Job 1

1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and turned away from evil.2 And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters.3 His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she-asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the children of the east.4 And his sons went and held a feast in the house of each one upon his day; and they sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.5 And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt-offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and renounced God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.6 Now it came to pass on the day when the sons of God came to present themselves before Jehovah, that Satan also came among them.7 And Jehovah said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered Jehovah, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.8 And Jehovah said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job? for there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and turneth away from evil.9 Then Satan answered Jehovah, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?10 Hast not thou made a hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath, on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.11 But put forth thy hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will renounce thee to thy face.12 And Jehovah said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thy hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of Jehovah.13 And it fell on a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house,14 that there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them;15 and the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away: yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.16 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.17 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have taken them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.18 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house;19 and, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.20 Then Job arose, and rent his robe, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped;21 and he said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: Jehovah gave, and Jehovah hath taken away; blessed be the name of Jehovah.22 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

Job 1

I. The Prologue (1:1-2:13)

Job’s Good Life

1 s There was a mant in the land of Uzs whoset name was Job.s And that man was puret and upright,t one who feared God and turned away from evil.s2 Sevens sons and three daughters were born to him.t

3 His possessionst includedt 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys; in addition he had a very great household.t Thus het was the greatest of all the people in the east.t
4 Now his sons used to got and holdt a feast in the house of each one in turn,t and they would send and invitet their threet sisters to eat and to drink with them.

5 Whent the days of their feasting were finished,t Job would sendt for them and sanctifyt them; he would get up earlyts in the morning and offer burnt offerings according tot the number of them all. For Job thought, “Perhapst my childrent have sinned and cursedt God in their hearts.” This was Job’s customary practice.t

Satan’s Accusation of Job

6 Now the day came whent the sons of Gods came to present themselves beforet the Lord – and Satans also arrived among them.7 The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?”t And Satan answered the Lord,t “From roving aboutt on the earth, and from walking back and forth across it.”ts

8 So the Lord said to Satan, “Have you consideredts my servant Job? Theret is no one like him on the earth, a pure and upright man, one who fears God and turns awayt from evil.”
9 Then Satan answered the Lord, “Is it for nothing that Job fears God?t10 Have yout not made a hedget around him and his household and all that he has on every side? You have blesseds the work of his hands, and his livestockt have increasedt in the land.

11 Butt extend your hand and strikets everything he has, and he will no doubts curse yout to your face!”

12 So the Lord said to Satan, “All right then,t everything he has ist in your power.t Only do not extend your hand against the man himself!”t So Satan went outt from the presence of the Lord.s

Job’s Integrity in Adversity

13 Now the dayt came when Job’st sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house,14 and a messenger came to Job, saying, “The oxen were plowingt and the donkeys were grazing beside them,

15 and the Sabeansts swooped downt and carried them all away, and they killeds the servants with the sword!t And I – only I alonet – escaped to tell you!”

16 While this one was still speaking,t another messenger arrivedt and said, “The fire of Gods has fallen from heavent and has burned up the sheep and the servants – it has consumed them! And I – only I alone – escaped to tell you!”

17 While this one was still speaking another messenger arrived and said, “The Chaldeanss formed three bands and made a raidt on the camels and carried them all away, and they killed the servants with the sword!t And I – only I alone – escaped to tell you!”
18 While this one was still speaking another messenger arrived and said, “Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house,

19 and suddenlyt a great winds swept acrosst the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they died! And I – only I alone – escaped to tell you!”
20 Then Job got upt and tore his robe.s He shaved his head,s and then he threw himself down with his face to the ground.t21 He said, “Nakedt I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will return there.s The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away.t May the name of the Lords be blessed!”

22 In all this Job did not sin, nor did he charge God with moral impropriety.t