Prologue

1 In the land of Uz^(A) there lived a man whose name was Job.^(B) This man was blameless^(C) and upright;^(D) he feared God^(E) and shunned evil.^{(F) 2} He had seven sons^(G) and three daughters,^{(H) 3} and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys,^(I) and had a large number of servants.^(J) He was the greatest man^(K) among all the people of the East.^(L)

⁴ His sons used to hold feasts^(M) in their homes on their birthdays, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. ⁵ When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would make arrangements for them to be purified.^(N) Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering^(O) for each of them, thinking, “Perhaps my children have sinned^(P) and cursed God^(Q) in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular custom.

⁶ One day the angels^[a](R) came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan^[b](S) also came with them.^{(T) 7} The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?”

Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.”^(U)

⁸ Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job?^(V) There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God^(W) and shuns evil.”^(X)

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

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

Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.

¹³ One day when Job’s sons and daughters^(AG) were feasting^(AH) 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^(AI) nearby, ¹⁵ and the Sabeans^(AJ) 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^(AK) and burned up the sheep and the servants,^(AL) 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^(AM) 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^(AN) were feasting^(AO) and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, ¹⁹ when suddenly a mighty wind^(AP) swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead,^(AQ) and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!^(AR)”

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

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

2 On another day the angels^[a](A) came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them^(B) to present himself before him. ² And the Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?”

Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.”^(C)

³ Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.^(D) And he still maintains his integrity,^(E) though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason.”^(F)

⁴ “Skin for skin!” Satan replied. “A man will give all he has^(G) for his own life. ⁵ But now stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones,^(H) and he will surely curse you to your face.”^(I)

⁶ The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, he is in your hands;^(J) but you must spare his life.”^(K)

⁷ So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head.^{(L) 8} Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes.^(M)

⁹ His wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining your integrity?^(N) Curse God and die!”^(O)

¹⁰ He replied, “You are talking like a foolish^[b] woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?”^(P)

In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.^(Q)

¹¹ When Job’s three friends, Eliphaz the Temanite,^(R) Bildad the Shuhite^(S) and Zophar the Naamathite,^(T) heard about all the troubles that had come upon him, they set out from their homes and met together by agreement to go and sympathize with him and comfort him.^{(U) 12} When they saw him from a distance, they could hardly recognize him;^(V) they began to weep aloud,^(W) and they tore their robes^(X) and sprinkled dust on their heads.^{(Y) 13} Then they sat on the ground^(Z) with him for seven days and seven nights.^(AA) No one said a word to him,^(AB) because they saw how great his suffering was.

40 The Lord said to Job:^(A)

³ Then Job answered the Lord:

⁶ Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm:^(I)