Job 1

1 In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil.2 He had seven sons and three daughters,

3 and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East.
4 His sons used to hold feasts in their homes on their birthdays, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them.

5 When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would make arrangements for them to be purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular custom.
6 One day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them.

7 The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?”
Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it.”

8 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”
9 “Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied.10 “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land.

11 But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.”

12 The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.”
Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.
13 One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house,14 a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby,

15 and the Sabeans attacked and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

16 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The fire of God fell from the sky and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

17 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”
18 While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house,

19 when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”
20 At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship

21 and said:
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
and naked I will depart.
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;
may the name of the Lord be praised.”

22 In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.

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