Job 1

Chapter 1

Prologue

1 There once was a man named Job who lived in the land of Uz. He was blameless—a man of complete integrity. He feared God and stayed away from evil.2 He had seven sons and three daughters.

3 He owned 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 teams of oxen, and 500 female donkeys. He also had many servants. He was, in fact, the richest person in that entire area.
4 Job’s sons would take turns preparing feasts in their homes, and they would also invite their three sisters to celebrate with them.

5 When these celebrations ended—sometimes after several days—Job would purify his children. He would get up early in the morning and offer a burnt offering for each of them. For Job said to himself, “Perhaps my children have sinned and have cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular practice.

Job’s First Test

6 One day the members of the heavenly courtt came to present themselves before the LORD, and the Accuser, Satan,t came with them.

7 “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.”

8 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.”
9 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.
13 One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting at the oldest brother’s house,14 a messenger arrived at Job’s home with this news: “Your oxen were plowing, with the donkeys feeding beside them,

15 when the Sabeans raided us. They stole all the animals and killed all the farmhands. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.”

16 While he was still speaking, another messenger arrived with this news: “The fire of God has fallen from heaven and burned up your sheep and all the shepherds. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.”

17 While he was still speaking, a third messenger arrived with this news: “Three bands of Chaldean raiders have stolen your camels and killed your servants. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.”
18 While he was still speaking, another messenger arrived with this news: “Your sons and daughters were feasting in their oldest brother’s home.

19 Suddenly, a powerful wind swept in from the wilderness and hit the house on all sides. The house collapsed, and all your children are dead. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.”
20 Job stood up and tore his robe in grief. Then he shaved his head and fell to the ground to worship.

21 He said,
“I came naked from my mother’s womb,
and I will be naked when I leave.
The LORD gave me what I had,
and the LORD has taken it away.
Praise the name of the LORD!”

22 In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God.

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