Job 1-8
New King James Version
Job and His Family in Uz
1 There was a man (A)in the land of Uz, whose name was (B)Job; and that man was (C)blameless and upright, and one who (D)feared God and [a]shunned evil. 2 And seven sons and three daughters were born to him. 3 Also, his possessions were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very large household, so that this man was the greatest of all the [b]people of the East.
4 And his sons would go and feast in their houses, each on his appointed day, and would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 So it was, when the days of feasting had run their course, that Job would send and [c]sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning (E)and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my sons have sinned and (F)cursed[d] God in their hearts.” Thus Job did regularly.
Satan Attacks Job’s Character
6 Now (G)there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and [e]Satan also came among them. 7 And the Lord said to [f]Satan, “From where do you come?”
So Satan answered the Lord and said, “From (H)going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.”
8 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you [g]considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and [h]shuns evil?”
9 So Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 (I)Have You not [i]made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? (J)You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 (K)But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely (L)curse[j] You to Your face!”
12 And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your [k]power; only do not lay a hand on his person.”
So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.
Job Loses His Property and Children
13 Now there was a day (M)when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house; 14 and a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, 15 when the [l]Sabeans [m]raided them and took them away—indeed they have killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
16 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and [n]consumed them; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
17 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three bands, raided the camels and took them away, yes, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
18 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, (N)“Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 19 and suddenly a great wind came from [o]across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
20 Then Job arose, (O)tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he (P)fell to the ground and worshiped. 21 And he said:
(Q)“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
And naked shall I return there.
The Lord (R)gave, and the Lord has (S)taken away;
(T)Blessed be the name of the Lord.”
22 (U)In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.
Satan Attacks Job’s Health
2 Again (V)there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the Lord. 2 And the Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?”
(W)Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.”
3 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, (X)a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil? And still he (Y)holds fast to his integrity, although you incited Me against him, (Z)to [p]destroy him without cause.”
4 So Satan answered the Lord and said, “Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life. 5 (AA)But stretch out Your hand now, and touch his (AB)bone and his flesh, and he will surely [q]curse You to Your face!”
6 (AC)And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your hand, but spare his life.”
7 So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord, and struck Job with painful boils (AD)from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. 8 And he took for himself a potsherd with which to scrape himself (AE)while he sat in the midst of the ashes.
9 Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? [r]Curse God and die!”
10 But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. (AF)Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” (AG)In all this Job did not (AH)sin with his lips.
Job’s Three Friends
11 Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this adversity that had come upon him, each one came from his own place—Eliphaz the (AI)Temanite, Bildad the (AJ)Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. For they had made an appointment together to come (AK)and mourn with him, and to comfort him. 12 And when they raised their eyes from afar, and did not recognize him, they lifted their voices and wept; and each one tore his robe and (AL)sprinkled dust on his head toward heaven. 13 So they sat down with him on the ground (AM)seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his grief was very great.
Job Deplores His Birth
3 After this Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth. 2 And Job [s]spoke, and said:
3 “May(AN) the day perish on which I was born,
And the night in which it was said,
‘A male child is conceived.’
4 May that day be darkness;
May God above not seek it,
Nor the light shine upon it.
5 May darkness and (AO)the shadow of death claim it;
May a cloud settle on it;
May the blackness of the day terrify it.
6 As for that night, may darkness seize it;
May it not [t]rejoice among the days of the year,
May it not come into the number of the months.
7 Oh, may that night be barren!
May no joyful shout come into it!
8 May those curse it who curse the day,
Those (AP)who are ready to arouse Leviathan.
9 May the stars of its morning be dark;
May it look for light, but have none,
And not see the [u]dawning of the day;
10 Because it did not shut up the doors of my mother’s womb,
Nor hide sorrow from my eyes.
11 “Why(AQ) did I not die at birth?
Why did I not [v]perish when I came from the womb?
12 (AR)Why did the knees receive me?
Or why the breasts, that I should nurse?
13 For now I would have lain still and been quiet,
I would have been asleep;
Then I would have been at rest
14 With kings and counselors of the earth,
Who (AS)built ruins for themselves,
15 Or with princes who had gold,
Who filled their houses with silver;
16 Or why was I not hidden (AT)like a stillborn child,
Like infants who never saw light?
17 There the wicked cease from troubling,
And there the [w]weary are at (AU)rest.
18 There the prisoners [x]rest together;
(AV)They do not hear the voice of the oppressor.
19 The small and great are there,
And the servant is free from his master.
