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Job Was Greatest of the Sons of the East

There was a man in the (A)land of Uz whose name was (B)Job; and that man was (C)blameless, upright, (D)fearing God, and (E)turning away from evil. (F)Seven sons and three daughters were born to him. (G)His possessions also were 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 pairs of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and very many servants; and that man was (H)the greatest of all the sons of the east. His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. Now it happened when the days of feasting had completed their cycle, that Job would send and set them apart as holy. And he would rise up early in the morning and offer (I)burnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, “(J)Perhaps my sons have sinned and [a](K)cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually.

All Job Has Is in Satan’s Hand

(L)Now it was the day that the (M)sons of God came to stand before [b]Yahweh, and [c]Satan also came among them. And Yahweh said to Satan, “From where do you come?” Then Satan answered Yahweh and said, “(N)From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it.” Then Yahweh said to Satan, “Have you set your heart upon (O)My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, (P)a blameless and upright man, [d]fearing God and turning away from evil.” And (Q)Satan answered Yahweh and said, “Does Job [e]fear God without cause? 10 (R)Have You not made a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? (S)You have blessed the work of his hands, and his (T)possessions have increased in the land. 11 (U)But send forth Your hand now and (V)touch all that he has; he will surely curse You to Your face.” 12 Then Yahweh said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand, only do not send forth your hand toward him.” So Satan went out from the presence of Yahweh.

Messengers Speak of the Fire of God

13 Now it happened that on the day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their brother, the firstborn, 14 a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the [f]donkeys feeding beside them, 15 and [g]the (W)Sabeans fell upon them and took them. They also struck down the young men with the edge of the sword, and [h]I alone have escaped to tell you.” 16 While this one was still speaking, another also came and said, “(X)The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the young men and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 17 While this one was still speaking, another also came and said, “The (Y)Chaldeans set up three companies and made a raid on the camels and took them and struck down the young men with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 18 While this one was still speaking, another also came and said, “Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their brother, the firstborn, 19 and behold, a great wind came from across the wilderness and touched the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they died, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”

20 Then Job arose and (Z)tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped. 21 And he said,

(AA)Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
And naked I shall return there.
(AB)Yahweh gave, and Yahweh has taken away.
Blessed be the name of Yahweh.”

22 (AC)Through all this Job did not sin, nor did he give offense to God.

Footnotes

  1. Job 1:5 Heb blessed; used euphemistically for cursed, cf. 1:11; 2:5, 9; 1 Kin 21:10, 13
  2. Job 1:6 The personal covenant name of God, a form of I AM WHO I AM, cf. Ex 3:14-15
  3. Job 1:6 Lit the adversary, so in chs 1 and 2
  4. Job 1:8 Or revering
  5. Job 1:9 Or reverence
  6. Job 1:14 Lit female donkeys
  7. Job 1:15 Lit Sheba
  8. Job 1:15 Lit only I alone, so in vv 16, 17, 19

Job and His Family

There was once a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job. That man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.(A) There were born to him seven sons and three daughters.(B) He had seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred donkeys, and very many servants, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the East.(C) His sons used to go and hold feasts in one another’s houses in turn, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. And when the feast days had run their course, Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all, for Job said, “It may be that my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” This is what Job always did.(D)

Attack on Job’s Character

One day the heavenly beings[a] came to present themselves before the Lord, and the accuser[b] also came among them.(E) The Lord said to the accuser,[c] “Where have you come from?” The accuser[d] answered the Lord, “From going to and fro on the earth and from walking up and down on it.”(F) The Lord said to the accuser,[e] “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man who fears God and turns away from evil.”(G) Then the accuser[f] answered the Lord, “Does Job fear God for nothing?(H) 10 Have you not put a fence around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.(I) 11 But stretch out your hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.”(J) 12 The Lord said to the accuser,[g] “Very well, all that he has is in your power; only do not stretch out your hand against him!” So the accuser[h] went out from the presence of the Lord.

Job Loses Property and Children

13 One day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in the eldest brother’s house, 14 a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were feeding beside them, 15 and the Sabeans fell on them and carried them off and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; I alone have escaped to tell you.”(K) 16 While he was still speaking, another came and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them; I alone have escaped to tell you.”(L) 17 While he was still speaking, another came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three columns, made a raid on the camels and carried them off, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; I alone have escaped to tell you.”(M) 18 While he was still speaking, another came and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house,(N) 19 and suddenly a great wind came across the desert, struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead; I alone have escaped to tell you.”(O)

20 Then Job arose, tore his robe, shaved his head, and fell on the ground and worshiped.(P) 21 He said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there; the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”(Q)

22 In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrongdoing.(R)

Footnotes

  1. 1.6 Heb sons of God
  2. 1.6 Heb the satan
  3. 1.7 Heb the satan
  4. 1.7 Heb the satan
  5. 1.8 Heb the satan
  6. 1.9 Heb the satan
  7. 1.12 Heb the satan
  8. 1.12 Heb the satan