Satan’s First Test of Job

One day the sons of God(A) came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan[a] also came with them. The Lord asked Satan, “Where have you come from?”

“From roaming through the earth,”(B) Satan answered him, “and walking around on it.”

Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? No one else on earth is like him, a man of perfect integrity,(C) who fears God and turns away from evil.”(D)

Satan answered the Lord, “Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 Haven’t you placed a hedge around(E) him, his household, and everything he owns? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and strike(F) everything he owns, and he will surely curse you to your face.”

12 “Very well,” the Lord told Satan, “everything he owns is in your power. However, do not lay a hand on Job himself.” So Satan left the Lord’s presence.

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Footnotes

  1. 1:6 Or the adversary

Job’s First Test

One day the members of the heavenly court[a] came to present themselves before the Lord, and the Accuser, Satan,[b] came with them. “Where have you come from?” the Lord asked Satan.

Satan answered the Lord, “I have been patrolling the earth, watching everything that’s going on.”

Then the Lord asked Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil.”

Satan replied to the Lord, “Yes, but Job has good reason to fear God. 10 You have always put a wall of protection around him and his home and his property. You have made him prosper in everything he does. Look how rich he is! 11 But reach out and take away everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face!”

12 “All right, you may test him,” the Lord said to Satan. “Do whatever you want with everything he possesses, but don’t harm him physically.” So Satan left the Lord’s presence.

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Footnotes

  1. 1:6a Hebrew the sons of God.
  2. 1:6b Hebrew and the satan; similarly throughout this chapter.