1 There lived in the land of Uz a man named Job—a good^[a] man who feared God and stayed away from evil. ^2-3 He had a large family of seven sons and three daughters and was immensely wealthy,^[b] for he owned 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 teams of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and employed many servants. He was, in fact, the richest cattleman in that entire area.

⁴ Every year when Job’s sons had birthdays, they invited their brothers and sisters to their homes for a celebration. On these occasions they would eat and drink with great merriment. ⁵ When these birthday parties ended—and sometimes they lasted several days—Job would summon his children to him and sanctify them, getting up early in the morning and offering a burnt offering for each of them. For Job said, “Perhaps my sons have sinned and turned away from God^[c] in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular practice.

⁶ One day as the angels^[d] came to present themselves before the Lord, Satan, the Accuser, came with them.

⁷ “Where have you come from?” the Lord asked Satan.

And Satan replied, “From earth, where I’ve been watching everything that’s going on.”

⁸ Then the Lord asked Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth—a good man^[e] who fears God and will have nothing to do with evil.”

⁹ “Why shouldn’t he when you pay him so well?” Satan scoffed. ¹⁰ “You have always protected him and his home and his property from all harm. You have prospered everything he does—look how rich he is! No wonder he ‘worships’ you! ¹¹ But just take away his wealth, and you’ll see him curse you to your face!”

^12-13 And the Lord replied to Satan, “You may do anything you like with his wealth, but don’t harm him physically.”

So Satan went away; and sure enough, not long afterwards when Job’s sons and daughters were dining at the oldest brother’s house, tragedy struck.

^14-15 A messenger rushed to Job’s home with this news: “Your oxen were plowing, with the donkeys feeding beside them, when the Sabeans raided us, drove away the animals, and killed all the farmhands except me. I am the only one left.”

¹⁶ While this messenger was still speaking, another arrived with more bad news: “The fire of God has fallen from heaven and burned up your sheep and all the herdsmen, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”

¹⁷ Before this man finished, still another messenger rushed in: “Three bands of Chaldeans have driven off your camels and killed your servants, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”

¹⁸ As he was still speaking, another arrived to say, “Your sons and daughters were feasting in their oldest brother’s home, ¹⁹ when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and engulfed the house so that the roof fell in on them and all are dead; and I alone escaped to tell you.”

²⁰ Then Job stood up and tore his robe in grief^[f] and fell down upon the ground before God. ²¹ “I came naked from my mother’s womb,” he said, “and I shall have nothing when I die. The Lord gave me everything I had, and they were his to take away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

²² In all of this Job did not sin or revile God.