The Daily Audio Bible
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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)
Satan’s Second Test of Job
2 One day the sons of God(Q) came again to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them to present himself before the Lord. 2 The Lord asked Satan, “Where have you come from?”
“From roaming through the earth,” Satan answered Him, “and walking around on it.”
3 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,(R) who fears God and turns away from evil.(S) He still retains his integrity, even though you incited Me against him, to destroy him without just cause.”
4 “Skin for skin!” Satan answered the Lord. “A man will give up everything he owns in exchange for his life. 5 But stretch out Your hand and strike(T) his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse You to Your face.”
6 “Very well,” the Lord told Satan, “he is in your power; only spare his life.” 7 So Satan left the Lord’s presence and infected Job with terrible boils from the sole of his foot to the top of his head.(U) 8 Then Job took a piece of broken pottery to scrape himself while he sat among the ashes.[g](V)
9 His wife said to him, “Do you still retain your integrity? Curse God and die!”
10 “You speak as a foolish woman speaks,” he told her. “Should we accept only good from God and not adversity?” Throughout all this Job did not sin in what he said.[h]
Job’s Three Friends
11 Now when Job’s three friends—Eliphaz the Temanite,(W) Bildad the Shuhite,(X) and Zophar the Naamathite—heard about all this adversity that had happened to him, each of them came from his home. They met together to go and sympathize with him and comfort(Y) him. 12 When they looked from a distance, they could barely recognize him. They wept aloud,(Z) and each man tore his robe and threw dust into the air and on his head.(AA) 13 Then they sat on the ground with him seven days and nights,(AB) but no one spoke a word to him because they saw that his suffering(AC) was very intense.
Job’s Opening Speech
3 After this, Job began to speak and cursed the day he was born. 2 He said:
3 May the day I was born perish,
and the night when they said,
“A boy is conceived.”(AD)
4 If only that day had turned to darkness!
May God above not care about it,
or light shine on it.
5 May darkness and gloom(AE) reclaim it,
and a cloud settle over it.
May an eclipse of the sun[i] terrify it.
6 If only darkness had taken that night away!
May it not appear[j] among the days of the year
or be listed in the calendar.[k]
7 Yes, may that night be barren;
may no joyful shout(AF) be heard in it.
8 Let those who curse certain days
cast a spell(AG) on it,
those who are skilled in rousing Leviathan.(AH)
9 May its morning stars grow dark.
May it wait for daylight but have none;
may it not see the breaking[l] of dawn.
10 For that night did not shut
the doors of my mother’s womb,
and hide sorrow from my eyes.
11 Why was I not stillborn;
why didn’t I die as I came from the womb?(AI)
12 Why did the knees receive me,
and why were there breasts for me to nurse?(AJ)
13 Now I would certainly be lying down in peace;
I would be asleep.(AK)
Then I would be at rest(AL)
14 with the kings and counselors(AM) of the earth,
who rebuilt ruined cities for themselves,
15 or with princes who had gold,
who filled their houses(AN) with silver.
16 Or why was I not hidden like a miscarried child,(AO)
like infants who never see daylight?
17 There the wicked(AP) cease to make trouble,
and there the weary find rest.
18 The captives are completely at ease;(AQ)
they do not hear the voice of their oppressor.(AR)
19 Both small and great are there,
and the slave is set free from his master.(AS)
20 Why is light given to one burdened with grief,
and life to those whose existence is bitter,(AT)
21 who wait for death,(AU) but it does not come,
and search for it more than for hidden treasure,
22 who are filled with much joy
and are glad when they reach the grave?(AV)
23 Why is life given to a man whose path is hidden,(AW)
whom God has hedged in?
24 I sigh when food(AX) is put before me,[m]
and my groans pour out like water.(AY)
25 For the thing I feared has overtaken me,
and what I dreaded has happened to me.(AZ)
26 I cannot relax or be still;
I have no rest,(BA) for trouble comes.
Prophecy: A Superior Gift
14 Pursue love and desire spiritual gifts, and above all that you may prophesy. 2 For the person who speaks in another language(A) is not speaking to men but to God, since no one understands him; however, he speaks mysteries in the Spirit.[a] 3 But the person who prophesies speaks to people for edification, encouragement, and consolation. 4 The person who speaks in another language builds himself up, but he who prophesies builds up the church. 5 I wish all of you spoke in other languages, but even more that you prophesied. The person who prophesies is greater than the person who speaks in languages, unless he interprets so that the church may be built up.
6 But now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in other languages, how will I benefit you unless I speak to you with a revelation(B) or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? 7 Even inanimate things that produce sounds—whether flute or harp(C)—if they don’t make a distinction in the notes, how will what is played on the flute or harp be recognized? 8 In fact, if the trumpet makes an unclear sound, who will prepare for battle?(D) 9 In the same way, unless you use your tongue for intelligible speech, how will what is spoken be known? For you will be speaking into the air. 10 There are doubtless many different kinds of languages in the world, and all have meaning.[b] 11 Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner[c] to the speaker, and the speaker will be a foreigner to me. 12 So also you—since you are zealous(E) for spiritual gifts,[d](F) seek to excel in building up the church.
13 Therefore the person who speaks in another language should pray that he can interpret. 14 For if I pray in another language, my spirit(G) prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.(H) 15 What then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with my understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with my understanding. 16 Otherwise, if you praise with the spirit,[e] how will the uninformed person[f] say “Amen”(I) at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying? 17 For you may very well be giving thanks, but the other person is not being built up.
12 The wicked person schemes against the righteous
and gnashes his teeth at him.(A)
13 The Lord laughs at him(B)
because He sees that his day is coming.(C)
14 The wicked have drawn the sword and strung the[a] bow
to bring down the afflicted and needy
and to slaughter those whose way is upright.(D)
15 Their swords will enter their own hearts,
and their bows will be broken.(E)
16 The little that the righteous man has is better
than the abundance of many wicked people.(F)
17 For the arms[b] of the wicked will be broken,(G)
but the Lord supports the righteous.(H)
18 The Lord watches over the blameless all their days,
and their inheritance will last forever.(I)
19 They will not be disgraced in times of adversity;
they will be satisfied in days of hunger.(J)
20 But the wicked will perish;
the Lord’s enemies, like the glory of the pastures,
will fade away—
they will fade away like smoke.(K)
21 The wicked man borrows and does not repay,
but the righteous one is gracious and giving.(L)
22 Those who are blessed by Him will inherit the land,[c]
but those cursed by Him will be destroyed.(M)
23 A man’s steps are established by the Lord,
and He takes pleasure in his way.(N)
24 Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed,
because the Lord holds his hand.[d](O)
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