Job’s Faithfulness

1 There once was a man in the land of Uz^[a] named Job. The man was blameless as well as upright. He feared God and kept away from evil. ² Seven sons and three daughters had been born to him. ³ His livestock included 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 teams^[b] of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and many servants. Indeed, the man’s stature greatly exceeded that of many people who lived in the East. ⁴ His sons used to travel to each other’s houses in turn on a regular schedule and hold festivals, inviting their three sisters to celebrate^[c] with them.

⁵ When their time of feasting had concluded, Job would rise early in the morning to send for them^[d] and consecrate them to God.^[e] He would offer a burnt offering for each one,^[f] because Job thought, “Perhaps my children sinned by cursing God in their hearts.” Job did this time and again.^[g]

Satan’s First Attack on Job

⁶ One day, divine beings^[h] presented themselves to the Lord, and Satan^[i] accompanied them. ⁷ The Lord asked Satan, “Where have you come from?”

In response, Satan answered the Lord, “From wandering all over the earth and walking back and forth throughout it.”

⁸ Then the Lord asked Satan, “Have you considered^[j] my servant Job? There is no one like him on earth. The man is blameless as well as upright. He fears God and keeps away from evil.”

⁹ But in response, Satan asked the Lord, “Does Job fear God for nothing? ¹⁰ Haven’t you surrounded him with a fence on all sides, around his house, and around all that he owns? You have blessed everything he puts his hands on and you have increased his livestock in the land. ¹¹ However, stretch out your hand and strike everything he owns, and he will curse you to your face.”

¹² Then the Lord told Satan, “Very well then, everything he owns is under your control,^[k] only you may not extend your hand against him.” So Satan left the Lord’s presence.

¹³ Some time later, when his children^[l] were celebrating^[m] in their oldest^[n] brother’s house, ¹⁴ a messenger approached Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the female donkeys were grazing nearby ¹⁵ when the Sabeans attacked, captured the servants, and killed them with swords. I alone escaped to tell you!”

¹⁶ While this messenger^[o] was still speaking, another^[p] came and announced, “A lightning storm struck^[q] and incinerated the flock and the servants while they were eating. I alone escaped to tell you!”

¹⁷ While this messenger^[r] was still speaking, another^[s] came and announced, “The Chaldeans formed three companies, raided the camels, captured the servants, and killed them with swords. Only I alone escaped to tell you.”

¹⁸ While this messenger^[t] was still speaking, another^[u] came and announced, “Your children were celebrating^[v] in their oldest^[w] brother’s house ¹⁹ when a strong wind came straight out of the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on the young people, and they died. I alone escaped to tell you!”

Job Blesses God Despite the Catastrophe

²⁰ Then Job stood up, tore his robe, shaved his head, fell to the ground, bowed very low, ²¹ and exclaimed:

²² Job neither sinned nor charged God with wrongdoing in all of this.