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.

Notas al pie

  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

Job's Character and Wealth

There was a man in the land of (A)Uz whose name was (B)Job, and that man was (C)blameless and upright, one who (D)feared God and (E)turned away from evil. There were born to him (F)seven sons and three daughters. He possessed 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys, and very many servants, so that this man was the greatest of all (G)the people 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. And when the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and (H)consecrate them, and he would rise early in the morning and (I)offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my children have sinned, and (J)cursed[a] God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually.

Satan Allowed to Test Job

Now there was a day when (K)the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and (L)Satan[b] also came among them. The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From (M)going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you (N)considered my (O)servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, (P)a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? 10 Have you not put (Q)a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have (R)blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But (S)stretch out your hand and (T)touch all that he has, and he will (U)curse you (V)to your face.” 12 And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.

Satan Takes Job's Property and Children

13 Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house, 14 and there came a messenger to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, 15 and (W)the Sabeans fell upon them and took them and struck down the servants[c] with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 16 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, (X)“The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 17 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, (Y)“The Chaldeans formed (Z)three groups and made a raid on the camels and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 18 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, (AA)“Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house, 19 and behold, a great wind came across (AB)the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people, and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”

20 Then Job arose and (AC)tore his (AD)robe and (AE)shaved his head (AF)and fell on the ground and worshiped. 21 And he said, (AG)“Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I (AH)return. The Lord (AI)gave, and the Lord has taken away; (AJ)blessed be the name of the Lord.”

22 (AK)In all this Job did not sin or charge God with (AL)wrong.

Notas al pie

  1. Job 1:5 The Hebrew word bless is used euphemistically for curse in 1:5, 11; 2:5, 9
  2. Job 1:6 Hebrew the Accuser or the Adversary; so throughout chapters 1–2
  3. Job 1:15 Hebrew the young men; also verses 16, 17

Satan Attacks Job’s Health

Again (A)there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the Lord. And the Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?”

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

Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, (C)a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil? And still he (D)holds fast to his integrity, although you incited Me against him, (E)to [a]destroy him without cause.”

So Satan answered the Lord and said, “Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life. (F)But stretch out Your hand now, and touch his (G)bone and his flesh, and he will surely [b]curse You to Your face!”

(H)And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your hand, but spare his life.”

So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord, and struck Job with painful boils (I)from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. And he took for himself a potsherd with which to scrape himself (J)while he sat in the midst of the ashes.

Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? [c]Curse God and die!”

10 But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. (K)Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” (L)In all this Job did not (M)sin with his lips.

Job’s Three Friends

11 Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this adversity that had come upon him, each one came from his own place—Eliphaz the (N)Temanite, Bildad the (O)Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. For they had made an appointment together to come (P)and mourn with him, and to comfort him. 12 And when they raised their eyes from afar, and did not recognize him, they lifted their voices and wept; and each one tore his robe and (Q)sprinkled dust on his head toward heaven. 13 So they sat down with him on the ground (R)seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his grief was very great.

Notas al pie

  1. Job 2:3 Lit. consume
  2. Job 2:5 Lit. bless, but in an evil sense; cf. Job 1:5
  3. Job 2:9 Lit. Bless, but in an evil sense; cf. Job 1:5

Satan Attacks Job's Health

Again (A)there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them to present himself before the Lord. And the Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil? He still (B)holds fast his integrity, although you incited me against him to destroy him (C)without reason.” Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Skin for skin! All that a man has he will give for his life. But (D)stretch out your hand and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will (E)curse you to your face.” And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your hand; only spare his life.”

So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and struck Job with loathsome (F)sores from (G)the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. And he took (H)a piece of broken pottery with which to scrape himself while he sat in (I)the ashes.

Then his wife said to him, “Do you still (J)hold fast your integrity? (K)Curse God and die.” 10 But he said to her, “You speak as one of the (L)foolish women would speak. (M)Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?”[a] (N)In all this Job did not (O)sin with his lips.

Job's Three Friends

11 Now when Job's three (P)friends heard of all this evil that had come upon him, they came each from his own place, Eliphaz (Q)the Temanite, Bildad (R)the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. They made an appointment together to come to (S)show him sympathy and comfort him. 12 And when they saw him from a distance, they did not recognize him. And they raised their voices and wept, and they (T)tore their robes and sprinkled (U)dust on their heads toward heaven. 13 And they sat with him on the ground (V)seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great.

Notas al pie

  1. Job 2:10 Or disaster; also verse 11

Job Deplores His Birth

After this Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth. And Job [a]spoke, and said:

“May(A) the day perish on which I was born,
And the night in which it was said,
‘A male child is conceived.’
May that day be darkness;
May God above not seek it,
Nor the light shine upon it.
May darkness and (B)the shadow of death claim it;
May a cloud settle on it;
May the blackness of the day terrify it.
As for that night, may darkness seize it;
May it not [b]rejoice among the days of the year,
May it not come into the number of the months.
Oh, may that night be barren!
May no joyful shout come into it!
May those curse it who curse the day,
Those (C)who are ready to arouse Leviathan.
May the stars of its morning be dark;
May it look for light, but have none,
And not see the [c]dawning of the day;
10 Because it did not shut up the doors of my mother’s womb,
Nor hide sorrow from my eyes.

