Job and His Family in Uz

1 There was a man ain the land of Uz, whose name was bJob; and that man was cblameless and upright, and one who dfeared God and 1shunned evil. 2 And seven sons and three daughters were born to him. 3 Also, his possessions were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very large household, so that this man was the greatest of all the 2people of the East.

4 And his sons would go and feast in their houses, each on his appointed day, and would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 So it was, when the days of feasting had run their course, that Job would send and 3sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning eand offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my sons have sinned and fcursed 4God in their hearts.” Thus Job did regularly.

Satan Attacks Job’s Character

6 Now gthere was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and 5Satan also came among them. 7 And the Lord said to 6Satan, “From where do you come?”

So Satan answered the Lord and said, “From hgoing to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.”

8 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you 7considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and 8shuns evil?”

9 So Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 iHave You not 9made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? jYou have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 kBut now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely lcurse 1You to Your face!”

12 And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your 2power; only do not lay a hand on his person.”

So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.

Job Loses His Property and Children

13 Now there was a day mwhen his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house; 14 and a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, 15 when the 3Sabeans 4raided them and took them away—indeed they have killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

16 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and 5consumed them; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

17 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three bands, raided the camels and took them away, yes, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

18 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, n“Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 19 and suddenly a great wind came from 6across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

20 Then Job arose, otore his robe, and shaved his head; and he pfell to the ground and worshiped. 21 And he said:

q“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,

And naked shall I return there.

The Lord rgave, and the Lord has staken away;

tBlessed be the name of the Lord.”

22 uIn all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.

Satan Attacks Job’s Health

2 Again athere was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the Lord. 2 And the Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?”

bSatan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.”

3 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, ca blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil? And still he dholds fast to his integrity, although you incited Me against him, eto 1destroy him without cause.”

4 So Satan answered the Lord and said, “Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life. 5 fBut stretch out Your hand now, and touch his gbone and his flesh, and he will surely 2curse You to Your face!”

6 hAnd the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your hand, but spare his life.”

7 So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord, and struck Job with painful boils ifrom the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. 8 And he took for himself a potsherd with which to scrape himself jwhile he sat in the midst of the ashes.

9 Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? 3Curse God and die!”

10 But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. kShall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” lIn all this Job did not msin with his lips.

Job’s Three Friends

11 Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this adversity that had come upon him, each one came from his own place—Eliphaz the nTemanite, Bildad the oShuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. For they had made an appointment together to come pand mourn with him, and to comfort him. 12 And when they raised their eyes from afar, and did not recognize him, they lifted their voices and wept; and each one tore his robe and qsprinkled dust on his head toward heaven. 13 So they sat down with him on the ground rseven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his grief was very great.

Job Deplores His Birth

3 After this Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth. 2 And Job 1spoke, and said:

3 “May athe day perish on which I was born,

And the night in which it was said,

‘A male child is conceived.’

4 May that day be darkness;

May God above not seek it,

Nor the light shine upon it.

5 May darkness and bthe shadow of death claim it;

May a cloud settle on it;

May the blackness of the day terrify it.

6 As for that night, may darkness seize it;

May it not 2rejoice among the days of the year,

May it not come into the number of the months.

7 Oh, may that night be barren!

May no joyful shout come into it!

8 May those curse it who curse the day,

Those cwho are ready to arouse Leviathan.

9 May the stars of its morning be dark;

May it look for light, but have none,

And not see the 3dawning of the day;

10 Because it did not shut up the doors of my mother’s womb,

Nor hide sorrow from my eyes.

11 “Why ddid I not die at birth?

Why did I not 4perish when I came from the womb?

12 eWhy did the knees receive me?

Or why the breasts, that I should nurse?

13 For now I would have lain still and been quiet,

I would have been asleep;

Then I would have been at rest

14 With kings and counselors of the earth,

Who fbuilt ruins for themselves,

15 Or with princes who had gold,

Who filled their houses with silver;

16 Or why was I not hidden glike a stillborn child,

Like infants who never saw light?

17 There the wicked cease from troubling,

And there the 5weary are at hrest.

18 There the prisoners 6rest together;

iThey do not hear the voice of the oppressor.

19 The small and great are there,

And the servant is free from his master.

20 “Why jis light given to him who is in misery,

And life to the kbitter of soul,

21 Who llong 7for death, but it does not come,

And search for it more than mhidden treasures;

22 Who rejoice exceedingly,

And are glad when they can find the ngrave?

23 Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden,

oAnd whom God has hedged in?

24 For my sighing comes before 8I eat,

And my groanings pour out like water.

25 For the thing I greatly pfeared has come upon me,

And what I dreaded has happened to me.

26 I am not at ease, nor am I quiet;

I have no rest, for trouble comes.”

Eliphaz: Job Has Sinned

4 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said:

2 “If one attempts a word with you, will you become weary?

But who can withhold himself from speaking?

3 Surely you have instructed many,

And you ahave strengthened weak hands.

4 Your words have upheld him who was stumbling,

And you bhave strengthened the 1feeble knees;

5 But now it comes upon you, and you are weary;

It touches you, and you are troubled.

6 Is not cyour reverence dyour confidence?

And the integrity of your ways your hope?

7 “Remember now, ewho ever perished being innocent?

Or where were the upright ever cut off?

8 Even as I have seen,

fThose who plow iniquity

And sow trouble reap the same.

9 By the blast of God they perish,

And by the breath of His anger they are consumed.

10 The roaring of the lion,

The voice of the fierce lion,

And gthe teeth of the young lions are broken.

11 hThe old lion perishes for lack of prey,

And the cubs of the lioness are scattered.

12 “Now a word was secretly brought to me,

And my ear received a whisper of it.

13 iIn disquieting thoughts from the visions of the night,

When deep sleep falls on men,

14 Fear came upon me, and jtrembling,

Which made all my bones shake.

15 Then a spirit passed before my face;

The hair on my body stood up.

16 It stood still,

But I could not discern its appearance.

A form was before my eyes;

There was silence;

Then I heard a voice saying:

17 ‘Can a mortal be more righteous than God?

Can a man be more pure than his Maker?

18 If He kputs no trust in His servants,

If He charges His angels with error,

19 How much more those who dwell in houses of clay,

Whose foundation is in the dust,

Who are crushed before a moth?

20 lThey are broken in pieces from morning till evening;

They perish forever, with no one regarding.

21 Does not their own excellence go away?

They die, even without wisdom.’