Job and His Children

1 There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job. Now that man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. ² He had seven sons and three daughters ³ and his possessions were 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen and 500 female donkeys, and a very large household. That man was the greatest of all the people of the East.

⁴ Now it was customary for his sons to hold a banquet, each on his own day in his own house. They would send to invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. ⁵ When the round of banquet days was completed, Job would send for them and consecrate them. He would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings, according to the number of them all. For Job said, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did everyday.

The Adversary Tests Job

⁶ One day the sons of God came to present themselves before Adonai, and the satan^[a] also came with them. ⁷ Adonai said to the satan, “Where have you come from?”

The satan responded to Adonai and said, “From roaming the earth and from walking on it.”^[b]

⁸ Adonai said to the satan, “Did you notice my servant Job? There is no one like him on the earth—a blameless and upright man, who fears God and spurns evil.”

⁹ Then the satan responded to Adonai, saying, “Does Job fear God for nothing? ¹⁰ Have you not made a hedge around him, his household, and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands and his possessions have increased in the land. ¹¹ But now, stretch out Your hand and strike everything he has, and he will certainly curse You to Your face!”

¹² Then Adonai said to the satan, “Everything he has is in your hand. Only do not extend your hand against him!” So the satan departed from the presence of Adonai.

¹³ One day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, ¹⁴ a messenger came to Job, saying, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing near them, ¹⁵ when the Sabeans attacked and carried them off. They also killed the servants with the edge of the sword—I alone escaped to tell you!”

¹⁶ While this one was still speaking another came in and said, “The fire of God has fallen from heaven and has burned up the sheep and servants—it has consumed them, and I—I alone—escaped to tell you!”

¹⁷ While this one was still speaking another came in and said, “The Chaldeans formed three bands and raided the camels and took them all away. They also killed the servants with the edge of the sword, and I—only I alone—escaped to tell you!”

¹⁸ While this one was still speaking another came in and said, “Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine at their oldest brother’s house ¹⁹ when suddenly a mighty wind came from beyond the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it collapsed on the young people and they died. And I—only I alone—escaped to tell you!”

²⁰ Then Job got up, tore his robe, shaved his head, fell to the ground and worshiped. ²¹ Then he said:

²² Through all this, Job did not sin nor did he cast reproach on God.

Affliction of the Body

2 Again the day came when the sons of God came to present themselves before Adonai, and the satan also arrived among them to present himself before Adonai. ² Adonai said to him, “Where are you coming from?”

The satan answered Adonai, “From roaming the earth and from walking on it.”

³ Then Adonai said to the satan, “Have you noticed My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and spurns evil. And he still holds firmly to his integrity, though you incited Me against him to ruin him without any reason.”

⁴ The satan replied to Adonai saying, “Skin for skin! A man will give up all he has for his own life. ⁵ But now, stretch out Your hand and strike his bone and his flesh, and he will certainly curse You to Your face!”

⁶ Adonai said to the satan, “Very well, he is in your hand—only spare his life!”

⁷ So the satan departed from the presence of Adonai, and afflicted Job with painful boils, from the sole of his foot to the top of his head. ⁸ He took a piece of broken pottery to scrape himself while he was sitting among the ashes.

⁹ Then his wife said to him, “Are you still holding firmly to your integrity? Curse God and die!”

¹⁰ He said to her, “You speak as any foolish woman would speak. Should we accept the good from God and not accept the bad?”

Through all this Job did not sin with his lips.

Three Friends Sit Shiva

¹¹ When Job’s three friends heard about all this calamity that had come upon him, each of them came from his own place—Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite. They met together to come and mourn with him and to comfort him. ¹² But when they saw him from a distance they did not recognize him, and they raised their voices and wept. Each one tore his robe and threw dust into the air onto their heads. ¹³ Then they sat with him on the ground for seven days and seven nights. No one spoke a word to him because they saw that his pain was very great.