20 “Why(AW) is light given to him who is in misery,
And life to the (AX)bitter of soul,
21 Who (AY)long[y] for death, but it does not come,
And search for it more than (AZ)hidden treasures;
22 Who rejoice exceedingly,
And are glad when they can find the (BA)grave?
23 Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden,
(BB)And whom God has hedged in?
24 For my sighing comes before [z]I eat,
And my groanings pour out like water.
25 For the thing I greatly (BC)feared has come upon me,
And what I dreaded has happened to me.
26 I am not at ease, nor am I quiet;
I have no rest, for trouble comes.”
Eliphaz: Job Has Sinned
4 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said:
2 “If one attempts a word with you, will you become weary?
But who can withhold himself from speaking?
3 Surely you have instructed many,
And you (BD)have strengthened weak hands.
4 Your words have upheld him who was stumbling,
And you (BE)have strengthened the [aa]feeble knees;
5 But now it comes upon you, and you are weary;
It touches you, and you are troubled.
6 Is not (BF)your reverence (BG)your confidence?
And the integrity of your ways your hope?
7 “Remember now, (BH)who ever perished being innocent?
Or where were the upright ever cut off?
8 Even as I have seen,
(BI)Those who plow iniquity
And sow trouble reap the same.
9 By the blast of God they perish,
And by the breath of His anger they are consumed.
10 The roaring of the lion,
The voice of the fierce lion,
And (BJ)the teeth of the young lions are broken.
11 (BK)The old lion perishes for lack of prey,
And the cubs of the lioness are scattered.
12 “Now a word was secretly brought to me,
And my ear received a whisper of it.
13 (BL)In disquieting thoughts from the visions of the night,
When deep sleep falls on men,
14 Fear came upon me, and (BM)trembling,
Which made all my bones shake.
15 Then a spirit passed before my face;
The hair on my body stood up.
16 It stood still,
But I could not discern its appearance.
A form was before my eyes;
There was silence;
Then I heard a voice saying:
17 ‘Can a mortal be more righteous than God?
Can a man be more pure than his Maker?
18 If He (BN)puts no trust in His servants,
If He charges His angels with error,
19 How much more those who dwell in houses of clay,
Whose foundation is in the dust,
Who are crushed before a moth?
20 (BO)They are broken in pieces from morning till evening;
They perish forever, with no one regarding.
21 Does not their own excellence go away?
They die, even without wisdom.’
Eliphaz: Job Is Chastened by God
5 “Call out now;
Is there anyone who will answer you?
And to which of the holy ones will you turn?
2 For wrath kills a foolish man,
And envy slays a simple one.
3 (BP)I have seen the foolish taking root,
But suddenly I cursed his dwelling place.
4 His sons are (BQ)far from safety,
They are crushed in the gate,
And (BR)there is no deliverer.
5 Because the hungry eat up his harvest,
[ab]Taking it even from the thorns,
[ac]And a snare snatches their [ad]substance.
6 For affliction does not come from the dust,
Nor does trouble spring from the ground;
7 Yet man is (BS)born to [ae]trouble,
As the sparks fly upward.
8 “But as for me, I would seek God,
And to God I would commit my cause—
9 Who does great things, and unsearchable,
Marvelous things without number.
10 (BT)He gives rain on the earth,
And sends waters on the fields.
11 (BU)He sets on high those who are lowly,
And those who mourn are lifted to safety.
12 (BV)He frustrates the devices of the crafty,
So that their hands cannot carry out their plans.
13 He catches the (BW)wise in their own craftiness,
And the counsel of the cunning comes quickly upon them.
14 They meet with darkness in the daytime,
And grope at noontime as in the night.
15 But (BX)He saves the needy from the sword,
From the mouth of the mighty,
And from their hand.
16 (BY)So the poor have hope,
And injustice shuts her mouth.
17 “Behold,(BZ) happy is the man whom God corrects;
Therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty.
18 (CA)For He bruises, but He binds up;
He wounds, but His hands make whole.
19 (CB)He shall deliver you in six troubles,
Yes, in seven (CC)no evil shall touch you.
20 (CD)In famine He shall redeem you from death,
And in war from the [af]power of the sword.
21 (CE)You shall be hidden from the scourge of the tongue,
And you shall not be afraid of destruction when it comes.
22 You shall laugh at destruction and famine,
And (CF)you shall not be afraid of the (CG)beasts of the earth.
23 (CH)For you shall have a covenant with the stones of the field,
And the beasts of the field shall be at peace with you.
24 You shall know that your tent is in peace;
You shall visit your dwelling and find nothing amiss.
