Job 1
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Job and His Family
1 There was a man in the country of Uz(A) named Job.(B) He was a man of perfect integrity,(C) who feared God and turned away from evil.(D) 2 He had seven sons and three daughters. 3 His estate included 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and a very large number of servants. Job was the greatest man among all the people of the east.
4 His sons used to take turns having banquets at their homes. They would send an invitation to their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 Whenever a round of banqueting was over, Job would send for his children and purify them, rising early in the morning to offer burnt offerings for[a] all of them. For Job thought: Perhaps my children have sinned, having cursed God in their hearts. This was Job’s regular practice.
Satan’s First Test of Job
6 One day the sons of God(E) came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan[b] also came with them. 7 The Lord asked Satan, “Where have you come from?”
“From roaming through the earth,”(F) Satan answered Him, “and walking around on it.”
8 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, who fears God and turns away from evil.”
9 Satan answered the Lord, “Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 Haven’t You placed a hedge around(G) 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(H) 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, you must not lay a hand on Job himself.” So Satan left the Lord’s presence.
13 One day when Job’s sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 14 a messenger came to Job and reported: “While the oxen were plowing and the donkeys grazing nearby, 15 the Sabeans(I) swooped down and took them away. They struck down the servants with the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
16 He was still speaking when another messenger came and reported: “A lightning storm[c] struck from heaven.(J) It burned up the sheep and the servants and devoured them, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
17 That messenger was still speaking when yet another came and reported: “The Chaldeans formed three bands, made a raid on the camels, and took them away. They struck down the servants with the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
18 He was still speaking when another messenger came and reported: “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house. 19 Suddenly a powerful wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on the young people so that they died, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
20 Then Job stood up, tore(K) his robe, and shaved(L) his head.[d] He fell to the ground and worshiped, 21 saying:
Naked I came from my mother’s womb,(M)
and naked I will leave this life.[e](N)
The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away.
Praise the name of Yahweh.(O)
22 Throughout all this Job did not sin or blame God for anything.[f](P)
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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