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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.

And he had seven sons and three daughters.

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.

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.

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.

Now, on a day when the children of God came and stood before the LORD, Satan also came among them.

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.”

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?”

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.

Job, the Good Man

A man named Job lived in the land of Uz [C east of Israel in Edom (present-day Jordan); Lam. 4:21]. He was an ·honest [innocent; blameless; Prov. 2:7, 21] and ·innocent [virtuous; Prov. 1:3] man; he ·honored [feared; respected] God [28:28; Prov. 1:7] and stayed away from evil [C these terms are used to describe the wise in Proverbs]. Job had seven sons and three daughters [C indicating a large and complete family]. 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 [or richest] man among all the people of the East [C the expected reward of wisdom].

Job’s sons took turns holding feasts [L on their day; C perhaps birthday celebrations] 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 [consecrated; made holy]. Early in the morning Job would offer a burnt offering [C an atonement offering; Lev. 1:1–17] for each of them, because he thought, “My children may have sinned and ·cursed [L blessed; C a euphemism for “cursed”] God in their hearts.” Job did this every time.

Satan Appears Before the Lord

One day the ·angels [L sons of God] came to ·show themselves [stand] before the Lord, and ·Satan [L the Satan; C means “the Accuser” or “the Adversary”; either the Devil or a member of God’s heavenly court] was with them. The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?”

Satan [1:6] answered the Lord, “I have been ·wandering around [roaming] the earth, ·going back and forth in [patrolling] it.”

Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you noticed [considered; L set your heart on] 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 [1:1].”

But Satan [1:6] answered the Lord, “·Job honors God for a good reason [L Does Job honor/fear/respect God for no good reason?]. 10 ·You have [L Don’t you…?] put a ·wall [hedge; C to protect from danger] around him, his family, and everything he owns. You have blessed ·the things he has done [L all the works of his hands]. His flocks and herds ·are so large they almost cover [L burst forth on] the land. 11 But ·reach out [stretch forth] your hand and ·destroy [afflict] everything he has, and [L see if] he will curse you to your face.”

12 The Lord said to Satan [1:6], “All right, then. Everything Job has is in your ·power [L hand], but ·you must not touch Job himself [L but don’t send your hand against him].” Then Satan [1:6] left the Lord’s presence.

13 One day Job’s sons and daughters were ·eating and drinking wine [feasting; celebrating] together at the ·oldest [L firstborn] 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 [C a people from southern Arabia] 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 [L Fire] from God fell from ·the sky [heaven]. 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 [L Chaldeans; C a people located in present-day southern Iraq] sent three ·groups of attackers [raiding parties] that swept down and stole your camels and killed the servants [L with the sword]. 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 [feasting; celebrating] together at the ·oldest [L firstborn] brother’s house. 19 Suddenly a ·great [strong; mighty] 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 [C ancient mourning customs]. Then he bowed down to the ground to worship God. 21 He said:

“I was naked when I ·was born [L came from my mother’s womb],
    and I will be naked when I ·die [L return there].
The Lord gave these things to me,
    and he has taken them away.
    ·Praise [Blessed be] the name of the Lord.”

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