Satan Attacks Job’s Character

⁶ Now ^(A)there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and ^[a]Satan also came among them. ⁷ And the Lord said to ^[b]Satan, “From where do you come?”

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

⁸ Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you ^[c]considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and ^[d]shuns evil?”

⁹ So Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? ^10 (C)Have You not ^[e]made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? ^(D)You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. ^11 (E)But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely ^(F)curse^[f] You to Your face!”

¹² And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your ^[g]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 ^(G)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 ^[h]Sabeans ^[i]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 ^[j]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, ^(H)“Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, ¹⁹ and suddenly a great wind came from ^[k]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, ^(I)tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he ^(J)fell to the ground and worshiped. ²¹ And he said:

¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against ^(A)principalities, against powers, against ^(B)the rulers of ^[a]the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. ^13 (C)Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand ^(D)in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.