Job and His Family

There was a man in the country of Uz(A) named Job.(B) He was a man of complete integrity,(C) who feared God and turned away from evil.(D) He had seven sons and three daughters.(E) His estate included seven thousand sheep and goats, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys,(F) and a very large number of servants. Job was the greatest man among all the people of the east.(G)

His sons used to take turns having banquets at their homes. They would send an invitation to their three sisters to eat and drink with them. Whenever a round of banqueting was over, Job would send for his children and purify them, rising early in the morning to offer burnt offerings for[a] all of them. For Job thought, “Perhaps my children have sinned, having cursed God in their hearts.”(H) This was Job’s regular practice.

Satan’s First Test of Job

One day the sons of God(I) came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan[b] also came with them. The Lord asked Satan, “Where have you come from?”

“From roaming through the earth,”(J) Satan answered him, “and walking around on it.”

Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? No one else on earth is like him, a man of perfect integrity,(K) who fears God and turns away from evil.”(L)

Satan answered the Lord, “Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 Haven’t you placed a hedge around(M) him, his household, and everything he owns? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and strike(N) everything he owns, and he will surely curse you to your face.”

12 “Very well,” the Lord told Satan, “everything he owns is in your power. However, do not lay a hand on Job himself.” So Satan left the Lord’s presence.

13 One day when Job’s sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 14 a messenger came to Job and reported, “While the oxen were plowing and the donkeys grazing nearby, 15 the Sabeans(O) swooped down and took them away. They struck down the servants with the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

16 He was still speaking when another messenger came and reported, “God’s fire fell from heaven.(P) It burned the sheep and the servants and devoured them, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

17 That messenger was still speaking when yet another came and reported, “The Chaldeans formed three bands, made a raid on the camels, and took them away. They struck down the servants with the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

18 He was still speaking when another messenger came and reported, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house. 19 Suddenly a powerful wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on the young people so that they died, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

20 Then Job stood up, tore(Q) his robe, and shaved(R) his head. He fell to the ground and worshiped, 21 saying:

Naked I came from my mother’s womb,(S)
and naked I will leave this life.[c](T)
The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away.
Blessed be the name of the Lord.(U)

22 Throughout all this Job did not sin or blame God for anything.[d](V)

Footnotes

  1. 1:5 Lit for the number of
  2. 1:6 Or the adversary
  3. 1:21 Lit will return there; Ps 139:13,15
  4. 1:22 Lit or ascribe blame to God

Job and His Family in Uz

There was a man (A)in the land of Uz, whose name was (B)Job; and that man was (C)blameless and upright, and one who (D)feared God and [a]shunned evil. And seven sons and three daughters were born to him. Also, his possessions were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very large household, so that this man was the greatest of all the [b]people of the East.

And his sons would go and feast in their houses, each on his appointed day, and would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. So it was, when the days of feasting had run their course, that Job would send and [c]sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning (E)and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my sons have sinned and (F)cursed[d] God in their hearts.” Thus Job did regularly.

Satan Attacks Job’s Character

Now (G)there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and [e]Satan also came among them. And the Lord said to [f]Satan, “From where do you come?”

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

Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you [g]considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and [h]shuns evil?”

So Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 (I)Have You not [i]made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? (J)You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 (K)But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely (L)curse[j] You to Your face!”

12 And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your [k]power; only do not lay a hand on his person.

So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.

Job Loses His Property and Children

13 Now there was a day (M)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 [l]Sabeans [m]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 [n]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, (N)“Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 19 and suddenly a great wind came from [o]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, (O)tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he (P)fell to the ground and worshiped. 21 And he said:

(Q)“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
And naked shall I return there.
The Lord (R)gave, and the Lord has (S)taken away;
(T)Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

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

Footnotes

  1. Job 1:1 Lit. turned away from
  2. Job 1:3 Lit. sons
  3. Job 1:5 consecrate
  4. Job 1:5 Lit. blessed, but in an evil sense; cf. Job 1:11; 2:5, 9
  5. Job 1:6 Lit. the Adversary
  6. Job 1:7 Lit. the Adversary
  7. Job 1:8 Lit. set your heart on
  8. Job 1:8 Lit. turns away from
  9. Job 1:10 Protected him
  10. Job 1:11 Lit. bless, but in an evil sense; cf. Job 1:5
  11. Job 1:12 Lit. hand
  12. Job 1:15 Lit. Sheba; cf. Job 6:19
  13. Job 1:15 Lit. fell upon
  14. Job 1:16 destroyed
  15. Job 1:19 LXX omits across