Job Loses His Property and Children

13 Now there was a day (A)when 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 [a]Sabeans [b]raided 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 [c]consumed 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, (B)“Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 19 and suddenly a great wind came from [d]across 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, (C)tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he (D)fell to the ground and worshiped. 21 And he said:

(E)“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
And naked shall I return there.
The Lord (F)gave, and the Lord has (G)taken away;
(H)Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

22 (I)In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.

Satan Attacks Job’s Health

Again (J)there 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. And the Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?”

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

Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, (L)a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil? And still he (M)holds fast to his integrity, although you incited Me against him, (N)to [e]destroy him without cause.”

So Satan answered the Lord and said, “Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life. (O)But stretch out Your hand now, and touch his (P)bone and his flesh, and he will surely [f]curse You to Your face!”

(Q)And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your hand, but spare his life.”

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

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

10 But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. (T)Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” (U)In all this Job did not (V)sin with his lips.

Footnotes

  1. Job 1:15 Lit. Sheba; cf. Job 6:19
  2. Job 1:15 Lit. fell upon
  3. Job 1:16 destroyed
  4. Job 1:19 LXX omits across
  5. Job 2:3 Lit. consume
  6. Job 2:5 Lit. bless, but in an evil sense; cf. Job 1:5
  7. Job 2:9 Lit. Bless, but in an evil sense; cf. Job 1:5

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