Job 1
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Job and His Family
1 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) 2 There were born to him seven sons and three daughters.(B) 3 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) 4 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. 5 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
6 One day the heavenly beings[a] came to present themselves before the Lord, and the accuser[b] also came among them.(E) 7 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) 8 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) 9 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)
Job 1
International Standard Version
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:
“I left my mother’s womb naked,
and I will return to God naked.
The Lord has given,
and the Lord has taken.
May the name of the Lord be blessed.”
22 Job neither sinned nor charged God with wrongdoing in all of this.
Footnotes
- Job 1:1 I.e. a city east of Israel in Arabia; the name means Wooded
- Job 1:3 Or pairs
- Job 1:4 Lit. to eat and drink
- Job 1:5 The Heb. lacks for them
- Job 1:5 The Heb. lacks to God
- Job 1:5 Lit. offering according to their number
- Job 1:5 Lit. all the days
- Job 1:6 Lit. day, sons of God
- Job 1:6 The Heb. name Satan means The Opponent or The Accuser; and so throughout the book
- Job 1:8 Lit. you set your heart over
- Job 1:12 Lit. hand
- Job 1:13 Lit. his sons and daughters
- Job 1:13 Lit. were eating and drinking wine
- Job 1:13 Lit. their firstborn
- Job 1:16 The Heb. lacks messenger
- Job 1:16 Lit. this
- Job 1:16 Lit. Fire of God fell from heaven
- Job 1:17 The Heb. lacks messenger
- Job 1:17 Lit. this
- Job 1:18 The Heb. lacks messenger
- Job 1:18 Lit. this
- Job 1:18 Lit. eating and drinking wine
- Job 1:18 Lit. their firstborn
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