25 You shall also know that (CI)your descendants shall be many,
And your offspring (CJ)like the grass of the earth.
26 (CK)You shall come to the grave at a full age,
As a sheaf of grain ripens in its season.
27 Behold, this we have (CL)searched out;
It is true.
Hear it, and know for yourself.”
Job: My Complaint Is Just
6 Then Job answered and said:
2 “Oh, that my grief were fully weighed,
And my calamity laid with it on the scales!
3 For then it would be heavier than the sand of the sea—
Therefore my words have been rash.
4 (CM)For the arrows of the Almighty are within me;
My spirit drinks in their poison;
(CN)The terrors of God are arrayed (CO)against me.
5 Does the (CP)wild donkey bray when it has grass,
Or does the ox low over its fodder?
6 Can flavorless food be eaten without salt?
Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?
7 My soul refuses to touch them;
They are as loathsome food to me.
8 “Oh, that I might have my request,
That God would grant me the thing that I long for!
9 That it would please God to crush me,
That He would loose His hand and (CQ)cut me off!
10 Then I would still have comfort;
Though in anguish I would exult,
He will not spare;
For (CR)I have not concealed the words of (CS)the Holy One.
11 “What strength do I have, that I should hope?
And what is my end, that I should prolong my life?
12 Is my strength the strength of stones?
Or is my flesh bronze?
13 Is my help not within me?
And is success driven from me?
14 “To(CT) him who is [ag]afflicted, kindness should be shown by his friend,
Even though he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
15 (CU)My brothers have dealt deceitfully like a brook,
(CV)Like the streams of the brooks that pass away,
16 Which are dark because of the ice,
And into which the snow vanishes.
17 When it is warm, they cease to flow;
When it is hot, they vanish from their place.
18 The paths of their way turn aside,
They go nowhere and perish.
19 The caravans of (CW)Tema look,
The travelers of (CX)Sheba hope for them.
20 They are (CY)disappointed[ah] because they were confident;
They come there and are confused.
21 For now (CZ)you are nothing,
You see terror and (DA)are afraid.
22 Did I ever say, ‘Bring something to me’?
Or, ‘Offer a bribe for me from your wealth’?
23 Or, ‘Deliver me from the enemy’s hand’?
Or, ‘Redeem me from the hand of oppressors’?
24 “Teach me, and I will hold my tongue;
Cause me to understand wherein I have erred.
25 How forceful are right words!
But what does your arguing prove?
26 Do you intend to rebuke my words,
And the speeches of a desperate one, which are as wind?
27 Yes, you overwhelm the fatherless,
And you (DB)undermine your friend.
28 Now therefore, be pleased to look at me;
For I would never lie to your face.
29 (DC)Yield now, let there be no injustice!
Yes, concede, my (DD)righteousness [ai]still stands!
30 Is there injustice on my tongue?
Cannot my [aj]taste discern the unsavory?
Job: My Suffering Is Comfortless
7 “Is there not (DE)a time of hard service for man on earth?
Are not his days also like the days of a hired man?
2 Like a servant who [ak]earnestly desires the shade,
And like a hired man who eagerly looks for his wages,
3 So I have been allotted (DF)months of futility,
And wearisome nights have been appointed to me.
4 (DG)When I lie down, I say, ‘When shall I arise,
And the night be ended?’
For I have had my fill of tossing till dawn.
5 My flesh is (DH)caked with worms and dust,
My skin is cracked and breaks out afresh.
6 “My(DI) days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle,
And are spent without hope.
7 Oh, remember that (DJ)my life is a breath!
My eye will never again see good.
8 (DK)The eye of him who sees me will see me no more;
While your eyes are upon me, I shall no longer be.
9 As the cloud disappears and vanishes away,
So (DL)he who goes down to the grave does not come up.
10 He shall never return to his house,
(DM)Nor shall his place know him anymore.
11 “Therefore I will (DN)not restrain my mouth;
I will speak in the anguish of my spirit;
I will (DO)complain in the bitterness of my soul.
12 Am I a sea, or a sea serpent,
That You set a guard over me?
13 (DP)When I say, ‘My bed will comfort me,
My couch will ease my complaint,’
14 Then You scare me with dreams
And terrify me with visions,
15 So that my soul chooses strangling
And death rather than [al]my body.
16 (DQ)I loathe my life;
I would not live forever.
(DR)Let me alone,
For (DS)my days are but [am]a breath.
17 “What(DT) is man, that You should exalt him,
That You should set Your heart on him,
18 That You should [an]visit him every morning,
And test him every moment?