11 “Why(D) did I not die at birth?
Why did I not [d]perish when I came from the womb?
12 (E)Why did the knees receive me?
Or why the breasts, that I should nurse?
13 For now I would have lain still and been quiet,
I would have been asleep;
Then I would have been at rest
14 With kings and counselors of the earth,
Who (F)built ruins for themselves,
15 Or with princes who had gold,
Who filled their houses with silver;
16 Or why was I not hidden (G)like a stillborn child,
Like infants who never saw light?
17 There the wicked cease from troubling,
And there the [e]weary are at (H)rest.
18 There the prisoners [f]rest together;
(I)They do not hear the voice of the oppressor.
19 The small and great are there,
And the servant is free from his master.

20 “Why(J) is light given to him who is in misery,
And life to the (K)bitter of soul,
21 Who (L)long[g] for death, but it does not come,
And search for it more than (M)hidden treasures;
22 Who rejoice exceedingly,
And are glad when they can find the (N)grave?
23 Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden,
(O)And whom God has hedged in?
24 For my sighing comes before [h]I eat,
And my groanings pour out like water.
25 For the thing I greatly (P)feared has come upon me,
And what I dreaded has happened to me.
26 I am not at ease, nor am I quiet;
I have no rest, for trouble comes.”

Notas al pie

  1. Job 3:2 Lit. answered
  2. Job 3:6 LXX, Syr., Tg., Vg. be joined
  3. Job 3:9 eyelids of the dawn
  4. Job 3:11 expire
  5. Job 3:17 Lit. weary of strength
  6. Job 3:18 are at ease
  7. Job 3:21 Lit. wait
  8. Job 3:24 Lit. my bread

Job Laments His Birth

After this Job (A)opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth. And Job said:

(B)“Let the day perish on which I was born,
    and the night that said,
    ‘A man is conceived.’
Let that day be darkness!
    May God above not seek it,
    nor light shine upon it.
Let gloom and (C)deep darkness claim it.
    Let clouds dwell upon it;
    let the blackness of the day terrify it.
That night—let thick darkness seize it!
    Let it not rejoice among the days of the year;
    let it not come into the number of the months.
Behold, let that night be barren;
    let no joyful cry enter it.
Let those curse it who curse the day,
    who are ready to rouse up (D)Leviathan.
Let the stars of its dawn be dark;
    let it hope for light, but have none,
    nor see (E)the eyelids of the morning,
10 because it did not shut the doors of my mother's womb,
    nor hide trouble from my eyes.

11 “Why (F)did I not die at birth,
    come out from the womb and expire?
12 Why did (G)the knees receive me?
    Or why the breasts, that I should nurse?
13 For then I would have lain down and been quiet;
    I would have slept; then I would have been at rest,
14 with kings and counselors of the earth
    who (H)rebuilt ruins for themselves,
15 or with princes who had gold,
    who filled their houses with silver.
16 Or why was I not as a hidden (I)stillborn child,
    as infants who never see the light?
17 There the wicked cease from troubling,
    and there the weary are at (J)rest.
18 There the prisoners are at ease together;
    they hear not the voice of (K)the taskmaster.
19 The small and the great are there,
    and the slave is free from his master.

20 “Why is light given to him who is in misery,
    and life to (L)the bitter in soul,
21 who (M)long for death, but it comes not,
    and dig for it more than for (N)hidden treasures,
22 who rejoice exceedingly
    and are glad when they find the grave?
23 Why is light given to a man whose (O)way is hidden,
    whom God has (P)hedged in?
24 For my sighing comes (Q)instead of[a] my bread,
    and my (R)groanings are poured out like water.
25 (S)For the thing that I fear comes upon me,
    and what I dread befalls me.
26 I am not at ease, nor am I quiet;
    I have no rest, but trouble comes.”

Notas al pie

  1. Job 3:24 Or like; Hebrew before

Praising the Lord in His House at Night

A Song of Ascents.

134 Behold, bless the Lord,
All you servants of the Lord,
Who by night stand in the house of the Lord!
(A)Lift up your hands in the sanctuary,
And bless the Lord.

The Lord who made heaven and earth
Bless you from Zion!

Come, Bless the Lord

A Song of (A)Ascents.

134 Come, bless the Lord, all you (B)servants of the Lord,
    who (C)stand (D)by night in the house of the Lord!
(E)Lift up your hands to (F)the holy place
    and bless the Lord!

May the Lord (G)bless you (H)from Zion,
    he who (I)made heaven and earth!