,^q and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!^r”

²⁰At this, Job got up and tore his robe^s and shaved his head.^t Then he fell to the ground in worship^{u 21}and said:

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,

and naked I will depart.^cv

The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;^w

may the name of the Lord be praised.”^x

²²In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.^y