19 How long?
Will You not look away from me,
And let me alone till I swallow my saliva?
20 Have I sinned?
What have I done to You, (DU)O watcher of men?
Why (DV)have You set me as Your target,
So that I am a burden [ao]to myself?
21 Why then do You not pardon my transgression,
And take away my iniquity?
For now I will lie down in the dust,
And You will seek me diligently,
But I will no longer be.”
Bildad: Job Should Repent
8 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said:
2 “How long will you speak these things,
And the words of your mouth be like a strong wind?
3 (DW)Does God subvert judgment?
Or does the Almighty pervert justice?
4 If (DX)your sons have sinned against Him,
He has cast them away [ap]for their transgression.
5 (DY)If you would earnestly seek God
And make your supplication to the Almighty,
6 If you were pure and upright,
Surely now He would [aq]awake for you,
And prosper your rightful dwelling place.
7 Though your beginning was small,
Yet your latter end would (DZ)increase abundantly.
8 “For(EA) inquire, please, of the former age,
And consider the things discovered by their fathers;
9 For (EB)we were born yesterday, and know [ar]nothing,
Because our days on earth are a shadow.
10 Will they not teach you and tell you,
And utter words from their heart?
11 “Can the papyrus grow up without a marsh?
Can the reeds flourish without water?
12 (EC)While it is yet green and not cut down,
It withers before any other plant.
13 So are the paths of all who (ED)forget God;
And the hope of the (EE)hypocrite shall perish,
14 Whose confidence shall be cut off,
And whose trust is [as]a spider’s web.
15 (EF)He leans on his house, but it does not stand.
He holds it fast, but it does not endure.
16 He grows green in the sun,
And his branches spread out in his garden.
17 His roots wrap around the rock heap,
And look for a place in the stones.
18 (EG)If he is destroyed from his place,
Then it will deny him, saying, ‘I have not seen you.’
19 “Behold, this is the joy of His way,
And (EH)out of the earth others will grow.
20 Behold, (EI)God will not [at]cast away the blameless,
Nor will He uphold the evildoers.
21 He will yet fill your mouth with laughing,
And your lips with [au]rejoicing.
22 Those who hate you will be (EJ)clothed with shame,
And the dwelling place of the wicked [av]will come to nothing.”
Footnotes
- Job 1:1 Lit. turned away from
- Job 1:3 Lit. sons
- Job 1:5 consecrate
- Job 1:5 Lit. blessed, but in an evil sense; cf. Job 1:11; 2:5, 9
- Job 1:6 Lit. the Adversary
- Job 1:7 Lit. the Adversary
- Job 1:8 Lit. set your heart on
- Job 1:8 Lit. turns away from
- Job 1:10 Protected him
- Job 1:11 Lit. bless, but in an evil sense; cf. Job 1:5
- Job 1:12 Lit. hand
- Job 1:15 Lit. Sheba; cf. Job 6:19
- Job 1:15 Lit. fell upon
- Job 1:16 destroyed
- Job 1:19 LXX omits across
- Job 2:3 Lit. consume
- Job 2:5 Lit. bless, but in an evil sense; cf. Job 1:5
- Job 2:9 Lit. Bless, but in an evil sense; cf. Job 1:5
- Job 3:2 Lit. answered
- Job 3:6 LXX, Syr., Tg., Vg. be joined
- Job 3:9 eyelids of the dawn
- Job 3:11 expire
- Job 3:17 Lit. weary of strength
- Job 3:18 are at ease
- Job 3:21 Lit. wait
- Job 3:24 Lit. my bread
- Job 4:4 Lit. bending
- Job 5:5 LXX They shall not be taken from evil men; Vg. And the armed man shall take him by violence
- Job 5:5 LXX The might shall draw them off; Vg. And the thirsty shall drink up their riches
- Job 5:5 wealth
- Job 5:7 labor
- Job 5:20 Lit. hand
- Job 6:14 Or despairing
- Job 6:20 Lit. ashamed
- Job 6:29 Lit. is in it
- Job 6:30 palate
- Job 7:2 Lit. pants for
- Job 7:15 Lit. my bones
- Job 7:16 Without substance, futile
- Job 7:18 attend to
- Job 7:20 So with MT, Tg., Vg.; LXX, Jewish tradition to You
- Job 8:4 Lit. into the hand of their transgression
- Job 8:6 arise
- Job 8:9 Lit. not
- Job 8:14 Lit. a spider’s house
- Job 8:20 reject
- Job 8:21 Lit. shouts of joy
- Job 8:22 Lit. will not be
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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