⁹ “Does Job fear God for nothing?”^(A) Satan replied. ¹⁰ “Have you not put a hedge^(B) around him and his household and everything he has?^(C) You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land.^{(D) 11} But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has,^(E) and he will surely curse you to your face.”^(F)

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

Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.

¹³ One day when Job’s sons and daughters^(I) were feasting^(J) 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^(K) nearby, ¹⁵ and the Sabeans^(L) 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^(M) and burned up the sheep and the servants,^(N) 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^(O) 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^(P) were feasting^(Q) and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, ¹⁹ when suddenly a mighty wind^(R) swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead,^(S) and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!^(T)”

²⁰ At this, Job got up and tore his robe^(U) and shaved his head.^(V) Then he fell to the ground in worship^{(W) 21} and said:

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

A Time for Everything

⁹ What do workers gain from their toil?^{(E) 10} I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race.^{(F) 11} He has made everything beautiful in its time.^(G) He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet^[a] no one can fathom^(H) what God has done from beginning to end.^(I)

¹⁰ “Suppose he has a violent son, who sheds blood^(N) or does any of these other things^{[a] 11} (though the father has done none of them):

Will such a man live? He will not! Because he has done all these detestable things, he is to be put to death; his blood will be on his own head.^(T)

¹⁴ “But suppose this son has a son who sees all the sins his father commits, and though he sees them, he does not do such things:^(U)

He will not die for his father’s sin; he will surely live. ¹⁸ But his father will die for his own sin, because he practiced extortion, robbed his brother and did what was wrong among his people.