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Job, the Good Man

A man named Job lived in the land of Uz. He was an honest and innocent man; he honored God and stayed away from evil. Job had seven sons and three daughters. He owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred teams of oxen, and five hundred female donkeys. He also had a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East.

Job’s sons took turns holding feasts in their homes and invited their sisters to eat and drink with them. After a feast was over, Job would send and have them made clean. Early in the morning Job would offer a burnt offering for each of them, because he thought, “My children may have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Job did this every time.

Satan Appears Before the Lord

One day the angels came to show themselves before the Lord, and Satan[a] was with them. The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?”

Satan answered the Lord, “I have been wandering around the earth, going back and forth in it.”

Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? No one else on earth is like him. He is an honest and innocent man, honoring God and staying away from evil.”

But Satan answered the Lord, “Job honors God for a good reason. 10 You have put a wall around him, his family, and everything he owns. You have blessed the things he has done. His flocks and herds are so large they almost cover the land. 11 But reach out your hand and destroy everything he has, and he will curse you to your face.”

12 The Lord said to Satan, “All right, then. Everything Job has is in your power, but you must not touch Job himself.” Then Satan left the Lord’s presence.

13 One day Job’s sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine together at the oldest brother’s house. 14 A messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were eating grass nearby, 15 when the Sabeans attacked and carried them away. They killed the servants with swords, and I am the only one who escaped to tell you!”

16 The messenger was still speaking when another messenger arrived and said, “Lightning from God fell from the sky. It burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who escaped to tell you!”

17 The second messenger was still speaking when another messenger arrived and said, “The Babylonians sent three groups of attackers that swept down and stole your camels and killed the servants. I am the only one who escaped to tell you!”

18 The third messenger was still speaking when another messenger arrived and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine together at the oldest brother’s house. 19 Suddenly a great wind came from the desert, hitting all four corners of the house at once. The house fell in on the young people, and they are all dead. I am the only one who escaped to tell you!”

20 When Job heard this, he got up and tore his robe and shaved his head to show how sad he was. Then he bowed down to the ground to worship God. 21 He said:

“I was naked when I was born,
    and I will be naked when I die.
The Lord gave these things to me,
    and he has taken them away.
    Praise the name of the Lord.”

22 In all this Job did not sin or blame God.

Footnotes

  1. 1:6 Satan Or “the accuser.”

Prologue

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) He had seven sons(G) and three daughters,(H) 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)

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. 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.

One day the angels[a](R) came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan[b](S) also came with them.(T) 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)

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)

“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:

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
    and naked I will depart.[c](AV)
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;(AW)
    may the name of the Lord be praised.”(AX)

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

Footnotes

  1. Job 1:6 Hebrew the sons of God
  2. Job 1:6 Hebrew satan means adversary.
  3. Job 1:21 Or will return there

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.

Footnotes

  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

I.— PRÓLOGO EN CINCO ACTOS Y UN ENTREACTO (1—2)

Job sometido a prueba

Érase una vez un hombre llamado Job, que vivía en el país de Hus. Era justo, honrado y respetuoso de Dios, y vivía apartado del mal. Tenía siete hijos y tres hijas. Poseía siete mil ovejas, tres mil camellos, quinientas yuntas de bueyes, quinientas burras y muchísimos siervos. Era el más rico de los hombres de Oriente. Sus hijos solían juntarse para comer, cada día en casa de uno, e invitaban a sus tres hermanas. Terminados esos días de fiesta, Job los hacía venir para purificarlos; y de mañana ofrecía un holocausto por cada uno, por si habían pecado maldiciendo a Dios en su interior. Cada vez hacía Job lo mismo. Un día se presentaron ante el Señor los hijos de Dios; también Satán entró con ellos. El Señor preguntó a Satán:

— ¿De dónde vienes?

Satán respondió al Señor:

— Vengo de dar vueltas por la tierra; de andar por ella.

El Señor añadió:

— ¿Te has fijado en mi siervo Job? En la tierra no hay otro como él: es un hombre justo, honrado y respetuoso de Dios, y vive apartado del mal.

Satán contestó al Señor:

— ¿Y crees que Job respeta a Dios sin motivo? 10 Tú mismo lo has rodeado de seguridad; lo has protegido, junto con su hogar y sus pertenencias: has bendecido sus trabajos, y sus rebaños llenan el país. 11 Pero te apuesto que si extiendes tu mano y dañas sus posesiones, te maldecirá a la cara.

12 El Señor respondió a Satán:

— Haz lo que quieras con sus cosas, pero no se te ocurra tocar su persona. Satán abandonó la presencia del Señor.

13 Un día que sus hijos e hijas banqueteaban en casa del hermano mayor, 14 llegó un mensajero a casa de Job con la siguiente noticia:

— Mientras los bueyes estaban arando y las burras pastando a su lado, 15 cayeron sobre ellos unos sabeos, acuchillaron a los mozos y se llevaron el ganado. Sólo yo he podido escapar para contártelo.

16 Aún no había acabado el mensajero de hablar, cuando llegó otro con la siguiente noticia:

— Ha caído un rayo del cielo que ha quemado y consumido a las ovejas y a los pastores. Sólo yo he podido escapar para contártelo.

17 Aún no había acabado este de hablar, cuando llegó otro con la siguiente noticia:

— Una banda de caldeos, divididos en tres grupos, ha caído sobre los camellos y se los ha llevado, después de acuchillar a los mozos. Sólo yo he podido escapar para contártelo.

18 Aún no había acabado este de hablar, cuando llegó otro con la siguiente noticia:

— Estaban tus hijos y tus hijas banqueteando en casa del hermano mayor, 19 cuando un huracán que cruzaba el desierto embistió la casa por los cuatro costados; la casa se derrumbó sobre los jóvenes y los mató. Sólo yo he podido escapar para contártelo.

20 Job se levantó, se rasgó la ropa, se afeitó la cabeza, se echó por tierra 21 y dijo: “Desnudo salí del vientre de mi madre y desnudo volveré a él. El Señor me lo dio, el Señor me lo quitó; bendito sea el nombre del Señor”.

22 A pesar de todo lo sucedido, Job no pecó ni maldijo a Dios.