Job’s Character and Greatness

1 There was a man in the land of Uz whosea name was Job. Thatb man was blameless and upright and God-fearing and turning away from evil. 2 And seven sons and three daughters were born to him. 3 Thenc his livestock came to be seven thousand sheep and goats and three thousand camels and five hundred pairsd 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. 4 And 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. 5 ⌊Then when⌋f the days of the feast had run their course, ⌊Job would send⌋,g and he would sanctify them. Thush 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

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

Thenr Satans answered Yahweh and said, “From roaming on the earth and from walking about in it.”

8 Sot 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.”

9 Thenx Satany answered Yahweh and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 Have youz 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 livestockc has increased in the land. 11 But,d on the other hand, stretch oute your hand and touch ⌊all that belongs to him⌋f and see ⌊whether⌋g he will ⌊curse⌋h you to your face.”

12 Soi 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 Satano went out from Yahweh’s ⌊presence⌋.p

The Adversary’s Attack on Job’s Possessions

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

16 While 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.”

17 While 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.”

18 At the timez 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. 19 And 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.”

20 Thend Job arose and tore his outer garmente and shaved his head; ⌊then⌋f he fell upon the ground and he worshiped. 21 Theng 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.” 22 In all this, Job did not sin and did not ⌊charge God with wrongdoing⌋.h