Job 1
The Message
A Man Devoted to God
1 1-3 Job was a man who lived in Uz. He was honest inside and out, a man of his word, who was totally devoted to God and hated evil with a passion. He had seven sons and three daughters. He was also very wealthy—seven thousand head of sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred teams of oxen, five hundred donkeys, and a huge staff of servants—the most influential man in all the East!
4-5 His sons used to take turns hosting parties in their homes, always inviting their three sisters to join them in their merrymaking. When the parties were over, Job would get up early in the morning and sacrifice a burnt offering for each of his children, thinking, “Maybe one of them sinned by defying God inwardly.” Job made a habit of this sacrificial atonement, just in case they’d sinned.
The First Test: Family and Fortune
6-7 One day when the angels came to report to God, Satan, who was the Designated Accuser, came along with them. God singled out Satan and said, “What have you been up to?”
Satan answered God, “Going here and there, checking things out on earth.”
8 God said to Satan, “Have you noticed my friend Job? There’s no one quite like him—honest and true to his word, totally devoted to God and hating evil.”
9-10 Satan retorted, “So do you think Job does all that out of the sheer goodness of his heart? Why, no one ever had it so good! You pamper him like a pet, make sure nothing bad ever happens to him or his family or his possessions, bless everything he does—he can’t lose!
11 “But what do you think would happen if you reached down and took away everything that is his? He’d curse you right to your face, that’s what.”
12 God replied, “We’ll see. Go ahead—do what you want with all that is his. Just don’t hurt him.” Then Satan left the presence of God.
13-15 Sometime later, while Job’s children were having one of their parties at the home of the oldest son, a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys grazing in the field next to us when Sabeans attacked. They stole the animals and killed the field hands. I’m the only one to get out alive and tell you what happened.”
16 While he was still talking, another messenger arrived and said, “Bolts of lightning struck the sheep and the shepherds and fried them—burned them to a crisp. I’m the only one to get out alive and tell you what happened.”
17 While he was still talking, another messenger arrived and said, “Chaldeans coming from three directions raided the camels and massacred the camel drivers. I’m the only one to get out alive and tell you what happened.”
18-19 While he was still talking, another messenger arrived and said, “Your children were having a party at the home of the oldest brother when a tornado swept in off the desert and struck the house. It collapsed on the young people and they died. I’m the only one to get out alive and tell you what happened.”
20 Job got to his feet, ripped his robe, shaved his head, then fell to the ground and worshiped:
21 Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
naked I’ll return to the womb of the earth.
God gives, God takes.
God’s name be ever blessed.
22 Not once through all this did Job sin; not once did he blame God.
Job 1
Revised Geneva Translation
1 There was a man in the land of Uz, called Job. And this man was an upright and just man, one who feared God and turned away from evil.
2 And he had seven sons and three daughters.
3 Also, the number of his livestock were seven thousand sheep and three thousand camels and five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred female donkeys. And his family was very great, so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the East.
4 And his sons went and banqueted in their houses, each on his day, and sent and called their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.
5 And when the days of their banqueting had completed their cycle, Job sent, and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning and offered Burnt Offerings, according to the number of them all. For Job thought, “It may be that my sons have sinned and blasphemed God in their hearts.” Thus did Job every day.
6 Now, on a day when the children of God came and stood before the LORD, Satan also came among them.
7 Then the LORD said to Satan, “From where have you come?” And Satan answered the LORD, saying, “From going to and fro on the Earth. And from walking in it.”
8 And the LORD said to Satan, “Have you not considered My servant, Job, how no one is like him on the Earth, an upright and just man, one who fears God and turns away from evil?”
9 Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing?”
10 “Haven’t You made a hedge around him and around his house and around all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands. And his possessions have increased in the land.
11 “But now, stretch out Your Hand and touch all that he has, to see if he will not blaspheme You to Your Face.”
12 Then the LORD said to Satan, “Lo, all that he has is in your hand. Only, you shall not stretch out your hand upon him.” So Satan departed from the presence of the LORD.
13 And on a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house,
14 there came a messenger to Job, and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding in their places,
15 “and the Sabeans came violently and took them. Indeed, they have killed the servants with the edge of the sword. But only I have escaped, alone, to tell you.”
16 And while he was still speaking, another came, and said, “The fire of God has fallen from the sky and has burnt up the sheep and the servants and devoured them. But only I have escaped, alone, to tell you.”
17 And while he was still speaking, another came, and said, “The Chaldeans appointed three bands and attacked the camels, and have taken them, and have killed the servants with the edge of the sword. But only I have escaped, alone, to tell you.”
18 And while he was still speaking, another came and said, “Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house,
19 “and behold, there came a great wind from beyond the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, which fell upon the children and they are dead. And only I have escaped, alone, to tell you.”
20 Then Job arose and tore his garment and shaved his head and fell down upon the ground and worshipped,
21 and said, “Naked I came out of my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return there. The LORD has given. And the LORD has taken it. Blessed be the Name of the LORD.”
22 In all this, Job did not sin or blame God foolishly.
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson
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