Job 1

Job’s Character and Wealth

1 There was a man in the ^aland of Uz whose name was ^bJob; and that man was ^cblameless, upright, ^dfearing God and ^eturning away from evil. 2 ^fSeven sons and three daughters were born to him. 3 ^gHis possessions also were 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and very many servants; and that man was ^hthe greatest of all the ^{▼▼ Lit sons}men of the east. 4 His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 When the days of feasting had completed their cycle, Job would send and consecrate them, rising up early in the morning and offering ^jburnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, ^k“Perhaps my sons have sinned and ^lcursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually.

6 ^mNow there was a day when the ⁿsons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and ^{▼▼ I.e. the adversary, and so throughout chs 1 and 2}Satan also came among them. 7 The Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?” Then Satan answered the Lord and said, ^p“From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it.” 8 The Lord said to Satan, “Have you ^{▼▼ Lit set your heart to}considered ^rMy servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, ^sa blameless and upright man, ^{▼▼ Or revering}fearing God and turning away from evil.” 9 Then ^uSatan answered the ^{▼▼ Lit Lord and said}Lord, “Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 ^w“Have You not made a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? ^xYou have blessed the work of his hands, and his ^ypossessions have increased in the land. 11 ^z“But put forth Your hand now and ^aatouch all that he has; he will surely curse You to Your face.” 12 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your ^{▼▼ Lit hand}power, only do not put forth your hand on him.” So Satan departed from the presence of the Lord.

Satan Allowed to Test Job

13 Now on the day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 14 a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the ^{▼▼ Lit female donkeys}donkeys feeding beside them, 15 and ^{▼▼ Lit Sheba}the ^aeSabeans ^{▼▼ Lit fell upon}attacked and took them. They also ^{▼▼ Lit smote}slew the servants with the edge of the sword, and ^{▼▼ Lit only I alone, and so also vv 16, 17, 19}I alone have escaped to tell you.” 16 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, ^ai“The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 17 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The ^ajChaldeans formed three bands and made a raid on the camels and took them and ^{▼▼ Lit smote}slew 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, “Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 19 and behold, a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people and they died, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”

20 Then Job arose and ^altore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped. 21 He said, ^am“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
And naked I shall return there.
The ^anLord gave and the Lord has taken away.
Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

22 ^aoThrough all this Job did not sin nor did he ^{▼▼ Lit ascribe unseemliness to}blame God.