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The Interview Between the Lord and the Satan. (A)One day, when the sons of God[a] came to present themselves before the Lord, the satan also came among them.(B) The Lord said to the satan, “Where have you been?” Then the satan answered the Lord and said,(C) “Roaming the earth and patrolling it.” The Lord said to the satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him, blameless and upright, fearing God and avoiding evil.” The satan answered the Lord and said, “Is it for nothing that Job is God-fearing? 10 Have you not surrounded him and his family and all that he has with your protection? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his livestock are spread over the land. 11 (D)But now put forth your hand and touch all that he has, and surely he will curse you to your face.” 12 The Lord said to the satan, “Very well, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on him.” So the satan went forth from the presence of the Lord.

The First Trial. 13 One day, while his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their eldest brother, 14 a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys grazing beside them, 15 and the Sabeans[b] carried them off in a raid. They put the servants to the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 16 He was still speaking when another came and said, “God’s fire has fallen from heaven and struck the sheep and the servants and consumed them; I alone have escaped to tell you.” 17 He was still speaking when another came and said, “The Chaldeans[c] formed three columns, seized the camels, carried them off, and put the servants to the sword; I alone have escaped to tell you.” 18 He was still speaking when another came and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their eldest brother, 19 and suddenly a great wind came from across the desert and smashed the four corners of the house. It fell upon the young people and they are dead; I alone have escaped to tell you.”

Job’s Reaction. 20 Then Job arose and tore his cloak and cut off his hair. He fell to the ground and worshiped. 21 He said,

“Naked I came forth from my mother’s womb,(E)
    and naked shall I go back there.[d]
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;
    blessed be the name of the Lord!”

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

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Footnotes

  1. 1:6 Sons of God: members of the divine council; see Gn 6:1–4; Dt 32:8; Ps 82:1. The satan: lit., “adversary” (as in 1 Kgs 11:14). Here a member of the heavenly court, “the accuser” (Zec 3:1). In later biblical traditions this character will be developed as the devil (Gk. diabolos, “adversary”).
  2. 1:15 Sabeans: from southern Arabia.
  3. 1:17 Chaldeans: from southern Mesopotamia; in the mid-first millennium B.C., synonymous with “Babylonians.”
  4. 1:21 Go back there: to the earth; cf. Gn 2:7; see note on Sir 40:1.

One day the angels[a](A) came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan[b](B) also came with them.(C) The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?”

Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.”(D)

Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job?(E) There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God(F) and shuns evil.”(G)

“Does Job fear God for nothing?”(H) Satan replied. 10 “Have you not put a hedge(I) around him and his household and everything he has?(J) You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land.(K) 11 But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has,(L) and he will surely curse you to your face.”(M)

12 The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has(N) is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.”(O)

Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.

13 One day when Job’s sons and daughters(P) were feasting(Q) and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, 14 a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing(R) nearby, 15 and the Sabeans(S) attacked and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

16 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The fire of God fell from the heavens(T) and burned up the sheep and the servants,(U) and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

17 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The Chaldeans(V) formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

18 While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters(W) were feasting(X) and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, 19 when suddenly a mighty wind(Y) swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead,(Z) and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!(AA)

20 At this, Job got up and tore his robe(AB) and shaved his head.(AC) Then he fell to the ground in worship(AD) 21 and said:

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
    and naked I will depart.[c](AE)
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;(AF)
    may the name of the Lord be praised.”(AG)

22 In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.(AH)

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Footnotes

  1. Job 1:6 Hebrew the sons of God
  2. Job 1:6 Hebrew satan means adversary.
  3. Job 1:21 Or will return there