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Job Was Greatest of the Sons of the East

There was a man in the (A)land of Uz whose name was (B)Job; and that man was (C)blameless, upright, (D)fearing God, and (E)turning away from evil. (F)Seven sons and three daughters were born to him. (G)His possessions also were 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 pairs of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and very many servants; and that man was (H)the greatest of all the sons of the east. 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. Now it happened when the days of feasting had completed their cycle, that Job would send and set them apart as holy. And he would rise up early in the morning and offer (I)burnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, “(J)Perhaps my sons have sinned and [a](K)cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually.

All Job Has Is in Satan’s Hand

(L)Now it was the day that the (M)sons of God came to stand before [b]Yahweh, and [c]Satan also came among them. And Yahweh said to Satan, “From where do you come?” Then Satan answered Yahweh and said, “(N)From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it.” Then Yahweh said to Satan, “Have you set your heart upon (O)My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, (P)a blameless and upright man, [d]fearing God and turning away from evil.” And (Q)Satan answered Yahweh and said, “Does Job [e]fear God without cause? 10 (R)Have You not made a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? (S)You have blessed the work of his hands, and his (T)possessions have increased in the land. 11 (U)But send forth Your hand now and (V)touch all that he has; he will surely curse You to Your face.” 12 Then Yahweh said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand, only do not send forth your hand toward him.” So Satan went out from the presence of Yahweh.

Messengers Speak of the Fire of God

13 Now it happened that on the day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their brother, the firstborn, 14 a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the [f]donkeys feeding beside them, 15 and [g]the (W)Sabeans fell upon them and took them. They also struck down the young men with the edge of the sword, and [h]I alone have escaped to tell you.” 16 While this one was still speaking, another also came and said, “(X)The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the young men and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 17 While this one was still speaking, another also came and said, “The (Y)Chaldeans set up three companies and made a raid on the camels and took them and struck down the young men with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 18 While this one was still speaking, another also came and said, “Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their brother, the firstborn, 19 and behold, a great wind came from across the wilderness and touched 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 (Z)tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped. 21 And he said,

(AA)Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
And naked I shall return there.
(AB)Yahweh gave, and Yahweh has taken away.
Blessed be the name of Yahweh.”

22 (AC)Through all this Job did not sin, nor did he give offense to God.

Footnotes

  1. Job 1:5 Heb blessed; used euphemistically for cursed, cf. 1:11; 2:5, 9; 1 Kin 21:10, 13
  2. Job 1:6 The personal covenant name of God, a form of I AM WHO I AM, cf. Ex 3:14-15
  3. Job 1:6 Lit the adversary, so in chs 1 and 2
  4. Job 1:8 Or revering
  5. Job 1:9 Or reverence
  6. Job 1:14 Lit female donkeys
  7. Job 1:15 Lit Sheba
  8. Job 1:15 Lit only I alone, so in vv 16, 17, 19

Prologue

There once was a man named Job who lived in the land of Uz. He was blameless—a man of complete integrity. He feared God and stayed away from evil. He had seven sons and three daughters. He owned 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 teams of oxen, and 500 female donkeys. He also had many servants. He was, in fact, the richest person in that entire area.

Job’s sons would take turns preparing feasts in their homes, and they would also invite their three sisters to celebrate with them. When these celebrations ended—sometimes after several days—Job would purify his children. He would get up early in the morning and offer a burnt offering for each of them. For Job said to himself, “Perhaps my children have sinned and have cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular practice.

Job’s First Test

One day the members of the heavenly court[a] came to present themselves before the Lord, and the Accuser, Satan,[b] came with them. “Where have you come from?” the Lord asked Satan.

Satan answered the Lord, “I have been patrolling the earth, watching everything that’s going on.”

Then the Lord asked Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil.”

Satan replied to the Lord, “Yes, but Job has good reason to fear God. 10 You have always put a wall of protection around him and his home and his property. You have made him prosper in everything he does. Look how rich he is! 11 But reach out and take away everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face!”

12 “All right, you may test him,” the Lord said to Satan. “Do whatever you want with everything he possesses, but don’t harm him physically.” So Satan left the Lord’s presence.

13 One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting at the oldest brother’s house, 14 a messenger arrived at Job’s home with this news: “Your oxen were plowing, with the donkeys feeding beside them, 15 when the Sabeans raided us. They stole all the animals and killed all the farmhands. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.”

16 While he was still speaking, another messenger arrived with this news: “The fire of God has fallen from heaven and burned up your sheep and all the shepherds. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.”

17 While he was still speaking, a third messenger arrived with this news: “Three bands of Chaldean raiders have stolen your camels and killed your servants. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.”

18 While he was still speaking, another messenger arrived with this news: “Your sons and daughters were feasting in their oldest brother’s home. 19 Suddenly, a powerful wind swept in from the wilderness and hit the house on all sides. The house collapsed, and all your children are dead. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.”

20 Job stood up and tore his robe in grief. Then he shaved his head and fell to the ground to worship. 21 He said,

“I came naked from my mother’s womb,
    and I will be naked when I leave.
The Lord gave me what I had,
    and the Lord has taken it away.
Praise the name of the Lord!”

22 In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God.

Footnotes

  1. 1:6a Hebrew the sons of God.
  2. 1:6b Hebrew and the satan; similarly throughout this chapter.